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At least 199 records · Page 11

Digital processing of the Mariner 10 images of Venus and Mercury

An extensive effort was devoted to the digital processing of the Mariner 10 images of Venus and Mercury at the Image Processing Laboratory of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This effort was designed to optimize the display of the considerable quantity of information contained in the images. Several image restoration, enhancement, and transformation procedures were applied; examples of these techniques are included. A particular task was the construction of large mosaics which characterize the surface of Mercury and the atmospheric structure of Venus.

Soha, J. M.↗

New Martian satellite search

The approach pictures taken by the Viking 1 and Viking 2 spacecrafts two days before their Mars orbital insertion maneuvers were analyzed in order to search for new satellites within the orbit of Phobos. To accomplish this task, search procedure and analysis strategy were formulated, developed and executed using the substantial image processing capabilities of the Image Processing Laboratory at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The development of these new search capabilities should prove to be valuable to NASA in processing of image data obtained from other spacecraft missions. The result of applying the search procedures to the Viking approach pictures was as follows: no new satellites of comparable size (approx. 20 km) and brightness to Phobos or Demios were detected within the orbit of Phobos.

Source record↗

Velocity-resolved observations of water in Comet Halley

An infrared spectrum of comet Halley was recorded at the Kuiper Airborne Observatory with an instrumental velocity resolution of 1.1 km/sec. A total of 13 emission lines in the 2.65 micron spectral region were assigned to neutral gaseous H2O : 10 in the 001 to 000 band and 3 in the hot 011 to 010 band. The position and widths of these lines are functions of the gas velocity field in the coma. Analysis indicates that the neutral gas outflow is widely dispersed about the nucleus. This spectroscopic picture is consistent with spacecraft images that show multiple jets releasing material into most of the sunfacing hemisphere.

Larson, Harold P.↗

The polarization phase difference of orchard trees

An image obtained by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's airborne L-band polarimeter (SAR) over an agricultural area near Fresno, California, was analyzed for the signatures of polarization phase difference (PPD). The PPD of orchard trees was found to be distinctly different from that of bare fields or fields covered with other crops. Thus the PPD signatures obtained from a polarimeter may be useful in the understanding of the radar remote sensing of the earth's surface.

Wang, James R.↗

Program Processes SAR Data

MacMultiview is interactive software tool for Macintosh II family of computers enabling one to display, and make computations using, polarimetric radar data collected by Jet Propulsion Laboratory's imaging SAR (synthetic-aperture radar) polarimeter system. Provides two basic functions: synthesis of polarimetric images and computation of polarization signatures. System includes single-frequency L-band sensor mounted on NASA CV990 aircraft and its replacement, multifrequency P-, L-, and C-band sensors mounted on NASA DC-8 airplane. Written in C.

Norikane, Lynne↗

Acousto-optic tunable filter multispectral imaging system

This paper discusses recent activities of Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the development of a new type of remote sensing multispectral imaging instruments using acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) as programmable bandpass filter. This remote sensor provides real-time operation; observational flexibility; measurements of spectral, spatial, and polarization information using a single instrument; and compact, solid state structure without moving parts. Two microcomputer-controlled AOTF imaging spectrometer breadboard systems were designed and built. One operates in the wavelength range of 0.48-0.76 micron and the other in the range of 1.2-2.5 micron. Experiments were performed using these two systems to observe geological and botanical objects in laboratory and outdoor environment. Results have demonstrated the feasibility of using the AOTF multispectral imaging system as a real-time versatile remote sensor with operational flexibility for future Army tactical applications.

