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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1963

Spin Investigation Of A 1/20-Scale Model Of An Unswept-Wing, Twin-Engine, Observation Airplane

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 20-foot free-spinning tunnel on a 1/20-scale model of an unswept-wing, twin-engine, observation airplane. The effects of control settings and movements on the erect spin and recovery characteristics for the normal loading and the most rearward center-of-gravity loading (external wing tanks full) were determined. Also, tests were made to determine the effect on the spin and recovery characteristics of a large radar store, of empty and full external wing tanks, and of an asymmetrical condition when one empty or one full external wing tank is carried. Spin-recovery parachute tests were also performed. The results of the tests indicate that erect spins obtained on the airplane for the normal loading should be satisfactorily terminated by rudder reversal to full against the spin, ailerons moved to with the spin, followed one-half turn later by forward movement of the stick to neutral. With the radar store, with wing tanks empty, or with an asymmetrical condition when one empty tank is on either wing, satisfactory recoveries can be obtained by using the same technique as for the normal loading. Recoveries for the model with a rearward center-of-gravity loading (external wing tanks full) or with a full tank on the wing inboard of the spin axis will be slow to unsatisfactory with rudder reversal to full against the spin followed by brisk forward stick movement. With a full tank on the wing outboard of the spin axis, the recoveries will be satisfactory. Spins in the landing configuration should be terminated by first retracting the flaps, slats, and landing gear, after which recovery should be attempted immediately by using the recovery technique recommended for the normal loading condition. Inverted spins can be satisfactorily terminated by rudder reversal to full against the spin followed by neutralization of the longitudinal and lateral controls. A 12.7-foot-diameter tail parachute with a towline length of 21.7 feet and a drag coefficient of 0.65 should be satisfactory for recoveries from erect and inverted demonstration spins when used simultaneously with movement of rudder to neutral.

SPIN↗
NASA NTRS2012

Decadal Trends in Abundance, Size and Condition of Antarctic Toothfish in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, 1972-2010

We report analyses of a dataset spanning 38 years of near-annual fishing for Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni, using a vertical setline through the fast ice of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, 1972-2010. This constitutes one of the longest biological time series in the Southern Ocean, and certainly the longest for any fish. Fish total length, condition and catch per unit effort (CPUE) were derived from the more than 5500 fish caught. Contrary to expectation, length-frequency was dominated by fish in the upper half of the industrial catch. The discrepancy may be due to biases in the sampling capabilities of vertical (this study) versus benthic (horizontal) fishing gear (industry long lines), related to the fact that only large Antarctic toothfish (more than 100 cm TL) are neutrally buoyant and occur in the water column. Fish length and condition increased from the early 1970s to the early 1990s and then decreased, related to sea ice cover, with lags of 8 months to 5 years, and may ultimately be related to the fishery (which targets large fish) and changes in the Southern Annular Mode through effects on toothfish main prey, Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum. CPUE was constant through 2001 and then decreased dramatically, likely related to the industrial fishery, which began in 1996 and which concentrates effort over the Ross Sea slope, where tagged McMurdo fish have been found. Due to limited prey choices and, therefore, close coupling among mesopredators of the Ross Sea, Antarctic toothfish included, the fishery may be altering the trophic structure of the Ross Sea.

Ainley, David G.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The rate coefficient for the O/+/ + N2 reaction in the ionosphere

The rate coefficient for the reaction O(+) + N2 yields NO(+) + N is determined as a function of temperature from the photochemistry of NO(+) for both day and night conditions by using a large sample of simultaneous measurements of ion and neutral concentrations and temperatures made by the Atmosphere Explorer C satellite. The results cover the ion temperature range from 500 to 1200 K. Using recent flow-drift-tube results, the rate coefficient is calculated as a function of ion temperature and mean ion drift velocity for ionospheric conditions. The satellite and laboratory determinations are found to be in good agreement. Using this temperature dependence, an earlier determination of the dissociative recombination coefficient of NO(+) with electrons is refined.

Torr, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Vorticity and divergence in the high-latitude upper thermosphere

Measurements made from the Dynamics Explorer-2 satellite in November 1981 through January 1982 and November 1982 through January 1983 have been analyzed to determine the divergence and the vertical component of vorticity of the high-latitude neutral wind field in the upper thermosphere for quiet (Kp not greater than 3) and active (Kp between 3+ and 6) geomagnetic conditions and for both Northern (winter) and Southern (summer) Hemispheres. This analysis provides the first experimental determination of the large-scale vorticity and divergence patterns in the polar thermosphere and provides insight into the relative strengths of the different sources of momentum and energy responsible for driving the winds. The principal findings from this work include the following: the mean neutral wind pattern is dominated by rotational flow rather than by divergent flow, with a typical vorticity:divergence ratio of about 2:1 for active conditions and about 4:1 for quiet conditions. Comparison of the divergence and vorticity patterns for quiet and active conditions indicates that the divergent component of the neutral flow intensifies more significantly with increasing geomagnetic activity than does the rotational component.

