Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Johnson, T. V.

Publications and source records attributed to Johnson, T. V..

At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Saturn's small satellites - Voyager imaging results

Voyagers 1 and 2 provided images of sufficient resolution for morphologic and photometric studies of Saturn's small satellites. These objects, all very difficult to observe from earth, orbit Saturn at distances of 2.3 to 6.3 Saturn radii (just outside the A ring to the orbit of Dione) and range in mean diameter from 22 to 188 km. All are irregularly shaped (long/short axis ratios range from 1.4 to 2.0) and probably heavily cratered. While impacts have apparently been important in shaping these objects, observed crater densities suggest that the present forms may have survived for about 4 billion years. Geometric albedos vary from 0.4 to at least 0.8. These albedos and the few color data available are similar to those of larger Saturn satellites which are known to have surfaces made predominantly of water ice. The range of observed albedos could be explained by minor variations in the amount of dark, opaque contaminants.

Thomas, P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Return to Jupiter - Project Galileo

The mission profile, instrumentation, and mission objectives of the Galileo probe are described. Scheduled for Shuttle launch in 1986, with a boost from the Centaur upper stage, the probe will require over 2 yr to reach the Jovian system. An atmospheric entry probe will be released during Jupiter approach, and the orbiting module will relay the temperature, pressure, radio signals, spectroscopy, magnetometry, and particle counts, originating from the parachuting probe. The orbiting module will then continue on to a series of flybys and orbits around the Jovian moons by using a gravity assist from Jupiter after each pass of a moon. The orbiter will record spectrometric, radiometric, dust, visual, magnetic, and radio propagation data. The television camera is a CCD device with 640,000 diodes forming an 800 x 800 array in one square centimeter.

Johnson, T. V.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Global multispectral mosaics of the icy Galilean satellites

Multispectral mosaics of the three icy Galilean satellites have been produced from low- to moderate-resolution Voyager images. The digital image data have been calibrated using preflight and in-flight calibration data, and reduced to normal albedos for four-color band passes, centered at 0.35, 0.41, 0.48, and 0.59 microns. The individual images have been geometrically corrected, mosaiked, and presented in a normal cylindrical map projection at a uniform scale of 8 km/pixel. Preliminary analysis of the normal albedo data shows that (1) the darkest terrains on the satellites are the dark regions on Callisto, (2) the brightest regions are bright plains regions on Europa and bright, fresh craters on Ganymede, (3) bright craters on Ganymede and its dark, cratered regions are both significantly brighter than comparable terrains on Callisto, and (4) Europa exhibits several distinct spectral units, with regions on the trailing hemisphere having lower relative ultraviolet spectral reflectance than areas on the leading hemisphere. This is consistent with proposals that Io-related plasma impact on Europa's trailing side has altered its optical properties.

Johnson, T. V.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Saturn's E, G, and F rings - Modulated by the plasma sheet?

Saturn's broad E ring, the narrow G ring, and the structured and apparently time-variable F ring(s) contain many micron and submicron-sized particles, which make up the 'visible' component. These rings (or ring systems) are in direct contact with magnetospheric plasma. Fluctuations in the plasma density and/or mean energy, due to magnetospheric and solar wind processes, may induce stochastic charge variations on the dust particles, which in turn lead to an orbit perturbation and spatial diffusion. In addition, Coulomb drag forces may be important, in particular for the E ring. The possibility that electromagnetic effects may play a role in determining the F ring structure and its possible time variations is critically examined. Sputtering of micron-sized dust particles in the E ring by magnetospheric ions yields lifetimes of 100 to 10,000 years. This effect as well as the plasma induced transport processes require an active source for the E ring, probably Enceladus.

Morfill, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The evolution of spokes in Saturn's B ring

Three types of Saturnian ring spoke structure have been observed which are distinguished by their optical appearance. Extended spokes are found inside the corotation radius. They are of irregular shape, with diffuse edges, but often narrowed at large distances. Their width at the base is typically 20,000 km, and their radial extent is 8000 km. The random velocity of their particles is about 2 m/s, and the total kinetic energy of their random velocity component is about 20 billion J. Narrow spokes are observed to cross the corotation distance and are characterized by high-contrast edges. Their number of particles and total energy content are about 10 percent of the values for extended spokes. Filamentary spokes are observed outside approximately 110,000 km and are usually connected to narrow or extended spokes further in. Their width is typically 500 km and their length is about 3000 km. Their number of particles and total energy content are about 0.5 percent of those of an extended spoke.

