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At least 1,801 records · Page 100

Development update for the NASA Ames 16-Inch Shock Tunnel Facility

Results of ongoing developmental testing in the NASA Ames 16-Inch combustion-driven Shock Tunnel Facility are presented. Specifically, such factors as mixture composition, mixture uniformity, gas-loading methods, ignition energy, number of ignition wires, etc., are examined to determine their effect on combustion performance. A theoretically based hypothesis is introduced to help explain the cause of driver tube pressure oscillations that occur during combustion. In addition to combustion behavior, results from a recently instituted effort to develop self-breaking primary diaphragms, as well as several additional facility enhancements, are discussed.

Cornelison, Charles J.↗

Magellan mapping update - A matter of gravity

In order to obtain gravity data for Venus, the Magellan spacecraft will furnish an unmodulated downlink carrier signal which is coherent with a highly stable uplink from the NASA-JPL Deep Space Network. After the removal of gross Doppler shifts induced by planetary motions and Magellan's primary orbital motion, residual Doppler shifts will indicate miniscule gravity variations in the mass distributions at, and below, the Venusian surface. These gravity measurements are valuable for understanding the nature and origin of features identifiable with imaging data.

Doody, Dave↗

A revised and updated catalog of quasi-stellar objects

The paper contains a catalog of all known quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) with measured emission redshifts, and BL Lac objects, complete to 1992 December 31. The catalog contains 7315 objects, nearly all QSOs including about 90 BL Lac objects. The catalog and references contain extensive information on names, positions, magnitudes, colors, emission-line redshifts, absorption, variability, polarization, and X-ray, radio, and infrared data. A key in the form of subsidiary tables enables the reader to relate the name of a given object to its coordinate name, which is used throughout the compilation. Plots of the Hubble diagram, the apparent magnitude distribution, the emission redshift distribution, and the distribution of the QSOs on the sky are also given.

Hewitt, A.↗

The composition of the cosmic rays - An update

The relative abundances of elements and/or isotopes in the cosmic radiation are the source of information on both the sites of cosmic ray origin and acceleration and the conditions in the interstellar medium through which the particles travel. Recent (1988-90) measurements and interpretations have provided new information on cosmic ray composition and source abundances. These new results are described and compared to previous work.

Wefel, John P.↗

Technical Update: Johnson Space Center system using a solid electrolytic cell in a remote location to measure oxygen fugacities in CO/CO2 controlled-atmosphere furnaces

Details are given for the design and application of a (one atmosphere) redox-control system. This system differs from that given in NASA Technical Memorandum 58234 in that it uses a single solid-electrolytic cell in a remote location to measure the oxygen fugacities of multiple CO/CO2 controlled-atmosphere furnaces. This remote measurement extends the range of sample-furnace conditions that can be measured using a solid-electrolytic cell, and cuts costs by extending the life of the sensors and by minimizing the number of sensors in use. The system consists of a reference furnace and an exhaust-gas manifold. The reference furnace is designed according to the redox control system of NASA Technical Memorandum 58234, and any number of CO/CO2 controlled-atmosphere furnaces can be attached to the exhaust-gas manifold. Using the manifold, the exhaust gas from individual CO/CO2 controlled atmosphere furnaces can be diverted through the reference furnace, where a solid-electrolyte cell is used to read the ambient oxygen fugacity. The oxygen fugacity measured in the reference furnace can then be used to calculate the oxygen fugacity in the individual CO/CO2 controlled-atmosphere furnace. A BASIC computer program was developed to expedite this calculation.

Jurewicz, A. J. G.↗

Update on the incidence and treatment of space motion sickness

Flight surgeons routinely monitor crew symptoms and treatment of space motion sickness (SMS), not only during flight, but also to obtain information postflight from each crewmember. Recent statistics indicate that the incidence of SMS has not changed since STS-26 in Sep. 1988. The percentages of mild, moderate, and severe cases has only changed slightly. However, the treatment of SMS has significantly changed since STS-26. Scopolamine/dexedrine is no longer used as a prophylaxis for SMS symptoms because of evidence of delay in symptoms. Intramuscular promethazine has been used in more than 30 individuals with a reported decrease in symptoms greater than 90 percent. A delay in symptoms has not been reported, and the duration of certain SMS symptoms has decreased due to use of intramuscular promethazine. Case studies will be discussed and several therapeutic options and doses will be demonstrated. Further treatment possibilities will be examined.

