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At least 289 records · Page 16

Effects of inlet treatment location and treatment cavity depth on compressor noise

The ability of acoustic liners to reduce compressor noise inside and in front of an inlet was studied. An axial flow research compressor and a specially designed inlet were used inside an anechoic chamber. Acoustic and performance data were obtained for a range of inlet treatment locations and cavity depths to determine their effects on inlet noise over a range of blade passing frequencies. The greatest noise reductions in front of the inlet were obtained with acoustic treatment located close to the compressor and backed with the deepest cavities tested. Inside the inlet the maximum noise level reductions were obtained in the area of the treatment regardless of treatment location. No appreciable losses in compressor performance were measured.

Clark, L. R.↗

An X-ray shadowgraph to locate transient high-energy celestial sources

A new technique has been developed to locate strong, transient X-ray sources such as the recently discovered gamma ray bursts. The instrument, termed a shadowgraph, locates sources by detecting the X-ray shadow cast by a large occulting mask pattern on an imaging detector. Angular resolutions of from 2 to 10 arc minutes are obtainable while essentially full sky coverage is maintained. The optimum energy range of operation is between 20 keV and 100 keV. The high efficiency X-ray imaging detectors, which make it possible to locate bursts with intensities down to approximately 10 photons/sq cm sec, are capable of detecting single 20 keV photons with a spatial resolution of approximately 0.2 mm. The detectors consist of an X-ray to optical conversion phosphor, a multistage image intensifier, and a CCD image readout.

Fishman, G. J.↗

A study on aircraft map display location and orientation

Six airline pilots participated in a fixed-base simulator study to determine the effects of two horizontal situation display (HSD/map) panel locations relative to the vertical situation display (VSD), and of three map orientations on manual piloting performance. Pilot comments and opinions were formally obtained. Significant performance differences were found between wind conditions and among pilots, but not between map locations and orientations. The results also illustrate the potential tracking accuracy of such a display. Recommendations concerning display location and map orientation are made.

Baty, D. L.↗

Vector thrust induced lift effects for several ejector exhaust locations on a V/STOL wind tunnel model at forward speed

The results and analysis of aerodynamic force data obtained from a small scale model of a V/STOL research vehicle in a low speed wind tunnel are presented. The analysis of the data includes the evaluation of aerodynamic-propulsive lift performance when operating twin ejector nozzles with thrust deflected. Three different types of thrust deflector systems were examined: 90 deg downward deflected nozzle, 90 deg slotted nozzle with boundary layer control, and an externally blown flap configuration. Several nozzle locations were tested, including over and underwing positions. The interference lift of the nacelle and model due to jet exhaust thrust is compared and results show that 90 deg turned nozzles located over the wing (near the trailing edge) produce the largest interference lift increment for an untrimmed aircraft, and that the slotted nozzle located under the wing near the trailing edge (in conjunction with a BLC flap) gives a comparable interference lift in the trimmed condition. The externally blown flap nozzle produced the least interference lift and significantly less total lift due to jet thrust effects.

Sharon, A. D.↗

Shuttle orbiter C-band beacon antenna location study

A recommendation for the location of the Space Shuttle C-Band Beacon Antenna(s) to be used during Approach and Landing Tests was made. The study has included an Orbiter-to-ground radar look angle evaluation, a vehicle shadowing evaluation and extensive 1/10-scale antenna pattern measurements. Locations were limited to the cutouts for the S-Band Quads and Hemis to minimize skin perturbation. The results show that a single C-Band Antenna located in the lower Hemi cutout will provide optimum coverage and eliminate the need for switching and the undesirable interferometer effects of two antennas.

Lindsey, J. F.↗

LS-44: An improved deep space network station location set for Viking navigation

Improved estimates for the spin axis and longitude components of the Deep Space Network station locations were obtained from post-flight processing of radio metric data received from various Mariner planetary missions. The use of an upgraded set of ionospheric calibrations and the incorporation of near-Venus and near-Mercury radio metric data from the Mariner 10 spacecraft are the principal contributing effects to the improvement. These new estimates, designated Location Set (LS) 44, have supported Viking navigation activities in the vicinity of Mars. As such, the station locations were determined relative to the planetary positions inherent in JPL Development Ephemeris (DE) 84, which was used throughout the Viking mission. The article also presents and discusses a version of LS 44 based upon the latest planetary ephemeris, DE 96.

