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Miller, M. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Miller, M. S..

12 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Autonomous support for microorganism research in space

A preliminary design for performing on-orbit, autonomous research on microorganisms and cultured cells/tissues is presented. An understanding of gravity and its effects on cells is crucial for space exploration as well as for terrestrial applications. The payload is designed to be compatible with the COMmercial Experiment Transported (COMET) launch vehicle, an orbiter middeck locker interface, and with Space Station Freedom. Uplink/downlink capabilities and sample return through controlled reentry are available for all carriers. Autonomous testing activities are preprogrammed with inflight reprogrammability. Sensors for monitoring temperature, pH, light, gravity levels, vibration, and radiation are provided for environmental regulation and experimental data collection. Additional experiment data acquisition includes optical density measurement, microscopy, video, and file photography. Onboard full data storage capabilities are provided. A fluid transfer mechanism is utilized for inoculation, sampling, and nutrient replenishment of experiment cultures. In addition to payload design, representative experiments were developed to ensure scientific objectives remained compatible with hardware capabilities. The project is defined to provide biological data pertinent to extended duration crewed space flight including crew health issues and development of a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS). In addition, opportunities are opened for investigations leading to commercial applications of space, such as pharmaceutical development, modeling of terrestrial diseases, and material processing.

Luttges, M. W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Aerodynamic flight evaluation analysis and data base update

Research was conducted to determine the feasibility of replacing the Solid Rocket Boosters on the existing Space Shuttle Launch Vehicle (SSLV) with Liquid Rocket Boosters (LRB). As a part of the LRB selection process, a series of wind tunnel tests were conducted along with aero studies to determine the effects of different LRB configurations on the SSLV. Final results were tabulated into increments and added to the existing SSLV data base. The research conducted in this study was taken from a series of wind tunnel tests conducted at Marshall's 14-inch Trisonic Wind Tunnel. The effects on the axial force (CAF), normal force (CNF), pitching moment (CMF), side force (CY), wing shear force (CSR), wing torque moment (CTR), and wing bending moment (CBR) coefficients were investigated for a number of candidate LRB configurations. The aero effects due to LRB protuberances, ET/LRB separation distance, and aft skirts were also gathered from the tests. Analysis was also conducted to investigate the base pressure and plume effects due to the new booster geometries. The test results found in Phases 1 and 2 of wind tunnel testing are discussed and compared. Preliminary LRB lateral/directional data results and trends are given. The protuberance and gap/skirt effects are discussed. The base pressure/plume effects study is discussed and results are given.

Boyle, W. W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Rayleigh lidar observations of gravity wave activity in the upper stratosphere at Urbana, Ill.

During 13 nights of Rayleigh lidar measurements at Urbana, Ill. in 1984 to 1986, thirty-six quasi-monochromatic gravity waves were observed in the 35 to 50 km altitude region of the stratosphere. The characteristics of the waves are compared with other lidar and radar measurements of gravity waves and the theoretical models of wave saturation and dissipation phenomena. The measured vertical wavelengths ranged from 2 to 11.5 km and the measured vertical phase velocities ranged from 10 to 85 cm/s. The vertical wavelengths and vertical phase velocities were used to infer observed wave periods which ranged from 100 to 1000 min and horizontal wavelengths which ranged from 70 to 2000 km. Dominant wave activity was found at vertical wavelengths between 2 to 4 km and 7 to 10 km. No significant seasonal variations were evident in the observed parameters. Vertical and horizontal wavelengths showed a clear tendency to increase with wave periods, which is consistent with recent sodium lidar studies of quasi-monochromatic waves near the mesopause. An average amplitude growth length of 20.9 km for the rms wind perturbations was estimated from the data. Kinetic energy density associated with the waves decreased with height, suggesting that waves in this altitude region were subject to dissipation or saturation effects.

Gardner, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Rayleigh lidar observations of gravity wave activity in the stratosphere and lower mesosphere

Forty-two monochromatic gravity wave events were observed in the 25 to 55 km altitude region during 16 nights of Rayleigh lidar measurements at Poker Flat, Alaska and Urbana, Illinois. The measured wave parameters were compared to previous radar and lidar measurements of gravity wave activity. Vertical wavelengths, lambda(z), between 2 and 11.5 km with vertical phase velocities, c(z), between 0.1 and 1 m/s were observed. Measured values of lambda(z) and c(z) were used to infer observed wave periods, T(ob), between 50 and 1000 minutes and horizontal wavelengths, lambda(x), from 25 to 2000 km. Dominant wave activity was found at vertical wavelengths between 2 to 4 km and 7 to 10 km. No seasonal variations were evident in the observed wave parameters. Vertical and horizontal wavelengths showed a clear tendency to increase with T(ob), which is consistent with recent sodium lidar studies of monochromatic wave events near the mesopause. Measured power law relationships between the wave parameters were lambda(z) varies as T(ob) sup 0.96, lambda(x) varies as T(ob) sup 1.8, and c(z) varies as T(ob) sup -0.85. The kinetic energy calculated for the monochromatic wave events varied as k(z) sup -2, k(x) sup -1, and f(ob) sup -1.7. The atmospheric scale heights calculated for each observation date range from 6.5 to 7.6 km with a mean value of 7 km. The increase of rms wind perturbations with altitude indicated an amplitude growth length of 20.9 km. The altitude profile of kinetic energy density decreased with height, suggesting that waves in this altitude region were subject to dissipation or saturation effects.

