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At least 217 records · Page 12

Observations of a Unique Type of ULF Waves by Low-altitude ST5 Satellites

We report a unique type of ULF waves observed by low-altitude Space Technology 5 (ST5) constellation mission. ST5 is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 lan, dawn-dusk, and sun synchronous polar orbit with 105.6 inclination angle. Even though the spacecraft are in a high-inclination orbit, the combined effects of the Earth's rotation and dipole tilt allow the spacecraft's dawn-dusk orbit track to reach subauroral latitudes on the day side. Whenever the spacecraft traverse across the dayside closed field line region at sub auroral latitudes they frequently observe strong transverse oscillations at 30-200 mHz, or in the Pc 2-3 frequency range. These Pc 2-3 waves appear as wave packets with durations of the order of 5-10 minutes. As the maximum separations of the ST5 spacecraft are around 10 minutes, the three ST5 satellites often observe very similar wave packets, implying these wave oscillations occur in a localized region. Coordinated ground-based magnetic observations at the spacecraft footprints, however, do not see waves in the Pc 2-3 band; instead, the waves appear to be the common Pc 4-5 waves associated with field line resonances. We suggest that this unique Pc 2-3 waves seen by ST5 are in fact high azimuthal wave number Pc 4-5 waves Doppler-shifted to higher frequencies by the rapid traverse of the spacecraft across the resonant field lines azimuthally at low altitudes. These unique low altitude observations, where the spacecraft motion is mainly azimuthal at subauroral latitudes, reveal the azimuthal wave-number characteristics of the field-aligned resonance signals.

Le, G.↗

The Effect of Non-Harmonic Active Twist Actuation on BVI Noise

The results of a computational study examining the effects of non-harmonic active-twist control on blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise for the Apache Active Twist Rotor are presented. Rotor aeroelastic behavior was modeled using the Comprehensive Analytical Model of Rotorcraft Aerodynamics and Dynamics code and the rotor noise was predicted using the acoustics code PSU-WOPWOP. The application of non-harmonic active-twist inputs to the main rotor blade system comprised three parameters: azimuthal location to start actuation, azimuthal duration of actuation, and magnitude of actuation. The acoustic analysis was conducted for a single low-speed flight condition of advance ratio mu=0.14 and shaft angle-of-attack, a(sub s)=+6deg. BVI noise levels were predicted on a flat plane of observers located 1.1 rotor diameters beneath the rotor. The results indicate significant reductions of up to 10dB in BVI noise using a starting azimuthal location for actuation of 90?, an azimuthal duration of actuation of 90deg, and an actuation magnitude of +1.5 ft-lb.

