Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate
The ETD Events Calendar list upcoming engineering seminars, colloquiums, conferences, town halls and other events of interest to the ETD engineering community. Explore a world of knowledge and innovation though a curated lineup of insightful and engaging events. This information supports a journey of discovery, where experts and enthusiasts converge to share ideas, explore cutting-edge technologies and foster a community of collaboration and learning.
ABSTRACT -- In 2013 I proposed writing for the 100th anniversary in 2015 of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), NASA's predecessor agency, a new one-volume synthesis that told its story. It was intended as a basic history of NACA/NASA that traced its origins and evolution to the present. Written in an accessible style, …
ABSTRACT -- Just how safe is your car? And what’s going on with the latest autonomous technology? Whatever you drive, do you really know the level of safety that’s designed in both to prevent accidents, and then to protect you and your family if there’s a crash? As the price and complexity of our cars …
ABSTRACT -- I lead an Energy Materials and Devices research group at the University of Maryland, College Park, with a major mission to address the CO2 challenge. Our current research interests include (1) ultrahigh-temperature synthesis of new materials and their use in advanced energy devices, (2) beyond Li-ion batteries for transportation and the grid, and …
ABSTRACT -- The national security requirements of the Cold War drove the development of many new and improved technologies to meet critical defense and security needs. While many of these technologies have uniquely military or government applications, there are others that also have civilian and commercial applications. This presentation will highlight how four different technologies …
ABSTRACT -- Justin Littell will present a talk on the NASA Langley Landing and Impact Research Facility, colloquially known as the Gantry. The talk will include many visual examples and discussion about the types of tests that the Gantry has been used for over the years, starting with the simulated Apollo moon landings and continuing …
ABSTRACT -- Star Trek has been a staple in our culture and society for more than 50 years, not just because of its ability to tell stories of exploring the stars, but to inspire generations to literally explore the stars. Some of what seemed like science fiction back in the 60s has now become commonplace …
Abstract This talk will wind through the details of history of reliability in the agency, where things are today, and where we need to go tomorrow. It will provide many examples of reliability that are often discounted because they are not tied to some mantra from the past. Furthermore, it will separate us from the …
Abstract The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) was launched in 2009 for a three-year nominal mission to map the Lunar surface. Nearly 15 years later, the LRO continues to produce data that have become essential for planning future missions to the Moon. As a spacecraft operating beyond its initial design life, LRO's extended missions have stressed …
ABSTRACT -- Human spaceflight is incredibly complex, and future missions will become more challenging. It will not be sufficient on longer and more ambitious missions simply to ensure that things do not go wrong (risk mitigation); it will also be necessary to provide the tools (tangible and intangible) for the crew and the mission to …
ABSTRACT -- This talk will present battery-free autonomous microrobots that can fly in the wind or drive independently on the ground using microwatts of harvested energy from light or radio waves. This work challenges the conventional assumption that locomotion is beyond the reach of battery-free robots and demonstrates several approaches for achieving autonomous operation in …
Abstract In this presentation, we discuss how Evolved Structures enables the design of spaceflight parts that are 2x-4x lighter/stiffer/stronger, while simultaneously reducing development time by 10x. This technology, developed at Goddard, is illustrated through example applications from NASA missions, including CCRS, EXCITE, and ALICE. We will also discuss the effects of infusing this technology on …
Abstract Goddard continues involvement in missions with complicated operations crossing multiple elements like OSIRIS-REx, OSAM-1, and DAVINCI. The challenges of coordinating those operations and validating the system against them increases the burden on the systems engineering team. One solution is to integrate phase leads into the engineering team structure. This seminar will discuss what a …