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NASA NTRS1986

Line-of-sight performance improvement with reaction-wheel isolation

Design techniques used to isolate and damp vibrations from the reaction control wheels assembly (RCA) from the structural dynamics of the Hubble Space Telescope are described. The four RCAs can generate sufficient torque for large maneuvers and precision control during fine pointing. The RCAs are to operate continuously during observations and thereby pose the potential of inducing jitter. The image stability must be constrained to less than 0.007 arcsec rms per 24 hr and pointing accuracy must be 0.01 arcsec for 100 hr. Vibration-producing characteristics of the RCAs are identified, and test results are provided from measurements of the magnitudes of the associated disturbances. Design features and test results for the vibration isolators employed with the RCAs to effect viscous damping of RCA axial perturbations are presented. The dampers are expected to reduce jitter effects of RCA operation by a half.

Rodden, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS2003

The Bursting Behavior of 4U 1728-34: Parameters of a Neutron Star and Geometry of a NS-disk system

We analyze a set of Type I X-ray bursts from the low mass X-ray binary 4U 1728-34, observed with Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). We infer the dependence of the neutron star (NS) mass and radius with respect to the assumed distance to the system using an analytical model of X-ray burst spectral formation. The model behavior clearly indicates that the burster atmosphere is helium-dominated. Our results strongly favor the soft equation of state (EOS) of NS for 4U 1728-34. We find that distance to the source should be within 4.5-5.0 kpc range. We obtain rather narrow constrains for the NS radius in 8.7-9.7 km range and interval 1.2-1.6 Ma for NS mass for this particular distance range. We uncover a temporal behavior of red-shift corrected burst flux for the radial expansion episodes and we put forth a dynamical evolution scenario for the NS accretion disk geometry during which an expanded envelope affects the accretion disk and increases the area of the neutron star exposed to the Earth observer. In the framework of this scenario we provide a new method for the estimation of the inclination angle which leads to the value of approximately 50 degrees for 4U 1728-34.

Shaposhnikov, Nickolai↗

NASA NTRS2016

Probabilistic Modeling of Aircraft Trajectories for Dynamic Separation Volumes

With a proliferation of new and unconventional vehicles and operations expected in the future, the ab initio airspace design will require new approaches to trajectory prediction for separation assurance and other air traffic management functions. This paper presents an approach to probabilistic modeling of the trajectory of an aircraft when its intent is unknown. The approach uses a set of feature functions to constrain a maximum entropy probability distribution based on a set of observed aircraft trajectories. This model can be used to sample new aircraft trajectories to form an ensemble reflecting the variability in an aircraft's intent. The model learning process ensures that the variability in this ensemble reflects the behavior observed in the original data set. Computational examples are presented.

Lewis, Timothy A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The secondary flow and its stability for natural convection in a tall vertical enclosure

The multicellular flow between two vertical parallel plates is numerically simulated using a time-splitting pseudospectral method. The steady flow of air and the time-periodic flow of oil are investigated, and descriptions of these flows using both physical and spectral approaches are presented. The time dependence of the flow and temperature fields of oil are shown, and the dynamics of the process is discussed. The spectral transfer of energy among the axial modes comprising the flow is explored. The three-dimensional linear stabiltiy of the multicellular air flow is parametrically studied. The domain of stable two-dimensional cellular motion is found to be constrained by the Eckhaus instability and by two types of monotone instability. The two-dimensional multicellular flow is unstable above a Grashof number of about 8550.

Chait, Arnon↗

NASA NTRS1993

NASA/MSFC FY92 Earth Science and Applications Program Research Review

A large amount of attention has recently been given to global issues such as the ozone hole, tropospheric temperature variability, etc. A scientific challenge is to better understand atmospheric processes on a variety of spatial and temporal scales in order to predict environmental changes. Measurement of geophysical parameters such as wind, temperature, and moisture are needed to validate theories, provide analyzed data sets, and initialize or constrain numerical models. One of NASA's initiatives is the Mission to Planet Earth Program comprised of an Earth Observation System (EOS) and the scientific strategy to analyze these data. This work describes these efforts in the context of satellite data analysis and fundamental studies of atmospheric dynamics which examine selected processes important to the global circulation.

