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At least 397 records · Page 22

Automated installation of large platform utilities

The capabilities of the assembler in installing nonstructural platform systems were assessed. These systems include electrical power distribution, heat transport, command and data signal transmission, and payload data transmission. The effects of including installation of utilities on the assembly process and on the design, operation, and performance of the assembler were evaluated. In addition, any special requirements on the assembler and/or the platform due to the installation of utilities were identified. The procedure followed was to define a set of candidate utility characteristics and installation requirements, define and design installation concepts, and perform an assessment of impacts on the assembler and its operation.

Vernon, R. M.↗

Technology survey of electrical power generation and distribution for MIUS application

Candidate electrical generation power systems for the modular integrated utility systems (MIUS) program are described. Literature surveys were conducted to cover both conventional and exotic generators. Heat-recovery equipment associated with conventional power systems and supporting equipment are also discussed. Typical ranges of operating conditions and generating efficiencies are described. Power distribution is discussed briefly. Those systems that appear to be applicable to MIUS have been indicated, and the criteria for equipment selection are discussed.

Gill, W. L.↗

Artemis Curation: Preparing for Sample Return from the Lunar South Pole

Space Policy Directive-1 mandates that “the United States will lead the return of humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations.” In addition, the Vice President stated that “It is the stated policy of this administration and the United States of America to return American astronauts to the Moon within the next five years,” that is, by 2024. These efforts, under the umbrella of the recently formed Artemis Program, include such historic goals as the flight of the first woman to the Moon and the exploration of the lunar south-polar region. Among the top priorities of the Artemis Program is the return of a suite of geologic samples, providing new and significant opportunities for progressing lunar science and human exploration. In particular, successful sample return is necessary for understanding the history of volatiles in the Solar System and the evolution of the Earth-Moon system, fully constraining the hazards of the lunar polar environment for astronauts, and providing the necessary data for constraining the abundance and distribution of resources for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Here we summarize the ef-forts of the Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office (hereafter referred to as the Curation Office) to ensure the success of Artemis sample return (per NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 7100.10E).

Mitchell, J. L.↗

Proceedings of the Distribution Automation and Control Working Group. Volume 2: Proceedings

The meeting provided a forum in which electric utilities could communicate with each other, with DOE, and with DOE's contractors regarding research, development, and demonstration efforts to apply DAC (Distribution Automation and Control) to the electric power system. In the discussions emphasis was to be placed on identifying the priorities and needs for DAC development.

Caldwell, R.↗

Security for Multimedia Space Data Distribution over the Internet

Distribution of interactive multimedia to remote investigators will be required for high quality science on the International Space Station (ISS). The Internet with the World Wide Web (WWW) and the JAVA environment are a good match for distribution of data, video and voice to remote science centers. Utilizing the "open" Internet in a secure manner is the major hurdle in making use of this cost effective, off-the-shelf, universal resource. This paper examines the major security threats to an Internet distribution system for payload data and the mitigation of these threats. A proposed security environment for the Space Station Biological Research Facility (SSBRP) is presented with a short description of the tools that have been implemented or planned. Formulating and implementing a security policy, firewalls, host hardware and software security are also discussed in this paper. Security is a vast topic and this paper can only give an overview of important issues. This paper postulates that a structured approach is required and stresses that security must be built into a network from the start. Ignoring security issues or putting them off until late in the development cycle can be disastrous.

Stone, Thom↗

Texas Spectroscopic Search for Lyα Emission at the End of Reionization. III. The Lyα Equivalent-width Distribution and Ionized Structures at z > 7

Lyα emission from galaxies can be utilized to characterize the ionization state in the intergalactic medium (IGM). We report our search for Lyα emission at z > 7 using a comprehensive Keck/MOSFIRE near-infrared spectroscopic data set, as part of the Texas Spectroscopic Search for Lyα Emission at the End of Reionization Survey. We analyze data from 10 nights of MOSFIRE observations which together target 72 high-z candidate galaxies in the GOODS-N field, all with deep exposure times of 4.5–19 hr. Utilizing an improved automated emission-line search, we report 10 Lyα emission lines detected (>4σ) at z > 7, significantly increasing the spectroscopically confirmed sample. Our sample includes large equivalent-width (EW) Lyα emitters (>50 Å), and additional tentative Lyα emission lines detected at 3σ–4σ from five additional galaxies. We constrain the Lyα EW distribution at z ~ 7.6, finding a significant drop from z ≲ 6, suggesting an increasing fraction of neutral hydrogen (H I) in the IGM in this epoch. We estimate the Lyα transmission through the IGM (=EW(z)~7.6/EW(z~2–6)) and infer an IGM H I fraction (X(HI)) of 49 (+19,-19)% at z ~ 7.6, which is lower in modest tension (>1σ) with recent measurements at z ~ 7.6. The spatial distribution of the detected Lyα emitters implies the presence of a potential highly ionized region at z ~ 7.55, which hosts four Lyα emitters within a ∼40 cMpc spatial separation. The prominence of this ionized region in our data set could explain our lower inferred value of X(HI), though our analysis is also sensitive to the chosen reference Lyα EW distribution values and reionization models.

