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At least 343 records · Page 19

Investigation of electron dynamics in the magnetosphere with electron beams injected from sounding rockets

This paper describes an empirical study of the basic mechanisms by which electrons precipitate from the geomagnetic field to produce 'auroral X rays' during periods of geomagnetic activity. The study was based on data obtained by the Echo satellites. Echo I, launched in 1970, injected 40 keV, 0.1 amp electron pulses at low latitude (L ? 2.6) and successfully measured the returning pulses from the conjugate region. Electric fields and multiple Coulomb scattering were studied. Echo II, launched in 1972 from high latitude (L ? 8) studied the interaction of the beams with background radiation and the detailed motion of the beams near the rocket. Evidence for a beam plasma instability was obtained. Echo III launched in April 1974, (L ? 5.5) detected a series of conjugate echoes during the presence of a strong convective field in the magnetosphere. It was shown that the electric field measurement in the ionosphere using the incoherent backscatter radar and detectors on the rocket was transferred to the equatorial plane as though field lines were equipotentials.

Winckler, J. R.↗

Cryogenic heat pipe experiment - Flight performance onboard a sounding rocket

Flight data from a 15.8 mm OD, 760 mm long, axial-groove, methane cryogenic heat pipe verified successful priming and operation during six min of zero-g time. The nominal power applied to the evaporator was 60-w for the first 60 sec of zero-g time, 14 w for the next 270 sec, and 25 w for the last 20 sec of flight. The heat pipe condenser was mounted into an aluminum heat sink which was cooled to 103 K at launch and increased in temperature to 128 K by the end of the flight. Ground test data obtained for the flight heat pipe, together with theoretical predictions, indicate a zero-g heat transport capability of 3500 to 4000 w-cm in the 100-125 K temperature range.

Harwell, W.↗

Flight test of a spin parachute for use with a Super Arcas sounding rocket

The development and flight testing of a specially configured 16.6 ft Disc Band Gap (DBG) Spin Parachute is discussed. The parachute is integrated with a modified Super Arcas launch vehicle. Total payload weight was 17.6 lbs including the Spin Parachute and a scientific payload, and lift-off weight was 100.3 lbs. The Super Arcas vehicle was despun from 18.4 cps. After payload separation at 244,170 ft the Spin Parachute and its payload attained a maximum spin rate of 2.4 cps. Total suspended weight of the Spin Parachute and its payload was 14.64 lbs.

Silbert, M. N.↗

Analysis of fourth sounding rocket heat pipe experiment, summary report

An analysis was made of the cryogenic axial groove methane and axial groove nitrogen heat pipes. Data cover the establishment of reliable start-up and operational data for the cryogenic pipe and its reference control pipes, and requirements for and the applicability of cryogenic heat pipes to NASA coolers.

Brennan, P. J.↗

Space calibration of standard solar cells using high altitude sounding rockets

Four photovoltaic cells were space calibrated and successfully recovered from a NASA Aerobee rocket launched on Sept. 18, 1974, which reached a peak altitude of 251 km. The experiment was comprised of four 2 ohm-cm n/p cells, two of which are optically filtered with 0.6 to 0.9 micron bandpass filters. The short-circuit current agreed to within 4% of the laboratory calibration. The variation of cell output due to atmospheric attenuation between the altitude range 80 and 251 km was 0.4% for the unfiltered cells.

Thomas, N. L.↗

Aeronomy report no. 73: Analysis of sounding rocket data from Punta Chilca, Peru

A technique is described for measuring electron concentrations in the lower portion of the ionosphere above Punta Chilca. A radio-propagation experiment for measuring Faraday rotation is combined with a dc/Langmuir probe experiment for measuring electron current. The results obtained from the analysis of radio and probe data from Nike Apache 14.532, which was launched at 20:26 UT on May 28, 1975, at a solar zenith angle of 60 deg are presented. A comparison of the profiles of electron concentration indicates that the value of the maximum ionization in the D region under quiet conditions is proportional to the square of the cosine of the solar zenith angle.

Fillinger, R. W., Jr.↗

Research of Magnetospheric Physics Phenomena Using Sounding Rockets

A bibliography of approximately 25 papers is presented on the Electron Echo Experiments. The data analysis included an extensive study of the electron accelerator beam, detector data correlations with the electron beam injections, and the study of about 30 onboard detected echoes.

Steffen, J. E.↗

Thermal and fluid flow analyses of sounding rocket experiment 74-21/2R and 74-21/3R

The thermal convective velocities during the 4-21/2R and 74-21/3R flight tests were calculated. The 74-21/2R and 74-21/3R ground tests were analyzed using a convection formula. Thermal convection velocities of 0.1 to 0.5 cm/sec were calculated for the 74-21/2R and 74-21/3R ground tests which were two to four orders of magnitude greater than for the flight tests. For the 74-21/2R flight test, solutal effects do not produce any convective motion. For the 74-21/3R flight test closed form convection equations estimated the solutal convective velocities on the order of 1/0.003 cm/sec.

Robertson, S. J.↗

A detached experiment carrier aids adaptation of experiments from sounding rockets to Space Shuttle

The detached experiment carrier (DEC) system aids the adaptation of small, low-weight experiments to Space Shuttle missions. The carrier system consists of the detached experiment carrier (free-flyer), a command station at the Orbiter aft station, and a flight support station in the Orbiter payload bay. The carrier is a compact vehicle that is radio controlled by the Shuttle crew. It uses control television, command, and cold gas propulsion systems to deploy experiments from and later rendezvous with the Orbiter. The carrier propulsion system also maintains the attitude control required during experiment execution. Results of engineering investigation, analysis, component design and development, and testing indicate that the DEC system concept is practical. Results of preliminary engineering investigations, including maneuvering system handling qualities and television/telemetry display formats, indicate that the concept of flying the DEC 'out of' and 'into' the Orbiter payload bay is both safe and practical for small, compact free-flyer deployment and retrieval. This paper describes the carrier system, its operations, and potential applications.

Ritz, W. F.↗

Sounding rocket research Aries/Firewheel, series 22, issue 15

Rocket experiments in ionospheric particle and field research flow in seven programs during the last decade are summarized. Experimental techniques were developed and are discussed including the double-probe field technique. The auroral zone, polar cap, and equatorial spread F were studied.

Mozer, F. S.↗