Arnold, James E.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Optimizing Orbit-Instrument Configuration for Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) Satellite Fleet

Following the scientific success of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) spearheaded by a group of NASA and NASDA scientists, their external scientific collaborators, and additional investigators within the European Union's TRMM Research Program (EUROTRMM), there has been substantial progress towards the development of a new internationally organized, global scale, and satellite-based precipitation measuring mission. The highlights of this newly developing mission are a greatly expanded scope of measuring capability and a more diversified set of science objectives. The mission is called the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM). Notionally, GPM will be a constellation-type mission involving a fleet of nine satellites. In this fleet, one member is referred to as the "core" spacecraft flown in an approximately 70 degree inclined non-sun-synchronous orbit, somewhat similar to TRMM in that it carries both a multi-channel polarized passive microwave radiometer (PMW) and a radar system, but in this case it will be a dual frequency Ku-Ka band radar system enabling explicit measurements of microphysical DSD properties. The remainder of fleet members are eight orbit-synchronized, sun-synchronous "constellation" spacecraft each carrying some type of multi-channel PMW radiometer, enabling no worse than 3-hour diurnal sampling over the entire globe. In this configuration the "core" spacecraft serves as a high quality reference platform for training and calibrating the PMW rain retrieval algorithms used with the "constellation" radiometers. Within NASA, GPM has advanced to the pre-formulation phase which has enabled the initiation of a set of science and technology studies which will help lead to the final mission design some time in the 2003 period. This presentation first provides an overview of the notional GPM program and mission design, including its organizational and programmatic concepts, scientific agenda, expected instrument package, and basic flight architecture. Following this introduction, we focus specifically on the last topic, that being an analysis which leads to an optimal flight architecture dictated in part by science requirements but constrained by allowable orbital mechanics, instrument scan patterns, and antenna aperture properties. Because the optimal architecture involves an interplay between orbit mechanics and instrument specifications, it is important to recognize that in attempting to serve various scientific themes, the final optimal architecture will represent a compromise concerning dynamic range, spatial resolution, sampling interval, pointing, beam coincidence, and measurement uncertainty. Moreover, cost becomes a major factor in seeking the optimal architecture through the pathways of antenna and instrument scan designs, as well as propulsion requirements associated with the orbit heights of various "constellation" members. Although the results presented at the IGARSS-2001 meeting will likely not be the fully refined flight architecture specifications, they are expected to be nearly complete.

Smith, Eric A.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Star Dust Formation Activities in AzTEC-3: A Starburst Galaxy at z=5.3

Analyses of of high-redshift ultraluminous infrared OR) galaxies traditionally use the observed optical to submillimeter spectral energy distribution (SED) and estimates of the dynamical mass as observational constraints to derive the star formation rate (SFR), the stellar mass, and age of these objects. In this lecture we add this constraint to the analysis of AzTEC-3, a starburst galaxy at z=5.3. We construct different stellar and chemical evolutionary scenarios, constrained to produce the inferred dust mass and observed luminosity before the associated stellar mass exceeds the observational limit. A robust result of our models is that all scenarios require most of the radiating dust mass to have been accreted in molecular clouds. Our new procedure highlights the importance of a multi wavelength approach, and of the use of dust evolution models in constraining the age and the star formation activity and history in galaxies.

Dwek, Eliahu↗

NASA NTRS2011

Star and Dust Formation Activities in AzTEC-3: A Starburst Galaxy at z equals 5.3

Analyses of of high-redshift ultraluminous infrared (IR) galaxies traditionally use the observed optical to submillimeter spectral energy distribution (SED) and estimates of the dynamical mass as observational constraints to derive the star formation rate (SFR), the stellar mass, and age of these objects. In this lecture we add this constraint to the analysis of AzTEC-3, a starburst galaxy at z=5.3. We construct different stellar and chemical evolutionary scenarios, constrained to produce the inferred dust mass and observed luminosity before the associated stellar mass exceeds the observational limit. A robust result of our models is that all scenarios require most of the radiating dust mass to have been accreted in molecular clouds. Our new procedure highlights the importance of a multi wavelength approach, and of the use of dust evolution models in constraining the age and the star formation activity and history in galaxies.

Dwek, Eliahu↗

NASA NTRS2011

Star and Dust Formation Activities in AzTEC-3: A Starburst Galaxy at z=5.3

Analyses of of high-redshift ultraluminous infrared (IR) galaxies traditionally use the observed optical to submillimeter spectral energy distribution (SED) and estimates of the dynamical mass as observational constraints to derive the star formation rate (SFR), the stellar mass, and age of these objects. In this lecture we add this constraint to the analysis of AzTEC-3, a starburst galaxy at z=5.3. We construct different stellar and chemical evolutionary scenarios, constrained to produce the inferred dust mass and observed luminosity before the associated stellar mass exceeds the observational limit. A robust result of our models is that all scenarios require most of the radiating dust mass to have been accreted in molecular clouds. Our new procedure highlights the importance of a multiwavelength approach, and of the use of dust evolution models in constraining the age and the star formation activity and history in galaxies.

