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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 289 records · Page 16
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NASA NTRS1977

Helios-1 Faraday rotation experiment - Results and interpretations of the solar occultations in 1975

The first of two solar occultations of the satellite Helios-1 in 1975 occurred in April when the satellite's ray path approached the west limb of the sun to a minimum distance of 1.63 solar radii. The second occultation took place in late August/early September when Helios-1 was totally eclipsed by the photosphere. Measurements of the polarization angle of the linearly polarized telemetry signal were performed with automatic tracking polarimeters at the 64 m Goldstone Tracking Station in California and also at the 100 m radio telescope in Effelsberg, West Germany. The coronal Faraday rotation as a function of the solar offset for both occultations is shown in graphs. The theoretical significance of the observations is investigated.

Volland, H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Tracking and data system support for the Viking 1975 mission to Mars: Extended mission operations, December 1976 to May 1978, volume 4

The support which was provided by the Deep Space Network to the Viking Extended Mission from December 1976 to May 1978 is described. Tracking and data acquisition support required the continuous operation of a world-wide network of tracking stations with 64-meter and 26-meter diameter antennas, together with a global communications system for the transfer of commands, telemetry, and radio metric data between the stations and the Network Operations Control Center in Pasadena, California. Performance of the deep-space communications links between Earth and Mars, and innovative new management techniques for operations and data handling are included.

Mudgway, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

GEOS-2 refraction program summary document

Data from an extensive array of collocated instrumentation at the Wallops Island test facility were intercompared in order to (1) determine the practical achievable accuracy limitations of various tropospheric and ionospheric correction techniques; (2) examine the theoretical bases and derivation of improved refraction correction techniques; and (3) estimate internal systematic and random error levels of the various tracking stations. The GEOS 2 satellite was used as the target vehicle. Data were obtained regarding the ionospheric and tropospheric propagation errors, the theoretical and data analysis of which was documented in some 30 separate reports over the last 6 years. An overview of project results is presented.

Mallinckrodt, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Submicrosecond comparisons of time standards via the Navigation Technology Satellites (NTS)

An interim demonstration was performed of the time transfer capability of the NAVSTAR GPS system using a single NTS satellite. Measurements of time difference (pseudo-range) are made from the NTS tracking network and at the participating observatories. The NTS network measurements are used to compute the NTS orbit trajectory. The central NTS tracking station has a time link to the Naval Observatory UTC (USNO,MC1) master clock. Measurements are used with the NTS receiver at the remote observatory, the time transfer value UTC (USNO,MC1)-UTC (REMOTE, VIA NTS) is calculated. Intercomparisons were computed using predicted values of satellite clock offset and ephemeus.

Buisson, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Utilization of satellite-satellite tracking data for determination of the geocentric gravitational constant (GM)

Range rate tracking of GEOS 3 through the ATS 6 satellite was used, along with ground tracking of GEOS 3, to estimate the geocentric gravitational constant (GM). Using multiple half day arcs, a GM of 398600.52 + or - 0.12 cu km/sq sec was estimated using the GEM 10 gravity model, based on speed of light of 299792.458 km/sec. Tracking station coordinates were simultaneously adjusted, leaving geopotential model error as the dominant error source. Baselines between the adjusted NASA laser sites show better than 15 cm agreement with multiple short arc GEOS 3 solutions.

Martin, C. F.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The JPL orbit determination software system

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) orbit determination software system is described. Consisting of a set of computer programs, this system has been developed at JPL for the primary purpose of determining the flight path of deep-space mission spacecraft in NASA's planetary program. Secondary uses include science studies in celestial mechanics and extraterrestrial atmospherics. Attention is given to such features as the capability for processing 30 data types from up to 15 tracking stations, and for precise navigation to natural satellites of outer planets. In addition, the system contains models for such conditions as mascons, atmospheric drag, attitude control, and finite motor burns, to provide for extensive solve-on capabilities.

