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NASA NTRS1978

Study of the storm time fluxes of heavy ions

The characteristics of the storm time ring current ions in the energy range of 0.5 to 16 keV were investigated. Data were processed and analyzed from the energetic ion mass spectrometer aboard the S3-3 satellite. Results are used for planning and operating the ion mass spectrometer experiment on the ISEE spacecraft, for selecting and processing the ISEE ion data, and for planning and conducting coordinated satellite experiments in support of the International Magnetospheric Study (IMS). It is established from the S3-3 ion data that relatively large fluxes of energetic (keV) 0(+) and H(+) ions are frequently flowing upward from the ionosphere along magnetic field lines in the polar auroral regions. Also, from investigations with the same instrument during the main phase of three moderate (D sub ST approximately 100) magnetic storms, it is found that the number density of 0(+) ions in the ring current was comparable to H(+) ion density the range 0.5 to 15 keV.

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NASA NTRS1999

On Orbit Testing of the Video Guidance Sensor

The Video Guidance Sensor (VGS), part of NASA's Automated Rendezvous and Capture program, was flown on Shuttle mission STS-95 in October of 1998 to orbitally test the functional characteristics of the VGS. This was the second flight of the VGS (the first flight was in 1997 on STS-87), and this time long-range tracking data was gathered during the experiment. The flight experiment sensor was designed to operate from 1.5 meter range out to 110 meter range, with a field-of-view of 16 X 21 degrees. The VGS tracked its target at a 5 Hz rate and returned 6-degree-of-freedom information on the target's position and attitude relative to the sensor. The VGS was mounted in the Shuttle cargo bay, and its target was mounted on the Spartan spacecraft being carried on this mission. The orbital testing of the VGS included operations with the target on the Shuttle's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) at the start of the 10-day mission, long-range data during the Shuttle rendezvous with the Spartan two days later, and some more RMS operations later in the mission. The data returned from the orbital testing included VGS diagnostics, acquisition, and tracking data, RMS positions, hand-held laser range data, tapes of the data from the VGS video camera, and orbital positioning data from the Spartan and the Shuttle to allow correlation of the VGS data with orbital best-estimate-of-truth data. The Video Guidance Sensor performed well in all phases of the testing, and the VGS is being incorporated into the ground testing of a complete automated rendezvous and docking system. Work on the development of the next generation VGS is continuing

Howard, Richard T.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Man/terminal interaction evaluation of computer operating system command and control service concepts

The Experiment Computer Operating System (ECOS) of the Spacelab will allow the onboard Payload Specialist to command experiment devices and display information relative to the performance of experiments. Three candidate ECOS command and control service concepts were reviewed and laboratory data on operator performance was taken for each concept. The command and control service concepts evaluated included a dedicated operator's menu display from which all command inputs were issued, a dedicated command key concept with which command inputs could be issued from any display, and a multi-display concept in which command inputs were issued from several dedicated function displays. Advantages and disadvantages are discussed in terms of training, operational errors, task performance time, and subjective comments of system operators.

Dodson, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Shipboard trials of the Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft /QSRA/

The feasibility of the application of advanced state-of-the-art high lift STOL aircraft in the aircraft carrier environment was evaluated using the NASA Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA). The QSRA made repeated unarrested landings and free deck takeoffs from the USS Kitty Hawk while being flown by three pilots of significant different backgrounds. The exercise demonstrated that the USB propulsive lift technology presents no unusual problems in the aircraft carrier environment. Optimum parameters for landing the QSRA were determined from the shore-based program; these proved satisfactory during operations aboard ship. Correlation of shipboard experience with shore-based data indicates that both free deck takeoffs and unarrested landings could be conducted with zero to 35 knots of wind across the deck of an aircraft carrier the size of the USS Kitty Hawk.

Martin, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1981

An experiment to evaluate liquid hydrogen storage in space

The design and verification of a Cryogenic Fluid Management Experiment for orbital operation on the Shuttle is described. The experiment will furnish engineering data to establish design criteria for storage and supply of cryogenic fluids, mainly hydrogen, for use in low gravity environments. The apparatus comprises an LAD (liquid acquisition device) and a TVS (thermodynamic vent system). The hydrogen will be either vented or forced out by injected helium and the flow rates will be monitored. The data will be compared with ground-based simulations to determine optimal flow rates for the pressurizing gas and the release of the cryogenic fluid. It is noted that tests on a one-g, one-third size LAD system are under way.