Gruen, E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

On the evolution of Saturn's 'Spokes' - Theory

Starting with the assumption that negatively charged micron-sized dust grains may be elevated above Saturn's ring plane by plasma interactions, the subsequent evolution of the system is discussed. The discharge of the fine dust by solar UV radiation produces a cloud of electrons which moves adiabatically in Saturn's dipolar magnetic field. The electron cloud is absorbed by the ring after one bounce, alters the local ring potential significantly, and reduces the local Debye length. As a result, more micron-sized dust particles may be elevated above the ring plane and the spoke grows. This process continues until the electron cloud has dissipated.

Morfill, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The giant planets and their satellites - Report on the Cospar Symposium, Ottawa, Canada, May 18-21, 1982

Some symposium lectures on the subject of the giant planets and their satellites are summarized. The general topics addressed include: planetary and satellite interiors and surfaces, satellite tori and plumes, aeronomy and dynamics, interaction of magnetospheric plasma with rings and satellites, plasma physics of the outer planets, and dynamics and electrodynamics of rings.

Kivelson, M. G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The moons of Saturn

Knowledge gained of the 17 Saturn moons with observations by the Voyager spacecraft are reviewed. Titan was found to have the only atmosphere, which is opaque and precludes geologic inferences. Synchronous rotation is experienced by the 14 inner moons, with a constant inner face turned toward the planet. Phoebe is too far away from the planet to lose its spin to planetary tidal forces, and has an orbit inclined 150 deg from the equatorial plane, while Iapetus is inclined 14.7 deg in its orbit. The abundance of ice on the moons is accepted as evidence of condensation formation of the moons at very low temperatures. Newly discovered moons of Saturn, including both the shepherd moons, which are suspected to maintain the rings in place, and the moons discovered by earth-based astronomy, are discussed. Finally, photographs of all the moons are examined for definitive details.

Soderblom, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Volcanic eruptions on Io - Implications for surface evolution and mass loss

Active volcanism on Io results in a continual resurfacing of the satellite. Analysis of required burial rates to erase impact craters, the mass production in the observed plumes, and the energy requirements for the volcanic activity suggest resurfacing rates of 0.001 to 10 cm/yr in recent geologic time. If this rate is typical of the last 4.5 Gyr, then extensive recycling of the upper crust and mantle must have occurred. The currently estimated loss rate of S, O, and Na from Io into the magnetosphere corresponds to only a small fraction of the resurfacing rate and should not have resulted in either extensive erosion or total depletion of any of the escaping species.

Johnson, T. V.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Io's surface - Its phase composition and influence on Io's atmosphere and Jupiter's magnetosphere

The evidence and interpretations pertaining to the surface phase composition of Io and the mechanisms by which Io's surface influences its atmosphere are discussed. The mechanism by which Io's surface and/or atmosphere supplies neutral and ionic species to the region around the satellite and ultimately to the Jovian magnetosphere is also discussed. A model is suggested in which the global SO2 gas abundance is primarily controlled by buffering in the brightest, coldest regions. The net SO2 flux across the disk is limited by regional cold trapping on high albedo regions and possibly by the resistance of a tenuous non-SO2 residual atmosphere. The continuing migration of SO2 toward cooler regions and those lacking SO2 sources is opposed by SO2 destruction and planetary ejection processes, including sputtering, thus preventing buildup of thick, ubiquitous SO2 coverage.

Fanale, F. P.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Radiometric performance of the Voyager cameras

The Voyager Imaging Experiment provided high-quality data of Jupiter and the Galilean satellites with the two flyby trajectories in March and July of 1979. Moderately accurate radiometric measurements have been made using these data. This paper evaluates the radiometric results and describes the inflight and ground geometric and radiometric correction factors. The radiometric quantities of intensity I and geometric albedo I/F are derived, and scaling factors for each of the filters are tabulated for correcting the 'calibrated' data from the Image Processing Laboratory at JPL. In addition, the key characteristics of both Voyager I and Voyager 2 cameras are tabulated.

