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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.

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At least 415 records · Page 23

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NASA NTRS1987

Measurement of human pilot dynamic characteristics in flight simulation

Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Least Square Error (LSE) estimation techniques were applied to the problem of identifying pilot-vehicle dynamic characteristics in flight simulation. A brief investigation of the effects of noise, input bandwidth and system delay upon the FFT and LSE techniques was undertaken using synthetic data. Data from a piloted simulation conducted at NASA Ames Research Center was then analyzed. The simulation was performed in the NASA Ames Research Center Variable Stability CH-47B helicopter operating in fixed-basis simulator mode. The piloting task consisted of maintaining the simulated vehicle over a moving hover pad whose motion was described by a random-appearing sum of sinusoids. The two test subjects used a head-down, color cathode ray tube (CRT) display for guidance and control information. Test configurations differed in the number of axes being controlled by the pilot (longitudinal only versus longitudinal and lateral), and in the presence or absence of an important display indicator called an 'acceleration ball'. A number of different pilot-vehicle transfer functions were measured, and where appropriate, qualitatively compared with theoretical pilot- vehicle models. Some indirect evidence suggesting pursuit behavior on the part of the test subjects is discussed.

Reedy, James T.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Potential utilization of algal protein concentrate as a food ingredient in space habitats

Green alga Scenedesmus obliquus was studied as one of the potential sources of macronutrients in a space habitat. Algal protein concentrate (70.5% protein) was incorporated into a variety of food products such as bran muffins, fettuccine (spinach noodle imitation) and chocolate chip cookies. Food products containing 20 to 40% of incorporated algal proteins were considered. In the sensory analysis the greenish color of the bran muffins and cookies was not found to be objectional. The mild spinachy flavor (algae flavor) was less detectable in chocolate chip cookies than in bran muffins. The color and taste of the algae noodles were found to be pleasant and compared well with commercially available spinach noodles. Commercially available spray-dried Spirulina algae was also incorporated so the products can be compared with those containing Scenedesmus obliquus concentrate. Food products containing commercial algae had a dark green color and a "burnt after taste" and were less acceptable to the panelists.

NASA Discipline Life Support Systems↗

NASA NTRS2003

Development of a pilot system for converting sweet potato starch into glucose syrup

Sweet potato has been chosen as one of NASA's crops to support human beings in future space missions. One of the possible uses is to make syrup that can be used as a general sweetener. In this work a simple engineering system for converting sweet potato starch into glucose syrup was studied on a laboratory scale. The system comprises the following main units: a blender, continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), centrifugal and vacuum filters, deionization column and vacuum evaporator. The system was tested by carrying out conversion processes from fresh sweet potato roots. The roots were pealed, sliced, homogenized, heated and hydrolyzed by diastase of malt and Dextrozyme C (Novo Nordisk BioChem, North America, Inc.) enzymes in the CSTR. After hydrolysis the slurry was filtered, de-ionized and concentrated to get glucose syrup. The performance of the system was evaluated based on the quality of the conversion. The main factor was the level of reducing sugars except for the deionization where ash content and color were the main factors. Through careful control of the system units, good heating performance in the CSTR was obtained and the hydrolysis process attained sufficient conversion. The filtration process that incorporated the centrifuge was faster than when it was by-passed to the vacuum filter but losses in sugars were higher. Deionization removed more than 90% of the ash and reduced pigmentation, with probable insignificant losses in sugars during the deionization process. Recovery levels when the centrifuge was used and when it was by-passed could reach about 65% and 78%, respectively. These correspond to reducing sugar concentration of 259 and 310 mg/ml in 150-ml syrups from 300 g of sweet potatoes in each process. However, from concentration trials, syrups with volumes of 100 and 70 ml with the respective dextrose equivalence of 281 and 213 mg/ml were obtained. The syrups obtained were brownish in color and the process that employed centrifugal filtration gave a product with color that resembled the original color of the sweet potatoes. Further work is required to improve the overall system performance.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS1986

Io

The present work reviews the history of Io studies and describes the current level of understanding of Io's physics, chemistry, geology, orbital dynamics, and geophysics. Consideration is given to the satellite's internal, superficial, atmospheric, plasma, and magnetospheric properties and how they interrelate. A pictorial map of Io's surface based on Voyager 1 and 2 images is presented. It is found that Io's surface color and spectra are dominated by sulfur compounds which may include various sulfur allotropes. Volcanic processes yielding three kinds of surface features (vent regions, plains, and mountains) dominate Io's surface geology. The Io plasma torus corotates with Jupiter's magnetic field in the plane of Jupiter's centrifugal equator centered at Io's orbital radius.

