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At least 37 records · Page 2

Solar and galactic cosmic ray exposure of Surveyor 3 as determined from cosmogenic radionuclide measurements

The proton-produced Na-22 content of samples of Surveyor 3 TV camera, surface sampler scoop, and other components was determined by nondestructive gamma ray spectrometry. The contributions of the nine most prominent solar flares to Na-22 production were calculated to be 18 dpm/kg. The observed activity in the Surveyor 3 samples was 62 + or - dpm/kg. This indicates a galactic proton contribution of about 44 dpm/kg, which adjusted for spallation of Al gives a value of 42 dpm/kg. This is compared to measurements of 88 dpm/kg in the Lost City meteorite which had an orbit extending to 2.35 AU, with a 4 pi bombardment as compared to the 2 pi bombardment of the samples on the lunar surface. The agreement between Na-22 production in Surveyor 3 and the Lost City meteorite offers evidence that the galactic cosmic ray flux is almost the same at 1 Au and at 2.35 AU.

Rancitelli, L. A.↗

Development of the Algol III solid rocket motor for SCOUT.

The design and performance of a motor developed for the first stage of the NASA SCOUT-D and E launch vehicles are discussed. The motor delivers a 30% higher total impulse and a 35 to 45% higher payload mass capability than its predecessor, the Algol IIB. The motor is 45 in. in diameter, has a length-to-diameter ratio of 8:1 and delivers an average 100,000-lb thrust for an action time of 72 sec. The motor design features a very high volumetrically loaded internal-burning charge of 17% aluminized polybutadiene propellant, a plasma-welded and heat-treated steel alloy case, and an all-ablative plastic nose liner enclosed in a steel shell. The only significant development problem was the grain design tailoring to account for erosive burning effects which occurred in the high-subsonic-Mach-number port. The tests performed on the motor are described.

Felix, B. R.↗

Results of a low-speed wind tunnel test of the MDC 2.2M supersonic cruise aircraft configuration

Results of a low speed test conducted in the Full Scale Tunnel at NASA Langley using an advanced supersonic cruise vehicle configuration are presented. These tests used a 10 percent scale model of a configuration that had demonstrated high aerodynamic performance at Mach 2.2 during a previous test program. The low speed model has leading and trailing edge flaps designed to improve low speed lift to drag ratios at high lift and includes devices for longitudinal and lateral/directional control. The results obtained during the low speed test program have shown that full span leading edge flaps are required for maximum performance. The amount of deflection of the leading edge flap must increase with C sub L to obtain the maximum benefit. Over 80 percent of full leading edge suction was obtained up to lift off C sub L's of 0.65. A mild pitch up occurred at about 6 deg angle of attack with and without the leading edge flap deflected. The pitch up is controllable with the horizontal tail. Spoilers were found to be preferable to spoiler/deflectors at low speeds. The vertical tail maintained effectiveness up to the highest angle of attack tested but the tail on directional stability deteriorated at high angles of attack. Lateral control was adequate for landing at 72 m/sec in a 15.4 m/sec crosswind.

Yip, L. P.↗

Thin Route Project

An overview of NASA efforts to improve on the number of carriers for satellite communication systems is presented. A brief history of satellite telecommunication systems and their use in linking underdeveloped areas, along with a brief explanation of the necessary hardware is also given.

Felix, S. G.↗

New methods and results for quantification of lightning-aircraft electrodynamics

The NASA F-106 collected data on the rates of change of electromagnetic parameters on the aircraft surface during over 700 direct lightning strikes while penetrating thunderstorms at altitudes from 15,000 t0 40,000 ft (4,570 to 12,190 m). These in situ measurements provided the basis for the first statistical quantification of the lightning electromagnetic threat to aircraft appropriate for determining indirect lightning effects on aircraft. These data are used to update previous lightning criteria and standards developed over the years from ground-based measurements. The proposed standards will be the first which reflect actual aircraft responses measured at flight altitudes. Nonparametric maximum likelihood estimates of the distribution of the peak electromagnetic rates of change for consideration in the new standards are obtained based on peak recorder data for multiple-strike flights. The linear and nonlinear modeling techniques developed provide means to interpret and understand the direct-strike electromagnetic data acquired on the F-106. The reasonable results obtained with the models, compared with measured responses, provide increased confidence that the models may be credibly applied to other aircraft.

