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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 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

An empirical approach to predicting long term behavior of metal particle based recording media

Alpha iron particles used for magnetic recording are prepared through a series of dehydration and reduction steps of alpha-Fe2O3-H2O resulting in acicular, polycrystalline, body centered cubic (bcc) alpha-Fe particles that are single magnetic domains. Since fine iron particles are pyrophoric by nature, stabilization processes had to be developed in order for iron particles to be considered as a viable recording medium for long term archival (i.e., 25+ years) information storage. The primary means of establishing stability is through passivation or controlled oxidation of the iron particle's surface. A study was undertaken to examine the degradation in magnetic properties as a function of both temperature and humidity on silicon-containing iron particles between 50-120 C and 3-89 percent relative humidity. The methodology to which experimental data was collected and analyzed leading to predictive capability is discussed.

Hadad, Allan S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Recommended practices for in-space and ground laboratory. Atomic oxygen exposure and analysis

A detailed guide to testing materials for atomic oxygen durability in earth orbit environments is presented. The steps covered include sample preparation, including masking of the sample, dehydration, weighing, and handling; effective fluence prediction, including the use of witness samples (notably Kapton); plasma facility and operational considerations, involving such matters as avoidance of silicone contamination, the use of continuous versus incremental ashing, and temperature of operation; and erosion yield measurement, with calculation methods and protective coating performance indices provided.

Banks, Bruce↗
NASA NTRS1992

Vascular uptake of rehydration fluids in hypohydrated men at rest and exercise

The purpose of this study was to formulate and to evaluate rehydration drinks, which would restore total body water and plasma volume (PV), for astronauts to consume before and during extravehicular activity, a few hours before reentry, and immediately after landing. In the first experiment (rest, sitting), five healthy men (23-41 yr), previously dehydrated for 24 hr., drank six (1a, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) fluid formulations (one each at weekly intervals) and then sat for 70 min. Pre-test PV were measured with Evans blue dye and changes in PV were calculated with the hematocrit-hemoglobin transformation equation. This rest experiment simulated hypohydrated astronauts preparing for reentry. The second experiment (exercise, supine) followed the same protocol except four healthy men (30-46 yr) worked for 70 min. in the supine position on a cycle ergometer at a mean load of 71+/-1 percent of their peak aerobic work capacity. This exercise experiment simulated conditions for astronauts with reduced total body water engaging in extravehicular activity.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Changes in total body water during spaceflight

Total body water (TBW) changes occurring in humans as a consequence of prolonged exposure to microgravity were measured in five male crewmembers of Space Shuttle missions STS-61C and STS-26. It was found that the inflight mean TBW values were significantly different from the preflight and postflight values, while the preflight TBW values were not significantly different from the postflight values. It was also found that individuals may differ in the rate at which they respond to weightlessness. Of the three crewmen who reported experiencing no symptoms of space motion sickness (SMS), two had not exhibited a decrease of TBW at the time of measurements (24 hrs after launch), while the two crewmen who reported SMS of intermediate severity showed a decrease of several kg by 24 hrs, suggesting that dehydration might be an important factor affecting the rate of TBW decrease.

Leach, Carolyn S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

HALOE Antarctic observations in the spring of 1991

HALOE observations of O3, CH4, HF, H2O, NO, NO2, and HCl collected during the October 1991 Antarctic spring period are reported. The data show a constant CH4 mixing ratio of about 0.25 ppmv for the altitude range from 65 km down to about 25 km at the position of minimum wind speed in the vortex: i.e., the vortex center, and depressions in pressure versus longitude contours of NO, NO2, HF, and HCl in this same region. Water vapor, HF, and HCl enhancement are also observed in the vortex center region above about 25 km. Between 10 and 20 km, the expected mixing ratio signatures exist within the vortex, i.e., low ozone and dehydration. The water vapor increased by 50 percent, and the ozone level doubled inside the vortex between October 11 and 24 in the 15-20 km layer. These changes imply a time constant for recovery from ozone hole conditions of 19 and 30 days for O3 and H2O, respectively. The data further show the presence of air inside the vortex between 3 and 30 mb which has mixing ratios characteristic of midlatitudes.