Nash, Douglas B.↗

NASA NTRS1995

State Estimation of Main Rotor Flap and Lead-Lag Using Accelerometers and Laser Transducers on the RASCAL UH-60 Helicopter

Modern rotorcraft flight control system designs which promise to yield high vehicle response bandwidth and good gust rejection can benefit from the use of rotor-state feedbacks. The measurement of main rotor blade motions is also desirable to validate and improve rotorcraft simulation models, to identify high-order linear flight dynamics models, to provide rotor system health monitoring; during flight test, and to provide for correlation with acoustic measurements from wind tunnel and flight tests. However, few attempts have been made to instrument a flight vehicle in this manner, and no previous system has had the robustness and accuracy required for these diverse applications. A rotor blade motion measurement and estimation system has been developed by NASA and the U.S. Army for use on the Rotorcraft Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory (RASCAL) helicopter. RASCAL is a UH-60 Blackhawk which is being modified at Ames Research Center in a phased development program for use in flight dynamics and controls, navigation, airspace management, and rotorcraft human factors research. The aircraft will feature a full-authority, digital, fly-by-wire research flight control system; a coupled ring laser gyro, differential GPS based navigation system; a stereoscopic color wide field of view helmet, mounted display; programmable panel mounted displays; and advanced navigation sensors. The rotor blade motion system is currently installed for data acquisition only, but will be integrated with the research flight control system when it is installed later this year.

Fletcher, Jay W.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The effects of feedback lighting on the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity and the reproductive maturation of the male Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

The non-parametric model of entrainment suggests that brief pulses of light, delivered between dusk and dawn can simulate the phasing effects of full photoperiods or even constant light (LL). Feedback lighting (LDFB) is a lighting condition where individual animals, otherwise in constant darkness (DD), are exposed to light in response to a monitored behavior. The specific purpose of this type of illumination is to expose the circadian cycle to light only during the subjective night. LDFB has been used to support this hypothesis in several species of nocturnal rodents and one species of diurnal primate by producing similar free-running periods in LDFB as in LL. This lighting condition has also been used to test the hypothesis that exposing the subjective night to even short duration light pulses will maintain reproductive function in long day breeders. In the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), however, LDFB is not as photostimulatory as LL despite extensive light exposure during the subjective night. In the experiments presented here, a group of immature male Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) were placed in individual light-tight sound attenuated chambers where they had free access to food, water and an activity wheel. The animals were exposed to one of four lighting conditions [DD, LL, LDFB or a neighbor control of feedback lighting (LDFB NC)] for approximately 30 days shortly after weaning. LDFB NC is a lighting condition where a neighbor control hamster receives the identical lighting regime as a paired animal exposing itself to LDFB, yet the neighbor has no control over it. A fifth group was exposed to a light-dark cycle of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of dark (LD16:8). This group was housed in cages in a colony room and did not have access to a running wheel. The free-running periods of the locomotor activity rhythms for hamsters exposed to LDFB and LL were not similar, unlike the results for rats, Syrian hamsters, mice, monkeys and even mature Djungarian hamsters. Immature hamsters exposed to DD and LDFB NC developed more slowly than animals exposed to LL or LD16:8, while hamsters in LDFB developed at an intermediate rate. Thus, it appears that LDFB, although capable of inducing reproductive function in immature Djungarian hamsters, is not as photostimulatory as may have been expected from current photoperiodic models, despite substantial light exposure during the subjective night. Furthermore, this data may suggest that the circadian system of 18-48 day old Djungarian hamsters are still undergoing organizational maturation.

NASA Program Space Biology↗

NASA NTRS1984

The calibration of photographic and spectroscopic films: A densitometric analysis of IIaO film flown aboard the Space Shuttle 3

Three canisters of IIaO film were prepared along with packets of color film from the National Geographic Society, which were placed on the Space Shuttle. The ultimate aim was to obtain reasonably accurate data concerning the background fogging effects as related to the total environment experience of the film including the groundbased packing and loading of the film from Goddard Space Flight Center to Cape Kennedy. The affects of solar wind, humidity, cosmic rays, the Van Allen Belt radiation exposure, various thermal effects, and reentry and off-loading of the film during takeoff and 8 days, 3 hour 15 minute orbit are of particular interest.

Hammond, E. C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The moderately interacting Algol-type eclipsing binary RY Geminorum

Ultraviolet spectra of the Algol-type semidetached system RY Geminorum, whose components can be described as A0 V and K0 IV, have been matched to the ultraviolet spectrum by Kurucz (1979) model atmospheres, and a best fit is found for T(eff) = 9150 K. Comparison with standard star spectra requires that this value be raised to 9400 K. The color excess of the system is determined to be no more than E(B-V) = 0.03 mag; the distance to the system is about 360 pc. The masses are approximately 2.36 and 0.38 solar masses, and the radii are 2.5 and 5.8 solar radii, respectively. The separation of the two centers is 26 solar radii. Evidence for a circumstellar line absorption is found in optical and ultraviolet spectrograms, and evidence is found in IUE spectra taken in partial eclipse for circumstellar emission lines of the type detected previously in the WS Serpentis stars and in several semidetected systems of the Algol type.

