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At least 217 records · Page 12

NEXT Long-Duration Test Plume and Wear Characteristics after 16,550 h of Operation and 337 kg of Xenon Processed

The NASA s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) program is developing the next-generation ion propulsion system with significant enhancements beyond the state-of-the-art. The NEXT ion propulsion system provides improved mission capabilities for future NASA science missions to enhance and enable Discovery, New Frontiers, and Flagship-type NASA missions. As part of a comprehensive thruster service life assessment utilizing both testing and analyses, a Long-Duration Test (LDT) was initiated to validate and qualify the NEXT propellant throughput capability to a qualification-level of 450 kg, 1.5 times the mission-derived throughput requirement of 300 kg. This wear test is being conducted with a modified, flight-representative NEXT engineering model ion thruster, designated EM3. As of June 25, 2008, the thruster has accumulated 16,550 h of operation: the first 13,042 h at the thruster full-input-power of 6.9 kW with 3.52 A beam current and 1800 V beam power supply voltage. Operation since 13,042 h, i.e., the most recent 3,508 h, has been at an input power of 4.7 kW with 3.52 A beam current and 1180 V beam power supply voltage. The thruster has processed 337 kg of xenon (Xe) surpassing the NSTAR propellant throughput demonstrated during the extended life testing of the Deep Space 1 flight spare. The NEXT LDT has demonstrated a total impulse of 13.3 106 N s; the highest total impulse ever demonstrated by an ion thruster. Thruster plume diagnostics and erosion measurements are obtained periodically over the entire NEXT throttle table with input power ranging 0.5 to 6.9 kW. Observed thruster component erosion rates are consistent with predictions and the thruster service life assessment. There have not been any observed anomalous erosion and all erosion estimates indicate a thruster throughput capability that exceeds ~750 kg of Xe, an equivalent of 36,500 h of continuous operation at the full-power operating condition. This paper presents the erosion measurements and plume diagnostic results for the NEXT LDT to date with emphasis on the change in thruster operating condition and resulting impact on wear characteristics. Ion optics grid-gap data, both cold and operating, are presented. Performance and wear predictions for the LDT throttle profile are presented.

Herman, Daniel A.↗

Cost Validation Using PRICE H

PRICE H was introduced into the JPL cost estimation tool set circa 2003. It became more available at JPL when IPAO funded the NASA-wide site license for all NASA centers. PRICE H was mainly used as one of the cost tools to validate proposal grassroots cost estimates. Program offices at JPL view PRICE H as an additional crosscheck to Team X (JPL Concurrent Engineering Design Center) estimates. PRICE H became widely accepted ca, 2007 at JPL when the program offices moved away from grassroots cost estimation for Step 1 proposals. PRICE H is now one of the key cost tools used for cost validation, cost trades, and independent cost estimates.

cost estimation↗

Evaluation of CLARA-A2 and ISCCP-H Cloud Cover Climate Data Records over Europe with ECA&D Ground-Based Measurements

Clouds are of high importance for the climate system but they still remain one of its principal uncertainties. Remote sensing techniques applied to satellite observations have assisted tremendously in the creation of long-term and homogeneous data records; however, satellite data sets need to be validated and compared with other data records, especially ground measurements. In the present study, the spatiotemporal distribution and variability of Total Cloud Cover (TCC) from the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF) Cloud, Albedo And Surface Radiation dataset from AVHRR data—edition 2 (CLARA-A2) and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project H-series (ISCCP-H) is analyzed over Europe. The CLARA-A2 data record has been created using measurements of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument onboard the polar orbiting NOAA and the EUMETSAT MetOp satellites, whereas the ISCCP-H data were produced by a combination of measurements from geostationary meteorological satellites and the AVHRR instrument on the polar orbiting satellites. An intercomparison of the two data records is performed over their common period, 1984 to 2012. In addition, a comparison of the two satellite data records is made against TCC observations at 22 meteorological stations in Europe, from the European Climate Assessment & Dataset (ECA&D). The results indicate generally larger ISCCP-H TCC with respect to the corresponding CLARA-A2 data, in particular in the Mediterranean. Compared to ECA&D data, both satellite datasets reveal a reasonable performance, with overall mean TCC biases of 2.1 and 5.2% for CLARA-A2 and ISCCP-H, respectively. This, along with the higher correlation coefficients between CLARA-A2 and ECA&D TCC, indicates the better performance of CLARA-A2 TCC data.