Beck, Bradley G.↗

LDEF Update

This video explores the research being done on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), a satellite carrying 57 experiments designed to study the effects of the space environment, which had been in orbit for almost 6 years, and was retrieved and brought back to Earth by the Space Shuttle astronauts. The video shows scenes of the retrieval of LDEF, as well as scenes of ongoing research into the data returned with the satellite from experiments on external coating, contamination of optical materials by thermal control paint, the effects of cosmic rays on different materials, and the effect of the space environment on 12 million tomato seeds that have since been planted.

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Venus' impact-crater database: Update to approximately 98 percent of the planet's surface

A total of 912 impact craters between 1.5 and 280 km in diameter have now been identified on about 98% of Venus' surface. This total includes an additional 71 craters (mostly in the southern hemisphere) not in the crater inventory given in Schaber et al. for 89% of the planet. (Extrapolated to 100% of the surface, the inventory should consist of 930 craters greater than 1.5 km in diameter.) The total crater inventory for 98% of the planet is only slightly larger (912 versus 882) than that extrapolated from the inventory of 135 craters when only 15% of the planet had been mapped by Magellan. The remarkably consistent density of about 2.02 impact craters per 10(exp 6) sq km emphasizes the completely random nature of the crater population's distribution. About 400 craters recognized from Magellan mapping have been assigned names.

Schaber, Gerald G.↗

Cometary interplanetary dust particles? An update on carbon in anhydrous IDPS

Chondritic anhydrous interplanetary dust particles (IDP's) are widely considered to be the most pristine samples available for the study of the early solar system because of their primitive mineralogy, chemistry, and isotopic characteristics. Previously, anhydrous IDP's were analyzed quantitatively for light elements and found that these particles have significantly higher bulk carbon abundances than known chondritic meteorites. A relationship between carbon abundance and silicate mineralogy was also identified which, in general, shows that particles dominated by pyroxenes have a higher carbon abundance than those dominated by olivines. Particles containing equal amounts of olivine and pyroxene show a range of carbon contents and can be grouped with either the pyroxene- or olivine-dominated particles based on their carbon abundance. It was suggested that high carbon pyroxene-rich IDP's are derived from cometary sources. Bulk compositions and mineralogy of our additional IDP's were determined; one particle has the highest carbon abundance reported in IDP's or any other chondritic material, with the possible exception of the carbon-rich Halley particles.

Thomas, K. L.↗

Mission operations update for the restructured Earth Observing System (EOS) mission

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Earth Observing System (EOS) will provide a comprehensive long term set of observations of the Earth to the Earth science research community. The data will aid in determining global changes caused both naturally and through human interaction. Understanding man's impact on the global environment will allow sound policy decisions to be made to protect our future. EOS is a major component of the Mission to Planet Earth program, which is NASA's contribution to the U.S. Global Change Research Program. EOS consists of numerous instruments on multiple spacecraft and a distributed ground system. The EOS Data and Information System (EOSDIS) is the major ground system developed to support EOS. The EOSDIS will provide EOS spacecraft command and control, data processing, product generation, and data archival and distribution services for EOS spacecraft. Data from EOS instruments on other Earth science missions (e.g., Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)) will also be processed, distributed, and archived in EOSDIS. The U.S. and various International Partners (IP) (e.g., the European Space Agency (ESA), the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) of Japan, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)) participate in and contribute to the international EOS program. The EOSDIS will also archive processed data from other designated NASA Earth science missions (e.g., UARS) that are under the broad umbrella of Mission to Planet Earth.

Kelly, Angelita Castro↗

Cycle life versus depth of discharge update on modeling studies

The topics are presented in viewgraph form and cycle life vs. depth of discharge data for the following are presented: data as of three years ago; Air Force/Crane-Fuhr-Smithrick; Ken Fuhr's Data; Air Force/Crane Data; Eagle-Pitcher Data; Steve Schiffer's Data; John Smithrick's Data; temperature effects; and E-P, Yardney, and Hughes 26% Data. Other topics covered include the following: LeRC cycling tests of Yardney Space Station Cells; general statements; general observations; two different models of cycle life vs. depth of discharge; and other degradation modes.