Russell, James M., III↗
NASA NTRS1993

The tropical experiment of the Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange Project (STEP) - Science objectives, operations, and summary findings

An overview is presented of the tropical component of STEP. The STEP cooperative experiments are described and summaries are presented of the STEP tropical ER-2 aircraft flights. STEP tropical results on dehydration and transfer and the mechanisms of upward transfer are summarized. Illustrations show flight paths for each sortie on satellite images and on 100 hPa synoptic flow charts, as well as the timing of flights with respect to overall cloudiness in the Australian region.

Russell, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Water vapor and cloud water measurements over Darwin during the STEP 1987 tropical mission

Measurements of stratospheric and upper tropospheric cloud water plus water vapor (total water) and water vapor were made with two Lyman alpha hygrometers as part of the STEP tropical experiment. The in situ measurements were made in the Darwin, Australia, area in January and February of 1987 on an ER-2 aircraft. Average stratospheric water vapor at a potential temperature of 375 K (the average value of Theta at the tropopause) was 2.4 parts per million by volume (ppmv). This water mixing ratio is below the 3.0 to 4.0 ppmv necessary to be consistent with the observed upper stratospheric dryness. Saturation with respect to ice and the potential for dehydration was observed up to Theta = 402 K.

Kelly, K. K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The Halogen Occultation Experiment

The Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) uses solar occultation to measure vertical profiles of O3, HCl, HF, CH4, H2O, NO, NO2, aerosol extinction, and temperature versus pressure with an instantaneous vertical field of view of 1.6 km at the earth limb. Latitudinal coverage is from 80 deg S to 80 deg N over the course of 1 year and includes extensive observations of the Antarctic region during spring. The altitude range of the measurements extends from about 15 km to about 60-130 km, depending on channel. Experiment operations have been essentially flawless, and all performance criteria either meet or exceed specifications. Internal data consistency checks, comparisons with correlative measurements, and qualitative comparisons with 1985 atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy (ATMOS) results are in good agreement. Examples of pressure versus latitude cross sections and a global orthographic projection for the September 21 to October 15, 1992, period show the utility of CH4, HF, and H2O as tracers, the occurrence of dehydration in the Antarctic lower stratosphere, the presence of the water vapor hygropause in the tropics, evidence of Antarctic air in the tropics, the influence of Hadley tropical upwelling, and the first global distribution of HCl, HF, and NO throughout the stratosphere. Nitric oxide measurements extend through the lower thermosphere.

Russell, James M., III↗
NASA NTRS1992

Stratospheric water vapor in the NCAR CCM2

Results are presented of the water vapor distribution in a 3D GCM with good vertical resolution, a state-of-the-art transport scheme, and a realistic water vapor source in the middle atmosphere. In addition to water vapor, the model transported methane and an idealized clock tracer, which provides transport times to and within the middle atmosphere. The water vapor and methane distributions are compared with Nimbus 7 SAMS and LIMS data and with in situ measurements. It is argued that the hygropause in the model is maintained not by 'freeze-drying' at the tops of tropical cumulonimbus, but by a balance between two sources and one sink. Since the southern winter dehydration is unrealistically intense, this balance most likely does not resemble the balance in the real atmosphere.

Mote, Philip W.↗
NASA NTRS1946

The synthesis and purification of aromatic hydrocarbons IV : 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene

A six gallon quantity of 1,2,3-trimethylbenezene was prepared and purified in a four-step synthesis involving the condensation of 1,3-pentadiene with crotonaldehyde. The dimethylcyclohexencarboxaldehydes formed were hydrogenated to give the corresponding isomeric dimethylcyclohexylcarbinols. The dehydration of the carbinols and the subsequent dehydrogenation of the trimethylcyclohexenes yielded the 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene. The overall yield was 24 percent; the physical properties of the materials are given.