Ekelund, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Dynamic satellite geodesy

The paper describes operation of the GEOS-3 and Lageos spacecraft launched by NASA as part of the Earth and Ocean Dynamic Program. The investigations conducted by using GEOS-3 include the determination of tracking station coordinates, polar motion, and the use of altimetry in orbit determination. Lageos was designed as a precision target for making geodetic measurements with ground laser systems. Consideration is given to the progress made in the investigation and determination of tidal parameters by means of satellite perturbation methods. Satellite geodetic methods based on the ability to determine precise satellite orbits and orbit determination are outlined. Emphasis is placed on the future studies employing Spaceborne Laser and Global Positioning System concepts.

Smith, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Precise relative location estimation from satellite laser observations

Laser data from the Greenbelt, Bermuda, and Grand Turk Island tec tracking stations, and from observation at Patrick Air Force Base were used in an experiment to determine precise inter-station baselines and relative heights in short orbital arcs of no more than 12 minutes duration. The relative locations obtained are sensitive to reasonable variations in the gravity field to less than 15 cm in inter-station baseline and less than 35 cm in relative height. The formal standard deviations for range measurements at the observed 7 cm noise level are less than 10 cm for either baseline or relative height determinations from the twenty-arc combination solution. The method of data analysis is described, the baseline and relative height results are presented, and gravity model dependence is considered.

Dunn, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

RFI receiver

An S-band radio frequency interference (RFI) receiver to analyze and identify sources of RFI problems in the Deep Space Network DSN tracking stations is described. The RFI receiver is a constant gain, double conversion, open loop receiver with dual sine/cosine channel outputs, providing a total of 20 MHZ monitoring capability. This receiver is computer controlled using a MODCOMP II miniprocessor. The RFI receiver has been designed to operate at a 150 Kelvin system noise temperature accomplished by cascading two low noise field effect transistor (FET) amplifiers for the receiver front-end. The first stage low noise FET amplifier is mounted at the feed horn to minimize any cable losses to achieve a lower system noise temperature. The receiver is tunable over the frequency range of 2150 to 2450 MHz in both sine/cosine output channels with a resolution of 100 kHz.

Lay, R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Orbiter S-band direct link system verification test report

Space-to-ground S-band communications system compatibility and performance tests were performed for the various radio frequency links. These tests consisted of the various uplink and downlink signal combinations (data rates) for the phase modulation system and both realtime and playback data rates for the frequency modulated downlink systems. In addition, tests involving encryption/decryption, Doppler, and acquisition were performed. Results show that the S-band transponder for the space shuttle orbiter is compatible with the S-band equipment of the AFSCF/RTS (Air Force Satellite Control Facility/Remote Tracking Station). It is also concluded that the performance of the orbiter-AFSCF/RTS direct link exceeds the required performance and that this communications link will meet the system requirements of the Space Transportation System.

Vermillion, B. K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Radio science with Voyager at Jupiter - Initial Voyager 2 results and a Voyager 1 measure of the Io torus

About 22 hours after its closest approach to Jupiter, Voyager 2 passed behind the planet as viewed from the earth. Although the spacecraft was geometrically occulted for nearly two hours, the radio links between it and the earth were maintained almost continuously because of the refraction of the signals in Jupiter's south polar atmosphere. A figure shows the plane-of-the-sky geometry of this grazing occultation and preliminary data on the intensity of the spacecraft radio signals as received by the tracking station at Goldstone, California. The intensity data indicate a classic atmospheric occultation profile and the effects of turbulence and ionospheric focusing and defocusing. Analysis of the dispersive ionospheric refraction data yields preliminary profiles for the topside ionosphere at 66.7 deg S (entry in the evening) and 50.1 deg S (exit in the morning) that are reversed with respect to corresponding Voyager 1 profiles in terms of plasma concentration at a fixed altitude. Preliminary reduction of the preencounter occultation of Voyager 1 by the Io torus gives an average plasma density of about 1000 e/cu cm.

