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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 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Experiment definition phase shuttle laboratory LDRL-10.6 experiment

This report for the Experiment Definition Phase of the Shuttle Laboratory LDRL 10.6 Micrometer Experiment covers period 27 June through 26 September 1975. Activities during the fifth quarter included: (1) reevaluation of system obscuration ratio with a subsequent reduction of this ratio from 0.417 to 0.362, (2) completion of detail drawings for the 6X pre-expander, (3) completion of detail drawings for the nine mirrors that comprise pointing and tracking optomechanical subsystem, (4) continuation of detailing of mechanical portions of CMSS and modifications to accommodate new obscuration ratio, (5) qualitative operation of the optomechanical subsystem of the 10.6 um receiver achieved under experiment measurement task; receiver fully integrated and operation demonstrated over a 10 km experimental link, and (6) data collection task initiated to begin preparation of link analysis volumes.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1992

Single element injector testing for STME injector technology

An oxidizer-swirled coaxial element injector is being developed for application in the liquid oxygen/gaseous hydrogen Space Transportation Main Engine (STME) for the National Launch System (NLS) vehicle. This paper reports on the first two parts of a four part single injector element study for optimization of the STME injector design. Measurements of Rupe mixing efficiency and atomization characteristics are reported for single element versions of injection elements from two multielement injectors that have been recently hot fire tested. Rather than attempting to measure a definitive mixing efficiency or droplet size parameters of these injector elements, the purpose of these experiments was to provide a baseline comparison for evaluating future injector element design modifications. Hence, all the experiments reported here were conducted with cold flow simulants to nonflowing, ambient conditions. Mixing experiments were conducted with liquid/liquid simulants to provide economical trend data. Atomization experiments were conducted with liquid/gas simulants without backpressure. The results, despite significant differences from hot fire conditions, were found to relate to mixing and atomization parameters deduced from the hot fire testing, suggesting that these experiments are valid for trend analyses. Single element and subscale multielement hot fire testing will verify optimized designs before committing to fullscale fabrication.

Hulka, J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Operating a Remote Manipulator in Simulated Low Gravity

Efforts to control remote manipulators in simulated microgravity described in report. Experiments conducted to determine effects of weightlessness on performance of operator controlling remote manipulator, or slave arm, by master arm at control station. Report concludes microgravity disturbs neuromotor control of human arm. Also suggests disturbance compensated for by adjustments in controller.

Bejczy, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The infrared spectrum of ammonia hydrate - Explanation for a reported ammonia phase

A number of anomalous spectra of solid NH3 deposited from the vapor phase have appeared in the literature. These spectra have been ascribed to a new phase of NH3. In the experiment reported here these anomalous spectra were reproduced by depositing a thin film from a mixture of gaseous NH3 and H2O and annealing this film at a temperature of 162 K. The thin film spectra showed excellent agreement with recent data on NH3.H2O. The anomalous 'NH3' spectra are, therefore, seen to be caused by H2O contamination of solid NH3 with formation of NH3 hydrate.

Still, G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

EPR experiment and 2-photon interferometry: Report of a 2-photon interference experiment

After a very brief review of the historical Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) experiments, a new two-photon interference type EPR experiment is reported. A two-photon state was generated by optical parametric down conversion. Pairs of light quanta with degenerate frequency but divergent directions of propagation were sent to two independent Michelson interferometers. First and second order interference effectors were studied. Different than other reports, we observed that the second order interference visibility vanished when the optical path difference of the interferometers were much less than the coherence length of the pumping laser beam. However, we also observed that the second order interference behaved differently depending on whether the interferometers were set at equal or different optical path differences.

Shih, Y. H.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Study of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen state for space-time variables in a two photon interference experiment

A pair of correlated photons generated from parametric down conversion was sent to two independent Michelson interferometers. Second order interference was studied by means of a coincidence measurement between the outputs of two interferometers. The reported experiment and analysis studied this second order interference phenomena from the point of view of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox. The experiment was done in two steps. The first step of the experiment used 50 psec and 3 nsec coincidence time windows simultaneously. The 50 psec window was able to distinguish a 1.5 cm optical path difference in the interferometers. The interference visibility was measured to be 38 percent and 21 percent for the 50 psec time window and 22 percent and 7 percent for the 3 nsec time window, when the optical path difference of the interferometers were 2 cm and 4 cm, respectively. By comparing the visibilities between these two windows, the experiment showed the non-classical effect which resulted from an E.P.R. state. The second step of the experiment used a 20 psec coincidence time window, which was able to distinguish a 6 mm optical path difference in the interferometers. The interference visibilities were measured to be 59 percent for an optical path difference of 7 mm. This is the first observation of visibility greater than 50 percent for a two interferometer E.P.R. experiment which demonstrates nonclassical correlation of space-time variables.