Danielson, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Voyager search for posteclipse brightening on Io

Results of Voyager observations intended to settle the question of the transient brightening of the Io disk after its emergence from the Jovian shadow are presented. Two observation sequences were obtained on each Voyager flight through the violet filters of the Narrow Angle Cameras at frame intervals of 96 sec. No posteclipse was detected in the disk-integrated brightnesses in any of the sequences to within a few percent accuracy for a time span of up to 30 min following eclipse reappearance. Analysis of several representative individual areas on the disks of Io and Europa confirms the full-disk observations and is in contrast to telescopic observations showing a brightening of 10% just after eclipse which disappears on a time scale of 20 to 15 min. A small amount of brightening lasting about 3 min is found in the south polar region, along with some posteclipse darkening in neighboring regions. Observations imply that yellow sulfur (S8), the reflectance of which changes significantly over the eclipse temperature range, can not be a major constituent of the Io surface, and that the atmospheric column density of SO2 must be significantly less than 0.2 cm-atm at local noon.

Veverka, J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Effects of Io ejecta on Europa

The effects of plasma ejected from Io on the nature and evolution of the surface of Europa and on the relative importance of the roles played by the two satellites in the Jupiter magnetosphere are examined. Observations of an ultraviolet absorption feature on the trailing side of Europa are interpreted as due to an equilibrium column density of SO2 in a steady-state model of the implantation of iogenic ions into the surface of Europa and their subsequent sputtering. The observed sulfur column density of 2 x 10 to the 16th/sq cm implies a slow loss of material from Europa, mainly water ice, and indicates that the spectrum of particles sputtered is soft. Considerations of the comparative roles of corotating and energetic heavy ions are shown to suggest that the implantation and sputtering is primarily the result of the proton and light ion component of the plasma. The weakness of Europa as a plasma source resulting from the soft sputtered particle spectrum thus leads to the dominance of Io in contributing to the magnetospheric plasma.

Eviatar, A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Encounter with Saturn - Voyager 1 imaging science results

As Voyager 1 flew through the Saturn system it returned photographs revealing many new and surprising characteristics of this complicated community of bodies. Saturn's atmosphere has numerous, low-contrast, discrete cloud features and a pattern of circulation significantly different from that of Jupiter. Titan is shrouded in a haze layer that varies in thickness and appearance. Among the icy satellites there is considerable variety in density, albedo, and surface morphology and substantial evidence for endogenic surface modification. Trends in density and crater characteristics are quite unlike those of the Galilean satellites. Small inner satellites, three of which were discovered in Voyager images, interact gravitationally with one another and with the ring particles in ways not observed elsewhere in the solar system. Saturn's broad A, B, and C rings contain hundreds of 'ringlets', and in the densest portion of the B ring there are numerous nonaxisymmetric features. The narrow F ring has three components which, in at least one instance, are kinked and crisscrossed. Two rings are observed beyond the F ring, and material is seen between the C ring and the planet.

Smith, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Volcanic origin of the eruptive plumes on Io

A quadruple long exposure of Io in eclipse exhibits faint auroral emission from the eruptive plumes. No luminous spots in the vents, predicted by Gold, were observed. Heat from the interior of Io appears to be the predominant source of energy in the plume.

Cook, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Heat flow from Io /JI/

The existing ground-based measurements of Io's thermal emission at infrared wavelengths of 8.4, 10.6, and 21 microns have been reexamined. Present in these data is the signature of hot spots, presumably similar to the hot spots seen by the IRIS experiment on Voyager. It is possible to extract from these data the total amount of power radiated. Since the hot spots are believed to be a result of deep-seated activity in Io and since the remainder of Io's surface is an extraordinarily poor thermal conductor, the power radiated by the hot spots is essentially the total heat flow. The analysis yields a heat flow of 2 + or - 1 W/sq m. This value is tremendously large in comparison to the average heat flow of the earth (0.06 W/sq m) and the moon (0.02 W/sq m), but is characteristic of active geothermal areas on the earth. A heat flow this large requires that the interior of Io be at least partially molten on a global scale.

Matson, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The Galilean satellites

The general characteristics of the Galilean satellites, as determined from Voyager data, are described. Attention is then given to the characteristics (surface features, colors, compositions, and geophysical and geochemical processes) of the particular satellites. Particular consideration is given to the nature of Io's atmosphere and to magnetospheric interactions.

Johnson, T. V.↗