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At least 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Chemical interpretation of Viking Lander 1 life detection experiment

An earth-based evaluation of the Viking Lander 1 life-detection experiments was conducted using a radiofrequency glow discharge in a simulated Martian atmosphere. The Gas Exchange Experiment conducted in the humid mode released substantial amounts of CO2, O2, N2, Ar, and CO into the atmosphere, indicating that these substances were adsorbed onto the Martian soil. An adsorption potential plot is given, graphing quantity of gas against time (d). For a model surface area of 17 squares meters per gram of measured substance, oxygen adsorption was found to be relatively high, a result which tends to confirm the hypothesis that Martian oxygen exists largely in chemisorbed states or in active oxygen compounds, e.g., peroxide, superoxide, hydroperoxide

Ballou, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The co-adsorption of copper and oxygen on a tungsten 100 plane-type surface

The coadsorption of Cu on O2 and a W 100 plane-type surface is studied by Auger electron spectroscopy, thermal desorption, low energy electron diffraction and by work function change measurements. It is shown that the presence of Cu on the surface initially decreases the sticking coefficient of O2. For longer oxygen exposures and for higher adsorption temperatures, the coverage of preadsorbed oxygen reaches values larger than those on the clean surface for the same O2 exposure. Except at the highest values and temperatures of the coverage of preadsorbed oxygen, the sticking coefficient for copper is unity and is independent of the oxygen coverage in the range studied. Coadsorption at room temperatures does not produce any long range order while coadsorption at elevated temperature leads to ordered structures. The saturation coverage of the two dimensional coadsorbate at 800 K is given by a relation. The work function is a complicated function of the coverage of preadsorbed oxygen and the coverage of preadsorbed Cu and is determined predominantly by the temperature at which oxygen is adsorbed. At high temperatures the sequence of adsorption has no influence, in contrast to the room temperature behavior.

Bauer, E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Implications of abundant hygroscopic minerals in the Martian regolith

Converging lines of evidence suggest that a significant portion of the Martian surface fines may consist of salts and smectite clays. Salts can form stoichiometric hydrates as well as eutectic solutions with depressed freezing points; clays contain bound water of constitution and adsorb significant quantities of water from the vapor phase. The formation of ice may be suppressed by these minerals in some regions on Mars, and their presence in abundance would imply important consequences for atmospheric and geologic processes and the prospects for exobiology.

Clark, B. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The moon and Q

The acoustic attenuation of a sample of lunar basalt 70215 was measured by the method of sphere resonance. A Q of 1185 was achieved under a vacuum of 7 millionths torr after heating the sample. He and CO2 gas caused a small decrease of Q. H2O vapor, however, resulted in a major decrease in Q. The Q of lunar material when measured on earth is low because of adsorbed gases. However, it is not clear that this effect explains completely the observed high lunar Q.

Schreiber, E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Internal friction quality-factor Q under confining pressure

It has been found in previous studies that small amounts of adsorbed volatiles can have a profound effect on the internal friction quality-factor Q of rocks and other porous media. Pandit and Tozer (1970) have suggested that the laboratory-measured Q of volatile-free rocks should be similar to the in situ seismic Q values of near-surface lunar rocks which according to Latham et al. (1970) are in the range of 3000-5000. Observations of dramatic increases in Q with outgassing up to values approaching 2000 in the seismic frequency range confirm this supposition. Measurements under confining pressures with the sample encapsulated under hard vacuum are reported to aid in the interpretation of seismic data obtained below the lunar surface. It has been possible to achieve in the experiments Q values just under 2000 at about 1 kbar for a terrestrial analog of lunar basalt. It was found that a well-outgassed sample maintains a high Q whereas one exposed to moisture maintains a low Q as the confining pressure is raised to 2.5 kbar. This result suggests that volatiles can indeed affect Q when cracks are partially closed and the high lunar seismic Q values reported are concomitant with very dry rock down to depths of at least 50 km.

Tittmann, B. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Direct measurement of surface carbon concentrations

Measurements of surface concentrations of carbon in lunar soils and soil breccias provide information on the origin of carbon in the regolith. The reaction C-12 (d, p sub zero) is used to measure 'surface' and 'volume' concentrations in lunar samples. This method has a depth resolution of 1 micron, which permits only a 'surface' and a 'volume' component to be measured. Three of four Apollo 16 double drive tube samples show a surface carbon concentration of about 8 by 10 to the 14th power/sq cm, whereas the fourth sample gave 4 by 10 to the 14th power/sq cm. It can be convincingly shown that the measured concentration does not originate from fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon contaminants. Surface adsorbed layers of CO or CO2 are removed by a sputter cleaning procedure using a 2-MeV F beam. It is shown that the residual C concentration of 8 by 10 to the 14th power/sq cm cannot be further reduced by increased F fluence, and it is therefore concluded that it is truly lunar. If one assumes that the measured surface C concentration is a steady-state concentration determined only by a balance between solar-wind implantation and sputtering, a sputter erosion rate of 0.1 A/yr is obtained. However, it would be more profitable to use an independently derived sputter erosion rate to test the hypothesis of a solar-wind origin of the surface carbon.