Tzallas, Vasileios↗

Robust control systems design by H-infinity optimization theory

In this paper, step-by-step procedures of applying the H-infinity theory to robust control systems design are given. The objective of the paper is to eliminate the possible difficulties a control engineer may encounter in applying H-infinity control theory and to clear up some misconceptions about H-infinity theory like high-gain controller and numerical obstacles, etc. An efficient algorithm is used to compute the optimal H-infinity norm. The Glover and Doyle (1988) controller formulas are slightly modified and used to construct an optimal controller without any numerical difficulties.

Chang, B. C.↗

Iterative computation of the optimal H(infinity) norm by using two-Riccati-equation method

The two-Riccati-equation method solution to a standard H(infinity) control problem can be used to characterize all possible stabilizing optimal or suboptimal H(infinity) controllers if the optimal or suboptimal H(infinity) norm is available in the literature. An iterative algorithm for computing the optimal H(infinity) norm is proposed. The algorithm employs fixed-point, double secant and bisection to guarantee a super linear convergence.

Chang, B. C.↗

Densities and vibrational distribution of H(3+) in the Jovian auroral ionosphere

The assumption that H(3+) is in LTE in the region of the Jovian ionosphere from which the emissions originate is tested by calculating the vibrational distribution of H(3+) over the altitude range of 350 to 1500 km above the methane cloud tops. A model of the Jovian auroral ionosphere is constructed in which the neutral temperatures are enhanced over those of the midlatitude ionosphere, as suggested by observations and models of the auroral region. The energy and energy flux were found to be less than those involved in the production of the UV aurora. A computation of the densities and vibrational distribution shows that the distribution of the six lowest states of H(3+) can be determined fairly well in spite of uncertainties in the atomic and molecular data. The computed altitude profiles and vibrational distributions of H(3+) and H2 are consistent with the observations of IR emission in the 2- and 4-micron regions.

Kim, Y. H.↗

Multi-slit spectrograph and H alpha Doppler system

Description of the design and operation of a multiple-entrance-slit spectrograph, built for time-lapse photography of the spectra of flares and other transient solar phenomena. This spectrograph employs narrow-band filters to limit the wavelength range of the spectrograph to a few angstroms centered at H-alpha or other spectral lines. A polarizing beamsplitter, prior to the slits, provides a prefiltered second solar image to a narrow band H-alpha Doppler filter for simultaneous photography in the wings of the H-alpha line. The spectrograph and the H-alpha Doppler system constitute a flexible instrument in which components may be substituted to achieve different passband widths, image scales, dispersions, and corresponding numbers and spacings of adjacent spectra at a selected wavelength.

Martin, S. F.↗

H/+/ and He/2+/ in the dawnside magnetosheath

Mass and energy analyses of energetic ions in the dawnside magnetosheath have been made by the energetic ion composition experiment on the ISEE-1 spacecraft over the energy range 10 eV/e to 17 keV/e. The significant observations are: the bulk flows of the H(+) and He(2+) components determined from first moments of the distributions averaged over several minutes are equal within the uncertainties of the measurement. The H(+) and He(2+) distributions are similar in that they both show temperature anisotropies with perpendicular temperature not less than parallel temperature; however, the distributions are not well characterized by temperatures derived from second moments. In at least one case high energy tails of both distributions can be characterized by an additional higher temperature component. The major difference between the H(+) and He(2+) distributions is the depletion of the low velocity (in the center of mass frame) part of the He(2+) distributions, relative to the H(+) distributions.