Dwek, Eliahu↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Temporal Changes in Astronauts’ Muscle and Cardiorespiratory Physiology Before, During, and After Spaceflight

NASA’s planned space exploration missions will require astronauts to safely perform extravehicular activity (EVA) and to safely egress vehicles in a variety of landing scenarios. Prolonged exposure to spaceflight decreases cardiovascular and sensorimotor function, causes loss of bone mineral density, reduces muscle mass and strength, and ultimately diminishes tolerance for physical activity. Although exercise can help mitigate these spaceflight-induced physiological decrements, little is known regarding the time-course of changes in muscle and aerobic performance during spaceflight. Furthermore, these exercise countermeasures are not fully protective. For example, maximal aerobic capacity (VO2pk), lower body muscle cross-sectional area, and strength all decrease by about 10% to 15% after long-duration missions on the International Space Station (ISS). Future long-duration space missions beyond Low Earth Orbit will employ exploration vehicles with less robust exercise hardware and more constrained exercise capabilities (e.g., less operational volume, less active exercise time) than provided on the ISS. Thus, countermeasures will need to be optimized to protect crew health and performance on exploration-class missions lasting up to 3 years. This requires a more detailed understanding of the dynamic effects of spaceflight on human health and performance, the ability of exercise to protect against this deconditioning, and the interaction of exercise with interrelated factors like nutrition, sleep, and environmental conditions.

N.C. Strock↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Temporal Changes in Astronauts’ Muscle and Cardiorespiratory Physiology Before, During, and After Spaceflight

N. Strock↗

NASA NTRS1989

A practical approach for minimum time control of the Spacecraft Control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE), appendix A

The Space COntrol Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE) is a challenge for control engineering applications. This is a result of the system dynamics, the available measurement information, the actuator capabilities and finally the specified performance requirements set. Results on the use of Model Reference Adaptive Control were reported. In view of the necessity for rapid response, this work deals with an optimal control formulation, with a minimum time requirement and constrained input. A mathematical statement of the problem is presented. The time optimal control formulation is presented and the reasons that make such an approach not promising are discussed. As a result, a pseudo time-optimal control algorithm is discussed. The proposed approach is tested to see if it satisfies the design specifications, and finally a discussion and suggestions for further research are provided.

Kaufman, H.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Sliding Mode Control of a Slewing Flexible Beam

An output feedback sliding mode controller (SMC) is proposed to minimize the effects of vibrations of slewing flexible manipulators. A spline trajectory is used to generate ideal position and velocity commands. Constrained nonlinear optimization techniques are used to both calibrate nonlinear models and determine optimized gains to produce a rest-to-rest, residual vibration-free maneuver. Vibration-free maneuvers are important for current and future NASA space missions. This study required the development of the nonlinear dynamic system equations of motion; robust control law design; numerical implementation; system identification; and verification using the Sandia National Laboratories flexible robot testbed. Results are shown for a slewing flexible beam.

Wilson, David G.↗

NASA NTRS2016

Mineralogy of Mudstone at Gale Crater, Mars: Evidence for Dynamic Lacustrine Environments

The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover landed in Gale crater in August 2012 to assess the habitability of sedimentary deposits that show orbital evidence for diverse ancient aqueous environments. Gale crater contains a 5 km high mound of layered sedimentary rocks in its center, informally named Mount Sharp. The lowermost rocks of Mount Sharp contain minerals that are consistent with a dramatic climate change during Mars' early history. During the rover's traverse across the Gale crater plains to the base of Mount Sharp, Curiosity discovered sedimentary rocks consistent with a fluviolacustrine sequence. Curiosity studied ancient lacustrine deposits at Yellowknife Bay on the plains of Gale crater and continues to study ancient lacustrine deposits in the Murray formation, the lowermost unit of Mount Sharp. These investigations include drilling into the mudstone and delivering the sieved less than 150 micrometers fraction to the CheMin XRD/XRF instrument inside the rover. Rietveld refinement of XRD patterns measured by CheMin generates mineral abundances with a detection limit of 1-2 wt.% and refined unit-cell parameters of minerals present in abundances greater than approximately 5 wt.%. FULLPAT analyses of CheMin XRD patterns provide the abundance of X-ray amorphous materials and constrain the identity of these phases (e.g., opal-A vs. opal-CT). At the time of writing, CheMin has analyzed 14 samples, seven of which were drilled from lacustrine deposits. The mineralogy from CheMin, combined with in-situ geochemical measurements and sedimentological observations, suggest an evolution in the lake waters through time, including changes in pH and salinity and transitions between oxic and anoxic conditions. In addition to a geochemically dynamic lake environment, the igneous minerals discovered in the lake sediments indicate changes in source region through time, with input from mafic and silicic igneous sources. The Murray formation is predominantly comprised of lacustrine mudstone and is 150-200 m thick, suggesting long history of lake environments in Gale crater. Curiosity has traversed through the lowermost approximately 30 m of the Murray formation, and each additional sample provides clues about the climate on early Mars.