Plavec, Mirek J.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Integrating Earth Observations and Socioeconomic Data to Address Health, Equity, and Environmental Justice

Access to reliable data about the characteristics of populations is a crucial component of decision making, policy development, and the assessment of progress towards strategic goals. Social determinants of health provide insight into the status of social and economic conditions within populations that have profound effects on public health, equity, and vulnerability. International frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fundamentally focus on equality, but to efficiently address targets and indicators, socioeconomic data and Earth observations must be integrated to help identify populations most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, health disparities, and poor policy planning. The ability to identify vulnerable populations with data analysis has the potential to empower community stakeholders with spatial awareness needed to inform decision-making that addresses equity and environmental justice issues within their communities. The EPA defines environmental justice (EJ) as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.” NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD) recognizes the benefits that Earth observations with NASA satellites create by equipping individuals with the knowledge to address community challenges. NASA’s Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) supports the integration of socioeconomic and Earth science data as an “informational gateway.” This integration of data is advancing health, equity, and environmental justice initiatives.

Natasha Johnson-Griffin↗

NASA NTRS1988

Color maps of X-ray globular clusters

The results of a search for optical counterparts to X-ray sources in six globular clusters, 47 Tuc, NGC 1851, NGC 6441, NGC 6624, NGC 6712, and M15, are reported. Maps of the U-B color of the central regions of the clusters were prepared. A candidate for the optical counterpart of the source in NGC 6712 was found, along with a blue region near the X-ray source in 47 Tuc. Upper limits on the colors and magnitudes of possible optical counterparts are reported for the other three clusters. The use of color maps to determine color gradients in globular clusters is explored. It is found that, while such gradients do exist and vary from cluster to cluster, they can be explained by crowding effects. Crude limits are placed on the excess populations of blue objects such as CVs, which have been postulated to be concentrated in the centers of dense clusters.

Bailyn, Charles D.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Industrial Inspection System

ACTIS+ is a smaller, personal computer version of ACTIS, a computed tomography system which finds its origins in the Apollo lunar landing research. It is used to identify imperfections in aerospace structures and components. Designed to be added to an existing real time radiography system, its components include a high precision rotation/elevation manipulator, color image monitor, graphical user interface monitor, and PC compatible workstation. Cross-sectional CT images are more detailed than radiographic images and the high speed scanning feature offers the capability for 100 percent inspection in a production environment. Bio-Imaging Research, Inc. (BIR) originally developed ACTIS for Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and commercial units were sold to aerospace manufacturers. The technology was refined for ACTIS+, which is principally used in non-destructive testing.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2002

PCS: The First Fluid Physics Payload on ISS

The Physics of Colloids in Space (PCS) experiment was accommodated within International Space Station (ISS) EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) Rack 2 and was remotely operated from early June 2001 until February 2002 from NASA Glenn Research Center's Telescience Support Center in Cleveland, Ohio and from a remote site at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. PCS is an experiment conceived by Professor David A. Weitz of Harvard University (the Principal Investigator), focusing on the behavior of three different classes of colloid mixtures. The sophisticated light scattering instrumentation comprising PCS is capable of color imaging, and dynamic and static light scattering from 11 to 169 degrees, Bragg scattering over the range from 10 to 60 degrees, and laser light scattering at low angles from 0.3 to 6.0 degrees. The PCS instrumentation performed remarkably well, demonstrating a flexibility that enabled experiments to be performed that had not been envisioned prior to launch. While on-orbit, PCS accomplished 2400 hours of science operations, and was declared a resounding success. Each of the eight sample cells worked well and produced interesting and important results. Crystal nucleation and growth and the resulting structures of two binary colloidal crystal alloys were studied, with the long duration microgravity environment of the ISS facilitating extended studies on the growth and coarsening characteristics of the crystals. In another experiment run, the de-mixing of the colloid-polymer critical-point sample was studied as it phase-separates into two phases, one that resembles a gas and one that resembles a liquid. This process was studied over four decades of length scale, from 1 micron to 1 centimeter, behavior that cannot be observed in this sample on Earth because sedimentation would cause the colloids to fall to the bottom of the cell faster than the de-mixing process could occur. Similarly, the study of gelation and aging of another colloid-polymer sample, the colloid-polymer gel, also provided valuable information on gelation mechanisms, as did investigations on the extremely the low concentration silica and polystyrene fractal gel samples.

