Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “laboratories”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Manned earth orbital laboratories to perform communications/navigation research.

Review of the feasibility of manned earth orbiting laboratories in the 1980s for solving problems identified with operational communication and navigation systems. A program of experiments recommended for implementation in the 1980 to 1990 period is presented. Equipment for conducting experiments is listed. Conceptual designs of laboratories which could be carried to orbit by the forthcoming NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter and then operated on orbit by an experimenter crew are discussed. Studies of the expected benefits, together with investigations of the configurations, mission considerations, and equipment selection result in the conclusion that manned communication/navigation research laboratories in earth orbit would be practical and effective, and that the experiments performed could derive meaningful information having application to future unmanned operational systems.

Waltz, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Plasma physics and environmental perturbation laboratory

Current work aimed at identifying the active magnetospheric experiments that can be performed from the Space Shuttle, and designing a laboratory to carry out these experiments is described. The laboratory, known as the PPEPL (Plasma Physics and Environmental Perturbation Laboratory) consists of 35-ft pallet of instruments connected to a 25-ft pressurized control module. The systems deployed from the pallet are two 50-m booms, two subsatellites, a high-power transmitter, a multipurpose accelerator, a set of deployable canisters, and a gimbaled instrument platform. Missions are planned to last seven days, during which two scientists will carry out experiments from within the pressurized module. The type of experiments to be performed are outlined.

Vogl, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The design and development of a space laboratory to conduct magnetospheric and plasma research

A design study was conducted concerning a proposed shuttle-borne space laboratory for research on magnetospheric and plasma physics. A worldwide survey found two broad research disciplines of interest: geophysical studies of the dynamics and structure of the magnetosphere (including wave characteristics, wave-particle interactions, magnetospheric modifications, beam-plasma interactions, and energetic particles and tracers) and plasma physics studies (plasma physics in space, wake and sheath studies, and propulsion and devices). The Plasma Physics and Environmental Perturbation Laboratory (PPEPL) designed to perform experiments in these areas will include two 50-m booms and two maneuverable subsatellites, a photometer array, standardized proton, electron, and plasma accelerators, a high-powered transmitter for frequencies above 100 kHz, a low-power transmitter for VLF and below, and complete diagnostic packages. Problem areas in the design of a space plasma physics laboratory are indicated.

Rosen, A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

System tests with electric thruster beam and accelerator directly powered from laboratory solar arrays

Laboratory high voltage solar arrays were operated directly connected to power the beam and accelerator loads of an 8-centimeter ion thruster. The beam array comprised conventional 2 by 2 centimeter solar cells; the accelerator array comprised multiple junction edge-illuminated solar cells. Conventional laboratory power supplies powered the thruster's other loads. Tests were made to evaluate thruster performance and to investigate possible electrical interactions between the solar arrays and the thruster. Thruster performance was the same as with conventional laboratory beam and accelerator power supplies. Most of the thruster beam short circuits that occurred during solar array operation were cleared spontaneously without automatic or manual intervention. No spontaneous clearing occurred during conventional power supply operation.

Stover, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Ultraviolet solar identifications based on extended absorption series observed in the laboratory spectrum of Si I

The absorption spectrum of Si I in the wavelength region between 1500 and 1900 A has been photographed at high resolution. The silicon vapor was produced in a 122-cm-long King furnace at 1800 to 2300 C. Forty-two Rydberg series have been observed from the ground state terms 3p(2)3P and 1D to terms associated with the 3pns and 3pnd configurations. All of the series from these configurations with J less than 4 have been extended with the 3pnd 3D(3) levels reaching n = 56. Numerous perturbations have been observed. This laboratory work has provided the basis for extending the identification of silicon lines in the solar spectrum. Nearly all lines found in the laboratory spectrum are also found in rocket spectrograms of the solar chromosphere. More than 300 lines have been attributed to Si I. The excellent correlation between laboratory and solar Si I lines is illustrated.

Moore, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A comparison of a laboratory and field study of annoyance and acceptability of aircraft noise exposures

Residents living in close, middle and distant areas from JFK Airport were included in a field interview and laboratory study. Judgments were made of simulated aircraft noise exposures of comparable community indoor noise levels and mixes of aircraft. Each group of subjects judged the levels of noise typical for its distance area. Four different numbers of flyovers were tested: less than average for each area, the approximate average, the peak number, or worst day, and above peak number. The major findings are: (1) the reported integrated field annoyance is best related to the annoyance reported for the simulated approximate worst day exposure in the laboratory; (2) annoyance is generally less when there are fewer aircraft flyovers, and the subject has less fear of crashes and more favorable attitudes toward airplanes; (3) beliefs in harmful health effects and misfeasance by operators of aircraft are also highly correlated with fear and noise annoyance; (4) in direct retrospective comparisons of number of flights, noise levels and annoyance, subjects more often said the worst day laboratory exposured more like their usual home environments; and (5) subjects do not expect an annoyance-free environment. Half of the subjects can accept an annoyance level of 5 to 6 from a possible annoyance range of 0 to 9, 28% can live with an annoyance intensity of 7, and only 5% can accept the top scores of 8 to 9.