Thayer, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Tidal decomposition of zonal neutral and ion flows in the earth's upper equatorial thermosphere

Evidence is presented for strong coupling between the diurnal components of zonal neutral winds and ion drifts, suggesting that the relative importance of the E- and F-region dynamos be reevaluated. Measurements of zonal neutral winds in the equatorial region of the earth's thermosphere at an average altitude of about 350 km show that the nighttime zonal winds are very similar to the zonal ion-drifts. That similarity is examined, comparing the corresponding tidal components of the 24 hr variations of these two parameters. The amplitude spectrum of the neutral winds exhibits primary and secondary maxima at the diurnal and ter-diurnal frequencies respectively, while the ion-drift spectrum shows only the diurnal maximum. It is found that the simularity between neutral winds and ion-drifts is strongest in the diurnal mode where the phases differ by less than one half hour, the amplitude of the ion-drift being between 70 percent and 80 percent that of the neutral wind, suggesting a first-order relation between the two quantities. The largest difference is found in the steady component representing superrotation; under similar conditions of solar activity, the ions superrotate with a velocity of about 30 m/s and the neutrals with 10 m/s. For the ions, the steady component, the phase of the semi-diurnal component and the amplitude of the ter-diurnal component appear to be sensitive to solar activity and are responsible for the observed solar cycle variations in the times of eastward-to-westward reversals between 0400 and 0700 LT. The ion-drift diurnal amplitude and phase are relatively insensitive to changes in solar activity.

Herrero, F. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The effect of realistic conductivities on the high-latitude neutral thermospheric circulation

The dynamics of the high latitude thermosphere are dominated by the ion circulation pattern driven by magnetospheric convection. The reaction of the neutral thermosphere is influenced by both the magnitude of the ion convection velocity and by the conductivity of the thermosphere. Using a three-dimensional, time-dependent, thermospheric, neutral model together with different ionospheric models, the effect of changes in conductivity can be assessed. The ion density is described by two models: the first is the empirical model of Chiu (1975) appropriate for very quiet geomagnetic conditions, and the second is a modified version of the theoretical model of Quegan et al. (1982). The differences in the neutral circulation resulting from the use of these two ionospheric models emphasizes the need for realistic high latitude conductivities when attempting to model average or disturbed geomagnetic conditions, and a requirement that models should couple realistically the ionosphere and the neutral thermosphere. An attempt is made to qualitatively interpret some of the features of the neutral circulation produced at high latitudes by magnetospheric processes.

Fuller-Rowell, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Laboratory Spectroscopy of Large Carbon Molecules and Ions in Support of Space Missions

One of the major objectives of Laboratory Astrophysics is the optimization of data return from space missions by measuring spectra of atomic and molecular species in laboratory environments that mimic interstellar conditions (WhitePaper (2002, 2006)). Among interstellar species, PAHs are an important and ubiquitous component of carbon-bearing materials that represents a particularly difficult challenge for gas-phase laboratory studies. We present the absorption spectra of jet-cooled neutral and ionized PAHs and discuss the implications for astrophysics. The harsh physical conditions of the interstellar medium have been simulated in the laboratory. We are now, for the first time, in the position to directly compare laboratory spectra of PAHs and carbon nanoparticles with astronomical observations. This new phase offers tremendous opportunities for the data analysis of current and upcoming space missions geared toward the detection of large aromatic systems (HST/COS, FUSE, JWST, Spitzer).

