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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 433 records · Page 24
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Optical characteristics of regolith from the Sea of Fertility, Sea of Tranquillity, and Ocean of Storms

A diffuse reflection spectra analysis is reported for regolith returned by the Luna 16 automatic station and by the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 expeditions. The spectra of the specular reflection of Sea of Fertility regolith, as well as the spectra of diffuse reflection from polished sections of lunar rocks from the Sea of Tranquillity and the Ocean of Storms have no well-defined structures and are close to each other. The lowest reflectivity is exhibited by the Sea of Tranquillity regolith, and the highest -- by the Ocean of Storms regolith. A weak absorption band with a maximum near 1 nm is noted in the spectra, corresponding to the Fe-2(+) ion in the octahedral position in the lattice of regolith mineral constituents. When the indicatrix of scattering of the regolith was recorded, a specular component was detected.

Antipova-Karatayeva, I. I.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The problem of organization of a coastal coordinating computer center

The fundamental principles of the operation of a coastal coordinating and computing center under conditions of automation are presented. Special attention is devoted to the work of Coastal Computer Center of the Arctic and Antarctic Scientific Research Institute. This center generalizes from data collected in expeditions and also from observations made at polar stations.

Dyubkin, I. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The NSF/RANN FY 1975 program for geothermal resources research and technology

The specific goal of the NSF geothermal program is the rapid development by industry of the nation's geothermal resources that can be demonstrated to be commercially, environmentally and socially acceptable as alternate energy sources. NSF, as the lead agency for the federal geothermal energy research program, is expediting a program which encompasses the objectives necessary for significant utilization. These include: acceleration of exploration and assessment methods to identify commercial geothermal resources; development of innovative and improved technology to achieve economic feasibility; evaluation of policy options to resolve environmental, legal, and institutional problems; and support of experimental research facilities for each type of geothermal resource. Specific projects in each of these four objective areas are part of the NSF program for fiscal year 1975.

Kruger, P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The Viking Mars lander camera

The 7.3 kg cameras for the 1976 Viking Mars expedition feature an array of 12 silicon photodiodes, including six spectral bands for color and near-infrared imaging with an angular resolution of 0.12 deg and four focus steps for broadband imaging, with an improved angular resolution of 0.04 deg. The field of view in elevation ranges from 40 deg above to 60 deg below the horizon, and in azimuth ranges to 342.5 deg. The cameras are mounted 0.8 m apart to provide a stereo view of the area accessible to a surface sampler for biological and chemical investigations. The scanning rates are synchronized to the lander data transmission rates of 16000 bits per sec to the Viking orbiters as relay stations and 250 bits per sec directly to earth. However, image data can also be stored on a lander tape recorder. About 10 million bits of image data will be transmitted during most days of the 60-day-long mission planned for each lander.

Huck, F. O.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Spectroscopic determination of the characteristics of precipitating auroral particles

A large data base obtained from NASA Convair auroral expeditions is used to illustrate the variability in 6300A/4278A and 5577A/4278A ratios in auroras. The variation is well bounded by theoretical curves for characteristic spectral energies between 0.3 and 10 keV, which are typical for auroral precipitation. Coordinated measurements with the OV1-18 satellite show good agreement between the parameters of the precipitating-proton and electron-energy spectra derived from photometric measurements and those measured directly.

Mende, S. B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Compound solder joints

Joining technique prevents contamination, may be used to join dissimilar metal tubes, minimizes fluid and gas entrapment, expedites repairs, and can yield joints having leakage rates less than 0.000001 standard cubic cm He/min. Components of joint are solder sleeve, two solder rings, Teflon sleeve, and tubing to be joined.

Batista, R. I.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Airship construction

Forty-four years ago the first successful metal airship was completed and delivered to the United States Navy, the ZMC-2. Between those years and the present, very little effort or serious consideration has been given to the manufacture, design, construction, or economic impact of airships. It is important to retain and exploit the small but continually diminishing pool of airship talent that will expedite the success of the United States in what is now a pioneering venture. The relative simplicity of airship construction, utilizing the tremendous technical advances of the last 44 years, leads to the conclusion that this form of transportation holds great promise for reducing costs of military missions and improving the international competitive position of the United States in commercial applications.

Roda, J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Image animation for theme enhancement and change detection

Animated displays are useful in enhancing subtle temporally related changes in scenes viewed by satellites capable of providing repetitive coverage. The detectability of fixed features is also improved through the help of the powerful visual integration process. To expedite the process of assembling and displaying well-registered, time-lapse sequences and to provide means for making quantitative measurements of radiances, displacements, and areas, an electronic satellite image analysis console was constructed. During the LANDSAT-1 program, this equipment was applied to the needs of a number of earth resource investigators with interests principally related to dynamic hydrology. The measurement of the areal extent of snow cover within defined drainage basins is discussed as a representative applications example.

Evans, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Conceptual studies for new low-cost 64-m antennas

Recent software developments expedite design investigations of proposed new 64-m antenna structures. The software consists of programs to generate structure model data and a design program that chooses preferential cross sectional sizes of the structural members. Numerous new designs are summarized that can represent weight savings of from 25% to 50% with respect to the tipping weight of the existing Mars antenna. These designs provide a more favorable symmetrical support for the reflector backup and tend to provide superior surface accuracy for gravity, although not necessarily wind, loading on the antenna.