Thaller, Lawrence H.↗

Development of nickel-metal hydride cell: An update

This paper presents in viewgraph format an overview of NASDA's evaluation of commercial nickel metal-hydride (Ni-MH) cells and the development and testing of Ni-MH cells for use in space. The commercial cells are concluded to be feasible and suitable for use in LEO; for GEO, the durability for overcharge is needed because long-term charge retention is required. For the aerospace Ni-MH cell design, two activation procedures are applied to evaluate the effect of the difference in the amount of overcharge protection and precharge. Specific energy of the Ni-MH cell is nearly accomplished at 50 Wh/kg. Initial characteristics indicate the effect derived from precharge. Thirty-five amp-hour class Ni-MH cells have good performance for LEO cycle of 25 and 40 percent DOD up to 3000 cycles as similar to commercial cells. The effect of the difference in the amount of overcharge protection will appear in life test.

Kuwajima, S.↗

An update on Lab Rover: A hospital material transporter

The development of a hospital material transporter, 'Lab Rover', is described. Conventional material transport now utilizes people power, push carts, pneumatic tubes and tracked vehicles. Hospitals are faced with enormous pressure to reduce operating costs. Cyberotics, Inc. developed an Autonomous Intelligent Vehicle (AIV). This battery operated service robot was designed specifically for health care institutions. Applications for the AIV include distribution of clinical lab samples, pharmacy drugs, administrative records, x-ray distribution, meal tray delivery, and certain emergency room applications. The first AIV was installed at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. Lab Rover was beta tested for one year and has been 'on line' for an additional 2 years.

Mattaboni, Paul↗

Update on Douglas' high-speed civil transport studies

A summary is presented of high speed civil transport (HSCT) studies underway at Douglas Aircraft. A brief review is given of experience with design and development of advanced supersonic transport concepts and associated technology. A review is then presented of past NASA funded contract research studies focused on selection of appropriate concepts for high speed civil transport aircraft to be introduced in the year 2000 time frame for commercial service. Follow-on activities to those studies are then presented which were conducted under independent research studies as well as under further NASA funded efforts. Design Mach number selections and associated baseline design missions are then discussed along with forecasted passenger traffic and associated supersonic fleet sizes, and then proceeds into a discussion of individual issues related either to environmental acceptability or overall technology requirements in order to achieve the required economic viability of the program. A summary is given of current and future plans and activities.

Bunin, Bruce L.↗

Advanced integrated life support system update

The Advanced Integrated Life Support System Program (AILSS) is an advanced development effort to integrate the life support and protection requirements using the U.S. Navy's fighter/attack mission as a starting point. The goal of AILSS is to optimally mate protection from altitude, acceleration, chemical/biological agent, thermal environment (hot, cold, and cold water immersion) stress as well as mission enhancement through improved restraint, night vision, and head-mounted reticules and displays to ensure mission capability. The primary emphasis to date has been to establish garment design requirements and tradeoffs for protection. Here the garment and the human interface are treated as a system. Twelve state-off-the-art concepts from government and industry were evaluated for design versus performance. On the basis of a combination of centrifuge, thermal manikin data, thermal modeling, and mobility studies, some key design parameters have been determined. Future efforts will concentrate on the integration of protection through garment design and the use of a single layer, multiple function concept to streamline the garment system.

Whitley, Phillip E.↗

Dryden Summer 1994 Update

This video presents a complete, technically detailed report on all Dryden projects, achievements, and employee activities for 1994.

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Update of the 2 Kw Solar Dynamic Ground Test Demonstration Program

The Solar Dynamic (SD) Ground Test Demonstration (GTD) program demonstrates the operation of a complete 2 kW, SD system in a simulated space environment at a NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) thermal-vacuum facility. This paper reviews the goals and status of the SD GTD program. A brief description of the SD system identifying key design features of the system, subsystems, and components is included. An aerospace industry/government team is working together to design, fabricate, assemble, and test a complete SD system.

Shaltens, Richard K.↗

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