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Lyman, P. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Lyman, P. T..

5 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

TAU as Tao

This paper discusses the feasibility of building and launching a truly deep-space spacecraft mission that will penetrate near interstellar space to a depth of one thousand astronomical units (TAU) within a flight time of 50 years. Particular attention is given to the mission profile and to its communications system, power system, and propulsion system. Results of experimental studies indicate that, with advanced technology, reasonable trip times can be achieved and adequate science information can be brought to earth.

Lyman, P. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Communicating across the solar system

The exploration of the solar system by means of spacecraft would not be possible in its present form without the art and science of communications. Particularly exacting requirements arise in connection with the study of the planets and the interplanetary medium beyond the orbit of Jupiter. Developments in technology providing the required communication capability are partly based on the principle of the phase-locked loop as a narrow-band tracking filter. Mission objectives and performance are discussed for Pioneers 10 and 11 and Voyagers 1 and 2 which at present are the only spacecraft beyond the orbit of Jupiter. A description is given of challenges related to communication in the case of the passage of Voyager 2 near Uranus in 1986 and near Neptune in 1989, taking into account the approaches employed to meet these challenges. Attention is given to requirements concerning international cooperation regarding the ground network, the development of interagency and intra-agency arraying, and the improvement of antenna efficiency.

Reid, M. S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Internationally supported data acquisition for solar system exploration in the 1990's

Procedures that could be followed for cooperative agreements between countries with large ground station antennas to help provide mission telemetry support for increasing solar system exploration are outlined. It is noted that mission cost reductions, and thereby greater chances that missions will be approved, are offered by the opportunity to make planetary probes multinational efforts. The Canberra station is a suitable site for the Japanese Planet A Halley's comet intercept probe. The French have requested U.S. cooperation in developing VLBI stations in the L-band to receive signals from the Venus balloons and landers being sent as part of a joint French-Soviet mission to Venus and Halley's comet. The construction of the stations would extend the capabilities already present with NASA's deep space network, particularly for tracking the Voyager visits to Uranus and Neptune.

Reid, M. S.↗