Levy, R.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Techniques and instrumentation effort for whale migration tracking

The following aspects of a research program concerned with tracking gray whales were documented: (1) design, fabrication and testing of a girdle-type harness and associated gear (release mechanism, tracking transmitter, xenon flasher), (2) design, fabrication and testing of instrumentation packs (subminiature recorder, sensor, electronics), (3) field preparations for the January-February 1974 expedition off Mexico, (4) travel arrangements, (5) preliminary field report (capture and handling of juvenile whales, instrumentation and housing tests, harness abrasion and chafing, respiration measurements, sea tracking, distribution, number, and behavior of whales at Lopez Mateos), (6) review, data reduction, and analysis of results.

Goodman, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Preliminary mission planning using Interactive Graphics

The selection of satellite orbits, subject to mission and launch vehicle constraints, can be expedited using the IGOS (Interactive Graphics Orbit Selection) computer program. The program operates in a conversational mode displaying the constraints as shaded areas on a graphics terminal. Mission requirements evaluated include: earth observation coverage, radiation environment, orbit lifetime, and sun synchronization. Launch vehicle constraints consist of injection accuracy and payload capability and include the impact of launch site, and launch azimuth restrictions. Sample output is shown, the hardware and software configurations are described, and details of the mathematical model are summarized.

Rea, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Remote sensing utility in a disaster struck urban environment

Six major public health areas which might be affected by a natural disaster were identified. The functions and tasks associated with each area following a disaster, potential ways remote sensing could aid these functions, and the baseline data which would expedite problem solving associated with these functions are discussed.

Rush, M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Using the Shuttle for future advanced planetary missions

Advantages of using the STS for advanced planetary missions are considered. Several factors are analyzed with relation to a proposed exploration of the Jupiter System. Information relating to a Martian expedition for retrieving surface samples and also calculations pertaining to a landing on Titan are presented. The components of the suggested Jupiter System exploration facility include an orbiter, subsatellite, deep probes, Callisto lander, Io lander, and rough landers. Data concerning the STS injection mass possibilities and Ganymede orbiter mass potential are provided.

Friedman, L. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The aircraft energy efficiency active controls technology program

Broad outlines of the NASA Aircraft Energy Efficiency Program for expediting the application of active controls technology to civil transport aircraft are presented. Advances in propulsion and airframe technology to cut down on fuel consumption and fuel costs, a program for an energy-efficient transport, and integrated analysis and design technology in aerodynamics, structures, and active controls are envisaged. Fault-tolerant computer systems and fault-tolerant flight control system architectures are under study. Contracts with leading manufacturers for research and development work on wing-tip extensions and winglets for the B-747, a wing load alleviation system, elastic mode suppression, maneuver-load control, and gust alleviation are mentioned.

Hood, R. V., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Characteristics of the boundary-layer equations of the minimum time-to-climb problem

In many singular perturbation solutions of optimal control problems, the most difficult numerical task is to solve the boundary-layer equations. However, these equations have a special structure that may often be used to expedite their solution. This paper begins by noting the general nature of the boundary-layer equations for optimal control problems. These results are then applied to the aircraft minimum time-to-climb problem. A specific numerical example is considered to illustrate the characteristics of the solution of the boundary-layer equations for this problem.

Ardema, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

28-Bit serial word simulator/monitor

Modular interface unit transfers data at high speeds along four channels. Device expedites variable-word-length communication between computers. Operation eases exchange of bit information by automatically reformatting coded input data and status information to match requirements of output.

Durbin, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini

Gemini was the intermediate manned space flight program between America's first steps into space with Mercury and the manned lunar expeditions of Apollo. Because of its position between these two other efforts, Gemini is probably less remembered. Still, it more than had its place in man's progress into this new frontier. Gemini accomplishments were manyfold. They included many firsts: first astronaut-controlled maneuvering in space; first rendezvous in space of one spacecraft with another; first docking of one spacecraft with a propulsive stage and use of that stage to transfer man to high altitude; first traverse of man into the earth's radiation belts; first extended manned flights of a week or more in duration; first extended stays of man outside his spacecraft; first controlled reentry and precision landing; and many more. These achievements were significant in ways one cannot truly evaluate even today, but two things stand out: (1) it was the time when America caught up and surpassed the Soviet Union in manned space flight, and (2) these demonstrations of capability were an absolute prerequisite to the phenomenal Apollo accomplishments then yet to come.

Hacker, B. C.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Subsonic longitudinal and lateral-directional static aerodynamic characteristics for a close-coupled wing-canard model in both swept back and swept forward configurations

A general research fighter model was tested in the Langley 7 by 10-foot high speed tunnel at a Mach number of 0.3. The close-coupled wing-canard combination was tested with both lifting surfaces in a 60 deg swept back configuration and in a 32 deg swept forward configuration. The angle-of-attack range was from approximately -4 deg to 48 deg at sideslip angles of zero deg, -5 deg. The data is presented without analysis in order to expedite publication.

Huffman, J. K.↗