Fogarty, David E.↗

An Updated Secondary Lunar Meteoroid Ejecta Model for Engineering Design

Introduction: The surface of the Moon is constantly being bombarded by a flux of meteoroids of various sizes. Impacts due to these meteoroids produce secondary ejecta material at much lower speeds but with a total mass larger than the original impactor. Details about the secondary ejecta are important for planning missions on the lunar surface. In this work, an updated ejecta model is presented called the Meteoroid Model of Secondary Ejecta (MeMoSeE), to re-place the Apollo-era ejecta model, NASA SP-8013 [1], in the SLS-SPEC 159 Design Specification for Natural Environments (DSNE) [2]. The model pro-duces secondary ejecta flux environments for a user-specified location on the lunar surface, and sorts the incoming secondary flux by angular direction and speed. Methods: MeMoSeE is separated into three parts: the inputs, the conversion step, and the integration of fluxes. Inputs to the model include the primary meteoroid fluxes and the primary near-Earth object (NEO) fluxes. Meteoroid fluxes, both asteroidal and cometary, are calculated using the Meteoroid Engineering Model (MEM3) [3] for different locations on the Moon. For each surface location, an ephemeris is generated using the JPL HORIZONS System [4] that feeds into MEM3. The NEO fluxes are approximated by the high-density population of MEM3 (i.e., only the directionality), where the speed distribution of the NEO fluxes is renormalized to match observations [5]. The regolith properties are used as defined in the DSNE [2]. The conversion step utilizes scaling laws given by Housen & Holsapple 2011 [6] to convert the primary impactor flux to the total mass of secondary ejecta. The ejecta distribution, at the point-of-impact (POI), is separated into a zenith angle and azimuthal angle distribution. The zenith angle distribution follows a beta distribution where the peak depends on the impact altitude angle and the impact azimuth [7]. We employ an ejecta azimuth distribution that is based on Rival & Mandeville 1999 [8] which focuses ejecta in the downstream direction for more oblique impacts. Finally, during the integration step, we sum secondary ejecta number fluxes at a particular region-of-interest (ROI) that originated from many POI locations over the entire surface of the Moon. We keep track of both altitude and azimuth angle bins as well as a range of speed bins, following the igloo gridding as done in MEM3 [9]. The ejecta particle size distribution and density is assumed to be the same as the lunar regolith [10, 2]. Results: The primary fluxes are computed for one Metonic cycle (19 years) for various locations over the lunar surface with a fixed orientation. Both the angular and speed distributions of the primary fluxes are dependent on the latitude and longitude. The over-all primary fluxes show a roughly 13% increase from the eastern limb to the western limb. In general, the speed distribution of the secondary fluxes span from a user-defined minimum speed to the escape speed of the Moon (2.38 km/s), roughly following a power-law relation [6]. Different parts of the speed distribution come from different primary impact locations on the Moon. The secondary ejecta is dominated by the slowest speeds, where these particles originate nearby the ROI. For speeds around 71% of the escape speed, the secondary ejecta originates from locations near the antipodal point. On the other hand, for secondary ejecta speeds that exceed roughly 90% the escape speed, the ejecta particles come from all over the lunar surface to the ROI. Comparing the secondary ejecta fluxes from MeMoSeE with NASA SP-8013 [1], there is a reduction by about 2-3 orders of magnitude for secondary ejecta particles greater than 1 µg. These estimates agree with recent findings from Bjorkman & Christiansen 2019 [11]. The secondary ejecta fluxes are also compared with the primary fluxes, where the ejecta fluxes are roughly an order of magnitude greater than the primary fluxes. References: [1] Cour-Palais, B. G., (1969) NASA SP-8013. [2] NASA SLS-SPEC-159 Rev. H (2020). [3] Moorhead, A. V., et al. (2019) JS&R, 1-17. [4] Giorgini, J. D., (2015) IAUGA, 29, 2256293. [5] Moorhead, A. V., (2020) Memo OSMA/MEO/Lunar-001. [6] Housen, K. R., and Holsapple, K. A., (2011) Icarus, 211(1), 856-875. [7] Gault, D. E., and Wedekind, J. A., (1978) L&PSCP, 9, 3843-3875. [8] Rival, M., and Mandeville, J., (1999) Space Debris, 1(1), 45-57. [9] Moorhead, A. V., (2019) MEM3 User Guide. [10] Carrier, W. D., (1973) The Moon, 6(3-4), 250-263. [11] Bjorkman, M. D. & Christiansen, E. L., (2019) ODC

impacts↗

Lunar Flight Study Series: Volume 7. Earth-Moon Transit Studies Based on Ephemeris Data and Using Best Available Computer Program: Principles for Reducing Earth-Moon Trajectory Analysis to Fundamentals - 2

