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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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A historical background on windmill use, the nature of wind, wind conversion system technology and requirements, the economics of wind power and comparisons with alternative systems, data needs, technology development needs, and an implementation plan for wind energy are presented. Considerable progress took place during the 1950's. Most of the modern windmills feature a wind turbine electricity generator located directly at the top of their rotor towers.
In addition to the outer planets, much interest is directed toward understanding the solar environment in which those planets and the earth have evolved. One means of obtaining some of the needed data is an out-of-the-ecliptic mission. Direct launch out of earth orbit does not allow acceptable solar latitudes to be achieved with existing launch vehicles. This paper presents the results of a study on using a Jupiter swingby to increase significantly the achievable solar latitudes. Latitudes above 60 deg can be achieved with an Atlas/Centaur/TE364-4 and a Pioneer-class spacecraft reduced in weight by about 50 kg. Jovian center-targeting contours have been generated, and a maximum achievable latitude has been determined as a function of launch year and spacecraft mass. Nominal trajectories are selected, and time histories of significant parameters are presented.
In order to provide essential data needed in long-range program planning, the Manned Orbital Systems Concepts (MOSC) study attempted to define, evaluate, and compare concepts for manned orbital systems that provide extended experiment mission capabilities in space, flexibility of operation, and growth potential. Specific areas discussed include roles and requirements for man in future space missions, requirements for extended capability, mission/payload concepts, and preliminary design and operational requirements.
The following applications of LANDSAT imagery were investigated: assistance in recognizing soil survey boundaries, low intensity soil surveys, and preparation of a base map for publishing thematic soils maps. The following characteristics of LANDSAT imagery were tested as they apply to the recognition of soil boundaries in South Dakota and western Minnesota: synoptic views due to the large areas covered, near-orthography and lack of distortion, flexibility of selecting the proper season, data recording in four parts of the spectrum, and the use of computer compatible tapes. A low intensity soil survey of Pennington County, South Dakota was completed in 1974. Low intensity inexpensive soil surveys can provide the data needed to evaluate agricultural land for the remaining counties until detailed soil surveys are completed. In using LANDSAT imagery as a base map for publishing thematic soil maps, the first step was to prepare a mosaic with 20 LANDSAT scenes from several late spring passes in 1973.
Multiuse mission support equipment (MMSE) is flight/ground equipment for the shuttle era which is used in conjunction with more than one mission payload. Initial verification of STS subsystem's applicability to MMSE is provided along with the cost savings potential and programmatic data needed for further program planning decisions. Some 70 MMSE requirements were found to be potentially satisfied by STS equipment, and and 6 items of particular interest were chosen for special emphasis. All were found to be feasible and beneficial. Program cost savings through their use are estimated to be substantial. Further study is recommended to identify additional MMSE requirements and hardware.
The work is reported of the panel concerning the application of space technology to the improved management of the nation's inland resources. The progress since the 1967-68 study is briefly reviewed. The data needed for the management of inlet water ways, and the potential benefits of better management are discussed along with 16 proposed demonstration projects.
The objectives, program elements, and distribution of research effort in the NASA AST/SCAR Program since its inception in July of 1972 are discussed. The data needed to make rational decisions in the consideration of future military and civil supersonic aircraft were the main directive.
The paper summarizes discussions held between solar physicists and plasma physicists on the interface between solar and plasma physics, with emphasis placed on the question of what laboratory experiments, or computer experiments, could be pursued to test proposed mechanisms involved in solar phenomena. Major areas discussed include nonthermal plasma on the sun, spectroscopic data needed in solar plasma diagnostics, types of magnetic field structures in the sun's atmosphere, the possibility of MHD phenomena involved in solar eruptive phenomena, the role of non-MHD instabilities in energy release in solar flares, particle acceleration in solar flares, shock waves in the sun's atmosphere, and mechanisms of radio emission from the sun.
