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At least 397 records · Page 22

Sedimentology of clastic rocks from the Fra Mauro region of the moon.

A thin-section examination of sixteen clastic rock samples returned by the Apollo 14 mission from the Fra Mauro region of the moon suggests the presence of at least two distinctly different lithologies. Five of the samples (group I) are characterized by an abundant glassy matrix and glass particles and lesser amounts of plagioclase and pyroxene grains, and lithic clasts. The other eleven samples (group II) are relatively fine grained, very poorly sorted, and consist largely of pyroxene, plagioclase, and lithic clasts set in an abundant mineralic matrix. Group I and II lithologies were probably both deposited from impact generated base surges. The differences between them stem not as much from the basic sedimentary processes as from the differences in the magnitude of the events generating the base surges and the resultant difference in available detrital materials.

Lindsay, J. F.↗

Lunar neutron stratigraphy.

Study of the isotopic composition of gadolinium and samarium in four soil and seven drill stem samples returned by the Apollo 15 mission. The results show the possibility to date sedimentary processes on the lunar surface for time scales of around 100 million years because of the particular dependence of neutron capture reactions on depth. The neutron flux has a distinct peak as a function of depth. This peak appears to lie below the level of shallow cratering for time scales of less than one billion years and consequently forms a readily identified marker layer of both depth and time.

Russ, G. P., III↗

Mach reflection from overexpanded nozzle flows.

Investigation of the Mach reflection associated with a steady two-dimensional overexpanded nozzle flow. The conditions of occurrence of triple point shock configuration are described, and Mach reflection configurations for two values of the incident shock are presented, along with the Mach stem height variation for different Mach numbers under conditions of different pressure ratios.

Chow, W. L.↗

Application of Rochrome liquid crystal tapes for thermographic testing of bonded structures

The use of ROCHROME liquid crystal tape for thermographic testing of bonded structures for aircraft is described. The techniques for applying the tape, heating the test panels, and photographing the resulting thermal patterns are described and discussed. The results obtained are compared with those reported previously for the same test panels coated directly with liquid crystals applied by spraying. Other panels previously examined by various nondestructive techniques, both by thermography, were also tested. Results for these latter panels are presented and discussed. For both sets of panels good correlation with previous work was obtained. Deficiencies associated with present ROCHROME tape are described. In general, these stem from the lack of optimization for materials testing of the ROCHROME tape, particularly with respect to the adhesive system and supporting film.

Source record↗

Feasibility study of a 110 watt per kilogram lightweight solar array system

An investigation of the feasibility of a solar array panel subsystem which will produce 10,000 watts of electrical output at 1 A.U. with an overall beginning-of-life power-to-weight ratio of at least 110 watt/kg is reported. A description of the current baseline configuration which meets these requirements is presented. A parametric analysis of the single boom, two blanket planar solar array system was performed to arrive at the optimum system aspect ratio. A novel concept for the stiffening of a lightweight solar array by canting the solar cell blankets at a small angle to take advantage of the inherent in-plane stiffness to increase the symmetric out-of-plane frequency is introduced along with a preliminary analysis of the stiffening effect. A comparison of welded and soldered solar cell interconnections leads to the conclusion that welding is required on this ultralightweight solar array. The use of a boron/aluminum composite material in a BI-STEM type deployable boom is investigated as a possible advancement in the state-of-the-art.

Shepard, N. F.↗

Apollo telescope mount SEC camera tube spares program

An important engineering improvement was made during the Spares Program. The thermionic cathode structure was modified to bring the cathode temperature to a more suitable value and shields were placed over the glass-to-metal interface of the stem leads to reduce the possibility of interelectrode leakage. The cathode temperature change has resulted in a corresponding change in the recommended operating conditions for the heater of the thermionic cathode. All tubes built during the 1972-1973 ATM Spares Program should be operated with a heater current of 150 mA (6.3 volts). Operation at lower currents and voltages adversely affects the life of these tubes.

Green, M.↗

Binary stars as X-ray sources.

The idea that many if not most of the powerful galactic X-ray sources are generated in binary star systems containing at least one exotic object with gas is examined. Past studies lending support to this hypothesis are reviewed, and major features of galactic X-ray sources that require explanations are delineated. Attention is given to conclusions gained from optical studies of close binaries and to promising areas of further investigation stemming from the concept of binary stars as X-ray sources.

Burbidge, G.↗

Simultaneous electric-field measurements on nearby balloons.

Electric-field payloads were flown simultaneously on two balloons from Great Whale River, Canada, on September 21, 1971, to provide data at two points in the upper atmosphere that differed in altitude by more than one atmospheric density scale height and in horizontal position by 30-140 km. The altitude dependences in the two sets of data prove conclusively that the vertical electric field at balloon altitudes stems from fair-weather atmospheric electricity sources and that the horizontal fields are mapped down ionospheric fields, since the weather-associated horizontal fields were smaller than 2 mV/m.

Mozer, F. S.↗

Trace elements in fines from the Apollo 15 deep drill.

Samples of fines from the bottom of the Apollo 15 deep drill core and from each junction between the six 42.5-cm long segments of the drill stem were analyzed for Ag, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, Hf, Rb, Sc, and Zn by neutron activation. The most striking feature of the results is the absence of significant variations in concentration for any element throughout the depth of the drill sample and despite the considerable stratigraphy of the cored material. The presence of a significant amount of KREEP material is indicated.

Helmke, P. A.↗

Microwave radiometric observations of simulated sea surface conditions.