Shih, Y. H.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Formal methods in the design of Ada 1995

Formal, mathematical methods are most useful when applied early in the design and implementation of a software system--that, at least, is the familiar refrain. I will report on a modest effort to apply formal methods at the earliest possible stage, namely, in the design of the Ada 95 programming language itself. This talk is an 'experience report' that provides brief case studies illustrating the kinds of problems we worked on, how we approached them, and the extent (if any) to which the results proved useful. It also derives some lessons and suggestions for those undertaking future projects of this kind. Ada 95 is the first revision of the standard for the Ada programming language. The revision began in 1988, when the Ada Joint Programming Office first asked the Ada Board to recommend a plan for revising the Ada standard. The first step in the revision was to solicit criticisms of Ada 83. A set of requirements for the new language standard, based on those criticisms, was published in 1990. A small design team, the Mapping Revision Team (MRT), became exclusively responsible for revising the language standard to satisfy those requirements. The MRT, from Intermetrics, is led by S. Tucker Taft. The work of the MRT was regularly subject to independent review and criticism by a committee of distinguished Reviewers and by several advisory teams--for example, the two User/Implementor teams, each consisting of an industrial user (attempting to make significant use of the new language on a realistic application) and a compiler vendor (undertaking, experimentally, to modify its current implementation in order to provide the necessary new features). One novel decision established the Language Precision Team (LPT), which investigated language proposals from a mathematical point of view. The LPT applied formal mathematical analysis to help improve the design of Ada 95 (e.g., by clarifying the language proposals) and to help promote its acceptance (e.g., by identifying a verifiable subset that would meet the needs of safety-critical applications). The first LPT project, which ran from the fall of 1990 unti the end of 1992, produced studies of several language issues: optimization, sharing and storage, tasking and protected records, overload resolution, the floating point model, distribution, program erros, and object-oriented programming. The second LPT project, in 1994, formally modeled the dynamic semantics of a large part of the (almost) final language definition, looking especially for interactions between language features.

Guaspari, David↗
NASA NTRS2018

Quantitative validation of Ames IR intensity and new line lists for (32/33/34)S(16)O2, (32)S(18)O2 and (16)O(32)S(18)O

The quality of Ames-296K SO2 Infrared (IR) line list intensities is first validated by quantitative exploration of several dipole moment surfaces (DMSs) and partition sum convergence. The DMSs are computed with several of Dunning’s correlation-consistent basis sets and their vibrational dependence are compared to the empirical model derived from Stark effect experiments reported by D. Patel, D. Margolese, and T.R. Dykea [J.Chem.Phys. 70, 2740 (1979)]. The effective dipole deviations from the DMS adopted in the Ames IR lists is 0.2-0.4% for vibrational states up to 3v3. The vibrational dependence of the dipole moment is also in good agreement, except for nv1. Partition sum convergence at 296K is confirmed by new calculations with rotational quantum number J up to 150 and upper state E’ up to 8000 cm-1. The isotopologue consistency of the Ames IR line lists is superior relative to the regular Effective Hamiltonian (EH) models and Effective Dipole Moment (EDM) models. The v1+v2 and v2+v3 intensity consistency check reveals the recently reported experimental intensities need significant improvement or re-analysis. After the accuracy, convergence, and isotopologue consistency have been confirmed, the theoretical Ames-296K intensities are combined with the experimental line positions or EH models that experimental spectroscopists published after 2009. Three high-resolution IR line sets are reported for the (32/33/34)S(16)O2, (32)S(18)O2 and (16)O(32)S(18)O isotopologues: (1) the “New Lines Sets” include experimentally measured line positions; (2) the “Expanded Line Sets” include possible transitions among new rovibrational levels assigned in experiments and ground state (GS) levels predicted by reliable EH models; (3) the “Ames + MARVEL Sets” include possible transitions among all those levels reported in a recent MARVEL analysis. [Tóbiás et al, JQSRT 208, 152 (2018)]. Compared to the limited data in High-resolution TRANsmission molecular absorption database (HITRAN), these line sets have significantly improved the data coverage up to 4000 cm-1. Some missing bands can be traced to the unpublished experimental data. The isotopologue consistency of these line sets will help identify the uncertainties and defects in the experimental EH and EDM models. These line sets are good candidates for the next HITRAN update, if line shape parameters are available. The line sets can be downloaded from supplementary files or from the Ames Molecular Spectroscopic Database at http://huang.seti.org.

