Engineering topics

Brownlee, D. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Brownlee, D. E..

At least 73 records · Page 4

NASA NTRS1992

Elemental Analyses of Hypervelocity Microparticle Impact Sites on Interplanetary Dust Experiment Sensor Surfaces

The Interplanetary Dust Experiment (IDE) had over 450 electrically active ultra-high purity metal-oxide-silicon impact detectors located on the six primary sides of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). Hypervelocity microparticles (approximately 0.2 to approximately 100 micron diameter) that struck the active sensors with enough energy to breakdown the 0.4 or 1.0 micron thick SiO2 insulator layer separating the silicon base (the negative electrode), and the 1000 A thick surface layer of aluminum (the positive electrode) caused electrical discharges that were recorded for the first year of orbit. The high purity Al-SiO2-Si substrates allowed detection of trace (ppm) amounts of hypervelocity impactor residues. After sputtering through a layer of surface contamination, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was used to create two-dimensional elemental ion intensity maps of microparticle sites on the IDE sensors. The element intensities in the central craters of the impacts were corrected for relative ion yields and instrumental conditions and then normalized to silicon. The results classification resulted from the particles' origins as 'manmade', 'natural', or 'indeterminate'. The last classification resulted from the presence of too little impactor residue, analytical interference from high background contamination, the lack of information on silicon and aluminum residues, or a combination of these circumstances. Several analytical 'blank' discharges were induced on flight sensors by pressing down on the sensor surface with a pure silicon shard. Analyses of these blank discharges showed that the discharge energy blasts away the layer of surface contamination. Only Si and Al were detected inside the discharge zones, including the central craters, of these features. Thus far, a total of 79 randomly selected microparticle impact sites from the six primary sides of the LDEF were analyzed: 36 from tray C-9 (Leading (ram), or east, side), 18 from tray C-3 (Trailing (wake), or west, side), 12 from tray B-12 (north side), 4 from tray D-6 (south side), 3 from tray H-11 (space end), and 6 from tray G-10 (earth end). Residue from manmade debris was identified in craters on all trays (aluminum oxide particle residues were not detectable on the Al/Si substrates). These results were consistent with the IDE impact record which showed highly variable long term microparticle impact flux rates on the west, space, and Earth sides of the LDEF which could not be ascribed to astronomical variability of micrometeorite density. The IDE record also showed episodic bursts of microparticle impacts on the east, north, and south sides of the satellite, denoting passage through orbital debris clouds or rings.

Simon, C. G.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Interplanetary meteoroid debris in LDEF metal craters

The extraterrestrial meteoroid residue found lining craters in the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) aluminum and gold targets is highly variable in both quantity and type. In typical craters only a minor amount of residue is found and for these craters it is evident that most of the impacting projectile was ejected during crater formation. Less than 10 percent of the craters greater than 100 microns contain abundant residue consistent with survival of a major fraction of the projectile. In these cases the residue can be seen optically as a dark liner and it can easily be analyzed by SEM-EDX techniques. Because they are rare, the craters with abundant residue must be a biased sampling of the meteoroids reaching the earth. Factors that favor residue retention are low impact velocity and material properties such as high melting point. In general, the SEM-EDX observations of crater residues are consistent with the properties of chondritic meteorites and interplanetary dust particles collected in the stratosphere. Except for impacts by particles dominated by single minerals such as FeS and olivine, most of the residue compositions are in broad agreement with the major element compositions of chondrites. In most cases the residue is a thin liner on the crater floor and these craters are difficult to quantitatively analyze by EDX techniques because the electron beam excites both residue and underlying metal substrate. In favorable cases, the liner is thick and composed of vesicular glass with imbedded FeNi, sulfide and silicate grains. In the best cases of meteoroid preservation, the crater is lined with large numbers of unmelted mineral grains. The projectiles fragmented into micron sized pieces but the fragments survived without melting. In one case, the grains contain linear defects that appear to be solar flare tracks. Solar flare tracks are common properties of small interplanetary particles and their preservation during impact implies that the fragments were not heated above 600 C. We are investigating the meteoroid fragments in LDEF metal craters to determine the properties of interplanetary dust and to determine if there are meteoroid types that are overlooked or otherwise undetected in cosmic dust collections obtained from the stratosphere and polar ice.