Intae Jung↗

Distribution functions of probabilistic automata

Each probabilistic automaton M over an alphabet A defines a probability measure Prob sub(M) on the set of all finite and infinite words over A. We can identify a k letter alphabet A with the set {0, 1,..., k-1}, and, hence, we can consider every finite or infinite word w over A as a radix k expansion of a real number X(w) in the interval [0, 1]. This makes X(w) a random variable and the distribution function of M is defined as usual: F(x) := Prob sub(M) { w: X(w) < x }. Utilizing the fixed-point semantics (denotational semantics), extended to probabilistic computations, we investigate the distribution functions of probabilistic automata in detail. Automata with continuous distribution functions are characterized. By a new, and much more easier method, it is shown that the distribution function F(x) is an analytic function if it is a polynomial. Finally, answering a question posed by D. Knuth and A. Yao, we show that a polynomial distribution function F(x) on [0, 1] can be generated by a prob abilistic automaton iff all the roots of F'(x) = 0 in this interval, if any, are rational numbers. For this, we define two dynamical systems on the set of polynomial distributions and study attracting fixed points of random composition of these two systems.

Denotational semantics↗

Wind-Tunnel Tests of a 0.16-Scale Model of the Douglas MX-656 Airplane at High Subsonic Speeds. II - Wing and Fuselage Pressure Distribution

Measurements of wing and fuselage pressure distributions were made at low and high subsonic Much numbers on a 0.16-scale model of the projected MX-656 research airplane. The MX-656 is a supersonic design utilizing a low-aspect-ratio wing and tail. Pressure-distribution measurements indicated that, although the critical Mach number of the wing was approximately 0.81 at 0 degree angle of attack, compressibility effects were of little significance below a Mach number of at least 0.90. The principal effect of compressibility was an increase in the pressure gradient over the after 30 percent of the wing chord, causing a tendency for the flow to separate. At 0.40 Mach number, the wing stalled abruptly at approximately 12 deg, angle of attack. The wing-pressure distribution showed this stall was a result of complete separation of the flow from the upper surface of the wing, Deflecting the leading-edge flaps delayed the stall to a higher angle of attack with some increase in the maximum section normal force,

Cleary, Joseph W.↗

The effects of correlation on goodness of fit

Autocorrelated normal random variates were generated via computer and the effects of various levels of correlation on goodness of fit problems were studied. The results are useful in determining the distribution or estimating the parameters of populations that correlate observations such as wind speeds and temperature. The model used to generate the autocorrelated data is an autoregressive process of order 1. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov and chi-square statistics are used in the analysis. It was observed in the simulation that high positive correlations tend to shift the sample mean away from the population mean and negative correlations tend to shift the sample mean towards the population mean. In many cases, it was observed that positive and negative correlations tend to decrease the standard deviation. However, since this did not occur in all cases, no definite conclusion can be made regarding the standard deviation. Since the autoregressive process is a linear transformation, it is not surprising that normality was preserved. However, a possible extension of this problem could be to generate non-normal data and observe how the distribution is affected by correlation. Another extension might utilize another model such as autoregressive of order k or a moving average process of order k.

Kitchens, L. J.↗

Light beams and radiation patterns in random media

The purpose of this paper is to apply a numerical technique in solving problems involving light beams in a random medium. The technique starts by generating numerically sample media with prescribed statistical properties. Rays are then traced in these sample media, and the ray statistics are compiled. These statistics are utilized to find the mean square displacement and distribution of a beam. Problems on beam broadening and distortion of radiation patterns are considered. Fluctuations in wave amplitude and phase are also investigated. When possible, the numerical results are compared with the analytical results and experimental results.

Youakim, M. Y.↗

The Pioneer 10 radio occultation measurements of the ionosphere of Jupiter

Data from the Pioneer 10 radio occultation measurements are utilized to study the vertical electron number density distribution in the Jovian ionosphere. The immersion measurements were made at 26 North latitude in the late afternoon local time. The solar zenith angle in this region was 81 deg. Emersion measurements were made at 58 North latitude near the morning terminator where the solar zenith angle was 95 deg. The detectable portion of the Jovian ionosphere consists of a number of layers distributed over an altitude range of more than 3000 km. The maximum density appears to be on the order of 30,000 electrons per cu cm. Assuming that H(+) is the principal ion in the upper portion of the ionosphere yields a topside plasma temperature of 900 plus or minus 400 K.