Filleux, C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Blocking of the water-lunar fines reaction by air and water concentration effects

The elements of air, if adsorbed in conjunction with water vapor or liquid water, are able to impede severely the attack of lunar fines. Thus is explained the stability of lunar fines in moisture laden air, and their small solubility in liquid, aerated water. In the absence of air, liquid water is more effective than water vapor in attacking the grains; the channels formed are wider and the expansion of area is greater.

Gammage, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Water vapor weathering of Taurus-Littrow orange soil - A pore-structure analysis

A pore-volume analysis was performed on water vapor adsorption data previously obtained on a fresh sample of Taurus-Littrow orange soil, and the analysis was repeated on the same sample after its exposure to moist air for a period of approximately six months. The results indicate that exposure of an outgassed sample to high relative pressures of water vapor can result in the formation of substantial micropore structure, the precise amount being dependent on the sample pretreatment, particularly the outgassing temperature. Micropore formation is explained in terms of water penetration into surface defects. In contrast, long-term exposure to moist air at low relative pressures appears to reverse the process with the elimination of micropores and enlargement of mesopores possibly through surface diffusion of metastable adsorbent material. The results are considered with reference to the storage of lunar samples.

Cadenhead, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Interaction of gases with lunar materials - Revised results for Apollo 11

The surface properties of an Apollo 11 soil sample have been reinvestigated. The present study shows that the preliminary results for this sample (Fuller et al., 1971) are in error, principally because of incorrectly applied instrumental background effects. The surface properties of these Apollo 11 fines are very similar to those of fines from the other Apollo landing sites that we have examined. On the basis of results reported to date, the surface properties (specific surface area, porosity, and reactivity with water) of lunar soil samples are, to a first approximation, independent of bulk chemical composition and location on the lunar surface. Drastic alteration of the surface characteristics of lunar fines by adsorbed water continues to be the distinguishing feature of their surface chemistry.

Holmes, H. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Decomposition of N2O over particulate matter

Nitrous oxide is shown to undergo both a thermal and a photochemical decomposition at 296 K when it is adsorbed on various dry sands. The photochemical process occurs with light of wavelengths greater than 280 nm, where gaseous N2O does not absorb. At low pressures (less than 0.1 torr) the half-life for the thermal decomposition of nitrous oxide to nitrogen when placed in contact with about 5 gm of heat-treated Tunisian sand in a one-liter vessel was 350 + or - 35 days. Under certain photolytic conditions this half-life was reduced. The efficiency of the photolytic process for a particular sand depends on the pressure and on the wavelength of light. For Tunisian sand at 1.1 torr and with the full mercury arc, the destruction efficiency is about 0.00002 molecule/incident photon. These results indicate that particulate matter in the troposphere may be responsible for the decomposition of nitrous oxide and hence act as an atmospheric sink for N2O. However, moisture causes a drastic reduction in the number of molecules dissociated per incident photon.

Rebbert, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Early climate on earth-reduced gas models and early climate on Mars-reduced gas and obliquity models

At high obliquity, Martian polar ground temperatures could exceed the melting point of ice for considerable periods of time (approximately 90 Earth days). Under special conditions ice itself might melt. Carbon dioxide adsorbed on the Martian regolith is not expected to buffer the seasonal pressure wave except in the unlikely event that the soil pore size is very large (50 micron). For a basaltic soil composition the maximum CO2 that could be desorbed over obliquity time scales due to thermal forces is a few millibars. At low obliquities the atmospheric pressures may drop, desorbing the soil. The only means to achieve higher CO2 pressures is to have much higher planet-wide temperatures due to some greenhouse effect, or to be at an epoch before the regolith or carbonates formed. The water ice budget between north and south polar caps was considered and summer sublimation rates imply that the ice could be exchanged between the poles during obliquity cycles. A critical factor in the polar cap water budget is the interaction of water and dust. The origin of the Martian polar laminae is probably due to variations in this interaction.

Toon, O. B.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Flight prototype CO2 and humidity control system

A regenerable CO2 and humidity control system is presently being developed for potential use on shuttle as an alternative to the baseline lithium hydroxide system. The system utilizes a sorbent material (designated HS-C) to adsorb CO2 and the latent heat load from the cabin atmosphere and desorb the CO2 and water vapor overboard when exposed to a space vacuum, thus reducing the overall vehicle heat rejection load. Continuous operation is achieved by utilizing two beds which are alternatively cycled between adsorption and desorption. The HS-C material process was verified. Design concepts for the auxiliary components for the HS-C prototype system were generated. Performance testing verified system effectiveness in controlling CO2 partial pressure and humidity.