Brownlee, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Heating and thermal transformation of micrometeoroids entering the earth's atmosphere

The present numerical solutions for the atmospheric entry of 10 micron-1 mm diameter micrometeoroids gave attention to ablative mass loss and cooling, together with gravitational and curvature effects, for entry velocities in the 11.2-72 km/sec range. Maximum temperature and mass-loss rates are found to generally occur at altitudes between 85 and 90 km, during about 1 sec of peak heating; the survival of all particles in the 70 micron-1 mm size range is noted to be limited to those with minimal entry velocity. Virtually all of the 'cosmic spherules' of more than 70-mm diameter, as well as giant unmelted micrometeorites, are implied by the present results to be of asteroidal origin.

Love, S. G.↗

NASA NTRS1991

The composition of meteoroids impacting LDEF

So far we have completed an initial scanning electron microscopy (SEM) survey of craters on the exterior of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) in the 100 micron to 1mm size range and done some quantitative analysis. In typical craters, the residue appears to be a mixture of glass and FeNi and sulfide beads with an overall chondritic elemental composition. In less than 10 percent of the craters, there is a substantial amount of meteoroid debris that also contains unmelted mineral grains. The relatively high abundance of forsterite and enststite among these irregular grains suggests that a high melting point probably plays a role in surviving impact without melting.

Brownlee, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Automated thin-film analyses of hydrated interplanetary dust particles in the analytical electron microscope

A 200 keV electron microscope was used to obtain elemental analyses from over 4000 points on thin sections of eight 'layer silicate' class interplanetary dust particles (IDPs). Major and minor element abundances from a volume approaching that of a cylinder 50 nm in diameter were observed. Mineral phases and their relative abundances in the thin sections were identified and petrographic characteristics were determined. Three of the particles contained smectite (1.0-1.2 nm basal spacing) and two contained serpentine (0.7 nm basal spacing). The point count analyses and Mg-Si-Fe ternary diagrams show that one of the serpentine-containing IDPs is similar to CI and CM chondritic meteorites. The IDPs exhibit evidence of aqueous processing, but they have typically experienced only short range, submicrometer scale alteration. The IDPs may provide a broad sampling of the asteroid belt.

Germani, M. S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Carbon in comet dust

The association of Halley particle results with data from existing meteoritic materials that can be analyzed in the laboratory is discussed. Comet samples must exist in present collections of meteoritic materials and the Halley results provide clues for identifying them. Although it is not presently possible to positively identify cometary meteorites or cometary interplanetary dust (IDP) samples, it is possible to determine which materials are similar to Halley dust and which ones are distinctly unlike Halley. The properties of these existing Halley-compatible samples provide insight into the possible properties of cometary material. Positive identification of meteoritic comet samples or direct samples returned from a comet nucleus would of course revolutionize our ability to study carbonaceous matter in comets. Modern analytical techniques are very powerful and it is possible to perform elemental, chemical, mineralogical and even limited isotopic analysis on micron-size particles. There is an important synergism between the laboratory studies of collected samples and astronomical data from comets and interstellar grains. To fully interpret results there must be convincing methods for associating a particular class or classes of meteoritic material with comets. Ultimately this will be done by direct comet sample return such as the Rosetta mission under development by ESA. At the present time the only links that can be made involve comparison with sample properties and measurable properties of comets. Unfortunately there is at present no known unique property of cometary dust that allows its absolute identification in the laboratory. The results from Halley encounters and observation do provide much new information on cometary grains. The Halley grain compositions, density, size distribution and scattering properties all provide a basis for future investigations. Other Halley properties such as the presence of polyoxymethylene and the 3.4um emission feature could play key roles for making convincing links in the future.