Borsky, P. N.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory

The SAIL (Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory) has been established to provide direct in-line support to the space shuttle program. The SAIL provides a central facility where the avionics and related flight hardware, flight software, and flight procedures will be brought together for integration and verification testing. The basic approach is to utilize qualifiable avionics flight hardware to the greatest extent possible. Where this is not feasible, flight hardware simulators are developed that provide the electrical/electronic termination, stimulation, and signal interface to the flight hardware that it would actually encounter in the shuttle vehicle. This paper discusses the existing laboratory configuration supporting the approach and landing test phase of the shuttle program, the operational experience gained to date, and the design of the laboratory elements to support the orbital flight test phase.

Chambers, T. V.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The role of light microscopy in aerospace analytical laboratories

Light microscopy has greatly reduced analytical flow time and added new dimensions to laboratory capability. Aerospace analytical laboratories are often confronted with problems involving contamination, wear, or material inhomogeneity. The detection of potential problems and the solution of those that develop necessitate the most sensitive and selective applications of sophisticated analytical techniques and instrumentation. This inevitably involves light microscopy. The microscope can characterize and often identify the cause of a problem in 5-15 minutes with confirmatory tests generally less than one hour. Light microscopy has and will make a very significant contribution to the analytical capabilities of aerospace laboratories.

Crutcher, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Microwave remote sensing laboratory design

Application of active and passive microwave remote sensing to the study of ocean pollution is discussed. Previous research efforts, both in the field and in the laboratory were surveyed to derive guidance for the design of a laboratory program of research. The essential issues include: choice of radar or radiometry as the observational technique; choice of laboratory or field as the research site; choice of operating frequency; tank sizes and material; techniques for wave generation and appropriate wavelength spectrum; methods for controlling and disposing of pollutants used in the research; and pollutants other than oil which could or should be studied.

Friedman, E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Stirling laboratory research engine survey report

As one step in expanding the knowledge relative to and accelerating the development of Stirling engines, NASA, through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is sponsoring a program which will lead to a versatile Stirling Laboratory Research Engine (SLRE). An objective of this program is to lay the groundwork for a commercial version of this engine. It is important to consider, at an early stage in the engine's development, the needs of the potential users so that the SLRE can support the requirements of educators and researchers in academic, industrial, and government laboratories. For this reason, a survey was performed, the results of which are described.

Anderson, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Bodies in flowing plasmas - Laboratory studies

A brief review of early rudimentary laboratory studies of bodies in flowing, rarefied plasmas is presented (e.g., Birkeland, 1908), along with a discussion of more recent parametric studies conducted in steady plasma wind tunnels, which includes the study by Hall et al. (1964), in which a strong ion density enhancement in the center of the ion void created downstream from the body was observed. Good agreement was found between the experimental results and theoretical calculations which omit ion thermal motion. Examples in which in situ data on the interaction between satellites and the ionospheric plasma have been elucidated by the laboratory results are presented, and include evidence for a midwake axial ion peak, and ion current density in the near-wake region. The application of the ionospheric laboratory to basic space plasma physics is discussed, and its application to some types of solar system plasma phenomena is illustrated.

Stone, N. H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The laboratory module

Of the five modules comprising the Orbiting Quarantine Facility, the Laboratory Module must provide not only an extensive research capability to permit execution of the protocol, but also the flexibility to accommodate second-order testing if nonterrestrial life is discovered in the sample. The biocontainment barriers that protect the sample and the researchers from cross contamination are described. Specifically, the laboratory layout, laboratory equipment, the environmental control and life support system, and containment assurance procedures are discussed. The metal manipulation arm proposed for use within the biocontainment cabinets is described. Sample receipt and processing procedures are outlined.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1982

Stirling Laboratory Research Engine: Preprototype configuration report

The concept of a simple Stirling research engine that could be used by industrial, university, and government laboratories was studied. The conceptual and final designs, hardware fabrication and the experimental validation of a preprototype stirling laboratory research engine (SLRE) were completed. Also completed was a task to identify the potential markets for research engines of this type. An analytical effort was conducted to provide a stirling cycle computer model. The versatile engine is a horizontally opposed, two piston, single acting stirling engine with a split crankshaft drive mechanism; special instrumentation is installed at all component interfaces. Results of a thermodynamic energy balance for the system are reported. Also included are the engine performance results obtained over a range of speeds, working pressures, phase angles and gas temperatures. The potential for a stirling research engine to support the laboratory requirements of educators and researchers was demonstrated.