Cheng, Li-Jen↗

Effects of the LDEF environment on the Ag/FEP thermal blankets

This presentation was made by Francois Levadou at the NASA Langley Research Center LDEF materials workshop, November 19-22, 1991. It represents the results to date on the examination of silvered teflon thermal blankets primarily from the Ultra-heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment and also from the blanket from the Park Seed Company experiment. ESA/ESTEC and Boeing conducted a number of independent measurements on the blankets and in particular on the exposed fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP) layer of the blankets. Mass loss, thickness, and thickness profile measurements have been used by ESA, Boeing, and NASA LeRC to determine recession and average erosion yield under atomic oxygen exposure. Tensile strength and percent elongation to failure data, surface characterization by ESCA, and SEM images are presented. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory analysis of vacuum radiation effects is also presented. The results obtained by the laboratories mentioned and additional results from the Aerospace Corporation on samples provided by Boeing are quite similar and give confidence in the validity of the data.

Levadou, Francois↗

Fluid-acoustic interactions in a low area ratio supersonic jet ejector

An experimental investigation carried out to determine aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of a low area ratio rectangular jet ejector is reported. A supersonic primary jet issuing from a rectangular convergent-divergent nozzle of aspect ratio 4, into a rectangular duct of area ratio 3, was used. Improved performance was found when the ejector screech tone is most intense and appears to match the most unstable Strouhal number of the free rectangular jet. When the primary jet was operating at over and ideally expanded conditions, significant noise reduction was obtained with the ejector as compared to a corresponding free jet. Application of particle image velocimetry to high speed ejector flows was demonstrated through the measurement of instantaneous two dimensional velocity fields.

Krothapalli, Anjaneyulu↗

Discovery of an obscured low luminosity active nucleus in the spiral galaxy NGC 4258

The spectra and images of the nearby jet galaxy NGC 4258 (M106) obtained with ASCA indicate presence of several distinct X-ray emission components. The emission above 3 keV is pointlike and coincident in position with the optical nucleus, exhibiting a hard (photon index approximately 1.78) and absorbed N(sub H) approximately 1.5 x 10(exp 23) cm(exp -2) spectrum. This provides clear evidence that NGC 4258 hosts an obscured active nucleus of low luminosity, about 4 x 10(exp 40) ergs s(exp -1) in 2-10 keV after removing the absorption. Iron K-line emission with an equivalent width 0.25 +/- 0.10 keV was detected. The emission below 1 keV is dominated by an extended approximately 4 min thin-thermal component with a temperature approximately 0.5 keV exhibiting atomic emission lines, possibly associated with the jet. There exists a third continuum component with an intermediate spectral hardness, which is brightest at approximately 1 min south-east of the nucleus.

Makishima, Kazuo↗

Slitless Solar Spectroscopy

Spectrographs have traditionally suffered from the inability to obtain line intensities, widths, and Doppler shifts over large spatial regions of the Sun quickly because of the narrow instantaneous field of view. This has limited the spectroscopic analysis of rapidly varying solar features like, flares, CME eruptions, coronal jets, and reconnection regions. Imagers have provided high time resolution images of the full Sun with limited spectral resolution. In this paper we present recent advances in deconvolving spectrally dispersed images obtained through broad slits. We use this new theoretical formulation to examine the effectiveness of various potential observing scenarios, spatial and spectral resolutions, signal to noise ratio, and other instrument characteristics. This information will lay the foundation for a new generation of spectral imagers optimized for slitless spectral operation, while retaining the ability to obtain spectral information in transient solar events.

Davila, Joseph M.↗

Slitless Spectroscopy

Spectrographs have traditionally suffered from the inability to obtain line intensities, widths, and Doppler shifts over large spatial regions of the Sun quickly because of the narrow instantaneous field of view. This has limited the spectroscopic analysis of rapidly varying solar features like, flares, CME eruptions, coronal jets, and reconnection regions. Imagers have provided high time resolution images of the full Sun with limited spectral resolution. In this paper we present recent advances in deconvolving spectrally dispersed images obtained through broad slits. We use this new theoretical fomulation to examine the effectiveness of various potential observing scenarios, spatial and spectral resolutions, signal to noise ratio, and other instrument characteristics. This information will lay the foundation for a new generation of spectral imagers optimized for slitless spectral operation, while retaining the ability to obtain spectral information in transient solar events.