Brownlee, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Cosmic Dust Collection Facility: Scientific objectives and programmatic relations

The science objectives are summarized for the Cosmic Dust Collection Facility (CDCF) on Space Station Freedom and these objectives are related to ongoing science programs and mission planning within NASA. The purpose is to illustrate the potential of the CDCF project within the broad context of early solar system sciences that emphasize the study of primitive objects in state-of-the-art analytical and experimental laboratories on Earth. Current knowledge about the sources of cosmic dust and their associated orbital dynamics is examined, and the results are reviewed of modern microanalytical investigations of extraterrestrial dust particles collected on Earth. Major areas of scientific inquiry and uncertainty are identified and it is shown how CDCF will contribute to their solution. General facility and instrument concepts that need to be pursued are introduced, and the major development tasks that are needed to attain the scientific objectives of the CDCF project are identified.

Hoerz, Fred↗

NASA NTRS1990

Helium and neon isotopes in deep Pacific Ocean sediments

Helium and neon concentration measurements, along with isotope ratio determinations, have been made for particles collected in the deep Pacific with a magnetic sled, and they are believed to be of extraterrestrial origin. Analyses were made for samples consisting of composites of many extremely fine particles and for several individual particles large enough to contain sufficient gas for analysis but small enough to escape melting in their passage through the atmosphere. Step-heating was employed to extract the gas. Cosmic-ray spallation products or solar-wind helium and neon, if present, were not abundant enough to account for the isotopic compositions measured. In the case of the samples of magnetic fines, the low temperature extractions provided elemental and isotopic ratios in the general range found for the primordial gas in carbonaceous chondrites and gas-rich meteorites. The isotopic ratios found in the high temperature extractions suggest the presence of solar-flare helium and neon.

Nier, A. O.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Major element composition of stratospheric micrometeorites

Results are presented on an element-composition study conducted on 200 interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) collected with NASA's U2 and RB 47 aircraft at altitudes near 20 km. These IDPs could be classified into two major morphological types, i.e., the 'porous' and the 'smooth' particle types, which showed significant compositional differences. Namely, elemental abundances found in porous particles are closely matching those of the CI chondrites, while the smooth particle group displayed systematic Ca and Mg depletions and contained stoichiometric 'excess' oxygen, consistent with the presence of hydrous phases. This fact, together with the occurrence of carbonates, magnetite framboids, and layer silicates, provides evidence that at least a significant number of the smooth-type IDPs were processed by aqueous activity. It is hypothesized that extensive aqueous activity only occurs in asteroids (as opposed to comets) and that the smooth class of IDPs is of an asteroidal origin.

Schramm, L. S.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Automated thin-film analyses of anhydrous interplanetary dust particles in the analytical electron microscope

An AEM apparatus equipped with digital beam control has obtained quantitative point-count analyses of thin sections taken from eight anhydrous chondritic interplanetary dust particles (IDPs); between 200 and 500 X-ray analyses were collected from each thin section and analyzed for Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Ni. Two types of anhydrous chondritic aggregates were observed in the eight IDPs: one highly porous, the other less so. The eight anhydrous IDPs are characterizable as mixtures of fine- and coarse-grained aggregates, large mineral grains, glass, and carbonaceous materials. Their elemental concentrations follow those of solar abundances, suggesting that they are unperturbed by aqueous alteration.

Bradley, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A comparison of Halley dust with meteorites, interplanetary dust and interstellar grains

The variability of the mineral forming elements in the submicron Halley grains provides a powerful basis for comparison of Halley with the different classes of meteoritic materials that have been studied in the lab. The degree of variability in the Halley samples is larger than that seen in chondrites implying that Halley is more heterogeneous at the submicron scale. A critical distinction is that Halley contains abundant pure Mg silicates at the size scale while the carbon rich meteorites do not. The submicron dispersion composition seen in Halley is dramatically different from the narrowly constrained compositions seen in CI and CM (type 1 and 2) carbonaceous chondrites. These meteorites are carbon rich but are dominated by a hydrated silicate with a very narrow range of Mg/Si ratio. The Halley results are also unlike the composition variations seen in most of interplanetary dust types that are dominated by hydrated materials. The only known class of meteoritic material that appear to closely resemble the Halley data is a class of cosmic dust composed entirely of anhydrous minerals. The composition implies that Halley is dominated by olivine, pyroxene, iron sulfide, glass and amorphous carbonaceous matter.

