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At least 451 records · Page 25

The physical nature of interplanetary dust as inferred by particles collected at 35 km

Particles were collected at an altitude of 35 km by two flights of a volume sampling micrometeorite collector. The collection scheme is very sensitive and is capable of collecting a significant number of particles. Many of the particles collected have chemical compositions similar to solar or to iron meteorites. Morphology of collected particles indicates that both true micrometeorites and ablation products were collected.

Brownlee, D. E.↗

Nuclear composition of solar cosmic rays

Experimental observations of the elemental and isotopic composition of solar flare particles are discussed. Sources and characteristics of particle-emitting solar flare events are reviewed, and techniques for separating particle species are briefly described. Data are presented for the elemental composition of the solar atmosphere, and the possibility of determining the solar helium abundance from solar cosmic-ray observations is explored. The main experimental determinations of heavy element abundances at energies greater and less than 10 MeV/nucleon are summarized, and techniques for measuring the ionic charge composition of solar cosmic rays are outlined. Models explaining heavy element enhancements are described along with processes leading to gamma-ray emission during solar flare events. Observations of the rare isotopes of hydrogen and helium during solar flare events are noted, and a lower atmospheric limit is derived for nuclear reactions leading to positron decay. The possibility of investigating low-energy solar cosmic rays by measuring the relative abundances of different elements is evaluated.

Hovestadt, D.↗

Silt-clay aggregates on Mars

Viking observations suggest abundant silt and clay particles on Mars. It is proposed that some of these particles agglomerate to form sand size aggregates that are redeposited as sandlike features such as drifts and dunes. Although the binding for the aggregates could include salt cementation or other mechanisms, electrostatic bonding is considered to be a primary force holding the aggregates together. Various laboratory experiments conducted since the 19th century, and as reported here for simulated Martian conditions, show that both the magnitude and sign of electrical charges on windblown particles are functions of particle velocity, shape and composition, atmospheric pressure, atmospheric composition and other factors. Electrical charges have been measured for saltating particles in the wind tunnel and in the field, on the surfaces of sand dunes, and within dust clouds on earth. Similar, and perhaps even greater, charges are proposed to occur on Mars, which could form aggregates of silt and clay size particles

Greeley, R.↗

Saturn's rings - 3-mm observations and derived properties

Three-millimeter Saturn observations, obtained from 1965 through 1977 and with Jupiter as a reference, have been used to derive a ring brightness temperature of 18 + or - 8 K. The brightness temperature of the disk of Saturn is 156 + or - 9 K. Part of the ring brightness (approximately 6 K) may be accounted for as disk emission which is scattered from the rings; the remainder (12 + or - 8K) is attributed to ring particle thermal emission. Because this thermal component brightness temperature is so much less than the particle physical temperature, limits are placed on the mean size and composition of the ring particles. In particular, as found by others, the particles cannot be rocky, but must be either metallic or composed of extremely low-loss dielectric material such as water ice. If the particles are pure water ice, for example, then a simple slab model and a multiple-scattering model both give upper limits to the particle sizes of approximately 1 m, a value three times smaller than previously available. The multiple-scattering model gives a particle single-scattering albedo at 3 mm of 0.83 + or - 0.13.

Epstein, E. E.↗

Techniques for carrying out radiative transfer calculations for the Martian atmospheric dust

A description is given of the modification of a theory on the reflectance of particulate media so as to apply it to analysis of the infrared spectra obtained by the IRIS instrument on Mariner 9. With the aid of this theory and the optical constants of muscovite mica, quartz, andesite, anorthosite, diopside pyroxenite, and dunite, modeling calculations were made to refine previous estimates of the mineralogical composition of the Martian dust particles. These calculations suggest that a feldspar rich mixture is a very likely composition for the dust particles. The optical constants used for anorthosite and diopside pyroxenite were derived during this program from reflectance measurements. Those for the mica were derived from literature reflectance data. Finally, a computer program was written to invert the measured radiance data so as to obtain the absorption coefficient spectrum which should then be independent of the temperature profile and gaseous component effects.

Aronson, J. R.↗

Particulate Titanium Matrix Composites Tested-Show Promise for Space Propulsion Applications

New manufacturing technologies can now produce uniformly distributed particle strengthened titanium matrix composites (TMCs) at lower cost than many types of continuous-fiber composites. The innovative process results in near-final-shape components having a material stiffness up to 26-percent greater than that of components made with conventional titanium materials. This benefit is achieved with no significant increase in the weight of the component. The improved mechanical performance and low-cost manufacturing capability motivated a review of particulate-reinforced metal composite technology as a way to lower the cost and weight of space-access propulsion systems. Focusing on the elevated-temperature properties of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V as the matrix material, researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center conducted experiments to verify the improved performance of the alloy containing 10 wt% of ceramic titanium carbide (TiC) particles. The appropriate blend of metal and ceramic powder underwent a series of cold and hot isostatic pressing procedures to yield bar stock. A set of round dogbone specimens was manufactured from a small sample of the bars. The TMC material proved to have good machinability at this particle concentration as there was no difficulty in producing high-quality specimens.