The work is concerned with determining the minimum quantity of data needed for achieving best possible accuracy of identified parameters in transient testing of a lifting rotor blade. Specifically, the problem is that of determining from blade flapping transients caused by blade pitch inputs the equivalent Lock number and the equivalent collective pitch setting. For a given time-dependent blade pitch input function, the running time for the test less than which insufficient parameter accuracy is obtained and more than which little accuracy improvement is achieved was calculated with the aid of the Cramer-Rao lower bound for the parameter covariance matrix.
In certain missions finned missiles perform slewing maneuvers. Here, large angles of attack are attained. Experimental data needed to understand the aerodynamics of such vehicles are presented. The purpose of this investigation was to study the interaction of the body flow field with that produced by the fins and the resulting effects on the aerodynamic forces and moments. The experiments were conducted at a nominal Mach number of 2.7 and angles of attack from 0 to 50 deg, with two different models. The tests were performed in a range of Reynolds number from 1.5 x 10 to the 6th to 4 x 10 to the 7th per foot (to cover both the laminar and fully turbulent regimes.) Several fin roll angles were investigated. Static pressures on both body and fin surfaces are reported.
Automated system rapidly diagnoses MOS integrated circuits. Its programed electronics investigate transistor and cell characteristics to compile data needed for screening. Program can be changed rapidly to alter test procedures, test duration, and precision.
The possible large scale use of extraterrestrial resources was addressed, either to construct structures in space or to return to Earth as supplements for terrestrial resources. To that end, various specific recommendations were made by the participants in the summer study on near-Earth resources, held at La Jolla, California, 6 to 13 August, 1977. The Moon and Earth-approaching asteroids were considered. Summaries are included of what is known about their compositions and what needs to be learned, along with recommendations for missions designed to provide the needed data. Tentative schedules for these projects are also offered.
Meetings were held concerning aircraft design with considerable interest shown in aircraft operations. Topics covered were: (1) structural design for turbulence; (2) flight control; (3) data needs; and (4) lightning. Other factors discussed were temperature, rain, hail, icing, pressure, density, corrosives, and abrasives.
The importance computational aerodynamics in improving quality and efficiency in production of information at a wind tunnel test center is discussed. Some principal applications of the calculations are to extend or clarify the understanding of experimental data, particularly when wind tunnel or scaling limitations prevent attainment of all conditions of interest, and to furnish on-line or near-on-line math-model results or other comparative data needed for test direction.
An energy analysis methodology was developed to serve as a rational basis for evaluating alternative regional management/use schemes. Human and natural systems are coupled and can be interpreted, using a common base of energy-flow analysis to evaluate past, present, and future states of regional integrated systems in the coastal zone and to provide the capability for rational selection of alternative patterns of resource use. Energy flows (or flows of dollars or materials converted to energy equivalents) are believed to be the basic factor in the organizations of all types of systems. An analysis example is provided of an estuarine subsystem of the Chesapeake Bay, and tabular listings of regional data needs are given. Current remote sensing capabilities were used to provide some of the necessary information.
Data needs for state natural resources programs, state capabilities for using satellite technology, and the existing remote sensing technology are reviewed. State programs in land use planning, wetlands management, coastal zone management, transportation planning, and forestry management are summarized. Emphasis is placed on the use of LANDSAT imagery.
The establishment and maintenance of meteorological data archives to support various research projects are outlined. Consideration is given to overall data needs for meteorological and climatic research in the university community and to establish the climatology of the Southern Hemisphere from the surface to 10 kPa (100 millibars).
A summary of the data acquired concerning line identification and lifetime measurements in the xuv and soft X-ray regions for a variety of both resonance transitions and forbidden transitions in ions of astrophysical interest is provided. Particular attention is called to a few papers which appeared in the Astrophysical Journal. These are of special relevance to specific astrophysical data needs. The many experiments completed in areas related to but somewhat outside the confines of the project title are mentioned.