Eberhardt, R. N.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators (SEPAC)

Plans for SEPAC, an instrument array to be used on Spacelab 1 to study vehicle charging and neutralization, beam-plasma interaction in space, beam-atmospheric interaction exciting artificial aurora and airglow, and the electromagnetic-field configuration of the magnetosphere, are presented. The hardware, consisting of electron beam accelerator, magnetoplasma arcjet, neutral-gas plume generator, power supply, diagnostic package (photometer, plasma probes, particle analyzers, and plasma-wave package), TV monitor, and control and data-management unit, is described. The individual SEPAC experiments, the typical operational sequence, and the general outline of the SEPAC follow-on mission are discussed. Some of the experiments are to be joint ventures with AEPI (INS 003) and will be monitored by low-light-level TV.

Obayashi, T.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Oceanic transports of mass, heat, and salt in the western North Pacific

An optimum orbit of the satellite will be presented for confirmation of estimates of tides and interpolation errors. Hydrographic surveys complementary to the routine surveys will be planned in Phase 1 by using research vessels belonging to Japanese universities. Direction measurements of oceanic transports with moored current meters and shipborne acoustic Doppler velocimeters will be planned for selected sections as an activity of the Japan-WOCE (World Ocean Circulation Experiment) Project. In the operational phase of TOPEX/POSEIDON, the delivered altimeter data will be used for the computation of surface geostrophic velocities to be applied in the hydrographic sections of the Japan Meteorological Agency, Hydrographic Department, Japan Fisheries Agency, and the universities. The estimates of transports are made by the co-investigators of each agency. The composite of the transports in the circulations will be made at the Japan Oceanographic Data Center. The direct measurements of current velocity and transports will be made mainly by the principal investigator.

Taira, K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Data analysis tasks: BATSE

Miscellaneous tasks related to the operation of, and analysis of data from, the Burst and Transient Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) were performed. The results are summarized and relevant references are included.

Paciesas, William S.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Observations of Thermospheric Horizontal Winds at Watson Lake, Yukon Territory (lambda=65 Deg N)

Fabry-Perot interferometer observations of the thermospheric O I (6300 A) emission have been conducted from an airglow observatory at a dark field site in the southeastern Yukon Territory, Canada, for the period November 1991 to April 1993. The experiment operated in unattended, remote fashion, has resulted in a substantial data set from which mean neutral winds have been determined. Dependent upon geomagnetic activity, the nocturnal location of the site is either equatorward of the auroral oval or within oval boundaries. The data set is rich enough to permit hourly binning of neutral winds based upon the K(sub p) geomagnetic disturbance index as well as the season. For cases of low geomagnetic activity the averaged vector horizontal neutral wind exhibits the characteristics of a midlatitude site displaying antisunward pressure-gradient-driven winds. As the geomagnetic activity rises in the late afternoon and evening winds slowly rotate sunward in an anticlockwise direction, initially remaining near 100 m/s in speed but eventually increasing to 300 m/s for K(sub p) greater than 5. For the higher levels of activity the observed neutral wind flow pattern resembles a higher-latitude polar cap pattern characterized by ion drag forcing of thermospheric neutral gases. In addition, rotational Coriolis forcing on the dusk side enhances the ion drag forcing, resulting in dusk winds which trace out the clockwise dusk cell plasma flow. On the dawn side the neutral winds also rotate in an anticlockwise direction as the strength of geomagnetic disturbances increase. Since the site is located at a transition latitude between the midlatitude and the polar cap the data set provides a sensitive test for general circulation models which attempt to parameterize the contribution of magnetospheric processes. A comparison with the Vector Spherical Harmonic (VSH) model indicates several regions of poor correspondence for December solstice conditions but reasonable agreement for the vernal equinox.

Niciejewski, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS2001

The Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE)

Dendritic solidification is one of the simplest examples of pattern formation where a structureless melt evolves into a ramified crystalline microstructure; it is a common mode of solidification in many materials, but especially so in metals and alloys. There is considerable engineering interest in dendrites because of the role dendrites play in the determination of microstructure, and thereby in influencing the physical properties of cast metals and alloys. Dendritic solidification provides important examples of non-equilibrium physics, pattern formation dynamics, and models for computational condensed matter and material physics. Current theories of dendritic growth generally couple diffusion effects in the melt with the physics introduced by the interface. Unfortunately, in terrestrial based experiments, convective effects in the melt alter the growth process in such a manner as to prevent definitive analysis of convective, diffusive or interfacial effects. Thus, the effective elimination of convection in the melt by operating experiments on orbit were required to produce high-fidelity data needed for achieving further progress. This simple fact comprised the scientific justification for the IDGE.