Doherty, M.↗

NASA NTRS2026

NASA Talks: Space Shuttle Columbia - Lessons Learned: Columbia Reconstruction, Investigation, Causes and Key Takeaways

On February 25, 2026, this NASA Talk was held regarding the Space Shuttle Columbia (Columbia Launch & Recovery, Columbia Reconstruction, Investigation, Causes & Key Takeaways). Crew & Thermal System Division (EC) partnered with Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Engineering Directorate (EA) to bring these talks to Johnson Space Center (JSC) centering on what led up to and transpired after the Space Shuttle Columbia accident. Some recovered debris was on exhibit during the talks. NASA Mishap Program Specialist David Erickson presented this talk. Mr. Erickson supports NASA mishap investigations and assists with the development of NASA's new Columbia Learning Center at KSC. This talk was timely and a solemn reminder of the critical importance of diligence, safety, and excellence in our work. EA Director Julie Kramer White welcomed the 400+ center-wide in-person audience, and EC Division Chief Rubik Sheth introduced the speakers. This event was held in the JSC Teague Auditorium, recorded, and executed by the EC in-house STAR Productions team. This record includes an mp4 video with a run time of 32 min. 31 sec.; in color; with sound.

NASA Talks↗

NASA NTRS1990

Filling in the retinal image

The optics of the eye form an image on a surface at the back of the eyeball called the retina. The retina contains the photoreceptors that sample the image and convert it into a neural signal. The spacing of the photoreceptors in the retina is not uniform and varies with retinal locus. The central retinal field, called the macula, is densely packed with photoreceptors. The packing density falls off rapidly as a function of retinal eccentricity with respect to the macular region and there are regions in which there are no photoreceptors at all. The retinal regions without photoreceptors are called blind spots or scotomas. The neural transformations which convert retinal image signals into percepts fills in the gaps and regularizes the inhomogeneities of the retinal photoreceptor sampling mosaic. The filling-in mechamism plays an important role in understanding visual performance. The filling-in mechanism is not well understood. A systematic collaborative research program at the Ames Research Center and SRI in Menlo Park, California, was designed to explore this mechanism. It was shown that the perceived fields which are in fact different from the image on the retina due to filling-in, control some aspects of performance and not others. Researchers have linked these mechanisms to putative mechanisms of color coding and color constancy.

Larimer, James↗

NASA NTRS1992

Techniques for animation of CFD results

Video animation is becoming increasingly vital to the computational fluid dynamics researcher, not just for presentation, but for recording and comparing dynamic visualizations that are beyond the current capabilities of even the most powerful graphic workstation. To meet these needs, Lewis Research Center has recently established a facility to provide users with easy access to advanced video animation capabilities. However, producing animation that is both visually effective and scientifically accurate involves various technological and aesthetic considerations that must be understood both by the researcher and those supporting the visualization process. These considerations include: scan conversion, color conversion, and spatial ambiguities.

Horowitz, Jay↗

NASA NTRS1992

An IRAS study of pre-main sequence stars in B209

We have constructed high resolution IRAS maps of the B209 star forming region in the Taurus complex. By combining survey scans with pointed observations using advanced techniques specially developed to handle IRAS data in crowded fields, we have constructed images that reveal two new premain-sequence (PMS) objects. One of these, IRAS 04114+2757G, has FIR colors close to those of typical T Tauri stars and is probably associated with a faint stellar object visible on the POSS prints. The other new PMS source, IRAS 04111+2800G, is a deeply embedded object not detected at 12 microns and not optically visible. The object is projected close to the center of an ammonia core. Our detection of compact blue and red shifted (C-12)O emission peaks around the position of IRAS 04111+2800G confirms the PMS nature and youth of this object. We have examined the reasons for the exclusion of IRAS 04111+2800G and IRAS 04114+2757G from the IRAS Point Source Catalog and estimated the incompleteness of the currently known sample of embedded PMS stars in Taurus. The implications for the determination of evolutionary time scales in low mass star formation are discussed.

Prusti, T.↗

NASA NTRS2007

Application of NASA Giovanni to Coastal Zone Remote Sensing Search

The Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) Interactive Online Visualization ANd aNalysis Infrastructure (Giovanni) provides rapid access to, and enables effective utilization of, remotely-sensed data that are applicable to investigations of coastal environmental processes. Data sets in Giovanni include precipitation data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), particularly useful for coastal storm investigations; ocean color radiometry data from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWIFS) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), useful for water quality evaluation, phytoplankton blooms, and terrestrial-marine interactions; and atmospheric data from MODIS and the Advanced Infrared Sounder (AIRS), providing the capability to characterize atmospheric variables. Giovanni provides a simple interface allowing discovery and analysis of environmental data sets with accompanying graphic visualizations. Examples of Giovanni investigations of the coastal zone include hurricane and storm impacts, hydrologically-induced phytoplankton blooms, chlorophyll trend analysis, and dust storm characterization. New and near-future capabilities of Giovanni will be described.

Acker, James↗

NASA NTRS2007

Application of NASA Giovanni to Coastal Zone Remote Sensing Research

Acker, James↗