This report presents an empirical investigation of earth-to-moon trajectories. The primary objective is to uncover relationships that result in the reduction of mission analysis or trajectory analysis problems to fundamentals. It is considered imperative that the results be accurate to the extent that any relationships that are uncovered are not brought about by simplifying or unrealistic assumptions. Consequently, the model used is as accurate as is presently available for use and the computations are performed under strict error controls. Procedures are reasonable from the engineering viewpoint. Some very helpful principles are uncovered. These may be briefly stated as follows: 1) Trajectories of constant flight time to the moon (in the 66 hour to 90 hour range), and arriving within a few minutes of the same time pass over a common point on the moon regardless of the arrival altitude and inclination, This common point of passage for such a family of trajectories is arbitrarily referred to as a VERTEX point; 2) These VERTEX points lie within a bounded region on the lunar surface as arrival time varies throughout the years, for a given flight time or flight time spread; 3) Increasing flight time results primarily in a longitude shift of the VERTEX point for a given arrival time; 4) Launch azimuth should be treated as a strong parameter regarding its influence on the vertex. Launch azimuth variations up to +/- 20 degrees about 90 degrees can shift the vertex as much as 3 degrees in latitude even when one is free to pick launch time, coast time, and S-IVB burn time appropriately with launch azimuth; and 5) The locus of periselenum, as arrival inclination takes on all possible values, is nearly circular about the vertex point for a given arrival altitude. A publication is now in preparation that applies these principles to much advantage in the solution of various trajectory analysis problems.

LUNAR FLIGHT↗

Lunar orbital photogaphic planning charts for candidate Apollo J-missions

A technique is presented for minimizing Mapping Camera film usage by reducing redundant coverage while meeting the desired sidelap of greater than or equal to 55%. The technique uses the normal groundtrack separation determined as a function of the number of revolutions between the respective tracks, of the initial and final nodal azimuths (or orbital inclination), and of the lunar latitude. The technique is also applicable for planning Panoramic Camera photography such that photographic contiguity is attained but redundant coverage is minimized. Graphs are included for planning mapping camera (MC) and panoramic camera (PC) photographic passes for a specific mission (i.e., specific groundtracks) to Descartes (Apollo 16), for specific missions to potential Apollo 17 sites such as Alphonsus, Proclus, Gassendi, Davy, and Tycho, and for a potential Apollo orbit-only mission with a nodal azimuth of 85 deg. Graphs are also included for determining the maximum number of revolutions which can elapse between successive MC and PC passes, for greater than or equal 55% sidelap and rectified contiguity respectively, for nodal azimuths between 5 deg and 85 deg.

Hickson, P. J.↗

A method for lunar roving vehicle position determination from three landmark observations with a sun compass

A simplified method is described for determining the position of the lunar roving vehicle on the lunar surface during Apollo 15. The method is based upon sun compass azimuth measurements of three lunar landmarks. The difference between the landmark azimuth and the sun azimuth is measured and the resulting data are voice relayed to the Mission Control Center for processing.

Blucker, T. J.↗

Development and application of a method for predicting rotor free wake positions and resulting rotor blade air loads. Volume 1: Model and results

Rotor wake geometries are predicted by a process similar to the startup of a rotor in a free stream. An array of discrete trailing and shed vortices is generated with vortex strengths corresponding to stepwise radial and azimuthal blade circulations. The array of shed and trailing vortices is limited to an arbitrary number of azimuthal steps behind each blade. The remainder of the wake model of each blade is an arbitrary number of trailing vortices. Vortex element end points were allowed to be transported by the resultant velocity of the free stream and vortex-induced velocities. Wake geometry, wake flow, and wake-induced velocity influence coefficients are generated by this program for use in the blade loads portion of the calculations. Blade loads computations include the effects of nonuniform inflow due to a free wake, nonlinear airfoil characteristics, and response of flexible blades to the applied loads. Computed wake flows and blade loads are compared with experimentally measured data. Predicted blade loads, response and shears and moments are obtained for a model rotor system having two independent rotors. The effects of advance ratio, vertical separation of rotors, different blade radius ratios, and different azimuthal spacing of the blades of one rotor with respect to the other are investigated.

Sadler, S. G.↗

Observation of solar particle fluxes over extended solar longitudes.

Detailed particle observations from various Pioneer spacecraft located at different heliolongitudes during the complex solar flare events of Mar. 30 to Apr. 10, 1969, have been utilized to investigate the energy dependence of azimuthal gradients of cosmic ray particles and its effect on the decay of the flare intensity. For an observer located to the east of the centroid of the population, the azimuthal corotation term and the convection term will be additive, resulting in a short decay time constant. An observer located to the west of the centroid of the population will experience a much longer decay time constant, the corotation term partially or completely compensating the loss of particles due to convection. At very low energies, the azimuthal corotation term may even be more than the convection term, thus resulting in a rise in intensity instead of decay during the later part of the event.

