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At least 433 records · Page 24

Review of Design Elements within Power Infrastructure Cyber–Physical Test Beds as Threat Analysis Environments

Cyber–physical systems (CPSs) are an integral part of modern society; thus, enhancing these systems’ reliability and resilience is paramount. Cyber–physical testbeds (CPTs) are a safe way to test and explore the interplay between the cyber and physical domains and to cost-effectively enhance the reliability and resilience of CPSs. Here a review of CPT elements, broken down into physical components (simulators, emulators, and physical hardware), soft components (communication protocols, network timing protocols), and user interfaces (visualization-dashboard design considerations) is presented. Various methods used to validate CPS performance are reviewed and evaluated for potential applications in CPT performance validation. Last, initial simulated results for a CPT design, based on the IEEE 33 bus system, are presented, along with a brief discussion on how model-based testing and fault–injection-based testing (using scaling and ramp-type attacks) may be used to help validate CPT performance.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Remote sensing by ERTS satellite of vegetational resources believed to be under possible threat of environmental stress

The distribution of natural vegetation types on North Merritt Island, Florida, was studied by analysis of ERTS multispectral scanner data on the image-100 computer system. The boundaries of six distinct plant associations were located on photos made on the image analyzer, with an insignificant mean error of -24.38 meters. The six plant associations are described; each had a characteristic spectral signature. The difference in average reflectance grey level between the lowest of the four spectral scanning bands and the highest spectral scanning band for the six vegetation types was determined. The decreasing trend of the differences is strongly negatively correlated with height of land.

Poonai, P.↗

Remote sensing by ERTS satellite of vegetational resources believed to be under possible threat of environmental stress

The distribution of natural vegetation on North Merritt Island, Florida, was studied by computer analysis of ERTS satellite multispectral-scanner data. The boundaries of six distinct plant associations were located in photos produced on the image analyzer with an insignificant mean error of -24.38 meters. The six plant associations are described as: aquatic estuarine association, mangrove, spartina swamp, wooded swamp, sabal hammock, and oak-palmetto. The difference in average reflectance 'grey level' between the lowest of the four spectral scanning bands and the highest spectral scanning band for each of the six vegetation types is described. The decreasing trend of the differences is strongly negatively correlated with height of land, the coefficient of correlation being -0.9696.

Pooni, P.↗

An overview of the potential threat as related to missile requirements

Based on unclassified sources, a general review is presented of the perceived U.S.S.R. doctrine, force balances, production ratios, inventory growth, inventory items, and current actions. The extent to which the Soviets appear to be attempting to increase their sphere of influence through economic and political control as well as possible military control of land, sea, air, and space is considered. To offset such possibilities, certain areas of deterrent needs that the Western world might pursue are suggested. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of missiles as part of the deterrent needs.

Spearman, M. L.↗

Wing contamination - Threat to safe flight

Attention is given to the initial results of systematic investigations of the potentially hazardous effect of heavy rain, ice, and frost accretion on aircraft wings. In the laminar region of an airfoil, roughness interferes with smooth flow and tends to encourage transition from laminar to turbulent flow upstream of its normal point of occurrence. In the airfoil's turbulent region, roughness considerably worsens the turbulent friction coefficient, thereby increasing the drag coefficient. Consequent dramatic decreases of maximum lift coefficient at high angles of attack lead to premature stall. Such decreases in stall angle destroy the safety margin of an aircraft approaching stall. An assessment is given to the state of knowledge in this field of research.

Luers, J. K.↗

Ballistic limit of 6061 T6 aluminum and threat to surface coatings for use with orbiting space station space suit materials

In recent years orbiting satellites, spent components, collisions and explosions have populated the near earth orbit with debris potentially more hazardous than the average meteoroid debris. This new debris has an average density of aluminum (2.78 g/cc) and an average encounter velocity of 10 km/sec. The space station will require many hours of work in this environment and there is concern over hazard to the assembly personnel. A proposed hard suit design utilizes 6061-T6 Aluminum for most of its exposed area. The aluminum surface will be treated for thermal and radiation control. The basic thickness of this suit will be on the order of 1.78 mm (0.070 inches). The selection of 6061-T6 Aluminum for space suits for use on the space station would appear to be worthwhile. The relatively ductile behavior of 6061-T6 aluminum is better than a choice of a more brittle material.

Fish, D.↗

F-106 data summary and model results relative to threat criteria and protection design analysis

The NASA F-106 has acquired considerable data on the rates-of-change of EM parameters on the aircraft surface during 690 direct lightning strikes while penetrating thunderstorms at altitudes from 15,000 to 40,000 feet. The data are presently being used in updating previous lightning criteria and standards. The new lightning standards will, therefore, be the first which reflect actual aircraft responses measured at flight altitudes.