Glicksman, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Flying the Earth Observing Constellations

Prior to the launch of the Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra and Landsat-7 satellites in 1999, the Project Scientists for the two missions and the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project at the Goddard Space Flight Center signed an inter-project agreement document describing their plan to fly in loose formation, approximately 20 minutes within each other. In November 2000, a technology demonstration satellite, Earth Observer-1 (EO-1), was launched into the same orbit as that of Landsat-7 and Terra, with a goal of flying within a minute from Landsat-7. The SAC-C satellite, developed and operated by the government of Argentina, was launched along with EO-1, with a goal of flying near both Terra and Landsat-7. This formation enables the scientists to make use of the scientific synergy among the instruments on the different spacecraft. This group of satellites constitutes the morning constellation, which is led by the Landsat-7, which has a mean local time (MLT) at 10:00 a.m. In May 2002, the EOS Aqua satellite was launched into an orbit with an altitude of 705 km. and a 1:30 p.m. MLT. Two smaller satellites, CALIPSO (a joint U.S./French mission), and CloudSat (a joint NASA/Colorado State University/Air Force mission), plan to fly in tight formation, within 15 seconds of each other. In addition, CALIPSO and CloudSat also plan to be within 30 to 60 seconds of the Aqua satellite. A third satellite, PARASOL, managed by the French Space Agency, CNES, will be placed within a minute of the CALIPSO satellite. In 2004, the Aura satellite will be launched and phased in relation to the Aqua satellite, such that the instruments on Aura will be able to view the same mass of air no later than 8 minutes after the instruments on Aqua have observed it. Representatives from each mission are currently documenting a plan on how they will coordinate on-orbit operations. Why are all these satellites planning to fly as a constellation? The answer is that as a constellation. the scientists will be able to acquire science data not only from their specific instruments on a single satellite, but science data from the other satellites which will have been taken at approximately the same time, thus resulting in coordinated science observation data. This leads to better quality science. This paper describes how the mission design has been driven by the science requirements. The morning and the afternoon constellations present operational challenges, which had not previously been encountered. Operations planning must address not only how the satellites of each constellation operate safely together, but also, how the two constellations fly on the same orbits without interfering with each other as they downlink data to their respective ground stations. This paper describes the operations experience gained from the morning constellation and the planning for the afternoon constellation.

Kelly, Angelita C.↗

NASA NTRS1970

Skylab Operations Handbook: Orbital Workshop (OWS), Airlock Module (AM), Multiple Docking Adapter (MDA): Systems Descriptions - Volume 1

The Skylab Program consists of three low-earth-orbit missions of the Orbital Assembly (OA) (figure 1.0-1), extending over.an a-month period. The OA consists of the CSM docked to the Saturn Workshop.(SWS). This handbook describes the systems for three of the four major components of the SWS (OWS, AM, and MDA), and also discusses significant interfaces with the Instrument Unit (IU), ATM, and CSM. The other major component of the SWS, the ATM, is treated separately in its own handbook. The OWS, AM, MDA, ATM Deployment Assembly (ATM-DA), Fixed Airlock Shroud (FAS), Payload Shroud (PS), and IU are addressed throughout this document as individual modules from a structural standpoint only. Although normally considered a part of the launch vehicle, the IU is treated in this document as part of the SWS because of its function in preparing the SWS for orbital operation. Section 1.0 describes vehicle and mission configurations of the Skylab program and provides general descriptions of the various systems. Section 2.0 provides detailed systems data covering system interfaces, functional description, subsystems and major components description, component operation, failure modes, performance and design data, operational limitations and restrictions, and instrumentation, and briefly outlines the experiments. Section 3.0 contains illustrations of all panels and identifies the controls and displays, panels, reference designators, nomenclature, functions, circuit breakers, and power sources. The Table of Contents lists in order of appearance all sections, subsections, major paragraphs, illustrations, and tables and provides their respective page locations. Appendix A defines the abbreviations and acronyms employed throughout this handbook, and Appendix B explains the symbols used. Appendix C is a locator index that references component controls contained in Section 3.0. Appendix D is an alphabetical index of paragraph headings, illustrations, and tables, according to the key word, with applicable page numbers. Additional items of significance to the user have been included in the index. The technical level to which this document is written assumes the reader to have general knowledge of engineering terms and principles.

