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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 37 records · Page 2

A Wind-Tunnel Investigation to Determine the Effect of Various Head Designs on the Aerodynamic Characteristics in Pitch of the Army Ordnance Corps T205 3.5-Inch Heat Rocket

The aerodynamic characteristics in pitch of the Army Ordnance Corps T205 3.5-inch HEAT rocket with various head designs and one fin modification have been determined at velocities of 500, 700 and 900 feet per second in the Langley high-speed 7- by 10-foot tunnel. The results presented are those of the full-scale model. Comparison of results obtained at 500 feet per second shows, in general, that for changes on the forward portion of the head the missile configurations having the greatest stability - most rearward center-of-loads location - were those having the highest drag. However, very limited comparisons indicate that the shape of the rear position of the head may be an important factor in reducing the drag and increasing the restoring moments. Generally, large increases in drag were noted for the various head designs with an increase in Mach number from 0.62 to 0.82. Pitching-moment-curve slopes increased with Mach number on all models except those having reasonably well-faired forward sections. These models showed a decrease in stability with increases in Mach number.

Morrison, William D., Jr.↗

Space: Past, Present, and Future: for Presentation to the American Ordnance Association, Washington Post

It is obvious that the last decade has produced dramatic changes in our national viewpoints on the question of the exploration of space. I would like to refer back, as a starting point, to a series of tests which were performed in 1949 under the sponsorship of the Army Ordnance Department under the code name, "Bumper." This project was carried out jointly by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the General Electric Company, and the Douglas Aircraft Company. The object of the project was to launch a Wac Corporal upper-stage vehicle from a V-2, and demonstrate a prototype high-performance, multi-stage rocket vehicle system. As you may recall, the project was entirely successful in demonstrating the feasibility of several unproved concepts: the staging of rocket vehicles at high altitudes, the utility of ablative materials for protection from aerodynamic heating, and a method of stabilizing rocket propelled vehicles operating in the vacuum of space. One of the most significant interpretations of this test to the engineers familiar with the work was the fact that the test showed that there were no longer any purely scientific barriers to the construction of vehicles capable of space flight. The barrier was engineering.

Stewart, Homer J.↗

Turbine for ordnance turbojet engine. 2: Cold-air performance with opened stator

A single-stage axial-flow turbine was investigated to determine the effect of increased stator throat area on the performance level of a turbojet engine turbine. The stator blades were bent to increase the throat area in order to move the compressor operating point in the engine farther away from surge. Results are compared with those obtained with the as-cast stator setting.

Kofskey, M. G.↗

Laser fiber optics ordnance initiation system

Recent progress on system development in the laser initiation of explosive devices is summarized. The topics included are: development of compact free-running mode and Q-switched lasers, development of low-loss fiber optic bundles and connectors, study of nuclear radiation effects on the system, characterization of laser initiation sensitivities of insensitive high explosives, and the design methods used to achieve attractive system weight and cost savings. Direction for future work is discussed.

Yang, L. C.↗

Laser-initiated ordnance for air-to-air missiles

McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Company (MDMSC) has developed a laser ignition subsystem (LIS) for air-to-air missile applications. The MDMSC subsystem is designed to activate batteries, unlock fins, and sequence propulsion system events. The subsystem includes Pyro Zirconium Pump (PZP) lasers, mechanical Safe & Arm, fiber-optic distribution system, and optically activated pyrotechnic devices (initiators, detonators, and thermal batteries). The LIS design has incorporated testability features for the laser modules, drive electronics, fiber-optics, and pyrotechnics. Several of the LIS have been fabricated and have supported thermal battery testing, integral rocket ramjet testing, and have been integrated into integral rocket ramjet flight test vehicles as part of the flight control subsystem.

Sumpter, David R.↗

Laser diode ordnance design

The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: characteristics, system description, laser firing unit, fiber optic cables, and initiators.

Rhea, Arthur D.↗

Standardized laser initiated ordnance

Launch vehicles and spacecraft use explosively initiated devices to effect numerous events from lift-off to orbit. These explosive devices are electrically initiated by way of electro-mechanical switching networks. Today's technology indicates that upgrading to solid state control circuits and laser initiated explosive devices can improve performance, streamline operations and reduce costs. This paper describes a plan to show that these technology advancements are viable for Air Force Space and Missile System Center (SMC) program use, as well as others.

Gageby, James V.↗

Pyrotechnic Simulator/Stray-Voltage Detector

The concept for a dual test item has been developed for use in simulating live initiators/detonators during ground testing to verify the proper operation of the safing and firing circuitry for ground and flight systems ordnance as well as continuous monitoring for any stray voltages. Previous ordnance simulators have consisted of fuses, flash bulbs, inert devices with bridge wires, and actual live ordnance items mounted in test chambers. Stray voltage detectors have included devices connected to the firing circuits for continuous monitoring and a final no-voltage test just prior to ordnance connection. The purpose of this combined ordnance simulation and stray-voltage detection is to provide an improved and comprehensive method to ensure the ordnance circuitry is verified safe and operational.

Greenfield, Terry↗

Advanced release technologies program

The objective of the ARTS program was to develop lighter and less expensive spacecraft ordnance and release systems that answer to the requirements of a wide variety of spacecraft applications. These improvements were to be evaluated at the spacecraft system level, as it was determined that there were substantial system-level costs associated with the present ordnance and release subsystems. New, better devices were to be developed, then flight qualified, then integrated into a flight experiment in order to prove the reliability required for their subsequent use on high-reliability spacecraft. The secondary goal of the program was to quantify the system-level benefits of these new subsystems based upon the development program results. Three non-explosive release mechanisms and one laser-diode-based ordnance system were qualified under the program. The release devices being developed were required to release high preloads because it is easier to scale down a release mechanism than to scale it up. The laser initiator developed was required to be a direct replacement for NASA Standard Initiators, since these are the most common initiator in use presently. The program began in October, 1991, with completion of the flight experiment scheduled for February, 1994. This paper provides an overview of the ARTS program, discusses the benefits of using the ARTS components, introduces the new components, compares them with conventional systems and each other, and provides recommendations on how best to implement them.

Purdy, Bill↗

Computing Risk of Pyrotechnic Devices Using Lot Acceptance Testing

This paper presents an application of statistical engineering to solve the problem of determining the effects of reducing test sample sizes and environment levels in lot acceptance testing (LAT) of ordnance devices used by NASA and DoD space systems. Unlike environmental testing of dedicated qualification hardware, ordnance devices have a test-like-you-fly exception and use lot acceptance sampling or LAT. LAT is performed by randomly selecting a predefined number of devices from an individual lot and exposing them to a more severe dynamic shock and vibration testing environments than flight (sometimes as high as 6 decibels over flight environments) and then performing a destructive test on the device. Recent trends have been suggested to reduce LAT costs by reducing environment test levels or the number of devices per LAT, or both. A method is given here to compute flight risk, so the proposed methods can be compared by subject matter experts to the baseline LAT methods. In addition, this method can be used to determine the best methods to include in future LAT standards for pyrotechnic devices.

Computing Risk↗