Lamberti, J M↗
NASA NTRS1994

Continuous-Flow Gas-Phase Bioreactors

Continuous-flow gas-phase bioreactors proposed for biochemical, food-processing, and related industries. Reactor contains one or more selected enzymes dehydrated or otherwise immobilized on solid carrier. Selected reactant gases fed into reactor, wherein chemical reactions catalyzed by enzyme(s) yield product biochemicals. Concept based on discovery that enzymes not necessarily placed in traditional aqueous environments to function as biocatalysts.

Wise, Donald L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Trapping of water vapor from an atmosphere by condensed silicate matter formed by high-temperature pulse vaporization

The origin of planetary atmospheres is thought to be the result of bombardment of a growing planet by massive planetesimals. According to some models, the accumulation of released water vapor and/or carbon dioxide can result in the formation of a dense and hot primordial atmosphere. Among source and sink processes of atmospheric water vapor the formation of hydroxides was considered mainly as rehydration of dehydrated minerals (foresterite and enstatite). From our point of view, the formation of hydroxides is not limited to rehydration. Condensation of small silicate particles in a spreading vapor cloud and their interaction with a wet atmosphere can also result in the origin of hydrated phases which have no genetic connections with initial water bearing minerals. We present results of two experiments of a simulated interaction of condensed silicate matter which originated during vaporization of dry clinopyroxene in a wet helium atmosphere.

Gerasimov, M. V.↗
NASA NTRS1993

SNC meteorites and their implications for reservoirs of Martian volatiles

The SNC meteorites and the measurements of the Viking landers provide our only direct information about the abundance and isotopic composition of Martian volatiles. Indirect measurements include spectroscopic determinations of the D/H ratio of the Martian atmosphere. A personal view of volatile element reservoirs on Mars is presented, largely as inferred from the meteoritic evidence. This view is that the Martian mantle has had several opportunities for dehydration and is most likely dry, although not completely degassed. Consequently, the water contained in SNC meteorites was most likely incorporated during ascent through the crust. Thus, it is possible that water can be decoupled from other volatile/incompatible elements, making the SNC meteorites suspect as indicators of water inventories on Mars.

Jones, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The use of silica aerogel to collect interplanetary dust in space

We report on impact experiments to evaluate the suitability of silica aerogel as a capture medium for interplanetary dust particles in space. The structure of silica aerogel is such that even micrometer-sized hypervelocity particles may sense it as a target of very low density; consequently shock stresses and temperatures due to impact should be minimized. We performed impact experiments in a light gas gun that employed projectiles manufactured from forsterite, pyrrhotite, and calcite. From these experiments we have developed techniques that will permit the successful extrication of interplanetary dust particles from aerogel. We note a rough correlation between increasing particle penetration lengths and decreasing aerogel density, and there is a poor correlation of track lengths with impact velocity at laboratory-attainable velocities of 5-7 km/s. We conclude that aerogel track length should not be used even as (crude) velocity indicators. Transmission electron microscope studies show the re covered particulate residues are encased in melted silica aerogel, which possibly protects the residue from some impact damage. Individual minerals within interplanetary dust are expected to exhibit differential survival, and may be vaporized, melted, dehydrated, or structurally reordered. However, some mineral grains should successfully be captured in an unmelted state at encounter velocities less than 8 km/s.

Zolensky, Michael E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Thermochemistry of dense hydrous magnesium silicates

Recent experimental investigations under mantle conditions have identified a suite of dense hydrous magnesium silicate (DHMS) phases that could be conduits to transport water to at least the 660 km discontinuity via mature, relatively cold, subducting slabs. Water released from successive dehydration of these phases during subduction could be responsible for deep focus earthquakes, mantle metasomatism and a host of other physico-chemical processes central to our understanding of the earth's deep interior. In order to construct a thermodynamic data base that can delineate and predict the stability ranges for DHMS phases, reliable thermochemical and thermophysical data are required. One of the major obstacles in calorimetric studies of phases synthesized under high pressure conditions has been limitation due to the small (less than 5 mg) sample mass. Our refinement of calorimeter techniques now allow precise determination of enthalpies of solution of less than 5 mg samples of hydrous magnesium silicates. For example, high temperature solution calorimetry of natural talc (Mg(0.99) Fe(0.01)Si4O10(OH)2), periclase (MgO) and quartz (SiO2) yield enthalpies of drop solution at 1044 K to be 592.2 (2.2), 52.01 (0.12) and 45.76 (0.4) kJ/mol respectively. The corresponding enthalpy of formation from oxides at 298 K for talc is minus 5908.2 kJ/mol agreeing within 0.1 percent to literature values.

