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At least 379 records · Page 21

Precise time and time interval users, requirements and specifications

The functional areas of application of Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) were considered and expanded. A comprehensive overview of the PTTI requirements and applications would provide an opportunity for individuals working in a specific functional area. Mutual problems, requirements, applications or successes shared by those in other functional areas were studied. Based upon the results of a two year study a compendium of PTTI requirements, applications and the means of meeting the requirements among Department of Defense components, other government agencies and major commercial users was compiled and is presented. It was found that the planning process for PTTI support for new acquisitions or new programs was less than a well defined, coordinated process. The processes are described in general terms and a generic model for requirements determination and subsequent coordination which may enhance the planning process and introduce cost benefits to the program is also presented.

Bowser, J. R.↗

Missions panel workshop summary

A workshop panel defined missions that would require the potential use of very large, advanced space systems, and ranked them on the basis of need from both a civilian and military perspective. The panel also pointed out those that would need advanced propulsion technology. Surveillance, communications, and defense were given the highest priority, followed by command and control, orbital support, terrestrial support, and space science.

Chase, R. L.↗

GPS application to mapping, charting and geodesy

GPSPAC, a receiver being developed for space applications by the Defense Mapping Agency and NASA, will use signals from GPS constellations to generate real-time values of host vehicle position and velocity. The GPSPAC has an L-band antenna and preamp capable of receiving the 1575 MHz and 1227 MHz spread spectrum signals; its stable oscillator at 5.115 MHz provides the basic frequency reference, resulting in a long term drift of less than one part in 10 to the -10th day. The GPSPAC performs many functions on board the spacecraft which were previously relegated to large-scale ground-based computer/receiver systems. A positional accuracy of better than 8 can be achieved for those periods when four or more NAVSTAR satellites are visible to the host satellite. The GPS geodetic receiver development, which will provide prototype receivers for utilization in terrestrial surveying operations, has the potential to significantly enhance the accuracy of point geodetic surveys over the current user hardware capability.

Senus, W. J.↗

Airglow measurement looking downward from orbit at selected darker fields of view

It is pointed out that many sources of airglow are below the more desirable satellite attitudes. However, the conventional airglow sensors must look either upward or toward the limb. The feasibility to measure airglow when looking downward from a satellite is considered, taking into account an approach involving the collection and analysis of the light which emanates from the most dark regions near nadir. An investigation is conducted regarding the possibility to implement the considered approach by making use of two satellite systems, each of which measures radiance in the nadir region at midnight. The two systems include the Atmospheric Explorer (AE) and satellites of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). The results of the investigation are evaluated and details for a suitable procedure of airglow measurements are discussed.

Croft, T. A.↗

High angle-of-attack characteristics of a forward-swept wing fighter configuration

The NASA-Langley Research Center is currently investigating the high angle-of-attack characteristics of a forward-swept wing fighter technology demonstrator in a cooperative program with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The program includes static and dynamic wind-tunnel force tests, free-flight model tests, spin-tunnel tests, and piloted simulation. Particular emphasis is placed on identifying the contributions of the forward-swept wing to the configuration aerodynamics at high angles of attack. Results are presented to illustrate the wing contributions in terms of aerodynamic stability, flow visualization, and observation of free-flight characteristics.

Grafton, S. B.↗

The development and applications of charge-coupled devices for space astronomy

The developments in charge-coupled device technology over the past decade are reviewed, with emphasis on the relevance of these developments to astronomical applications. The characteristics and limitations of current commercial devices are described, and the future requirements on CCDs for space astronomy are summarized for the X-ray and near UV, optical, and infrared wavelength ranges. Emphasis is placed on the commonality of technological development which is called for, including the issues of quantum detection efficiency (photon entrance and depletion depth), charge transfer efficiency, modulation transfer function, output noise level, and array size. The system requirements on focal plane instrumentation for space astronomy are summarized, and shown to have much in common for the different wavelength bands. These requirements are discussed in terms of CCD mosaicing, cryogenic cooling, and electronics. The overlap in CCD developments in the defense, astronomical and commercial arenas is summarized.

Griffiths, R. E.↗

Comparison of polar motion results using lunar laser ranging

A comparison of polar motion results from three sources (Bureau International de l'Heure (BIH), Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center (DMAHTC-Doppler), the International Polar Motion Service (IPMS)) was performed using lunar laser ranging (LLR) data. The rms errors, both of the LLR data and of the determinations of polar motion by the three services, decreased in recent times. The BIH and Doppler polar motion are comparable in quality (12 + or - 6 cm for BIH values taken from August 1976 through May 1980, 14 + or - 7 cm for Doppler results taken from June 1977 through May 1980). The IPMS errors were substantially larger (33 + or - 7 cm for data taken from August 1976 through May 1980). All three analyses give 13 + or - 3 cm as an estimate for the combined LLR modeling, fitting, and instrumental error (noise) for the last four years.

Dickey, J. O.↗

Aeronautics research and technology. A review of proposed reductions in the FY 1983 NASA program

Reductions in the Fiscal Year 1983 program from the original proposal to the levels of the appropriation request submitted to Congress are reviewed. The request asked for an assessment of the national criticality of the excluded programs and, for each one, the risk (probability of success) associated with achieving the objectives sought and the degree to which it might be assumed by the private sector. Based on this request, a charge comprising an assessment of those aeronautics projects excluded from the FY 1983 budget request to Congress, the likelihood that industry would undertake them, the impact of their not being done, and the more general question of the need for government to bridge the gap between the aeronautics research and technology base and early application was developed. The charge further specifies that the assessment is to encompass considerations of safety, national defense, efficient transport, and the national economy.