Eshleman, V. R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An evaluation of Galileo-Viking differenced range in Galileo-Mars flyby navigation

A summary and evaluation of the Galileo-Mars flyby navigation techniques is presented. The navigational requirements of Galileo as it swings by Mars are going to be met with interferometric angular measurements (VLBI) and range and range-rate measurements. Like VLBI, dual spacecraft differenced range is less sensitive to Mars ephemeris errors and tracking station location errors than conventional range and Doppler. Similarly, differenced range provides angular information about the separation between the Mars Viking Lander I and the Galileo spacecraft. In covariance studies, dual spacecraft range coupled with conventional range and Doppler is shown to estimate the Galileo-Mars flyby distance to better than 10 km which is comparable to the VLBI performance. For the Galileo-Mars flyby, dual spacecraft differenced range promise to be an excellent backup to VLBI if the Mars Viking Lander remains operational.

Winn, F. B.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Feasibility study of an integrated optic switching center

The design of a high data rate switching center for a satellite tracking station is discussed. The feasibility of a switching network using an integrated switching matrix is assessed. The preferred integrated optical switching scheme was found to be an electro-optic Bragg diffraction switch. To ascertain the advantages of the integrated optics switching center, its properties are compared to those of opto-electronic and to electronics switching networks.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1981

Prospects for TLRS baseline accuracies in the western USA

One of the main goals of the LAGEOS satellite mission is the detection of regional geotectonic movements. A parametric study with the intention to obtain the optimal baseline precision from dynamic solutions of laser ranging to LAGEOS is presented. The varied parameters are: length of reduced arc, number of tracking stations, data noise and rate, biases, refraction errors, system efficiency, gravity model errors in the value of GM. The baseline precisions are 1-10 cm depending upon the set of parameters adopted. General principles obtained are also presented.

Christodoulidis, D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Estimation of solar gravitational harmonics with Starprobe radiometric tracking data

The potential gravitational science return of a proposed spacecraft mission, called Starprobe, is investigated. The current mission plan is to place a spacecraft in a highly eccentric, highly inclined solar orbit with a perihelion distance of four solar radii. A covariance analysis based on Kalman filtering theory is performed to predict the accuracies with which gravitational parameters associated with the nonsphericity of the sun and relativistic effects can be estimated with radiometric tracking data. The accuracies are computed as functions of the quality and quantity of the radiometric data, the orbital parameters, the magnitude and character of the nongravitational accelerations acting on the spacecraft, and the errors in the tracking station locations and the ephemeris of the earth relative to the sun.

Mease, K. D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Orbit determination requirements for TOPEX

The error sensitivity of orbit calculations in support of the NASA Ocean Surface Topography Mapping Experiment (TOPEX), which require an accuracy on the order of 5 cm, is investigated. The contributions of errors in the gravitational, atmospheric drag and solar radiation pressure models to the computed orbit are analyzed for the cases of an ideal data distribution and realistic laser ranging data coverage. It is found that the major contributor to radial orbital error is the error in the geopotential model, accounting for orbital errors of 30 to 70 cm, with the effects of solar radiation pressure, drag modeling, tracking station coordinate errors making lesser contributions. It is concluded that TOPEX accuracy goals cannot be met using ground-based laser ranging data without improving the geopotential model.

Tapley, B. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Shuttle Communications Blackout Study

Space Shuttle Orbiter Entry Communications Blackout Study computer program models, investigates, and predicts communication blackout envelopes based on mission entry trajectory and associated data from tracking stations. Of interest to those designing and using communications systems susceptible to blackout. Program is readily adapted to predict entry communications blackout for any nonablative entry vehicle.

Haben, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Radio astronomy

A K-band reflected-wave ruby maser was used on the 64-meter (DSS-43) antenna at the Tidbinbilla Tracking Station, near Canberra, Australia. Spectral line observations were carried out near 22 GHz for water vapor sources and near 24 GHz for ammonia sources. The water vapor observations were made in the direction of known southern OH and H2O maser sources. All of the previously detected water line sources examined were detected. In addition, two new water vapor maser sources were discovered, G301.1+1.1and G308.9+0.1. The spectrum of G301.0+1.1 is presented six ammonia sources were found: G291.3-0.7, G305.4+0.2, G322.2+0.6, G327.3-0.5, G333.6-0.2, and G268.4-0.8. Spectra of two of these sources, G291.3-0.7 (RCW 57) and G305.4+0.2, are presented. Both show clearly the presence of the quadrupole splitting satellite lines that will allow the determination of NH3 optical depths in these clouds.

Shaffer, R. D.↗