Bose, Kunal↗
NASA NTRS1994

Embryogenesis, hatching and larval development of Artemia during orbital spaceflight

Developmental biology studies, using gastrula-arrested cysts of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana, were conducted during two flights of the space shuttle Atlantis (missions STS-37 and STS-43) in 1991. Dehydrated cysts were activated, on orbit, by addition of salt water to the cysts, and then development was terminated by the addition of fixative. Development took place in 5 ml syringes, connected by tubing to activation syringes, containing salt water, and termination syringes, containing fixative. Comparison of space results with simultaneous ground control experiments showed that equivalent percentages of naupliar larvae hatched in the syringes (40%). Thus, reactivation of development, completion of embryogenesis, emergence and hatching took place, during spaceflight, without recognizable alteration in numbers of larvae produced. Post-hatching larval development was studied in experiments where development was terminated, by introduction of fixative, 2 days, 4 days, and 8 days after reinitiation of development. During spaceflight, successive larval instars or stages, interrupted by molts, occurred, generating brine shrimp at appropriate larval instars. Naupliar larvae possessed the single naupliar eye, and development of the lateral pair of adult eyes also took place in space. Transmission electron microscopy revealed extensive differentiation, including skeletal muscle and gut endoderm, as well as the eye tissues. These studies demonstrate the potential value of Artemia for developmental biology studies during spa ceflight, and show that extensive degrees of development can take place in this microgravity environment.

Spooner, B. S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Infrared diffuse reflectance spectra of carbonaceous chondrites: Amount of hydrous minerals

Infrared diffuse reflectance spectra (2.53-25 microns) of some carbonaceous (C) chondrites were measured. The integrated intensity of the absorption bands near 3 microns caused by hydrous minerals were compared with the modal content of hydrous minerals for the meteorites. The CM and CI chondrites show larger values of the intergated intensity than those of the unique C chondrites Y82162, Y86720 and B7904, suggesting that the amount of hydrous minerals in the CM and CI chondrites is larger, which supports the contention that hydrous minerals were dehydrated by thermal metamorphism in the unique chondrites. Orgueil (CI) has the largest value of the integrated intensity among the C chondrites we measured and shows a sharp absorption band at 3685/cm (2.71 microns) that is not seen in the spectra of the CM chondrites. There is an excellent correlation between the observed hydrogen content in C chondrites and the integrated intensity. The CM chondrites show a wide variation in the strength of absorption bands at 1470/cm (6.8 microns), despite the similarity in absorption features near 3 micron for all CM chondites. The 1470/cm band could be due to the presence of some hydrocarbons but may also be a result of terrestrial alteration processes.

Miyamoto, M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Altered thermoregulatory responses after 15 days of head-down tilt

To determine whether extended exposure to a simulation of microgravity alters thermoregulatory reflex control of skin blood flow, six adult males were exposed to 15 days of 6 deg head-down tilt (HDT). On an ambulatory control day before HDT exposure and on HDT day 15 the core temperature of each subject was increased by 0.5 - 1.0 C by whole body heating with a water-perfused suit. Mean skin temperature, oral temperature (T (sub or)), mean arterial pressure, and forearm blood flow were measured throughout the protocol. Forearm vascular conductance (FVC) was calculated from the ratio of forearm blood flow to mean arterial pressure. After HDT exposure, the T(sub or) threshold at which reflex thermally induced increases in FVC began was elevated, whereas the slope of the T(sub or)-FVC relationship after this threshold was reduced. Moreover, normothermic FVC and FVC at the highest common T(sub or) between pre- and post-HDT trials were reduced after HDT. These data suggest that HDT exposure reduces thermoregulatory responses to heat stress. The mechanisms resulting in such an impaired thermoregulatory response are unknown but are likely related to the relative dehydration that accompanies this exposure.

Crandall, Craig G.↗