Fjeldbo, G.↗

Siting solar thermal power experiments

The Small Community Solar Thermal Power Experiment will test a point-focusing, distributed receiver system in a small community, electric utility application. Site planning is becoming increasingly important for solar experiments as well as all kinds of development due to increased competition for desirable sites and increased complexity of regulatory requirements. Siting issues can be categorized as: (1) resources and physical environmental at this site; (2) acquisition, permits and regulations; and (3) development requirements and costs. These issues are addressed with respect to the unique requirements of solar thermal power experiments.

Holbeck, H. J.↗

Status of the current parabolic dish technology

Vu-graphs are presented that show that point focus distributed receiver distributed generation systems are cost competitive with current utilities. System cost caveats and typical power module costs are described. Major problems inhibiting commercialization of the parabolic dish technology were reviewed.

Sumrall, C.↗

Heat transfer of phase-change materials in two-dimensional cylindrical coordinates

Two-dimensional phase-change problem is numerically solved in cylindrical coordinates (r and z) by utilizing two Taylor series expansions for the temperature distributions in the neighborhood of the interface location. These two expansions form two polynomials in r and z directions. For the regions sufficiently away from the interface the temperature field equations are numerically solved in the usual way and the results are coupled with the polynomials. The main advantages of this efficient approach include ability to accept arbitrarily time dependent boundary conditions of all types and arbitrarily specified initial temperature distributions. A modified approach using a single Taylor series expansion in two variables is also suggested.

Labdon, M. B.↗

Helicopter rotor loads using discretized matched asymptotic expansions

The numerical practicality of a matched asymptotic expansion approach for the computation of unsteady three dimensional airloads on a helicopter rotor was improved. This effort utilizes a discretized repesentation of the doublet strength distribution and helical streamlines to decrease the computational requirements of the original analysis. The continuous variation of the doublet strength was approximated by piecewise constant or piecewise quadratic distributions, and the helical trajectory of a fluid particle was approximated by connected straight line segments. As a direct result of these simplified representations the computational time required for the execution of a typical flight condition was reduced by an order of magnitude with respect to the requirements of the original analysis. Airloads which were computed using the discretized method for a two bladed model rotor and a full scale four bladed rotor are in close agreement with measured results and airloads from the original asymptotic analysis. For conditions characterized by significant rotor/wake interaction the piecewise constant representation requires a reduced azimuth spacing to maintain acceptable accuracy.

Pierce, G. A.↗

Investigation of the effects of external current systems on the MAGSAT data utilizing grid cell modeling techniques

The feasibility of modeling magnetic fields due to certain electrical currents flowing in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere was investigated. A method was devised to carry out forward modeling of the magnetic perturbations that arise from space currents. The procedure utilizes a linear current element representation of the distributed electrical currents. The finite thickness elements are combined into loops which are in turn combined into cells having their base in the ionosphere. In addition to the extensive field modeling, additional software was developed for the reduction and analysis of the MAGSAT data in terms of the external current effects. Direct comparisons between the models and the MAGSAT data are possible.

Klumpar, D. M.↗

Shock noise features using the SCIPVIS code

The numerical computational supersonic jet plume model SCIPVIS was analyzed in order to determine its effectiveness for predicting the complicated flow structure associated with supersonic shock containing jet plumes. The analysis focused on assessing the applicability of using this code for predicting the broadband shock noise radiation. The analysis was carried out for several exit Mach number cases (including 1.00, 1.41, and 1.99) covering both underexpanded and overexpanded flow conditions. The three primary turbulence closure models incorporated in the SCIPVIS code were utilized for comparisons to measured plume static pressure distributions. Among other results, the prediction of plume static pressures for all three nozzle exit Mach numbers was found to perform exceptionally well when compared with experimental data for both underexpanded and overexpanded cases. Computations performed using this code for calculating the average shock wavelength for the 1.99 exit Mach number case were shown to provide an excellent prediction of the peak frequency for broadband shock noise. The spatial variation of the turbulent kinetic energy was found to be in qualitative agreement with wedge hot-film measurements.

Seiner, J. M.↗

A three-dimensional adaptive grid method

A three-dimensional solution-adaptive-grid scheme is described which is suitable for complex fluid flows. This method, using tension and torsion spring analogies, was previously developed and successfully applied for two-dimensional flows. In the present work, a collection of three-dimensional flow fields are used to demonstrate the feasibility and versatility of this concept to include an added dimension. Flow fields considered include: (1) supersonic flow past an aerodynamic afterbody with a propulsive jet at incidence to the free stream, (2) supersonic flow past a blunt fin mounted on a solid wall, and (3) supersonic flow over a bump. In addition to generating three-dimensional solution-adapted grids, the method can also be used effectively as an initial grid generator. The utility of the method lies in: (1) optimum distribution of discrete grid points, (2) improvement of accuracy, (3) improved computational efficiency, (4) minimization of data base sizes, and (5) simplified three-dimensional grid generation.

Nakahashi, K.↗