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At least 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA's Progress Toward Commercial Space Communications — SATCOM Demonstrations and Wideband Multilingual Terminal Development

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program is continuing to forge a path toward programmatic and operational transformation enabling commercialization of communications and navigation services to the greatest extent possible for near Earth users. U.S. National Space Policy is driving government agencies to incorporate commercial offerings and services to the maximum extent possible. As such, NASA has no plans to build or deploy additional Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS), but will seek to fill NASA mission space-relay capability needs using commercial satellite communications (SATCOM) providers and services. The goal is to support an approach that is both flexible to commercial service constructs and provides continuity of support with current assets as long as required. Progress toward commercial services is advancing in two key areas: (1) awards have been made for demonstrations of SATCOM services, and (2) development of wideband and multilingual user terminals has advanced to the flight demonstration phase. The Communications Services Project (CSP) at Glenn Research Center (GRC), has awarded Funded Space Act Agreements (FSAA) to six industry vendors. Inmarsat Government Inc., Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS) LLC, SES Government Solutions, Space Exploration Technologies, Telesat U.S. Services LLC, and Viasat Incorporated will receive a combined $278.5 million to complete technology development and in-space demonstrations over the next several years. The end-to-end service capabilities being targeted are based on existing NASA mission operational needs. Accordingly, each company has proposed a technical approach to lower costs, increase flexibility, and improve performance for a broad range of missions. In the current market, industry vendors operate at a range of different frequencies and use variable, sometimes proprietary, coding and modulations schemes. As NASA strives for a network comprised of services provided by multiple distinct suppliers, interoperability is a fitting solution to unify the network. Wideband and multi-lingual user terminals are being developed to bridge differences in industry services. Building on ground demonstrations completed in 2021, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL) will be flight testing a multi-lingual wideband terminal (payload) and demonstrating connectivity to both government and commercial relay services. This paper provides a discussion of the progress toward NASA’s commercial space communications goals and consideration of key challenges and next steps.

commercialization↗
NASA NTRS1991

Fourier functional analysis for unsteady aerodynamic modeling

A method based on Fourier analysis is developed to analyze the force and moment data obtained in large amplitude forced oscillation tests at high angles of attack. The aerodynamic models for normal force, lift, drag, and pitching moment coefficients are built up from a set of aerodynamic responses to harmonic motions at different frequencies. Based on the aerodynamic models of harmonic data, the indicial responses are formed. The final expressions for the models involve time integrals of the indicial type advocated by Tobak and Schiff. Results from linear two- and three-dimensional unsteady aerodynamic theories as well as test data for a 70-degree delta wing are used to verify the models. It is shown that the present modeling method is accurate in producing the aerodynamic responses to harmonic motions and the ramp type motions. The model also produces correct trend for a 70-degree delta wing in harmonic motion with different mean angles-of-attack. However, the current model cannot be used to extrapolate data to higher angles-of-attack than that of the harmonic motions which form the aerodynamic model. For linear ramp motions, a special method is used to calculate the corresponding frequency and phase angle at a given time. The calculated results from modeling show a higher lift peak for linear ramp motion than for harmonic ramp motion. The current model also shows reasonably good results for the lift responses at different angles of attack.

Lan, C. Edward↗
NASA NTRS1991

Fourier functional analysis for unsteady aerodynamic modeling

A method based on Fourier analysis is developed to analyze the force and moment data obtained in large amplitude forced oscillation tests at high angles of attack. The aerodynamic models for normal force, lift, drag, and pitching moment coefficients are built up from a set of aerodynamic responses to harmonic motions at different frequencies. Based on the aerodynamic models of harmonic data, the indicial responses are formed. The final expressions for the models involve time integrals of the indicial type advocated by Tobak and Schiff. Results from linear two- and three-dimensional unsteady aerodynamic theories as well as test data for a 70-degree delta wing are used to verify the models. It is shown that the present modeling method is accurate in producing the aerodynamic responses to harmonic motions and the ramp type motions. The model also produces correct trend for a 70-degree delta wing in harmonic motion with different mean angles-of-attack. However, the current model cannot be used to extrapolate data to higher angles-of-attack than that of the harmonic motions which form the aerodynamic model. For linear ramp motions, a special method is used to calculate the corresponding frequency and phase angle at a given time. The calculated results from modeling show a higher lift peak for linear ramp motion than for harmonic ramp motion. The current model also shows reasonably good results for the lift responses at different angles of attack.

