Power Systems Research at MSFC
Power system developments for rockets and space flights - fuel cells, improved zinc-silver oxide battery, brushless dc motors, switching transformer regulator, and Pegasus electricity
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Power system developments for rockets and space flights - fuel cells, improved zinc-silver oxide battery, brushless dc motors, switching transformer regulator, and Pegasus electricity
Electrical power systems for earth orbital and lunar surface missions
The large-scale field collection of acoustic data and their analysis are described in this review. The entire sound-field program has the purpose of solving complex problems of excessive noise propagation associated with the static test firing of large space-booster powerplants. The site of data collection has been Mississippi Test Facility (MTF), where far-field sound-propagation and correlated meteorological measurements were initiated in 1962. The statistical evaluation of sound-measurement data shows that the polar distribution of sound in the springtime (at MTF) is determined mainly by the temperature field of the atmosphere. Greater deformation of sound-intensity polar distribution occurs in the autumn as a result of the influence of the wind field. The data on sound attenuation as a function of distance from its source revealed attenuation in excess of the expected magnitude. The excess was mainly between 1 and 10 kilometers from the source, with maximum attenuation (17 to 18 decibels) near 6 kilometers. Excess sound attenuation was compared with calculated sound dispersion. For all sound frequencies in all seasons the deviation between reference and empirical attenuation values formed a bell-shaped distribution on a semilogarithmic plot. The physical causes for the sound- attenuation behavior are considered to be atmospheric diffraction and scattering effects. Statistical analysis of sod-intensity extremes indicated amplification of the sound signals by focusing which could be expected along selected azimuths. Empirical amplification values showed the maximum occurring in winter (50 decibels at 22 kilometers). For the analysis of correlation between empirical sound data and local atmospheric sound- propagation conditions, #e concept of analytical classification of sound-velocity profiles has been developed. Examination of over a quarter-million individual sound-velocity profiles indicates that 33 profile types for heights up to 3 kilometers constitute the empirical possibilities of sound-propagation conditions in southeastern United States. Since the focusing qualities of each sound- velocity profile can be determined as a class characteristic, the overall probabilities of focusing occurrence can he obtained. The severity of focusing, as based upon lateral spread of focusing areas, has been determined. The data for MTF indicate focusing is most severe in winter, with the direction toward east being most affected. Sound propagation is a fluctuating phenomenon because atmospheric conditions vary continuously. A measuring system for analyzing the nonstationary sound-propagation phenomena has been established. The analysis of the acoustic fluctuation data is sup- posed to provide "dynamic” perturbation functions of sound, which are to be superimposed on the related characteristic sound-velocity-profile type. The ultimate result of the program will be the establishment of reliable contingency tables showing the relationship between atmospheric parameters and far-field sound intensities. These data will be the basis for more accurate sound-propagation forecasting for static firing tests.
Three IBM 7094 computer. program used in the thermal design of spacecraft will be discussed. The first program is one used for integrating spectral reflectance or emittance. The second program calculates the percent time a satellite spends in the earth's shadow during a revolution about the earth. And the third program is called our General Space Thermal Program and is used to calculate satellite temperatures throughout a revolution about the earth.
Manufacturing research in support of Saturn V - time-temperature as common denominator in welding, pink ruby laser for drilling and welding, and magnetic-field tools
Research on thermal space environment, computer programs for thermal control, emissivity, space effects on thermal control coatings, infrared physics, and thermal flight experiments
Cryogenic technology research dealing with fluid mechanics, propellant storage, and instrumentation in support of space vehicle programs
Aerodynamics research in rarefied gas dynamics, base heating, and turbulent fluctuations
Automatic atmospheric measuring system at Marshall Space Flight Center
Communication system research on hydrogen maser, solid state image converter, and telemetry signal propagation
Hydrogen maser potential as stable frequency reference for precision tracking systems
Nuclear and space radiation effects on materials and components used in space vehicles
Thermoconductivity of coating materials used on space radiators
Nondestructive testing infrared and ultrasonic inspection, and high density slurries for propellant tank testing
Atmospheric dynamics, and statistical description of turbulence
Ultrahigh frequency transmitter and telemetry development
Electrical power systems applicable to earth orbital and lunar surface missions
Earth, moon, and interplanetary trajectories in astrodynamics research project