Koble, H. M.↗

A study of satellite emergency locator systems

Satellite emergency locator systems were studied. The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility and hardware requirements for satellite systems capable of identifying and locating the position emergency locator transmitters and emergency position indicating radio beacons. Both geosynchronous and near-polar-orbiting satellites were considered. One of the most important aspects of the study was to minimize the cost of the hardware required.

Source record↗

Improvements in search and rescue distress alerting and locating using satellites

This paper describes a system concept for search and rescue which is capable of making a major contribution to saving lives and reducing the search time for downed aircraft. In addition, a beacon location experiment is described using the Amateur Radio Satellite Corporation Oscar-6 and Oscar-7 spacecraft. The purpose of this experiment was to demonstrate the system concept above by determining the geographical location of a low power 'distress beacon' via satellite based on a single pass of Doppler frequency measurements. Preliminary results are presented showing beacon location recovery on the order of 10 km with indications that an order of magnitude improvement is entirely possible. This experiment is in support of NASA's current exploration into the role satellites might play in providing much needed improvements in the reliability, coverage and accuracy of present search and rescue procedures.

Brandel, D. L.↗

Remote beacon location from a single satellite pass

This paper describes the techniques and associated dedicated hardware utilized in locating remote beacons via satellites. Applications include those associated with a 'distress' situation or for monitoring the location of floating data collection platforms. Results obtained from experiments involving the NASA Nimbus-6 and the Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) OSCAR spacecrafts indicate position accuracies on the order of one and two kilometers are possible. The geographical location of a low power VHF transmitter is determined from Doppler data collected during a single satellite pass. A dedicated microcomputer utilizes an efficient algorithm to provide beacon position coordinates within a minute after the end of the satellite pass.

Lynn, J. J.↗

Lander Locations, Mars Physical Ephemeris, and Solar System Parameters: Determination from Viking Lander Tracking Data

Radio tracking data from the Viking landers have been analyzed to determine the parameters of the Mars physical ephemeris, the radii of Mars at the landing sites, and the lander locations. The orientation of the Mars rotation axis, referred to the 1950.0 earth mean equator, equinox, and epoch, was determined to be 317.340+/-0.003 degrees right ascension and 52.710+/-0.002degrees declination. The planet's rotation period was determined to be 24 h, 37 min, 22.663+/-0.002 s. Analyses indicate that the determination of the motions of the Mars rotation axis will require additional tracking data. The Mars radii at the sites of landers 1 and 2 are 3389.38+/-0.06 km and 3381.91+/-0.08 km, respectively. The areocentric location of lander 1 is 22.272+/-0.002 degrees N, 47.94+/-0.2 degrees W. The lander 2 location is 47.670+/-0.002 degrees N, 225.71+/-0.2 degrees W. The areocentric right ascensions of the landers are determined to be 277.314+/-0.002 degrees for lander 1 and 99.546+/-0.002degrees for lander 2 at 0000 hours, January 1, 1977 (Julian date 2443144.57). Possible determinations of relativity parameters, solar oblateness, asteroid mass, and variations of the universal gravitational constant, from their effects on the planetary motions, will require the additional tracking data of the Viking extended mission.

Mayo, A. P.↗

Injection slot location for boundary-layer control in shock-induced separation

An experimental investigation of the effect of tangential air injection, when the injection slot is located inside of what would otherwise have been the dead air zone in a separated flow, in controlling shock-induced turbulent boundary layer separation is presented. The experiments were carried out at a free-stream Mach number of 2.5 in the separated flow induced by a compression corner with a 20 deg angle. The observations made were wall static pressures, pitot profiles, and schlieren visualizations of the flow. The results show that the present location for injection is more effective in suppressing boundary-layer separation than the more conventional one, where the slot is located upstream of where separation would occur in the absence of injection.