Brownlee, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Low voltage scanning electron microscopy of interplanetary dust particles

The resolution of available low-voltage SEM (LVSEM) models used in the characterization of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) is limited by a number of factors including energy spread in the electron source, beam brightness, scanning electron detector geometry, and various lens aberrations. This paper describes an improved model of LVSEM which offers an increased resolution at low voltage. The improvements include a cold cathode FE source which has an extremely low inherent energy spread and high brightness, a second condenser lens to converge the beam and maintain an optimum aperture half-angle, and a detector optimized for low-voltage scanning-electron collection. To reduce lens aberrations, the specimen is immersed in the objective lens field. The features of several IDP samples observed using the images obtained with this LVSEM model are described.

Blake, D. F.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Comet coma sample return

The feasibility of capturing comet dust with polymer foam, dense gas, and fiber collectors is discussed. Polystyrene foams seem suitable. For volatile capture, chemically active getters are suggested. A scenario for a low speed flyby sample return mission is outlined.

Tsou, P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The flux of meteoroids and orbital space debris striking satellites in low earth orbit

Results are presented from an analysis of 331 craters in the 0.09-250 micron size range found in the solid aluminum thermal control louvers of the Solar Maximum Mission spacecraft, distinguishing between natural meteoroid impacts and those of orbital spacecraft debris. The time-averaged flux and size distribution of both particle types over the 10 to the -13th to 10 to the -7th g mass range are directly determined.

Laurance, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Placers of cosmic dust in the blue ice lakes of Greenland

A concentration process occurring in the melt zone of the Greenland ice cap has produced the richest known deposit of cosmic dust on the surface of the earth. Extraterrestrial particles collected from this region are well preserved and are collectable in large quantities. The collected particles are generally identical to cosmic spheres found on the ocean floor, but a pure glass type was discovered that has not been seen in deep-sea samples. Iron-rich spheres are conspicuously rare in the collected material.

Maurette, M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Composition of comet Halley dust particles from Giotto observations

Mass spectra of cometary dust particles measured by the PIA dust particle analyzer aboard the Giotto spacecraft show some unexpected and striking features. First, small particles below 10 to the -14th g are much more abundant than anticipated by models. Second, most of the particles are rich in light elements such as H, C, N, and O, suggesting the validity of models that describe the cometary dust as including organic material. Third, the light elements specifically seem to have a low ratio of mass to volume. Three examples of original mass spectra showing typical compositions are given; these have been measured, and are compared with a computer-simulated mass spectrum.

Kissel, J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Cometary particles - Thin sectioning and electron beam analysis

Thin sections (500 to 1000 angstroms thick) of individual micrometeorites (5 to 15 micrometers) have been prepared with an ultramicrotome equipped with a diamond knife. Electron microscope examination of these sections has revealed the internal structures of chondritic micrometeorites, and a subset of highly porous, fragile particles has been identified. Delicate meteoritic materials such as these are characteristic of debris from cometary meteors.

Bradley, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Laser microprobe characterization of C species in Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDP)

Preliminary results of a study whose aim is the characterization of carbon (C) species in microvolumes of materials by means of laser ionization mass spectrometry (LIMS) are presented. The LIMS instrument employs a pulsed UV laser to produce nearly instantaneous vaporization and ionization of materials, followed by acceleration and time-of-flight analysis of the ions produced. LIMS provides a survey technique with nearly simultaneous acquisition of mass spectra covering the entire elemental range. The main limitation of the LIMS technique at present is its limited ability to perform quantitative analysis, due in part to insufficient knowledge of the mechanism of laser-solid interaction. However, considerable effort is now being directed at making LIMS a more quantitative technique. A variety of different C samples, both natural and man made were analyzed to establish the ability of LIMS to differentiate among the various C phases. The results of preliminary analyses performed on meteoritical and interplanetary dust samples are also presented. The C standards selected for the LIMS characterization range from essentially amorphous soot to diamond, which exhibits the highest degree of ordering.

Dibrozolo, F. R.↗