Rampe, E. B.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Gas dynamic simulations of galaxy formation

Results are presented from a simulation modeling the formation of a group of galaxies in a 'standard' cold, dark matter universe with delta = 1, h sub 0 = 50 km/(s(Mpc)), baryon fraction omega sub b = 0.1 and spectrum normalization sigma sub 8 = 0.6 (bias parameter b = 1.7). Initial conditions are generated within a periodic box with comoving length 16 Mpc in a manner constrained to produce a small cluster of total mass approximately 10 exp 14 solar mass. Two sets of 643 particles are used to model the dark matter and baryon fluids. Each gas particle represents 1.08 x 10 exp -8 solar mass, implying an L* galaxy is resolved by approximately 1000 particles. The system is evolved self-consistently in three dimensions using the combined N-body/hydrodynamic scheme P3MSPH up to a final redshift z = 1. Evolving to the present is prohibited by the fact that the mean density in the simulated volume is above critical and the entire volume would be going nonlinear beyond this point, We are currently analyzing another run with somewhat poorer mass resolution which was evolved to the present.

Evrard, August E.↗

NASA NTRS2024

XLSSC 122 Caught in the Act of Growing Up: Spatially Resolved SZ Observations of a z=1.98 Galaxy Cluster

Context. How protoclusters evolved from sparse galaxy overdensities to mature galaxy clusters is still not well understood. In this context, detecting and characterizing the hot intracluster medium (ICM) at high redshifts (z ∼ 2) is key to understanding how the continuous accretion from the filamentary large-scale structure and the mergers along it impact the first phases of cluster formation. Aims. We study the dynamical state and morphology of the z = 1:98 galaxy cluster XLSSC 122 with high-resolution observations (≈5″) of the ICM through the Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) effect. XLSSC 122 is the highest redshift optically confirmed galaxy cluster found in an unbiased, widefield survey. Methods. Via Bayesian forward modeling, we mapped the ICM on scales from the virial radius down to the core of the cluster. To constrain such a broad range of spatial scales, we employed a new technique that jointly forward-models parametric descriptions of the pressure distribution to interferometric ACA and ALMA observations and multiband imaging data from ACT. Results. We detect the SZ effect with 11σ significance in the ALMA+ACA observations and find a flattened inner pressure profile that is consistent with a noncool core classification with a significance of ≥3σ. In contrast to the previous works, we find better agreement between the SZ effect signal and the X-ray emission as well as the cluster member distribution. Further, XLSSC 122 exhibits an excess of SZ flux in the south of the cluster where no X-ray emission is detected. By reconstructing the interferometric observations and modeling in the uv-plane, we obtain a tentative detection of an infalling group or filamentary-like structure in the southeast that is believed to boost and heat up the ICM while the density of the gas is still low. In addition to characterizing the dynamical state of the cluster, we provide an improved SZ mass estimate M500,c = 1.66−0.20+0.23 × 1014 M⊙ . Conclusions. Altogether, the observations indicate that we see XLSSC 122 in a dynamic phase of cluster formation while a large reservoir of gas is already thermalized.

large-scale structure of Universe↗

NASA NTRS1982

A dynamic measure of controllability and observability for the placement of actuators and sensors on large space structures

The degree of controllability of a large space structure is found by a four step procedure: (1) finding the minimum control energy for driving the system from a given initial state to the origin in the prescribed time; (2) finding the region of initial state which can be driven to the origin with constrained control energy and time using optimal control strategy; (3) scaling the axes so that a unit displacement in every direction is equally important to control; and (4) finding the linear measurement of the weighted "volume" of the ellipsoid in the equicontrol space. For observability, the error covariance must be reduced toward zero using measurements optimally, and the criterion must be standardized by the magnitude of tolerable errors. The results obtained using these methods are applied to the vibration modes of a free-free beam.

Vandervelde, W. E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Control law synthesis and optimization software for large order aeroservoelastic systems

A flexible aircraft or space structure with active control is typically modeled by a large-order state space system of equations in order to accurately represent the rigid and flexible body modes, unsteady aerodynamic forces, actuator dynamics and gust spectra. The control law of this multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) system is expected to satisfy multiple design requirements on the dynamic loads, responses, actuator deflection and rate limitations, as well as maintain certain stability margins, yet should be simple enough to be implemented on an onboard digital microprocessor. A software package for performing an analog or digital control law synthesis for such a system, using optimal control theory and constrained optimization techniques is described.

Mukhopadhyay, V.↗