Pitts, F. L.↗

Description of an aircraft lightning and simulated nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) threat based on experimental data

Lightning data obtained by measuring the surface electromagnetic fields on a CV-580 research aircraft during 48 lightning strikes between 1500 and 18,000 feet in central Florida during the summers of 1984 and 1985, and nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) data obtained by surface electromagnetic field measurements using a 1:74 CV-580 scale model, are presented. From one lightning event, maximum values of 3750 T/s for the time rate of change of the surface magnetic flux density, and 4.7 kA for the peak current, were obtained. From the simulated NEMP test, maximum values of 40,000 T/s for the time rate of change of the surface magnetic flux density, and 90 A/sq m for the total normal current density, were found. The data have application to the development of a military aircraft lightning/NEMP standard.

Rustan, Pedro L., Jr.↗

The hack attack - Increasing computer system awareness of vulnerability threats

The paper discusses the issue of electronic vulnerability of computer based systems supporting NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) by unauthorized users. To test the security of the system and increase security awareness, NYMA, Inc. employed computer 'hackers' to attempt to infiltrate the system(s) under controlled conditions. Penetration procedures, methods, and descriptions are detailed in the paper. The procedure increased the security consciousness of GSFC management to the electronic vulnerability of the system(s).

Quann, John↗

Space program: Space debris a potential threat to Space Station and shuttle

Experts estimate that more than 3.5 million man-made objects are orbiting the earth. These objects - space debris - include whole and fragmentary parts of rocket bodies and other discarded equipment from space missions. About 24,500 of these objects are 1 centimeter across or larger. A 1-centimeter man-made object travels in orbit at roughly 22,000 miles per hour. If it hit a spacecraft, it would do about the same damage as would a 400-pound safe traveling at 60 miles per hour. The Government Accounting Office (GAO) reviews NASA's plans for protecting the space station from debris, the extent and precision of current NASA and Defense Department (DOD) debris-tracking capabilities, and the extent to which debris has already affected shuttle operations. GAO recommends that the space debris model be updated, and that the findings be incorporated into the plans for protecting the space station from such debris. GAO further recommends that the increased risk from debris to the space shuttle operations be analyzed.

Schwartz, Stephen A.↗

Non-developmental item computer systems and the malicious software threat

The following subject areas are covered: a DOD development system - the Army Secure Operating System; non-development commercial computer systems; security, integrity, and assurance of service (SI and A); post delivery SI and A and malicious software; computer system unique attributes; positive feedback to commercial computer systems vendors; and NDI (Non-Development Item) computers and software safety.

Bown, Rodney L.↗

Magnetic field sources and their threat to magnetic media

Magnetic storage media (tapes, disks, cards, etc.) may be damaged by external magnetic fields. The potential for such damage has been researched, but no objective standard exists for the protection of such media. This paper summarizes a magnetic storage facility standard, Publication 933, that ensures magnetic protection of data storage media.

Jewell, Steve↗

The Impact Threat and Public Perception

Recent popular movies have raised public consciousness of the very real possibility of a comet or asteroid collision with the Earth, and a news report last year implying that asteroid 1997 XF11 had a distinct chance of hitting the Earth in the year 2028 further caught the public's eye. The report of possible impact was withdrawn the very next day, and the public perceived either that astronomers had made mistaken calculations, or that the pre-discovery observations found that day had been responsible for the revised prediction. But in fact, the original report of the possibility of impact in 2028 was simply a premature assessment. The XF11 affair has demonstrated the need for clarity and precision in public communications dealing with the possibility of Earth impact, as well as the importance of peer review before results are released to the press. This year, another potentially hazardous asteroid, 1999 AN10, has made the news, and this time there is indeed a remote chance of collision. Although impact is not possible during the asteroid's primary close approach in 2027, the uncertainties allow for a remarkably close passage, and embedded within the encounter's uncertainty region are many narrow "keyholes" which could bring the asteroid back for a close approach in a later year. Three keyholes have been identified which could perturb the asteroid onto trajectories that collide with the Earth in the years 2044, 2046, or 2039. At the time of this writing, the estimated impact probability for 1999 AN10 is on the order of 1 in 500,000, larger than for any other known object, but still significantly less than the probability of an undiscovered asteroid of equivalent size striking the Earth before 2044. Additional astrometric measurements of 1999 AN10 will likely drive its impact probability down to near-zero, but this may not happen for years, testing the public's reaction to a lingering remote possibility of impact. A side effect of the increasing discovery rate for Near Earth objects will be a growing number of cases like 1999 ANIO.

Chodas, Paul W.↗

Investigation of Electromagnetic Field Threat to Fuel Tank Wiring of a Transport Aircraft

National Transportation Safety Board investigators have questioned whether an electrical discharge in the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS) may have initiated the TWA-800 center wing tank explosion. Because the FQIS was designed to be incapable of producing such a discharge on its own, attention has been directed to mechanisms of outside electromagnetic influence. To support the investigation, the NASA Langley Research Center was tasked to study the potential for radiated electromagnetic fields from external radio frequency (RF) transmitters and passenger carried portable electronic devices (PEDs) to excite the FQIS enough to cause arcing, sparking or excessive heating within the fuel tank.

Ely, Jay J.↗