Davila, Joseph M.↗

Flow Fields of Internally Mixed Exhaust Systems With External Plug For Supersonic Transport Applications

Commercial supersonic vehicles of the future will likely use engines with lower bypass ratios, where the design of the internal mixer will have a strong impact on the noise produced by the jet plume. Their exhaust systems may also feature external plugs to improve boattail angle for cruise performance at supersonic speeds. Currently there are no publicly available empirical noise models for such nozzle systems, and insight into their flow fields will help in creating these models. For those attempting to make large eddy simulations and other higher fidelity methods be their main prediction tool, the internally mixed exhaust system is also a good test case when going beyond simple single-stream jets. The turbulent flow statistics of several configurations previously tested for noise and shocks have been measured for flow conditions that can be used in development of empirical models and validating scale-resolving prediction tools. These measurements are presented and briefly analyzed for insights into the noise impacts from the flow impacts observed.

Turbulence, Jets, Particle Image velocimetry↗

Stardust Encounters Comet 81P/Wild 2

Stardust successfully encountered comet 81P/Wild 2 on 2 January 2004 at a distance of 236.4 +/- 1 km. All encounter investigations acquired valuable new and surprising findings. The time-of-flight spectrometer registered 29 spectra during flyby and measured the first negative ion mass spectra of cometary particles. The dust detectors recorded particles over a broad mass range, 10(exp -11) to 10(exp -4) g. Unexpectedly, the dust distribution along Stardust's flight path was far from uniform, but instead occurred in short 'bursts', suggesting in-flight breakup of fragments ejected from the nucleus. High-resolution, stunning images of the Wild 2 surface show a diverse and complex variety of landforms not seen from comets 1P/Halley and 19P/Borrelly or icy satellites of the outer solar system. Longer-exposure images reveal large numbers of jets projected nearly around the entire perimeter of the nucleus, many of which appear to be highly collimated. A triaxial ellipsoidal fit of the Wild 2 nucleus images yields the principal nucleus radii of 1.65 X 2.00 X2.75 km (+/- 0.05 km). The orientations and source locations on the nucleus surface of 20 highly collimated and partially overlapping jets have been traced. There is every indication that the expected samples were successfully collected from the Wild 2 coma and are poised for a return to Earth on 15 January 2006.

Stardust mission↗

Spatially resolved polarization swings in the supermassive binary black hole candidate OJ 287 with first Event Horizon Telescope observations

We present the first Event Horizon Telescope 1.3 mm observations of the supermassive binary black hole candidate OJ 287. The observations achieved an unprecedented angular resolution of 18 μas and reveal significant structural and polarization variability over just five days, marking the shortest timescale on which such changes have been directly imaged in this source. The inner jet exhibits a twisted ridgeline structure, with features displaying apparent superluminal motions up to about 22 c. The linear polarization maps reveal three main polarized features whose electric-vector position angles (EVPAs) change substantially over the time span of our observations, including a component with a radial polarization consistent with being produced by a recollimation shock. Most notably, we directly resolved two innermost jet components whose EVPAs rotate in opposite directions. The faster component, moving at 2.4 ± 0.9 μas/day (17.4 ± 6.5 c), exhibits counterclockwise EVPA swings of roughly 3.7° per day, while the slower component, with a proper motion of 1.4 ± 0.3 μas/day (10.2 ± 2.2 c), rotates clockwise at approximately 2.5° per day. Previous studies inferred helical magnetic fields in AGN jets from time-resolved or integrated polarization variability but lacked the angular resolution to directly image this effect. Our results provide spatially resolved evidence that a helical magnetic field threads the jet’s collimation and acceleration zone, ruling out models based on the superposition of unresolved components. Our analysis suggests that propagating shocks interact with a Kelvin–Helmholtz plasma instability, illuminating different phases of the helical magnetic field and producing the observed polarization spatial and temporal variability. Moreover, our model naturally accounts for the more rapid polarization rotation observed in the faster moving component. Our model predicts even more rapid swings in polarization, which could be tested with future observations featuring a more densely sampled time coverage.