Peterson, W. K.↗

Origin of volatile-rich H chondrites with light/dark structures

The light and dark fractions of four gas-rich, brecciated H chondrites are studied in terms of petrography and volatile element chemistry in an investigation of the origin of light/dark chondrites. Petrographic constraints on the nature of the light and dark fractions of the meteorites are presented. Light clasts within the brecciated H chondrites are more highly metamorphosed than dark host material, and olivine, pyroxene and metal compositions suggest that dark fractions consist of mixtures of unequilibrated material and pulverized equilibrated H chondrite similar to the light clasts. Volatile element concentrations in the dark fractions are similar to those in the least equilibrated H3 chondrites, and no petrographic evidence for admixture of significant amounts of carbonaceous chondrite was noted. It is concluded that volatile-rich H chondrite breccias may not have incorporated carbonaceous chondrite dust as the volatile element carrier.

Mcsween, H. Y., Jr.↗

The H-alpha/H-beta ratio in solar flares

The present investigation involves the study of an extensive body of data accumulated of simultaneous H-alpha and H-beta cinematography of flares. The data were obtained with two telescopes simultaneously photographing flares in H-alpha and H-beta. The results of measurements in a number of flares are presented in a table. The flares were selected purely by optical quality of the data. That the measured ratios are not too different from those in stellar flares is suggested by the last two columns of the table. These columns show that a variety of possible line width ratios could give an integrated intensity ratio of less than unity.

Zirin, H.↗

Chemical characteristics and origin of H chondrite regolith breccias

Petrologic data and contents of Ag, Bi, Cd, Co, Cs, Ga, In, Rb, Se, Te, Tl and Zn-trace elements spanning the volatility/mobility range-in light and dark portions of H chondrite regolith breccias and L chondrite fragmental breccias are reported. The chemical/petrologic characteristics of H chondrite regolith breccias differ from those of nonbrecciated chondrites or fragmental breccias. Petrologic characteristics and at least some trace element contents of H chondrite regolith breccias reflect primary processes; contents of the most volatile/mobile elements may reflect either primary or secondary processing, possibly within layered H chondrite parent object(s). Chemical/petrologic differences existed in different regions of the parent(s). Regoligh formation and gardening and meteoroid compaction were not so severe as to alter compositions markedly.

Lipschutz, M. E.↗

A study of flare buildup from simultaneous observations in microwave, H-alpha, and UV wavelengths

The results of high-resolution observations of the solar preflare activity of June 25, 1980 are analyzed. The observations were carried out simultaneously in the UV microwave, and H-alpha wavelengths using the VLA, the Ottawa River photoheliograph, and the Solar Max spectrometer and polarimeter instruments. Increases were observed in the intensitiy and polarization of compact sources at a wavelength of 6-cm during the preflare hour. The increases were associated with rising and twisting motions in the magnetic loops near the sight of the subsequent flare. Consistent with this process, analysis of the transverse and Doppler motions observed in the H-alpha filament before disruption showed that the filament was activated internally by the motions of evolving magnetic flux patterns. Ultraviolet data for C IV brightenings and upflows at the first appearance of the H-alpha filament indicated the presence of rising magnetic loops and material rising within the loops. The complete VLA, microwave and H-alpha data sets are given.

Kundu, M. R.↗

H-1 NMR study of ternary ammonia-alkali metal-graphite intercalation compounds

For the first-stage ternary ammonia-alkali metal-graphite intercalation compounds M(NH3)(x)C24(x of about 4, M = K, Rb, Cs), three sets of triplet H-1 NMR spectral lines have been observed at various temperatures and orientations due to the H-1 - H-1 and N-14 - H-1 dipolar interactions. The structures of these compounds have been inferred as mobile (liquid-like) intercalant layers of planar M(NH3)4 ions in between the carbon layers. For the intercalated ammonia molecules, the potential barrier is about 0.2 eV and the molecular geometry is very close to the free NH3 in gas phase.

Tsang, T.↗

Measurement of H(sub c1) in a single crystal of YBa2Cu3O7 with low pinning

The measurement of H(sub c1) in barium yttrium copper oxide (BYCO) is often ambiguous because the presence of large pinning forces makes it difficult to discern exactly where the first deviation from linearity occurs. In addition there are complications because demagnetizing factors are often not well known. By utilizing a single crystal of YBCO with a nearly cubic shape, the uncertainty in the demagnetizing factor was minimized. In addition, the crystal used exhibited a very small amount of pinning with H applied perpendicular to the c axis, and a sharp break in the initial magnetization vs. field curve could be observed over a wide range of temperature. This allowed a precise determination of H(sub c1). The measured values of H(sub c1) could be well described by the Abrikosov relation with a Ginzburg-Landau parameter which varied linearly with temperature.