Pitts, Felix L.↗

Use of a liquid-crystal, heater-element composite for quantitative, high-resolution heat transfer coefficients on a turbine airfoil, including turbulence and surface roughness effects

Local heat transfer coefficients were measured along the midchord of a three-times-size turbine vane airfoil in a static cascade operated at roon temperature over a range of Reynolds numbers. The test surface consisted of a composite of commercially available materials: a Mylar sheet with a layer of cholestric liquid crystals, which change color with temperature, and a heater made of a polyester sheet coated with vapor-deposited gold, which produces uniform heat flux. After the initial selection and calibration of the composite sheet, accurate, quantitative, and continuous heat transfer coefficients were mapped over the airfoil surface. Tests were conducted at two free-stream turbulence intensities: 0.6 percent, which is typical of wind tunnels; and 10 percent, which is typical of real engine conditions. In addition to a smooth airfoil, the effects of local leading-edge sand roughness were also examined for a value greater than the critical roughness. The local heat transfer coefficients are presented for both free-stream turbulence intensities for inlet Reynolds numbers from 1.20 to 5.55 x 10 to the 5th power. Comparisons are also made with analytical values of heat transfer coefficients obtained from the STAN5 boundary layer code.

Hippensteele, Steven A.↗

Accretional heating of the satellites of Saturn and Uranus

Voyager images of the satellites of Saturn and Uranus have shown that these bodies are characterized by remarkable diversity and surprisingly complex geologic histories. Despite their small sizes, a number of the satellites show unambiguous evidence for resurfacing. The goal was to develop a detailed model for heating of these small satellites, and then to explore the consequences of variations in the free parameters in the model. Specifically an attempt was made to determine for what range of conditions melting will occur in these satellites. Along with varying a number of model parameters, the important effects of inclusion of small amounts of ammonia and methane in the system were considered.

Squyres, Steven W.↗

Small-scale H I structure and the soft X-ray background

The observed anticorrelation between diffuse soft X-ray flux and H I column density has been explained as absorption of soft X-rays produced in a hot Galactic halo, assuming that the neutral interstellar material is sufficiently clumped to reduce the soft X-ray absorption cross section by a factor of two to three. A 21-cm emission-line study of H I column density variations at intermediate and high Galactic latitudes is extended to 10 arcmin spatial resolution. The results confirm conclusions from preliminary work at coarser resolution, and, in combination with other data, appear to rule out, on any angular scale, the hypothesis that clumping of neutral interstellar matter significantly reduces X-ray absorption cross sections in the 0.13-0.28 keV energy range. It is concluded therefore that the observed anticorrelation is not primarily a consequence of absorption of soft X-rays produced in a hot Galactic halo.

Jahoda, Keith↗

Accretional heating of the satellites of Saturn and Uranus

A model developed specifically for accretional heating of small icy satellites of massive planets was used to investigate the effects of various parameters on the accretional heating of the Saturn and Uranus satellites. It was shown that accretional heating is completely dominated by cisplanetary impactors, with substantial deposition of heat occurring well below a satellite's surface. Three parameters that have large uncertainties were found to affect accretional temperature profile: the Safronov parameter for cisplanetary impactors, the fraction of impactor energy deposited below the surface, and the exponent in the impactor size-distribution equation. For most satellites, the depth of maximum heating and the maximum temperature reached have smooth positive dependences on satellite size. Accretional heating of these satellites is insufficient to melt H2O ice, but, if NH3 or CH4 are present, accretional heating may produce a warm buoyant mobile zone tens of kilometers below the surface.

Squyres, Steven W.↗

Aircraft jolts from lightning bolts

The trend toward the use of composite materials and digital electronics has renewed the need to quantify the effects of lightning strikes to airplanes, since composite structures do not provide shielding equivalent to that of metal aircraft, and digital systems are potentially more susceptible to upset by electrical transients than are analog electronic systems. A research program, called the Storm Hazards Program, has been run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the past eight years and has provided the first statistically significant measurements of the electromagnetic interaction between lightning and aircraft. A NASA-owned F-106B airplane has been flown through thunderstorms about 1500 times at altitudes between 5,000 and 40,000 feet (1,500 to 12,000 meters). The airplane, lightning-hardened and outfitted with special instruments, was hit by lightning 714 times. The types of measurements made and the results are described.

Pitts, Felix L.↗