Bukata, R. P.↗

A stabilized large-aperture far-infrared telescope gondola

Description of a recently developed balloon-borne 1-m far-infrared telescope designed to carry out astronomical observations and to map radiation from selected areas of the sky. The telescope optical system consists of a conventional Cassegrain arrangement with an f/2 aluminum primary mirror, spherically figured, which feeds a pyrex secondary mirror to produce an f/13.8 beam at the focal plane with a scale of 15.2 arc sec/mm. Three focal planes are provided. The infrared detectors consist of an array of four gallium-doped germanium bolometers fitted within a two-liter helium dewar. An altitude-azimuth mount design is used for attitude control, with the pointing objectives being achieved in two steps. The azimuth control system is capable of operation in a position mode, in which the sensing element is a servo-driven null magnetometer always pointed north, and in an inertial mode, in which the gyro is uncaged and becomes the azimuth reference. The elevation system also operates in both position and inertial modes. An auxiliary position control, powered by an independent battery and controlled by a separate tone command system, is provided in case of a primary system difficulty.

Hazen, N. L.↗

The generation of magnetic fields in astrophysical bodies. X - Magnetic buoyancy and the solar dynamo

The magnetic field appearing as bipolar magnetic regions at the surface of the sun represents the lines of force from a general azimuthal field of the order of 100 gauss somewhere beneath the surface. The amplification time, as a consequence of the nonuniform rotation, is of the order of 10 years. But magnetic buoyancy brings the azimuthal field up through much of the convective zone in a time rather less than 10 years, raising the question of where the azimuthal field can be retained long enough to be amplified. We show that magnetic fields can be retained for long periods of time in the stable radiative region beneath the convective zone, but unfortunately the solar dynamo cannot function there because turbulent diffusion is an essential part of its operation. The only possible conclusion appears to be that the dynamo operates principally in the very lowest levels of the convective zone at depths of 150,000 km or more, where the gas density is 0.1 g/cu cm, and the fields are limited to 50 gauss.

Parker, E. N.↗

Position determination systems

A system for an orbital antenna, operated at a synchronous altitude, to scan an area of a celestial body is disclosed. The antenna means comprises modules which are operated by a steering signal in a repetitive function for providing a scanning beam over the area. The scanning covers the entire area in a pattern and the azimuth of the scanning beam is transmitted to a control station on the celestial body simultaneous with signals from an activated ground beacon on the celestial body. The azimuth of the control station relative to the antenna is known and the location of the ground beacon is readily determined from the azimuth determinations.

Shores, P. W.↗

Effects of stream-associated fluctuations upon the radial variation of average solar-wind parameters

The effects of nonlinear fluctuations due to solar wind streams upon radial gradients of average solar wind parameters are computed, using a numerical MHD model for both spherically symmetric time dependent and corotating equatorial flow approximations. Significant effects of correlations are found between fluctuations upon the gradients of azimuthal magnetic fields, radial velocity, density and azimuthal velocity. Between 400 to 900 solar radii stream interactions have transferred the major portion of the angular momentum flux to the magnetic field; at even greater distances the plasma again carries the bulk of the angular momentum flux. The average azimuthal component of the magnetic field may decrease as much as 10% faster than the Archimedean spiral out to 6 AU due to stream interactions, but this result is dependent upon inner boundary conditions.

Goldstein, B. E.↗

Atmospheric refraction errors in laser ranging systems

The effects of horizontal refractivity gradients on the accuracy of laser ranging systems were investigated by ray tracing through three dimensional refractivity profiles. The profiles were generated by performing a multiple regression on measurements from seven or eight radiosondes, using a refractivity model which provided for both linear and quadratic variations in the horizontal direction. The range correction due to horizontal gradients was found to be an approximately sinusoidal function of azimuth having a minimum near 0 deg azimuth and a maximum near 180 deg azimuth. The peak to peak variation was approximately 5 centimeters at 10 deg elevation and decreased to less than 1 millimeter at 80 deg elevation.