Thesken, John C.↗

Ion composition and temperature in the topside ionosphere.

Particle and energy continuity equations derived and solved by computer method ion composition and plasma temperature measured by Explorer XXII PARTICLE and energy continuity equations derived and solved by computer method for ion composition and plasma temperature measured by Explorer XXII

IONOSPHERIC ION DENSITY↗

Micrometeorites

Micrometeorite trajectory, composition, mass distribution, particle flux, and structure of cosmic dust particles

MASS DISTRIBUTION↗

Space Program

Solar phenomena, planetary and lunar compositions, plasmas, interplanetary particles, satellite probes, animal neurophysiology, engineering structures, and related space activities

NEUROPHYSIOLOGY↗

Chemical abundances of cosmic rays greater than 4.5 GV measured with a large area proportional counter-scintillation counter stack

A 6500 sq cm-ster cosmic ray detector consisting of twelve gas counter trays sandwiched between two large area circular scintillation counters was flown from Palestine, Texas in November of 1972 to study the composition of primary particles 1.5 GeV/nucleon in the charge range 3 to 30. For each analyzed event, a recording was made of (1) the particle trajectory using four 20 wire proportional counter trays, (2) the energy loss in each of the solid counters, and (3) the dE/dx losses in each of the twelve gas counters. The large dynamic range of the detector is established by operating six of the gas counters in the ionization mode. A description of the instrument and some preliminary results are given.

Lheureux, J.↗

Magnetospheric structure.

Magnetospheric research over the period from 1969 to 1971 is surveyed by describing significant results obtained from studies of the bow shock, magnetosheath, magnetopause, polar cusp, convection-driving electric fields, and the composition of trapped particles with charge greater than one. Particle and field observations are related to general questions of particle origin and destination as well as the mechanism by which the entire system remains in equilibrium.

Kavanagh, L. D., Jr.↗

Chemical abundances of cosmic rays greater than 4.5 GV measured with a large area proportional counter-scintillation counter stack

A 6500 sq cm-ster cosmic-ray detector consisting of 12 gas counter trays sandwiched between two large-area circular scintillation counters was flown from Palestine, Texas in November 1972 to study the composition of primary particles greater than 1.5 GeV/nucleon in the charge range from 3 to 30. For each analyzed event, the particle trajectory was recorded, using four 20-wire proportional counter trays. Also recorded were the energy loss in each of the solid counters and the dE/dx losses in each of the 12 gas counters. The large dynamic range of the detector is established by operating six of the gas counters in the ionization mode. A description of the instrument and some preliminary results are given.

Lheureux, J.↗

Systematics of heavy ion enhancements in solar flares

Using Lexan and glass detectors, the composition of solar particles with atomic number 2 or greater was determined as a function of energy from approximately 0.2 to 50 MeV/nucleon in four flares of quite different intensity and during a time when the sun was nearly quiet. Fe is nearly completely stripped. The enhancement factor increases with atomic number at a given energy but decreases with energy. Heavy element enhancements are detectable at higher energies in stronger flares. They occurred in ancient as well as in present-day flares. We have observed Li and Be in one flare. Incomplete ionization, preferential leakage of heavy ions, energy loss by ionization, and nuclear reactions appear to be involved in solar particle production.

Price, P. B.↗

Morphology and types of particles of regolith sample from the Sea of Fertility

A brief description of the morphology of lunar surface material returned by Luna 16 automatic lunar station is given. Adhesiveness of the surface material and its ability to be electrified is noted. Two main genetic groups of regolith particles are differentiated: primary, represented mainly by fragments of magmatic rocks of the basalt and gabbro types, as well as mineralized grains of their constituent minerals, and secondary, particles subjected to appreciable exogenic transformation on the surface of the Moon. The second group, representing more than 70 percent of the material in coarse fractions, includes particles of breccias, sintered aggregates of complex dendritic form, and glass and vitrified particles of varied composition.

Florenskiy, K. P.↗

Radiation damage and structure recorded at high resolution in grains from fine fractions of Luna 16 surface material

Samples returned to earth by Luna 16, were studied with a high voltage electron microscope for ultramicroscopic features. The following amazing features were noted in particles of surface material returned in all the lunar trips: A very high density of tracks of nuclear particles, ultrathin amorphous shells, highly rounded forms, and amazingly good ordering of crystal lattice. These features were used along with calibration experiments in solving the following problems: (1) determining the energy spectrum and chemical abundances of the very heavy nuclei in the solar wind and in the solar cosmic rays; (2) studying the past activity of the sun; (3) obtaining data on lunar dynamic processes affecting dust particles; (4) analyzing composite effects caused by penetration of solar wind into the lunar surface material; and (5) establishing the existence of the ancient lunar atmosphere and magnetic field.

Durrieu, L.↗