Chin, Suei↗
DOE OSTI2025

Precision gyroscope from the helicity of light

We describe a gyroscope that measures rotation based on the effects of the rotation on the polarization of light. Rotation induces a differential phase shift in the propagation of left- and right-circularly polarized light and this phase shift can be measured in suitably designed interferometric setups. The signal in this setup is independent of the frequency of light, unlike various sources of noise such as vibrations, which cause phase shifts that depend on the frequency. Such vibrations are the practical limit on the sensitivity of conventional Sagnac-style optical interferometers that are typically used as gyroscopes. In the proposed setup, one can potentially mitigate this source of noise by simultaneously using two (or more) sources of light that have different frequencies. The signal in this setup scales with the total storage time of the light. Due to its frequency independence, it is thus most optimal to measure the signal using superconducting radio-frequency systems where the high finesse of the available cavities enables considerably longer storage times than is possible in an optical setup.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1992

Analysis of scattering behavior and radar penetration in AIRSAR data

A technique is presented to physically characterize changes in radar backscatter with frequency in multifrequency single polarization radar images that can be used as a first step in the analysis of the data and the retrieval of geophysical parameters. The technique is automatic, relatively independent of the incidence angle, and only requires a good calibration accuracy between the different frequencies. The technique reveals large areas where scattering changes significantly with frequency and whether the surface has the characteristics of a smooth, slightly rough, rough, or very rough surface.

Rignot, Eric↗
NASA NTRS2010

Multiple frequency optical mixer and demultiplexer and apparatus for remote sensing

A pulsed laser system includes a modulator module configured to provide pulsed electrical signals and a plurality of solid-state seed sources coupled to the modulator module and configured to operate, responsive to the pulsed electrical signals, in a pulse mode. Each of the plurality of solid-state seed sources is tuned to a different frequency channel separated from any adjacent frequency channel by a frequency offset. The pulsed laser system also includes a combiner that combines outputs from each of the solid state seed sources into a single optical path and an optical doubler and demultiplexer coupled to the single optical path and providing each doubled seed frequency on a separate output path.

Chen, Jeffrey R.↗
DOE OSTI2023

What do far-infrared spectra of solitary water in “water-in-solvent” systems reveal about water’s solvation and dynamics?

Classical molecular dynamics simulations of water in ionic and dipolar solvents were used to interpret the far-infrared (FIR) rotation/libration spectra of “solitary water” in terms of water’s rotational dynamics and interactions with solvents. Seven solvents represented by nonpolarizable all-atom force fields and a series of idealized variable-charge solvents were used to span the range of solvent polarities (hydrogen bonding) studied experimentally. Simulated spectra capture the solvent dependence observed, as well as the relationship between the frequencies of water libration (νL) and OH stretching bands (νOH). In more strongly interacting solvents, simulated νL are ∼20% higher than those of experiment. In all solvents, the simulated spectra are composites of rotational motions about the two axes perpendicular to water’s dipole moment, and the different frequencies of these two motions are responsible for the breadth of the libration band and the bimodal shape observed in halide ionic liquids. Simulations overestimate the separation of these two components in most solvents. The character of water rotational motions changes markedly with solvent polarity, from quasi-free rotation in nonpolar and weakly polar solvents to highly constrained libration in strongly hydrogen bonding environments. The changeover to librational motions dominating the spectrum occurs between solvents such as benzene (νL ∼ 250 cm−1) and acetonitrile (νL ∼ 400 cm−1). For solvents in the latter category, the mean frequency of the experimental FIR band provides a direct measure of mean-squared torques and, therefore, force constants associated with interactions constraining water’s librational motion.

Chemistry↗
NASA NTRS1993

Superconducting terahertz mixer using a transition-edge microbolometer

We present a new device concept for a mixer element for THz frequencies. This uses a superconducting transition-edge microbridge biased at the center of its superconducting transition near 4.2 K. It is fed from an antenna or waveguide structure. Power from a local oscillator and an RF signal produce a temperature and resulting resistance variation at the difference frequency. The new aspect is the use of a very short bridge in which rapid (less than 0.1 ns) outdiffusion of hot electrons occurs. This gives large intermediate frequency (IF) response. The mixer offers about 4 GHz IF bandwidth, about 80 ohm RF resistive impedance, good match to the IF amplifier, and requires only 1-20 nW of local oscillator power. The upper RF frequency is determined by antenna or waveguide properties. Predicted mixer conversion efficiency is 1/8, and predicted double-sideband receiver noise temperatures are 260 and 90 K for transition widths of 0.1 and 0.5 Tc, respectively.

Prober, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A new strategy for efficient solar energy conversion: Parallel-processing with surface plasmons

This paper introduces an advanced concept for direct conversion of sunlight to electricity, which aims at high efficiency by tailoring the conversion process to separate energy bands within the broad solar spectrum. The objective is to obtain a high level of spectrum-splitting without sequential losses or unique materials for each frequency band. In this concept, sunlight excites a spectrum of surface plasma waves which are processed in parallel on the same metal film. The surface plasmons transport energy to an array of metal-barrier-semiconductor diodes, where energy is extracted by inelastic tunneling. Diodes are tuned to different frequency bands by selecting the operating voltage and geometry, but all diodes share the same materials.