Rudy, K. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Auger spectroscopy analysis in adhesion, friction and wear studies

The paper reviews the current use of Auger electron spectroscopy in adhesion, friction, wear and lubrication studies. Conventional Auger spectroscopy is adopted to complement LEED studies of the adhesion of metal single crystals. In addition, Auger cylindrical mirror analysis is applied to the study of changes in surface chemistry during dynamic friction and wear experiments on polycrystalline metals and alloys. Important conclusions are that (1) segregation of alloying elements to the surface of metals can alter adhesion behavior; (2) hydrocarbons are adsorbed readily to clean iron surfaces at 23 C; (3) transfer from one surface to another for dissimilar materials in contact can be followed in sliding or rubbing friction studies; and (4) the friction process can enhance surface activity for metals with hydrocarbons.

Buckley, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Design theory and performance of cryogenic molecular adsorption refrigeration systems

Closed-cycle operation of molecular adsorption refrigeration systems (MARS) has been demonstrated by using thermally cycled zeolites to adsorb and desorb various gases under pressures of 20-60 atm. This paper develops three aspects of the design theory: the physical theory of molecular adsorption of small molecules such as A, N2, N2O and NH3, the design relations for closed-cycle flow for three or more compressors, and the coefficient of performance. This work is intended to demonstrate nonmechanical gas compression for various cryogenic gases than can compete with mechanical systems with a different mix of advantages and disadvantages.

Hartwig, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Clay catalyzed polymerization of amino acid adenylates and its relationship to biochemical reactions

The adsorption and polymerization of alanine adenylate on montmorillonite at pH 7 when either its interspacial faces or its edger are blocked by an excess of histidine or sodium hexametaphosphate was investigated. Results indicate that alanine adenylate can be adsorbed any place on the interspacial spaces of the clay; however, adsorption of its phosphate part, which is limited to the edges of the clay, is necessary for polymerization to occur. As a result, polymerization takes place only at sites on the interspacial faces bordering the edges.

Paecht-Horowitz, M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Bonding of nitrogen atoms on Cu/001/ surfaces - A cluster approach

A study of the chemisorption of nitrogen atoms on a copper surface has been performed, based on an analysis of the electronic structure of the Cu5N cluster obtained from self-consistent-field X-alpha scattered-wave calculations. Calculations show that the chemisorption of nitrogen on Cu(001) surfaces induces peaks below and above the Cu d-band region in the total density of states curve. The bonding orbitals formed between the N 2p and the Cu valence orbitals are generally found near the bottom of the Cu d-band region, while the antibonding orbitals formed between the N 2p and Cu orbitals are found to lie above the Cu d-band region. These hybridized orbitals involving the N 2p orbital gave a satisfactory interpretation of the adsorbate-induced structure reported in N/Cu(001) ultraviolet photoemission studies.

Yu, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The effects of ultraviolet light on the degradation of organic compounds - A possible explanation for the absence of organic matter on Mars

The analysis of the top layer of the Martian regolith at the two Viking landing sites did not reveal any indigenous organic compounds. However, the existence of such compounds at deeper layers cannot be ruled out. Cosmochemical considerations indicate various potential sources for organic matter on Mars, such as comets and meteorites. The study tested the stability of a sample of the Murchison meteorite and various organic substances which have been detected in carbonaceous chondrites, such as glycine, adenine and naphthalene, to the action of ultraviolet light. The compounds were adsorbed on powdered quartz and on California desert soil and were irradiated in the presence or absence of oxygen. The organic content, before and after irradiation, was measured by carbon elementary analysis, UV-absorption, amino acid analysis or pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the absence of oxygen, adenine and glycine appear to be stable over the given part of irradiation. A definite degradation was noticed in the case of naphtalene and the Murchison meteorite. In the presence of oxygen in amounts comparable to those on Mars all compounds were degraded. The degree of degradation was influenced by the irradiation time, temperature and oxygen content.

Oro, J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Contamination effects from materials selected for spacecraft instruments

Measurements of the Total Mass Loss (TML) and the Collected Volatile Condensable Materials (CVCM) are used as a guide for selecting those materials being low in outgassing. A contamination modelling method utilizing the data and also the rate at which a material outgasses in a system with a known conductance has been developed and has been applied to the problem encountered with the Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR). Recently, the contamination model has been applied to the problem with the 5th band of the Multi-Spectral Scanner on the Landsat-C satellite. In the MSS design, the volumes involved and their respective conductance in a molecular flow field demonstrated that the water vapor adsorbed and absorbed by an epoxy paint was being pumped off and re-ad(b)sorbed, with a resultant very slow loss of water during each degassing temperature cycle of the instrument's cooler. Recommendations for designing improved coolers are presented.

Heslin, T. M.↗