Salana, Farid↗
NASA NTRS1993

The ISM in the M82 starburst

We have observed (O 1) (63 microns) and (Si 2) (35 microns) in the central 700 pc of the starburst galaxy M82. The luminosities in these transitions are 7.1 x 10(exp 7) solar luminosity and 6.2 x 10(exp 7) solar luminosity, respectively, which are each approx. 0.15% of the bolometric luminosity from this region. The ratios of (O 1) line luminosity to (O 3), (Si 2) (35 microns), and to bolometric luminosities in M82 are similar to those in M42, M17, and Sgr A. These similarities, and the association of the bulk of the (O 1) and (Si 2) emission with the ionized emission, suggest that the dominant emission mechanism for (O 1) and (Si 2) in M82 is the same as in these Galactic regions, namely warm gas photodissociated by UV flux from the OB stars responsible for the nearby H 2 regions. We argue that shock or x ray heated gas or H 2 plasma is a minor contributor to the intensities of these fine structure lines. Both the (O 1) (53 microns) and the (Si 2) (35 microns) spectrum show an asymmetric line profile indistinguishable in shape from those of the (O 3) (52 and 88 microns) and (N 3) (57 microns) lines and similar to that of the more extended (C 2) 158 micron line measured previously in M82. We detect two distinct velocity components, which we attribute to emission from two regions at either end of the central bar, where the bar connects to an orbiting torus of neutral gas seen in H 1 and CO J = 1-0. We model separately the two velocity components and derive the physical conditions in these two regions. The clouds in these regions are small, R approx. 1-2 pc, have warm neutral gas surfaces, T approx. 200 K, and are concentrated with volume filling factors of approx. 0.02 and area filling factors of 1-5. The entire central region (R approx. 700 pc) is characterized by a large number, approx. 5 x 10(exp 4), of 2 x 10(exp 3) solar mass clouds with surface densities of approx. 3 x 10(exp 4) cm(exp -3), illuminated by FUV fluxes 10(exp 4) times the average local interstellar value for the Milky Way. These clouds reside in the harsh conditions of a starburst nucleus, with photoevaporation times of 10(exp 6) yr, and collision timescales only about an order of magnitude longer.

Lord, Steven↗
NASA NTRS1972

Seasonal effects on distributions of minor neutral constituents in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere.

Calculations have been made of the diurnal variations in minor neutral constituents in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere for the condition of 60 deg latitude, summer and winter. Excited molecular oxygen has been added, and the effects of absorption of Schumann-Runge bands have been taken into account. The results show significant seasonal differences, which may be interpreted mainly in terms of the difference of penetration of solar radiation and the duration of sunlit hours. However, the comparison of the observed seasonal and diurnal variations in the airglow emissions from hydroxyl, atomic oxygen (5577 A), and excited molecular oxygen with those calculated from models suggests that effects of large-scale meridional circulation (horizontal and vertical transports) may be important in explaining these observations. It is shown that the concentration of the constituents whose main loss mechanism is recombination with atomic oxygen decreases sharply above 80 km.

Shimazaki, T.↗
NASA NTRS1972

On the balance of stresses in the plasma sheet.

The stress resulting from magnetic tension on the neutral sheet must, in a steady state, be balanced by any one or a combination of (1) a pressure gradient in the direction along the axis of the tail, (2) a similar gradient of plasma flow kinetic energy, and (3) the tension resulting from a pressure anisotropy within the plasma sheet. Stress balance in the first two cases requires that the ratios h/LX and BZ/BX be of the same order of magnitude, where h is the half-thickness of the neutral sheet, LX is the length scale for variations along the axis of the tail, and BZ and BX are the magnetic field components in the plasma sheet just outside the neutral sheet. The second case requires, in addition, that the plasma flow speed within the neutral sheet be of the order of or larger than the Alfven speed outside the neutral sheet. Stress balance in the third case requires that just outside the neutral sheet the plasma pressure obey the marginal firehose stability condition.

Rich, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Study of neutral composition of lower thermosphere at Fort Churchill.

On Feb. 4 and 6, 1969, and May 11, 1970, Aerobee rockets carrying neutral mass spectrometers were flown at Fort Churchill, Canada during conditions of low geomagnetic activity. As in earlier flights at White Sands, New Mexico, each rocket carried both 'open' and 'closed' ion source instruments. Vertical profiles of N2, O2, O, Ar, and He were measured. Results obtained were essentially the same as those observed at White Sands except that for the winter flights helium appeared to be in diffusive equilibrium.

Nier, A. O.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Determination of electron temperature in a penning discharge by the helium line ratio method

The helium line ratio technique was used to determine electron temperatures in a toroidal steady-state Penning discharge operating in helium. Due to the low background pressure, less than .0001 torr, and the low electron density, the corona model is expected to provide a good description of the excitation processes in this discharge. In addition, by varying the Penning discharge anode voltage and background pressure, it is possible to vary the electron temperature as measured by the line ratio technique over a wide range (10 to 100+ eV). These discharge characteristics allow a detailed comparison of electron temperatures measured from different possible line ratios over a wide range of temperatures and under reproducible steady-state conditions. Good agreement is found between temperatures determined from different neutral line ratios, but use of the helium ion line results in a temperature systematically 10 eV high compared to that from the neutral lines.

Richardson, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Quantitative calculations of helium ion escape fluxes from the polar ionospheres

An attempt is made to reduce the discrepancy between the earlier theoretical model and the recent experimental observations of H(+) outward fluxes for winter and summer hemispheres by improving the theoretical model. The helium photoionization cross sections used are accurate to 10%, the latest solar EUV fluxes measured by the Atmosphere Explorer satellites are incorporated, and the most recent MSIS model of the neutral atmosphere is contained in the model. A range of conditions covering solar cycle, seasonal, and geomagnetic conditions are studied. The results show a maximum H(+) escape flux of 1.4 times 10 to the 7th per sq cm per sec for solar maximum, winter, low magnetic activity conditions, which is within the scatter of the measured fluxes. The computed summer H(+) escape flux is a factor of 20 lower than the winter value. Possible reasons for the slight discrepancy between theory and experiment in summer are discussed.