Anderson, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Effect of low temperature on fatigue and fracture properties of Ti-5Al-2.5Sn(ELI) for use in engine components

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the characteristics of the Ti-5Al-2.5Sn (ELI) alloy used in a fuel pump impeller at cryogenic temperatures. Tension, fracture toughness, and fatigue crack propagation data were collected determining the effect of frequency and load ratio on crack propagation. The results revealed that tensile strength increased significantly at 20 K compared to room temperature and fracture toughness was reduced at cryogenic temperatures. The fatigue crack growth rate was not sensitive to experimental conditions and there were only minimal crack orientation effects. Different frequencies produced no effect. At various temperatures and frequencies a load ratio increase resulted in higher crack growth rates. At low stress intensity levels the fatigue rate for both temperatures was the same; however, at high stress intensity levels the crack growth rate at 20 K increased because of the decrease in fracture toughness. The results correlated well with previous data.

Ryder, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Frequency coded sensors incorporating tapers

A surface acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate on which is formed a transducer that generates acoustic waves on the surface of the substrate from electrical waves received by the transducer. The waves are carried along an acoustic track to either a second transducer or a reflector. The transducers or transducer and reflector are formed of subsections that are constructed to operate at mutually different frequencies. The subsections of at least one of the transducers or transducer and reflector are out of alignment with respect to one another relative to the transverse of the propagation direction. The out of aligned subsections provide not only a frequency component but also a time to the signal output signal. Frequency response characteristics are improved. An alternative embodiment provides that the transducers and/or reflectors are continuously tapered instead of having discrete frequency subsections.

Hines, Jacqueline H.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Scattering Properties and Brightness Temperatures Associated with Solid Precipitation

In the past few years, early solid precipitation detection and retrieval algorithms have been developed and shown to be applicable for snowing clouds and blizzards. NOAA has an operational snow versus rain classifier based on AMSU-B observations. Solid precipitation retrieval algorithms reported in the literature over the past two years include those that rely on neural nets, statistics, or physical relationships. All of the algorithms require the use of millimeter-wave radiometer observations. The millimeter-wave frequencies are especially sensitive to the scattering and emission properties of frozen particles due to the ice particle refractive index. Passive radiometric channels respond to both the integrated particle mass throughout the volume and field of view, and to the amount, location, and size distribution of the frozen (and liquid) particles with the sensitivity varying for different frequencies and hydrometeor types. This investigation probes the sensitivity of scattering and absorption coefficients, and hence computed brightness temperatures, resulting from variations in solid precipitation cloud profiles. The first study compares the single scattering, absorption, and asymmetry parameters associated with snow particles in clouds. Several methodologies are used to convert the physical characteristics (e.g., shape, size distributions, ice-air-water ratios) of ice particles to electromagnetic properties (e.g., absorption, scattering, and asymmetry factors). These methodologies include: conversion to solid ice particles, homogeneous dielectric mixing, or discrete dipole approximation. Changes in the conversion methodology can produce computed brightness temperature differences greater than 50 Kelvin.

Skofronick-Jackson, Gail M.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Swept Frequency Laser Metrology System

A swept frequency laser ranging system having sub-micron accuracy that employs multiple common-path heterodyne interferometers, one coupled to a calibrated delay-line for use as an absolute reference for the ranging system. An exemplary embodiment uses two laser heterodyne interferometers to create two laser beams at two different frequencies to measure distance and motions of target(s). Heterodyne fringes generated from reflections off a reference fiducial X(sub R) and measurement (or target) fiducial X(sub M) are reflected back and are then detected by photodiodes. The measured phase changes Delta phi(sub R) and Delta phi (sub m) resulting from the laser frequency swept gives target position. The reference delay-line is the only absolute reference needed in the metrology system and this provides an ultra-stable reference and simple/economical system.

Zhao, Feng↗
NASA NTRS2005

Experimental Feedback Control of Flow Induced Cavity Tones

Discrete-time, linear quadratic methods were used to design feedback controllers for reducing tones generated by flow over a cavity. The dynamics of a synthetic jet actuator mounted at the leading edge of the cavity as observed by two microphones in the cavity were modeled over a broad frequency range using state space models computed from experimental data. Variations in closed loop performance as a function of model order, control order, control bandwidth, and state estimator design were studied using a cavity in the Probe Calibration Tunnel at NASA Langley. The controller successfully reduced the levels of multiple cavity tones at the tested flow speeds of Mach 0.275, 0.35, and 0.45. In some cases, the closed loop results were limited by excitation of sidebands of the cavity tones, or the creation of new tones at frequencies away from the cavity tones. Nonetheless, the results validate the combination of optimal control and experimentally-generated state space models, and suggest this approach may be useful for other flow control problems. The models were not able to account for non-linear dynamics, such as interactions between tones at different frequencies.