Hoehn, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Laboratory and astronomical measurement of the millimeter wave spectrum of the ethynyl radical CCH

The N = 0 yields 1 and 1 yields 2 rotational transitions of CCH at 87 and 174 GHz, respectively, have been detected in a laboratory glow discharge in a mixture of He and C2H2. The spectroscopic constants of CCH derived from measurements of the hfs of the transitions agree well with those derived from astronomical observations, confirming the astronomical detection of CCH. As the CCH lines in the Orion Nebula are narrower than the laboratory lines but less certain in rest frequency owing to uncertainty in the radial velocity, the most accurate values for the spectroscopic constants of CCH are obtained from a simultaneous fit of both the laboratory and astronomical data. For the rotation, centrifugal distortion, spin-rotation, and hyperfine constants, respectively, the values found are within 0.006 of 43674.534 MHz, within 0.0008 of 0.1071 MHz, within 0.004 of -62.606 MHz, b = within 0.019 MHz of 40.426, and c is within 0.026 of 12.254 MHz.

Gottlieb, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Millimeter and submillimeter laboratory spectroscopy - Recent results of astrophysical interest

Recent laboratory spectroscopic results on the transient neutral species CCH, NH2, and NaH, the molecular ions HCO(+), N2H(+), and CO(+), and the light asymmetric internal rotor HOOH are reviewed. It is shown that the shorter millimeter and submillimeter spectral region offers a number of advantages, even in the laboratory. Attention is also given to the requirements for theoretical models capable of the accurate spectral predictions required for many astrophysical applications. The results presented here are seen as demonstrating that millimeter and submillimeter microwave spectroscopy provides a sensitive and flexible means of studying short-lived species in the laboratory. It is believed that, in combination with the appropriate theoretical approach, studies of this type are capable of providing accurate spectral maps over wide spectral regions for most species of astrophysical importance.

De Lucia, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Concept for a commercial space station laboratory

The concept of a privately owned and operated fee-for-service laboratory as an element of a civil manned space station, envisioned as the venture of a group of private investors and an experienced laboratory operator to be undertaken with the cooperation of NASA is discussed. This group would acquire, outfit, activate, and operate the labortory on a fee-for-service basis, providing laboratory services to commercial firms, universities, and government agencies, including NASA. This concept was developed to identify, stimulate, and assist potential commercial users of a manned space station. A number of the issues which would be related to the concept, including the terms under which NASA might consider permitting private ownership and operation of a major space station component, the policies with respect to international participation in the construction and use of the space station, the basis for charging users for services received from the space station, and the types of support that NASA might be willing to provide to assist private industry in carrying out such a venture are discussed.

Wood, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Plasma interaction experiment 2 (PIX 2): Laboratory and flight results

The Plasma Interaction Experiments 1 and 2 (PIX 1 and 2) were designed as first steps toward understanding interactions between high-voltage solar arrays and the surrounding plasma. The PIX 2 consisted of an approximately 2000-sq cm array divided into four equal segments. Each of the segments could be biased independently and the current measured separately. In addition to the solar array segments, PIX 2 had a hot-wire-filament electron emitter and a spherical Langmuir probe. The emitter was operated when the array segments were biased positively bove 125 V. Thermal electrons from the emitter aided in balancing the electron currents collected by the array. Laboratory and flight results of PIX 2 are presented. At high positive voltages on the solar array segments, the flight currents were approximately an order of magnitude larger than the ground test currents. This is attributed to the tank walls in the laboratory interfering with the electron currents to the array segments. From previous tests it is known that the tank walls limit the electron currents at high voltages. This was the first verification of the extent of the laboratory tank effect on the plasma coupling current.

Grier, N. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Activities of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1 January - 31 December 1983

There are many facets to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, for JPL is an organization of multiple responsibilities and broad scope, of diverse talents and great enterprise. The Laboratory's philosophy, mission, and goals have been shaped by its ties to the California Institute of Technology (JPL's parent organization) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (JPL's principal sponsor). JPL's activities for NASA in planetary, Earth, and space sciences currently account for almost 75 percent of the Laboratory's overall effort. JPL Research activities in the following areas are discussed: (1) deep space exploration; (2) telecommunications systems; (3) Earth observations; (4) advanced technology; (5) defense programs; and (6) energy and technology applications.

Source record↗