NASA Engineering and Safety Center

Advances in Understanding COPV Structural Life

The Structures Technical Discipline Team (TDT) was involved in numerous investigations this past year, but composites, fracture mechanics, and pressure vessels dominate the list. All three of these specialties are important to composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPV).

Posted April 4, 2024

Reducing Risks Through Independent M&S

This article is from the 2023 Technical Update. The NESC Flight Mechanics Technical Discipline Team (TDT) provides support to all NASA Mission Directorates and throughout all mission phases.

Posted March 25, 2024

General

NASA Engineering and Safety Center

Mentoring the Next Generation of Engineers and Improving Shock Testing Standards

The year 2023 was productive for the Loads & Dynamics (L&D) Technical Discipline Team (TDT). New shock and modal analysis techniques were developed and mentoring the next generation of NASA discipline experts continued. Additionally, NESC Technical Bulletin No. 23-3, New Transient Finite Energy Shock Prediction Methodology, was released.

Posted March 21, 2024

NASA Engineering and Safety Center

Building a Community of Practice

The Thermal and Fluids Analysis Workshop (TFAWS) is an annual event cosponsored by the NESC’s Thermal Control & Protection, Environmental Control & Life Support, Aerosciences, and Cryogenics Technical Discipline Teams in collaboration with the TFAWS Steering Committee.

Posted March 21, 2024

NASA Engineering and Safety Center

Advancing Human Spaceflight Safety

As NASA continues to pursue new human missions to low Earth orbit, lunar orbit, the lunar surface, and on to Mars, the NESC continues to provide a robust technical resource to address critical challenges.

Posted March 21, 2024

NASA Engineering and Safety Center

Understanding Risk, Artificial Intelligence, and Improving Software Quality

The software discipline has broad involvement across each of the NASA Mission Directorates. Some recent discipline focus and development areas are highlighted below, along with a look at the Software Technical Discipline Team’s (TDT) approach to evolving discipline best practices toward the future.

Posted March 12, 2024

NASA Engineering and Safety Center

The Next Accident: How Do We Prevent It?

By Andrew Chaikin, Independent Space Historian and member of the NESC Human Factors Technical Discipline Team I recently watched NESC Deputy Director Mike Kirsch stand before a roomful of engineers at the Langley Research Center and tell them that with every passing day, NASA breaks a record: the longest stretch without a major accident in […]

Posted March 12, 2024

NASA Engineering and Safety Center

Operational Modal Analysis of the Artemis I Dynamic Rollout Test

Operational modal analysis (OMA) techniques have been used to identify the modal characteristics of the Artemis I launch vehicle during the Dynamic Rollout Test (DRT) and Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) configuration prior to launch. Forces induced during rollout and on the launch pad are not directly measurable, thus necessitating a unique approach.

Posted March 12, 2024

NASA Engineering and Safety Center

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Interview with NESC Director, Tim Wilson Upon reaching its 20th year of operations at NASA in 2023, the NESC is busier than it has ever been. With a portfolio of more than 160 in-progress requests from Agency programs, NESC Director Tim Wilson spends much of his day prioritizing, allocating funds from the organization’s fixed budget […]

Posted March 12, 2024

NASA Engineering and Safety Center

NESC Publications – Based on NESC Assessments

NASA Technical Memorandums (TM), NASA Technical Publications (TP), and NASA Contractor Reports (CR) Technical Papers, Conference Proceedings, and Technical Presentations Avionics Flight Mechanics Loads and Dynamics Software Space Environments Structures Systems Engineering Thermal Control and Protection

Posted March 12, 2024