Cabell, Randolph H.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Probabilistic Assessment of Damage from Same Shock Response Spectra due to Variations in Damping

Interpretation of field data from shock tests and subsequent assessment of product safety margins via laboratory testing are based on the shock response spectra (SRS). The SRS capture how a single degree of freedom (SDOF) structure responds to the shock at differing frequencies and, therefore, no longer contain the duration or other temporal parameters pertaining to the shock. A single duration can often be included in the technical specification or in the recreation of acceleration vs. time history from the specified SRS; however, there is little basis for that beyond technical judgment. The loss of such temporal information can result in the recreated SRS being the same while its effect on a system or component can be different. This paper attempts to quantify this deficiency as well as propose a simple method of capturing damping from shock waves that can allow the original waveform to be more accurately reconstructed from the SRS. In this study the decay rate associated with various frequencies that comprise the overall shock was varied. This variation in the decay rate leads to a variation in the acceleration vs. time history, which can be correlated to a “Damage Index” that captures the fatigue damage imparted to the object under shock. Several waveforms that have the same SRS but varying rates of decay for either high- or low-frequency components of the shock were investigated. The resulting variation in stress cycles and Damage Index is discussed in the context of the lognormal distribution of fatigue failure data. It is proposed that, along with the SRS, the decay rate is also captured to minimize the discrepancy between field data and representative laboratory tests.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fault Clearing Operation in Low-Frequency High-Voltage AC Systems

Abstract—Low-frequency high-voltage ac (LF-HVac) system has been proposed as an alternative to HVdc and HVac systems to reduce transmission losses and improve grid flexibility. LF-HVac system employs back-to-back (BTB) converters to interconnect and control the voltage and power interchange between two power grid operating at different frequencies. While there are multiple studies on LF-HVac system in the literature, the fault clearing method in the LF-HVac system has not been analyzed. Therefore, this paper focuses on fault clearing operation in LFHVac system and proposes a novel method to reduce fault current by changing operating frequency of power source and converter. The performance of the proposed method is validated using detailed models of BTB converters developed in PSCAD/EMTDC. The ability to change operating frequency at the onset of a fault condition allows breakers to rapidly clear the fault and recloses. The results obtained by using the proposed method substantially diminish the fault current.

Kim, Woosung↗
DOE OSTI2020

PFLOTRAN-SIP: A PFLOTRAN Module for Simulating Spectral-Induced Polarization of Electrical Impedance Data

Spectral induced polarization (SIP) is a non-intrusive geophysical method that collects chargeability information (the ability of a material to retain charge) in the time domain or its phase shift in the frequency domain. Although SIP is a temporal method, it cannot measure the dynamics of flow and solute/species transport in the subsurface over long times (i.e., 10–100 s of years). Data collected with the SIP technique need to be coupled with fluid flow and reactive-transport models in order to capture long-term dynamics. To address this challenge, PFLOTRAN-SIP was built to couple SIP data to fluid flow and solute transport processes. Specifically, this framework couples the subsurface flow and transport simulator PFLOTRAN and geoelectrical simulator E4D without sacrificing computational performance. PFLOTRAN solves the coupled flow and solute-transport process models in order to estimate solute concentrations, which were used in Archie’s model to compute bulk electrical conductivities at near-zero frequency. These bulk electrical conductivities were modified while using the Cole–Cole model to account for frequency dependence. Using the estimated frequency-dependent bulk conductivities, E4D simulated the real and complex electrical potential signals for selected frequencies for SIP. These frequency-dependent bulk conductivities contain information that is relevant to geochemical changes in the system. This study demonstrated that the PFLOTRAN-SIP framework is able to detect the presence of a tracer in the subsurface. SIP offers a significant benefit over ERT in the form of greater information content. It provided multiple datasets at different frequencies that better constrained the tracer distribution in the subsurface. Consequently, this framework allows for practitioners of environmental hydrogeophysics and biogeophysics to monitor the subsurface with improved resolution.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1973

Acoustic emission studies of large advanced composite rocket motor cases.

Acoustic emission (AE) patterns were measured during pressure testing of advanced composite rocket motor cases made of boron/epoxy and graphite/epoxy. Both accelerometers and high frequency AE transducers were used, and both frequency spectrum and amplitude distribution were studied. The AE patterns suggest that precursor emission might be used in certain cases to anticipate failure. The technique of hold-cycle AE monitoring was also evaluated and could become a valuable decision gate for test continuation/termination. Data presented show similarity of accelerometers and AE transducer responses despite the different frequency response, and suggest that structural AE phenomena are broadband.

Robinson, E. Y.↗