OJ 287↗

Tidal Control of Jet Eruptions on Enceladus as Observed by Cassini ISS between 2005 and 2007

Observations of Enceladus have revealed active jets of material erupting from cracks on its south polar surface. It has previously been proposed that diurnal tidal stress, driven by Enceladus' orbital eccentricity, may actively produce surface movement along these cracks daily and thus may regulate when eruptions occur. Our analysis of the stress on jet source regions identified in Cassini ISS images reveals tidal stress as a plausible controlling mechanism of jet activity. However, the evidence available in the published and preliminary observations of jet activity between 2005 and 2007 may not be able to solidify the link between tidal stress and eruptions from fissures. Ongoing, far more comprehensive analyses based on recent, much higher resolution jetting observations have the potential to prove otherwise.

Hurford, T. A.↗

Mars Odyssey: Off-nadir Imaging

Science Objectives for off-nadir imaging: a) Daily observations of high activity and high interest targets in the Polar Regions; b) Daily imaging of regions of gas jetting through vents and the formation of dark spots and fans; c) Increases likelihood of observing these processes in an active phase; d) Stereo imaging for geographical analysis and landing site characterization; and e) Fill in existing gaps and gores.

off nadir imaging↗

Measurements of Infrared and Acoustic Source Distributions in Jet Plumes

The aim of this investigation was to use the linear phased array (LPA) microphones and infrared (IR) imaging to study the effects of advanced nozzle-mixing techniques on jet noise reduction. Several full-scale engine nozzles were tested at varying power cycles with the linear phased array setup parallel to the jet axis. The array consisted of 16 sparsely distributed microphones. The phased array microphone measurements were taken at a distance of 51.0 ft (15.5 m) from the jet axis, and the results were used to obtain relative overall sound pressure levels from one nozzle design to the other. The IR imaging system was used to acquire real-time dynamic thermal patterns of the exhaust jet from the nozzles tested. The IR camera measured the IR radiation from the nozzle exit to a distance of six fan diameters (X/D(sub FAN) = 6), along the jet plume axis. The images confirmed the expected jet plume mixing intensity, and the phased array results showed the differences in sound pressure level with respect to nozzle configurations. The results show the effects of changes in configurations to the exit nozzles on both the flows mixing patterns and radiant energy dissipation patterns. By comparing the results from these two measurements, a relationship between noise reduction and core/bypass flow mixing is demonstrated.

Agboola, Femi A.↗

High-Speed Schlieren Analysis of Retropropulsion Jet in Mach 10 Flow

High-speed schlieren imaging of a 5-in.-diam, 70° sphere-cone model with a single centerline 15° half-angle nozzle was performed in a Mach 10 flow. Image sequences captured at 100 kHz were obtained with the nozzle plugged (fully blunted model), no nozzle flow, and with nozzle flow over a range of supply pressures. The freestream unit Reynolds number was kept constant for all runs at3.38×106m−1. Time-average information pertaining to the location, width, and stand-off distance of the bow shock, interface, terminal shock, and triple point as a function of jet pressure ratio are presented based on analysis of covariance images from each run. Measurement of jet plume boundary shape as a function of jet pressure ratio is also presented. Analyses of frequency content associated with the jet structure are shown, as are results of the proper orthogonal decomposition of these data. For all runs with nozzle flow, a dominant fundamental frequency of 2 kHz was observed. Finally, a discussion of bow shock unsteadiness resulting from interaction with freestream disturbances for the blunted and no nozzle flow is provided, as is a discussion on the formation of weak waves emanating from the bow shock resulting from this interaction.

Brett F Bathel↗