Raitt, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The latitudinal variation of the charge exchange induced atomic hydrogen escape flux

Using plasma data from the Isis 2 spacecraft and Arecibo radar, diffusive equilibrium models of the ionosphere were constructed for equinox conditions. These plasmaspheric models were combined with models of the neutral atmosphere to calculate the atomic hydrogen escape flux due to charge exchange between thermal protons and to calculate cooler hydrogen and oxygen atoms as a function of dipole latitude and local time. These calculations showed that the daytime escape flux increases as the absolute value of the dipole latitude decreases, reaching its maximum value at the magnetic equator. At 15 hours local time (LT) on March 23, 1972, the calculated escape flux varied from an insignificant amount at 55 deg dipole latitude, to 3 x 10 to the 8th atoms/sq cm sec at the magnetic equators.

Maher, L. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A new determination of the ultraviolet heating efficiency of the thermosphere

Experimental measurements of relevant parameters over the last five years have made possible an accurate reassessment of the thermospheric heating efficiency for solar ultraviolet photons. The outcome of a steady state calculation applicable to mid-latitudes is reported here. The results are found to be significantly different from an earlier determination, both in magnitude and in variation with altitude. The heating efficiency is approximately 50% near the peak of the extreme ultraviolet energy deposition and falls to approximately 10% near 400 km. The implications for the understanding of the thermospheric energy budget are significant. The various energy channels by which solar energy is transferred to the neutral atmosphere are quantified and summer/winter and solar maximum/solar minimum conditions are compared.

Torr, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The zonally averaged circulation, temperature, and compositional structure of the lower thermosphere and variations with geomagnetic activity

A zonally averaged chemical-dynamical model of the thermosphere is used to examine the effect of high-latitude particle and Joule heating on the neutral composition, temperature, and winds at solstice for solar minimum conditions. The meridional circulation forced by solar heating alone is a summer-to-winter flow, with a winter enhancement in atomic oxygen. The high-latitude heat sources drive mean circulation cells that reinforce the solar-driven circulation in the summer hemisphere and oppose this circulation in the winter hemisphere. The changes in wind and temperature caused by the high-latitude heat sources increase the relative concentration of N2 and O2 in the high-latitude upper thermosphere and decrease the O concentration in the high-latitude lower thermosphere. For prolonged moderate levels of geomagnetic activity the peak atomic oxygen density in the polar regions can decrease by factors of 2-3 from geomagnetic quiet conditions.

Roble, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1939

Tests of an N.A.C.A. 23012 Airfoil with a slotted deflector flap

Section aerodynamic characteristics of a large-chord N.A.C.A. 23012 airfoil with a slotted deflector flap were obtained in the N.A.C.A. 7- by 10-foot wind tunnel. The characteristics of an N.A.C.A. slotted flap and of a simple split flap are included for comparison. The slotted deflector flap was found to have a somewhat lower maximum lift coefficient and somewhat higher drag at high lift coefficients than the N.A.C.A. slotted flap. The high drag of the open slot with the deflector flap neutral indicates that the slot should be closed for this condition.

House, R O↗
NASA NTRS1994

IR excitation of contaminant water by oxygen for the space shuttle at low Earth orbit altitude

As the water outgas of a space shuttle passes through the rarefied atmosphere at orbital altitude, collisions occur between the gases with sufficient energy to excite infrared-active water molecules to various vibrational and rotational states. An infrared contaminant model (IR model) has been developed to study the shuttle-induced excitation and emission of water molecules outgassed from the space shuttle. The focus of the first application of the model is translation-to-vibration (T-V) energy transfer since estimates suggest that this process should dominate the production of vibrationally excited H2O under typical low Earth orbit conditions. Using the velocity and position distribution functions of interacting neutral gases obtained from a neutral gases interaction model, the spatial distributions of excitation and IR radiation from contaminant water are computed, and typical results are presented. Infrared spectral data (450 - 2500/cm), measured by the Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle (CIRRIS-1A) sensor on STS-39 (April 28 to May 6, 1991) at an altitude near 265 km, are used to test model predictions. The dependence of the radiant emission structure and brightness on outgassing rates and altitudes is discussed. The time history of the contaminant water outgassing rate is inferred for STS-39, and it is compared with the mass-spectrometer-based results for STS-4 (June 26 to July 4, 1982). Also, estimates of H2O column density at mission elapsed time (MET) 50 hours are compared for missions STS-2, STS-3, STS-4, and STS-39.

Zhou, D. K.↗