Review of the results of an experimental investigation of various factors affecting the surface properties of the ocean as seen by a passive microwave radiometer operating at 2.66 GHz. The principal uncertainties in the absolute measurements of the thermal emissions from the sea in terms of molecular temperature are shown to stem from (1) surface contaminations, such as oil slicks, (2) spray and foam, (3) salinity variation, and (4) surface waves. The results of a variety of experiments conducted so far indicate that the direct contribution of surface films and spray to the thermal emission from the sea is considerably less significant than that of foam and waves.

Van Melle, M. J.↗

Apollo 16 neutron stratigraphy.

The Apollo 16 soils have the largest low-energy neutron fluences yet observed in lunar samples. Variations in the isotopic ratios Gd-158/Gd-157 and Sm-150/Sm-149 (up to 1.9 and 2.0%, respectively) indicate that the low-energy neutron fluence in the Apollo 16 drill stem increases with depth throughout the section sampled. Such a variation implies that accretion has been the dominant regolith 'gardening' process at this location. The data may be fit by a model of continuous accretion of pre-irradiated material or by models involving as few as two slabs of material in which the first slab could have been deposited as long as 1 b.y. ago. The ratio of the number of neutrons captured per atom by Sm to the number captured per atom by Gd is lower than in previously measured lunar samples, which implies a lower energy neutron spectrum at this site. The variation of this ratio with chemical composition is qualitatively similar to that predicted by Lingenfelter et al. (1972). Variations are observed in the ratio Gd-152/Gd-160 which are fluence-correlated and probably result from neutron capture by Eu-151.

Russ, G. P., III↗

Graphite ionization vacuum gauge

Triode gauge with electron source, electron collector, and positive ion collector made from either graphite or carbon material extends low-pressure ranges of existing gauges by changing only materials used in construction. Advantages of graphite gauge stem from physical properties of graphite (or carbon).

Beitel, G. A.↗

Telescopic booms for the Hawkeye spacecraft

Several boom arrangements were proposed for the Hawkeye spacecraft. The design chosen to fly consists of one pair of stem roll-out booms and a set of telescopic booms. Some of the advantages of choosing this boom configuration were that the booms could be stored in the belt line area, which is near the center of gravity of the spacecraft, and also with the approach the telescopic booms could be extended at the spacecraft's initial spin rate (180 rpm). By being able to extend these booms at the initial spin rate of the spacecraft the need for a despin system was eliminated, thus weight saving to the spacecraft. With the method of storage and extension employed by the telescopic design, the desirable sensor distance from the spacecraft could also be attained.

Anderson, R. D.↗

A preliminary investigation of bird classification by Doppler radar

A preliminary study of the application of Doppler radar to the classification of birds is reported. The desirability for improvements in bird classification stems primarily from the hazards they present to jet aircraft in flight and in the vicinity of airports. A secondary need exists in the study of bird migration. The wing body and tail motion of a bird in flight reflect signals which, when analyzed properly present a signature of wing beat pattern which is unique for each bird species. Although the results of this investigation did not validate the feasibility of classifying bird species, they do indicate that a more thorough investigation is warranted. Certain gross characteristics such as wing beat rates, multiple bird patterns, and bird maneuverability, were indicated clearly in the results. Large birds with slow wing beat rates appear to be the most optimum subject for further study with the X-band Doppler radar used in this investigation.

Martinson, L. W.↗

Regolith history from cosmic-ray-produced isotopes

A statistical model is given for soil development relating meteoroid impacts on the moon to cosmic-ray-produced isotopes in the soil. By means of this model, the average lunar mass loss rate during the past 1.4 aeons is determined to be 170g/sq cm aeon and the soil mixing rate to be approximately 200 cm/aeon from the gadolinium isotope data for the Apollo 15 and 16 drill stems. The isotope data also restrict the time variation of the meteoroid flux during the past 1.4 aeons.

Fireman, E. L.↗

Computer programs for calculation of matrix stability and frequency response from a state-space system description

FORTRAN computer subroutines stemming from requirements to process state variable system equations for systems of high order are presented. They find the characteristic equation of a matrix using the method of Danilevsky, the number of roots with positive real parts using the Routh-Horwitz alternate formulation, convert a state variable system description to a Laplace transfer function using the method of Bollinger, and evaluate that transfer function and obtain its frequency response. A sample problem is presented to demonstrate use of the subroutines.

Seidel, R. C.↗

Barium cloud evolution and striation formation in the magnetospheric release on September 21, 1971

The joint NASA-Max Planck Institute Barium Ion Cloud (BIC) Experiment on September 21, 1971 involved the release of 1.7 kg of neutral barium at an altitude of 31,500 km at a latitude of 6.93 deg N. and a longitude of 74.40 deg W. A theoretical model describing the barium neutral cloud expansion and the ion cloud formation is developed. The mechanism of formation of the striational features observed in the release is also discussed. Two candidate instabilities, which may contribute to striation formation, are examined. The drift instability stemming from the outwardly directed drag force exerted on the ions by the outstreaming neutrals is rejected on the grounds that the ion density is too low during the collision-dominated phase of the cloud expansion to support this kind of instability. The joint action of Rayleigh-Taylor and flute instabilities plausibly accounts for the observed striational structure. This same mechanism may well be operative at times of sudden injection of plasma into the inner magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms and may thus contribute to the formation of field-alined inhomogeneities which serve as whistler ducts.

Adamson, D.↗

Research on gravitational physiology

The topic of gravitational plant physiology was studied through aspects of plant development (in ARABIDOPSIS) and of behavior (in HELIANTHUS) as these were affected by altered g experience. The effect of increased g levels on stem polarity (in COLEUS) was also examined.

Brown, A. H.↗