Xinchuan Huang↗
NASA NTRS1992

Summary of ionizing radiation analysis on the Long Duration Exposure Facility

The ionizing radiation measurements flown on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) were contained in 15 experiments which utilized passive detectors to pursue objectives in astrophysics and to measure the radiation environment and dosimetric quantities. The spacecraft structure became sufficiently radioactive to permit additional important studies. The induced activity allows extensive radiation mapping in the structure, and independent comparison with experiment dosimetric techniques, and significant studies of secondary effects. The long exposure time, attitude stability, and number and types of measurements produced a unique and critical set of data for low Earth orbit that will not be duplicated for more than a decade. The data allow an unprecedented test, and improvement if required, of models of the radiation environment and the radiation transport methods that are used to calculate the internal radiation and its effects in spacecraft. Results of measurements in the experiments, as well as from radioactivity in the structure, have clearly shown effects from the directional properties of the radiation environment, and progress was made in the dosimetric mapping of LDEF. These measurements have already influenced some Space Station Freedom design requirements. Preliminary results from experiments, reported at this symposium and in earlier papers, show that the 5.8 years exposure considerably enhanced the scientific return of the radiation measurements. The early results give confidence that the experiments will make significant advances in the knowledge of ultra heavy cosmic rays, anomalous cosmic rays, and heavy ions trapped in the radiation belts. Unexpected phenomena were observed, which require explanation. These include stopping iron group ions between the energy ranges anticipated for anomalous and galactic cosmic rays in the LDEF orbit. A surprising concentration of the Be-7 nuclide was discovered on the 'front' surface of LDEF, apparently transported up from the stratosphere with exceptional efficiency.

Parnell, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Rocket observations of the diffuse ultraviolet background

The objective of the experiment reported here was to obtain additional information on the absolute intensity level and spatial variation of the diffuse ultraviolet background and thereby gain insight into the origin of this radiation. The experiment used three ultraviolet sensitive photometers placed in the focal plane of a 95-cm, f/2.8 normal incidence telescope flown on board an Aries sounding rocket. The measured intensities clearly refute the hypothesis of an isotropic background, the intensities of the high galactic latitude being definitely lower than the intensities seen at intermediate latitudes. Moreover, the count rates in all three channels along the slow scan exhibit local enhancements as well as an overall trend. In general, the spatial variations exhibited by the data correlate with the line of sight of neutral hydrogen column density as determined from 21-cm radio observations. This fact demonstrates that there is a galactic component to the diffuse ultraviolet radiation field.

Jakobsen, P.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Best Practices for Researching and Documenting Lessons Learned

Identification, resolution, and avoidance of technical and programmatic issues are important for ensuring safe and successful space missions. Although the importance of applying lessons learned to reduce risk is frequently stressed, there is little material available to help technical and management personnel research and document lessons learned. Collecting, researching, identifying, and documenting lessons learned that will be useful to current and future management and engineering personnel is not always a straightforward task. This white paper presents lessons learned and best practices concerning the research and documentation of technical and organizational lessons learned. It is intended to enable organizations to initiate or improve lessons learned research and documentation efforts. The content of this white paper is based on four technical lessons learned projects conducted by the United Space Alliance (USA) Flight Design and Dynamics Department, in support of the NASA/Johnson Space Center (JSC) Flight Design and Dynamics Division. Each project published a report, titled as follows: (1) GPS Lessons Learned From the ISS, Space Shuttle and X-38; (2) Lessons Learned From Seven Space Shuttle Missions; (3) Space Shuttle Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Experience Report; and (4) Navigation Technical History with Lessons Learned. The four projects were different in availability of subject matter experts and primary source material, subject scope, and the level of effort required to produce the final report. However, generic lessons can be drawn from all of them. The best practices will be discussed by the phases of report research and development: (1) Defining Report Requirements, Project Organization, and Schedule; (2) Collection and Analysis of Source Material; (3) Writing and Integrating the Report; and (4) Review and Revision of the Report.