West, W. D.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Trans-Global Mission Architectures

Mission operations utilizes both space and ground resources to achieve mission objectives. As scientists not located near the mission command center are likely to experience long delays in the delivery of the data from their instruments, the design, development, and operation of the spacecraft and of mission operations around a single operational concept which has been derived from the mission objectives will create a virtual presence for the investigator at the spacecraft and the instruments.

mission↗

NASA NTRS1974

Medical results of the Skylab program

The Skylab food system, waste management system, operational bioinstrumentation, personal hygiene provisions, in-flight medical support system, and the cardiovascular counterpressure garment worn during reentry are described. The medical experiments program provided scientific data and also served as the basis for real-time decisions on flight duration. Premission support, in-flight operational support, and postflight medical activities are surveyed. Measures devised to deal with possible food spoilage, medical instrument damage, and toxic atmosphere caused by the initial failures on the Orbital Workshop (OWS) are discussed. The major medical experiments performed in flight allowed the study of physiological changes as a function of exposure to weightless flight. The experiments included studies of the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal and fluid/electrolyte balance, sleep, blood, vestibular system, and time and motion studies.

Johnston, R. S.↗

NASA NTRS2013

Flight Crew Workload, Acceptability, and Performance When Using Data Comm in a High-Density Terminal Area Simulation

This document describes a collaborative FAA/NASA experiment using 22 commercial airline pilots to determine the effect of using Data Comm to issue messages during busy, terminal area operations. Four conditions were defined that span current day to future flight deck equipage: Voice communication only, Data Comm only, Data Comm with Moving Map Display, and Data Comm with Moving Map displaying taxi route. Each condition was used in an arrival and a departure scenario at Boston Logan Airport. Of particular interest was the flight crew response to D-TAXI, the use of Data Comm by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to send taxi instructions. Quantitative data was collected on subject reaction time, flight technical error, operational errors, and eye tracking information. Questionnaires collected subjective feedback on workload, situation awareness, and acceptability to the flight crew for using Data Comm in a busy terminal area. Results showed that 95% of the Data Comm messages were responded to by the flight crew within one minute and 97% of the messages within two minutes. However, post experiment debrief comments revealed almost unanimous consensus that two minutes was a reasonable expectation for crew response. Flight crews reported that Expected D-TAXI messages were useful, and employment of these messages acceptable at all altitude bands evaluated during arrival scenarios. Results also indicate that the use of Data Comm for all evaluated message types in the terminal area was acceptable during surface operations, and during arrivals at any altitude above the Final Approach Fix, in terms of response time, workload, situation awareness, and flight technical performance. The flight crew reported the use of Data Comm as implemented in this experiment as unacceptable in two instances: in clearances to cross an active runway, and D-TAXI messages between the Final Approach Fix and 80 knots during landing roll. Critical cockpit tasks and the urgency of out-the window scan made the additional head down time to respond to Data Comm messages undesirable during these events. However, most crews also stated that Data Comm messages without an accompanying audio chime and no expectation of an immediate response could be acceptable even during these events.

Norman, R. Michael↗

NASA NTRS1984

Results of the Purdue University GAS-1 payload

The Purdue University GAS-1 payload was flown on STS-7. Results of the three experiments included in the payload are summarized. The experiments conducted were: (1) the detection of nuclear particles in near-Earth space environment, (2) an investigation of the effect of microgravity on the germination of sunflower seeds, and (3) an examination of the motion of mercury under low gravity conditions. Results of the payload experiments are discussed from an engineering design standpoint. Data were obtained from one of the experiments, but electrical and mechanical malfunctions prevented the operation of the other two. The thermal control design maintained the desired temperatures and the structure successfully supported all components. The microprocessor collected and stored temperature readings and other data during the flight. A series of recommendations based on these results are included herein.

Perez, R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

NOSL experiment support

An optical lightning detector was constructed and flown, along with Vinton cameras and a Fairchild Line Scan Spectrometer, on a U-2 during the summer of 1979. The U-2 lightning data was obtained in daylight, and was supplemented with ground truth taken at Langmuir Laboratory. Simulations were prepared as required to establish experiment operating procedures and science training for the astronauts who would operate the Night/Day Optical Survey of Thunderstorm Lightning (NOSL) equipment during the STS-2 NOSL experiment on the Space Shuttle. Data was analyzed and papers were prepared for publication.

Brook, M.↗

NASA NTRS1974

AAFE man-made noise experiment project. Volume 1: Introduction experiment definition and requirements

An experiment was conducted to measure and map the man-made radio frequency emanations which exist at earth orbital altitudes. The major objectives of the program are to develop a complete conceptual experiment and developmental hardware for the collection and processing of data required to produce meaningful statistics on man-made noise level variations as functions of time, frequency, and geographic location. A wide dispersion measurement receiver mounted in a spacecraft operating in a specialized orbit is used to obtain the data. A summary of the experiment designs goals and constraints is provided. The recommended orbit for the spacecraft is defined. The characteristics of the receiver and the antennas are analyzed.

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