Kaiser, D. L.↗

Images in the rocket ultraviolet - Young clusters in H II regions of M83

UV images of M83 at 1540 and 2360 A reveal 18 compact sources that are associated with H II regions. E(B - V) values were estimated individually from the observed UV and optical colors and the Galactic UV extinction curve, using theoretical flux distributions. The dereddened colors are consistent with ages up to 3 x 10 to the 6th yr. A maximum possible age of 6.5 x 10 to the 6th yr is obtained assuming foreground reddening only. The distribution of observed colors is consistent with the Galactic reddening curve but not with enhanced far-UV extinction, as in the LMC 30 Dor curve. The H-alpha fluxes suggest either that dust within the H II regions absorbs up to 70 percent of the Lyman continuum radiation or that a similar fraction of the H-alpha flux is below the surface brightness detection limit. Cluster mass estimates depend on the range of stellar masses present but are probably in the range 10,000-100,000 solar masses.

Bohlin, Ralph C.↗

Analysis of hydrogen H-alpha observations of the coma of Comet P/Halley

The Monte Carlo Particle Trajectory Model of Combi and Smyth (1988) is used here to analyze observations of the H-alpha coma of Comet Halley. The solar excitation mechanism for the H-alpha emissions line is described. The H2O production rates derived for the H-alpha brightness measurements are shown to be very consistent with the H2O production rates determined from other Comet Halley observations of the H, O, and OH comae. Revised H2O production rates determined from 6300 A brightness measurements are presented.

Smyth, William H.↗

Roosevelt County 075: A petrologic chemical and isotopic study of the most unequilibrated known H chondrite

Roosevelt County (RC) 075 was recovered in 1990 as a single 258-gram stone. Classification of this meteorite is complicated by its highly unequilibrated nature and its severe terrestrial weathering, but we favor H classification. This is supported by O isotopes and estimates of the original Fe, Ni metal content. The O isotopic composition is similar to that of a number of reduced ordinary chondrites (e.g., Cerro los Calvos, Willaroy), although RC 075 exhibits no evidence of reduced mineral compositions. Chondrule diameters are consistent with classification as an L chondrite, but large uncertainties in chondrule diameters of RC 075 and poorly constrained means of H, L and LL chondrites prevent use of this parameter for reliable classification. Other parameters are compromised by severe weathering (e.g., siderophile element abundances) or unsuitable for discrimination between unequilibrated H, L and LL chondrites (e.g., Co in kamacite delta C-13). Petrologic subtype 3.2 +/- 0.1 is suggested by the degree of olivine heterogeneity, the compositions of chondrule olivines, the thermoluminescence sensitivity, the abundances and types of chondrules mapped on cathodoluminescence mosaics, and the amount of presolar SiC. The meteorite is very weakly shocked (S2), with some chondrules essentially unshocked and, thus, is classified as an H3.2(S2) chondrite. Weathering is evident by a LREE enrichment due to clay contamination, reduced levels of many siderophile elements, the almost total loss of Fe, Ni metal and troilite, and the reduced concentrations of noble gases. Some components of the meteorite (e.g., type IA chondrules, SiC) appear to preserve their nebular states, with little modification from thermal metamorphism. We conclude that RC 075 is the most equilibrated H chondrite yet recovered and may provide additional insights into the origin of primitive materials in the solar nebula.

Mccoy, T. J.↗

Seasonal Variations of Water Vapor in the Lower Stratosphere Inferred from ATMOS/ATLAS-3 Measurements of H(sub 2)O and CH(sub 4)

Stratospheric measurements of H(sub 2)O and CH(sub 4) by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) Fourier transform spectrometer on the ATLAS-3 Shuttle flight in November 1994 have been used to investigate the altitude and geographic variability of H(sub 2)O and the quantity H(Eta?) = (H(sub 2)O + CH(sub 4)) in the tropics and at mid-latitudes (8-49in the northern hemisphere.

H2O CH4 ATMOS ATLAS-3 stratospheric water vapor↗