Viswanath, P. R.↗

Apparatus including a plurality of spaced transformers for locating short circuits in cables

A cable fault locator is described for sensing faults such as short circuits in power cables. The apparatus includes a plurality of current transformers strategically located along a cable. Trigger circuits are connected to each of the current transformers for placing a resistor in series with a resistive element responsive to an abnormally high current flowing through that portion of the cable. By measuring the voltage drop across the resistive element, the location of the fault can be determined.

Cason, R. L.↗

Lightning location and lower-ionospheric height determination from two-station magnetic field measurements

Wide band magnetic direction finding from two stations is used to determine lightning locations and ionospheric height during two nocturnal maritime thunderstorms near Florida. A comparison of calculated lightning locations with radar reflectivity data of the two storms indicates systematic direction-finding errors to be on the order of 1 deg. From the lightning locations and measured arrival times of the first and second sky waves, ionospheric reflecting heights for both sky waves were determined. The effective heights for the first and second sky waves may differ, leading to large errors in single-station determinations of ionospheric height, such as in the method described by Kinzer (1974). The distribution of peak electric fields for the strokes studied is shown to be in reasonable agreement with other determinations, indicating the reliability of the present measurements.

Mcdonald, T. B., III↗

Lightning source locations from VHF radiation data for a flash at Kennedy Space Center

Three dimensional locations are presented for the VHF (30-50 MHz) radiation sources generated by a three-stroke lightning flash at the Kennedy Space Center. The locations were obtained by calculating the difference in time of arrival (DTOA) of radiated pulses at four ground stations. A computer-implemented multiple time series analysis was used in calculating DTOA data. The locations of the approximately 48,000 sequential VHF sources are compared with wide band electric-field records to provide a better understanding of the physics of lightning discharge.

Rustan, P. L.↗

Analysis of Meteorological Satellite location and data collection system concepts

A satellite system that employs a spaceborne RF interferometer to determine the location and velocity of data collection platforms attached to meteorological balloons is proposed. This meteorological advanced location and data collection system (MALDCS) is intended to fly aboard a low polar orbiting satellite. The flight instrument configuration includes antennas supported on long deployable booms. The platform location and velocity estimation errors introduced by the dynamic and thermal behavior of the antenna booms and the effects of the presence of the booms on the performance of the spacecraft's attitude control system, and the control system design considerations critical to stable operations are examined. The physical parameters of the Astromast type of deployable boom were used in the dynamic and thermal boom analysis, and the TIROS N system was assumed for the attitude control analysis. Velocity estimation error versus boom length was determined. There was an optimum, minimum error, antenna separation distance. A description of the proposed MALDCS system and a discussion of ambiguity resolution are included.

Wallace, R. G.↗

Search and rescue emergency locating transmitter detection/location procedure via TIROS satellite

A procedure is described which works effectively to detect and locate emergency locating transmitters (ELTs) and emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) in a multisignal environment. Using data generated from several manufactured ELTs with diverse superimposed Doppler curves, as many as 9 simultaneous ELTs can be detected and located at a variety of signal strengths. It is noted that average position errors of 10 km are attainable today at signal power to noise spectral density ratios as low as 17 dB-Hz.

Wren, P. E.↗

Radar prediction of absolute rain fade distributions for earth-satellite paths and general methods for extrapolation of fade statistics to other locations

The first absolute rain fade distribution method described establishes absolute fade statistics at a given site by means of a sampled radar data base. The second method extrapolates absolute fade statistics from one location to another, given simultaneously measured fade and rain rate statistics at the former. Both methods employ similar conditional fade statistic concepts and long term rain rate distributions. Probability deviations in the 2-19% range, with an 11% average, were obtained upon comparison of measured and predicted levels at given attenuations. The extrapolation of fade distributions to other locations at 28 GHz showed very good agreement with measured data at three sites located in the continental temperate region.

Goldhirsh, J.↗

Optimal control and controller location for distributed parameter elastic systems

A class of systems governed by second order partial differential equations and driven by controllers located at points r sub i, i = 1, ..., k, is considered. A cost functional quadratic in the time derivative of the state and the control is associated with the system. The optimal controller locations are defined as the ones which minimize the maximum of the cost over all possible initial states. An analytical solution to the associated Riccati equation is presented providing a convenient expression for determining the optimal locations.

Hamidi, M.↗