Source record↗

MAGSAT and aeromagnetic data of the continental US

The MAGSAT data were used to produce a scalar anomaly map of the U.S. In order to remove the east-west striping anomalies, which are believed to be caused by the low-order polynomials used to reduce the orbital bias errors, a 2-D spectral filtering using the Fourier transform method was applied. The resultant low-pass filtered map, with the east-west stripings removed, resembles much closer the surface aeromagnetic map based on the U.S. MAGNET data. The spectral filtering was also applied to the MAGSAT vector data. Department of Defense gravity data was processed to produce a filtered U.S. gravity map whose spectral contents are comparable to those of the MAGSAT magnetic map.

Won, I. J.↗

Military applications evolution and future

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program is described with particular emphasis on the military applications of METSAT data. Satellite operational support, data processing and image quality requirements are discussed.

Kaehn, A. J., Jr.↗

Blanket technology

It was concluded that systems requirements would force a reassessment of the conventional approach to interconnecting cells into blanket or array modules. Defense applications (hardening) were identified as the key requirement that would force a movement away from the standard method (solder) of forming array circuits. The panel also agreed that requirements associated with the impending NASA Space Station and in-bound missions would lead to alternative interconnecting approaches. It was concluded that the diverse requirements of future space missions (high temperature and extended thermal cycling) might not be met by one approach, such as parallel-gap resistance welding. The panel suggested that other options such as high temperature solders and brazing be considered for the various mission requirements that were anticipated. The panel agreed that blanket technology was potentially suitable for in-orbit annealing to temperatures of 200 C provided that conventional soldered connecting techniques were replaced by "welding".

Scott-Monck, J.↗

Analysis and fifteen-year projection of the market for LANDSAT data

The potential market for LANDSAT products through the 1990's was determined. Results are presented in a matrix format. Improved resolution is a major factor in the marketability of LANDSAT data, the 10 meter resolution (projected for 1995) having a significant impact on the federal, private, and international users, and on the agricultural, minerals, and national defense applications. Data delivery time and competition from the French remote sensing system are considered.

Source record↗

Evolutionary space platform concept study. Volume 1: Executive summary

The Evolutionary Space Platform Concept Study encompassed a 10 month effort to define, evaluate and compare approaches and concepts for evolving unmanned and manned capability platforms beyond the current Space Platform concepts to an evolutionary goal of establishing a permanent manned presence in space. Areas addressed included: special emphasis trade studies on the current unmanned concept, assessment of manned platform concepts, and utility analysis of a manned platform for defense related missions.

Source record↗

Organizational structure and operation of defense/aerospace information centers in the United States of America

U.S. Government aerospace and defense information centers are addressed. DTIC and NASA are described in terms of their history, operational authority, information services provided, user community, sources of information collected, efforts under way to improve services, and external agreements regarding the exchange of documents and/or data bases. Contents show how DTIC and NASA provide aerospace/defense information services in support of U.S. research and development efforts. In a general introduction, the importance of scientific and technical information and the need for information centers to acquire, handle, and disseminate it are stressed.

Sauter, H. E.↗

Proceedings: Sixth Annual Workshop on Meteorological and Environmental Inputs to Aviation Systems

The proceedings of a workshop on meteorological and environmental inputs to aviation systems held at The University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee. October 26 - 28, 1982, are reported. The workshop, jointly sponsored by NASA, NOAA, and FAA, brought together many disciplines of the aviation communities in round table discussions. The major objectives of the workshop are to satisfy such needs of the sponsoring agencies as the expansion of our understanding and knowledge of the interaction of the atmosphere with aviation systems, the better definition and implementation of services to operators, and the collection and interpretation of data for establishing operational criteria relating the total meteorological inputs from the atmospheric sciences to the needs of aviation communities. The unique aspects of the workshop were the diversity of the participants and the achievement of communication across the interface of the boundaries between pilots, meteorologists, training personnel, accident investigators, traffic controllers, flight operation personnel from military, civil, general aviation, and commercial interests alike. Representatives were in attendance from government, airlines, private agencies, aircraft manufacturers, Department of Defense, industries, research institutes, and universities.

Walter Frost↗

Status of SAFT silver hydrogen cell development

Nickel-hydrogen cells appear to be an improvement over the nickel-cadmium in applications requiring longer lifetime and reduced weight. An even more efficient couple, the silver-hydrogen couple, is also considered. After a theoretical study first performed by the Battelle Institute of Geneva under ESA (European Space Agency) contract, SAFT has undertaken more detailed analyses of the silver-hydrogen degradation mechanisms. ESA and the French Department of Defense contracted with SAFT for a full-development program of the silver-hydrogen technology.

Goualard, B. J.↗

Canadian experience with nickel cadmium systems

The Defense Research Establishment Ottawa (DREO) has been studying the nickel-cadmium system, both vented and sealed, since the early 1950's. Reasonable success has been achieved in a wide variety of applications covering: military vehicle use under Arctic conditions; high performance military aircraft; manpacked communications sets; remote standby power and small portable instrumentation. Early studies on the vented system for high rate vehicle and aircraft cranking applications proved useful in later studies on the sealed NiCd system. This was especially true in the areas of plate loading and electrolyte composition. To achieve high rate cranking currents of 20C to 30C, it was necessary to have light to moderate plate loadings, a large reactive surface area, and electrolyte of optimum conductivity. DREO undertook some fundamental studies to understand the system from the inside out rather than test cells from the outside and then analyze their components. The conclusions of these studies were incorporated into the Procurement Specification for Ni-Cd cells ISISA Spec S615-P-2. A brief comment will be made on the choice of cell design and how some of the factors of cell manufacture could affect cell performance.

Lackner, J. L.↗