Gardner, C. S.↗

Aircraft measurements of the microwave scattering signature of the ocean

Microwave scattering signatures of the ocean have been measured over a range of surface wind speeds from 3 m/s to 23.6 m/s using the AAFE RADSCAT scatterometer in an aircraft. Normalized scattering coefficients are presented for vertical and horizontal polarizations as a function of incidence angle (nadir to 55 deg) and radar azimuth angle (0 to 360 deg) relative to surface wind direction. For a given radar polarization, incidence angle, and azimuth angle relative to the wind direction, these scattering data exhibit a power law dependence on surface wind speed. The relation of the scattering coefficient to azimuth angle obtained during aircraft circles (antenna conical scans) is anisotropic and suggests that microwave scatterometers can be used to infer both wind speed and direction. These results have been used for the design of the Seasat-A Satellite Scatterometer (SASS) to be flown in 1978 on this first NASA oceanographic satellite.

Jones, W. L.↗

Earth-satellite path attenuation statistics influenced by orientation of rain cells

It is examined whether there may be preferred azimuths for earth-satellite paths along which fading and space diversity statistics are influenced differently than along other azimuths. Such preferred directions may exist if individual rain cells are statistically elongated along them for the given climatological region. The analysis is performed using the rain reflectivity data base obtained at Wallops Island during June, July and August 1973 using a high resolution radar. It is found that in the vicinity of Wallops Island increased attenuation and poorer diversity gains exist along paths whose azimuths and base lines lie in the NE-SW quadrants as compared to the NW-SE sectors. This result suggests the dominance of the major axis of rain cells in these quadrants.

Goldhirsh, J.↗

Geomagnetic pulsations observed simultaneously on three geostationary satellites

Simultaneous observations of magnetic pulsations have been made by three geostationary satellites carrying similar magnetometers and acting as an azimuthal array. Autospectral and cross-spectral analysis yields coherence and phase differences between the pulsations at the satellite positions. The majority of the data fit the Kelvin-Helmholtz generation mechanism. The azimuthal wave number changes sign near noon and corresponds to propagation away from noon. Usually, the wave number is less than 10 deg per degree of longitude. Later in the afternoon, however, strong pulsations are observed with low coherence, implying large wave numbers. This suggests an instability driven by a gradient in the intensity of energetic protons, which may be expected at this local time. The data also suggest that some of the observed phase difference between the azimuthal components is due to small separations in magnetic shell, whereas this is not the case for the radial components. This implies a localized field-line resonance.

Hughes, W. J.↗

Custom large scale integrated circuits for spaceborne SAR processors

The application of modern LSI technology to the development of a time-domain azimuth correlator for SAR processing is discussed. General design requirements for azimuth correlators for such missions as Seasat-A, Venus Orbital Imaging Radar, and Shuttle Imaging Radar are summarized. Several azimuth correlator architectures suitable for implementation using custom LSI devices are described. Technical factors pertaining to selection of appropriate LSI technologies are discussed, and the maturity of alternative technologies for spacecraft application is examined in the context of the expected launch dates. In particular, it is demonstrated that a custom LSI device is practical for a system as complex as the DMSP.

Tyree, V. C.↗

Multibeam synthetic aperture radar for global oceanography

A single-frequency multibeam synthetic aperture radar concept for large swath imaging desired for global oceanography is evaluated. Each beam iilluminates a separate range and azimuth interval, and images for different beams may be separated on the basis of the Doppler spectrum of the beams or their spatial azimuth separation in the image plane of the radar processor. The azimuth resolution of the radar system is selected so that the Doppler spectrum of each beam does not interfere with the Doppler foldover due to the finite pulse repetition frequency of the radar system.

Jain, A.↗