Miller, M. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Extraction of topography from side-looking satellite systems A case study with SPOT simulation data

Techniques for reconstructing topographic data from side-looking satellite systems have been developed whereby nadir and off-nadir passes are coaligned to calculate the stereo displacement for each pixel in the nadir view by correlating a small subarea to a corresponding subarea in the off-nadir pass. The correlation algorithm was tested on two pairs of data sets consisting of patterns of bars and boxes and then applied to the SPOT simulation data set. The correlation was a maximum in areas where the relief was changing gradually, while in areas of constantly changing topography, the correlation decreased.

Ungar, S. G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Spatial analysis in recreation resource management for the Berlin Lake Reservoir Project

Spatial analysis of geographic information systems and the acquisition and use of remotely-sensed data within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is an emerging Technology Work units have been developed under te Remote Sensing Research and Development Program, which are most relevant to the productive needs of the Corps in both the military and civil works missions. Corps participation in the SPOT simulation champaign is one such example of this research. This paper describes the application of spatial analysis and remote sensing in recreation resource managmaster planning at the Berlin Lake Reservoir Project within the Pittsburgh District. SPOT simulator data was acquired over Berlin Lake, Site No. 10, on July 8, 1983. The first part of this paper describes the background of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Berlin Lake project, the geographic information system being developed, and the planned use of SPOT and similar data. The remainder of the paper describes the results on an analysis of the simulated SPOT data conducted at the NASA Goddard Institut for Space Studies.

Edwardo, H. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Integration of Landsat data into the Saginaw River Basin geographic information system

One of the objectives of the Saginaw River Basin study is related to the development of a computer model to predict flood damages. The computer model is to be operational in June 1985. In order to achieve this objective, the input of land-use data into a data base consisting of 198,000 grid cells will be required. A planning technique using Spatial Analysis Methodology (SAM) was developed by the Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) to systematically handle these data. The HEC-SAM system uses the spatially oriented map data in a series of data management and analysis software programs for input to the Corps hydrologic and environmental models. Attention is given to data base development, Landsat digital data, the placement of the Landsat data into the grid cell data base, and the development of the land cover classification. The Landsat-2 MSS scene covering 85 percent of the Saginaw River Basin was geometrically corrected to a UTM coordinate system.

Mckim, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Sky input horn for a far-infrared interferometer

A unique design has been developed whereby a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) and a compound elliptical concentrator (CEC) are joined at their throats. The CPC serves as the field-defining optics, in that it accepts up to a certain maximum acceptance angle and then concentrates this accepted energy at its throat. Energy incident from angles greater than the acceptance angle is rejected. The CEC takes the energy concentrated at the CPC throat and then redirects this energy into a finite-sized pupil a given distance away. The considered design will be used as the sky input horn for a cryogenic far-infrared polarizing interferometer to be flown on NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer satellite. The interferometer will operate at 2 K and measure the 3-K cosmic background radiation of the universe in the 100-micrometer-1-cm spectral range.

Miller, M. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Optical design of the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment for NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer

The conceptual design for a ten-band absolute filter photometer (the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment) to operate at 2 K and measure galactic and extragalactic infrared radiation in the 1 to 300-micron range and polarization in the 1 to 3.5-micron range is presented, as part of the NASA Cosmic Background Explorer. The telescope optical design, a Gregorian design incorporating bafffles and shades to provide high stray-light rejection, is described. Pupil nonuniformity in the detector-assembly optical design has been limited. It is determined that detector sensitiity requirements can be met, and that the problem of radiation-induced responsivity variations can be solved by minimizing detector-assembly size, providing for in situ thermal annealing, and allowing for frequent detector calibration. Limitations on mirror performance are to be met by fabricating mirrors and structure from the same aluminum 6061 ingot.

Miller, M. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ultraviolet spectrometer and polarimeter for the Solar Maximum Mission

The detailed optical design of the Solar Maximum Mission-Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter is discussed in conjunction with the scientific objectives that led to the design. The instrument consists of a 1.8-m effective focal length aplanatic Gregorian telescope followed by a 1-m Ebert spectrometer. The design of the Stokes polarimeter is also discussed.

Miller, M. S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An idealized model of homogeneous solid propellant combustion

The idealization of solid propellant combustion which consists of a single condensed-phase reaction and a single gas-phase reaction is discussed. A limiting-case solution to the gas-phase conservation equations is developed and tested by comparison with transformed thermocouple data. Closed-form expressions are derived for the burning rate and temperature sensitivity. Both quantities are linked explicitly to the solid and gas activation energies. It is concluded that the combustion phenomenology associated with the above idealization is still not fully understood. It is suggested that a careful study of the various limiting-case solutions tempered by a small set of numerical benchmark calculations might further such understanding.

Miller, M. S.↗