Goodman, John L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Experiments on the stability of FeOOH on the surface of the moon

A description is given of an investigation which had been conducted to determine whether the water-bearing phase of FeOOH composition found in the study of lunar rocks could be of lunar origin. The reported experiments demonstrate that FeOOH of any structure cannot exist for any length of time on the surface of the moon. The investigation substantiates, therefore, the original proposal of Taylor et al. (1973) that the FeOOH in the Apollo 16 rocks is due entirely to terrestrial water vapor contamination.

Taylor, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Extraction of oxygen from the Mars atmosphere using glow-discharge and permeation techniques

Oxygen can be extracted from carbon dioxide via thermal dissociation at elevated temperatures. However, temperatures in excess of 1000 K are needed to effect significant levels of dissociation. The experiments reported here have examined the feasibility of using a glow-discharge in low-pressure carbon dioxide to produce increased atomic oxygen yields at lower temperatures (on the order of 800 K). The experiments have shown that when silver membranes are used simultaneously as anodes for the glow discharge and as permeable membranes for oxygen separation, oxygen yields which are comparable to the permeation rates for pure oxygen, can be produced. Since the silver membrane can be employed as the electrode interface between Mars atmosphere and a stabilized-zirconia electrochemical pump, glow-discharge enhancement can be considered as a complementary technology which can be used with the zirconia-based oxygen extraction systems described previously by others. Not only can glow-discharge be used to increase oxygen yields at lowered temperatures, but it can also be considered as a possible way to avoid filtration and compression of Mars atmosphere, since the glow-discharge can be sustained in Mars ambient pressures.

Wu, Dongchuan↗
NASA NTRS1962

BUCKLING OF A SPHERE OF EXTREMELY HIGH RADIUS-THICKNESS RATIO

Proposed passive communications satellites are ultrathin-walled spherical shells which may experience buckling from external pressure due to solar radiation or atmospheric drag. Large buckling deformations of such a satellite are undesirable because they seriously reduce the satellite’s performance as a reflector. At present, shell buckling technology is lacking in several respects with regard to design of spherical shells subjected to external pressure. Large discrepancies exist between theoretical and experimental buckling pressure; therefore, the designer must be guided primarily by experimental data. However, very little experimental data on complete spheres are available; the primary research effort has been concerned with shallow spherical caps. All available experimental data are for radius-thickness ratios several orders of magnitude smaller than that for the proposed satellites. In order to provide a basis for estimating the buckling strength of these satellites, therefore, buckling experiments were conducted on a complete spherical shell having a radius-thickness ratio of about 85,000. This value is much higher than that of any spherical cap or complete sphere used in previously reported experiments.

SHELL STABILITY↗
NASA NTRS1981

Lyman-alpha fluorescence from hydrogen photofragments of CH4 and H2O

The process of H-Lyman-alpha fluorescence produced through photodissociation of CH4 and H2O provides an example for the usefulness of the detection of fluorescence of dissociation fragments as an aid in identifying some high lying Rydberg states. In the first experiment reported, an electron storage ring synchrotron radiation source was used. The fluorescence produced was detected with a solar blind photomultiplier and a Cs photocathode with a spectral sensitivity in the wavelength range from 1050 to 1950 A. In the second experiment considered, an intense atomic line source was employed.

Wu, C. Y. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Numerical experiments with a symmetric high-resolution shock-capturing scheme

Characteristic-based explicit and implicit total variation diminishing (TVD) schemes for the two-dimensional compressible Euler equations have recently been developed. This is a generalization of recent work of Roe and Davis to a wider class of symmetric (non-upwind) TVD schemes other than Lax-Wendroff. The Roe and Davis schemes can be viewed as a subset of the class of explicit methods. The main properties of the present class of schemes are that they can be implicit, and, when steady-state calculations are sought, the numerical solution is independent of the time step. In a recent paper, a comparison of a linearized form of the present implicit symmetric TVD scheme with an implicit upwind TVD scheme originally developed by Harten and modified by Yee was given. Results favored the symmetric method. It was found that the latter is just as accurate as the upwind method while requiring less computational effort. Currently, more numerical experiments are being conducted on time-accurate calculations and on the effect of grid topology, numerical boundary condition procedures, and different flow conditions on the behavior of the method for steady-state applications. The purpose here is to report experiences with this type of scheme and give guidelines for its use.

Yee, H. C.↗