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At least 523 records · Page 29

An overview of the evaluation of oxygen interaction with materials-third phase (EOIM-III) experiment - Space Shuttle Mission 46

An overview of EOIM-III, designed to produce benchmark atomic oxygen reactivity data is presented. Ambient density measurements are conducted using a quadrupole mass spectrometer calibrated for atomic oxygen measurements in a unique ground-based test facility. The combination of these data with the predictions of ambient density models permits an assessment of the accuracy of measured reaction rates on a variety of materials, many of which have never been tested in LEO previously.

Leger, Lubert J.↗

An overview of the Evaluation of Oxygen Interaction with Materials-third phase (EOIM-3) experiment: Space Shuttle Mission 46

The interaction of the atomic oxygen (AO) component of the low earth orbit (LEO) environment with spacecraft materials has been the subject of several flight experiments over the past 11 years. The effect of AO interactions with materials has been shown to be significant for long-lived spacecraft such as Space Station Freedom and has resulted in materials changes for externally exposed surfaces. The data obtained from previous flight experiments, augmented by limited ground-based evaluation, have been used to evaluate hardware performance and select materials. Questions pertaining to the accuracy of this data base remain, resulting from the use of long-term ambient density models to estimate the O-atom fluxes and fluences needed to calculate materials reactivity in short-term flight experiments. The EOIM-3 flight experiment was designed to produce benchmark AO reactivity data and was carried out during STS-46. Ambient density measurements were made with a quadrupole mass spectrometer which was calibrated for AO measurements in a unique ground-based test facility. The combination of these data with the predictions of ambient density models allows an assessment of the accuracy of measured reaction rates on a wide variety of materials, many of which had never been tested in LEO before. The mass spectrometer is also used to obtain a better definition of the local neutral and plasma environments resulting from interaction of the ambient atmosphere with various spacecraft surfaces. In addition, the EOIM-3 experiment was designed to produce information on the effects of temperature, mechanical stress, and solar exposure on the AO reactivity of a wide range of materials. An overview of the EOIM-3 methods and results are presented.

Leger, Lubert J.↗

Equatorial composition in the 137- to 225-km region from the San Marco 3 mass spectrometer

The neutral atmospheric composition experiment (Nace) carried by the San Marco 3 (SM 3) satellite measured the equatorial atmospheric composition during the reentry period of Nov. 21-28, 1971. The mass density and molecular nitrogen density measured by the Nace are in agreement with values measured by rocket experiments and inferred from satellite experiments. The average total oxygen content measured by Nace is 30% below the value suggested by von Zahn at 150-km altitude. When it is assumed that his value for the molecular oxygen density at 150 km represents averaged rocket results applicable to the equatorial thermosphere, the Nace total oxygen content results in an atomic oxygen concentration comparable to the mean value of Cira (1965). The Nace helium measurements interpreted in terms of an altitude profile have an altitude distribution similar to that of molecular nitrogen below 165 km.

Newton, G. P.↗

Highly Resolved Mapping of NO 2 Vertical Column Densities From GeoTASO Measurements Over a Megacity and Industrial Area During the KORUS-AQ Campaign

The Korea–United States Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) campaign is a joint study between the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the South Korea National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) to monitor megacity and transboundary air pollution around the Korean Peninsula using airborne and ground-based measurements. Here, tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) slant column density (SCD) measurements were retrieved from Geostationary Trace and Aerosol Sensor Optimization (GeoTASO) L1B data during the KORUS-AQ campaign (2 May to 10 June 2016). The retrieved SCDs were converted to tropospheric vertical column densities using the air mass factor (AMF) obtained from a radiative transfer calculation with trace gas profiles and aerosol property inputs simulated with the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model and surface reflectance data obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). For the first time, we examine highly resolved (250 m × 250 m resolution) tropospheric NO 2 over the Seoul and Busan metropolitan regions and the industrial region of Anmyeon. We reveal that the maximum NO 2 vertical column densities (VCDs) were 4.94×10 16 and 1.46×10 17 molec. cm −2 at 09:00 and 15:00 LT over Seoul, respectively, 6.86×10 16 and 4.89×10 16 molec. cm −2 in the morning and afternoon over Busan, respectively, and 1.64×10 16 molec. cm −2 over Anmyeon. The VCDs retrieved from the GeoTASO airborne instrument were correlated with those obtained from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) (r=0.48), NASA's Pandora Spectrometer System (r=0.91), and NO 2 mixing ratios obtained from in situ measurements (r=0.07 in the morning, r=0.26 in the afternoon over the Seoul, and r>0.56 over Busan). Based on our results, GeoTASO is useful for identifying NO 2 hotspots and their spatial distribution in highly populated cities and industrial areas.

Gyo-Hwang Choo↗

Development of nonintrusive, scatter-independent techniques for measurement of liquid density inside dense sprays

A nonintrusive optical technique for measuring the liquid density in sprays used to simulate LOX injector flows is under development. This manuscript is a report on work toward that development which is currently in progress. The technique is a scatter-independent, absorption-based approach which depends on the numerical inversion of a collection of absorption profiles. For the case in which visible radiation passes through liquid-gas interfaces so numerous in sprays, substantial reductions and alterations in the signal result from scattering even in the absence of absorption. To avoid these problems, X-Rays will be used as the absorbed radiation. The experimental process is simulated by integrating the absorption spectrum for a known distribution, adding instrument noise to this 'measurement', creating a projection from the 'measurement', filtering the projection, inverting the projection, and comparing the results with the original prescribed distribution.

Hartfield, Roy↗

Diurnal variation of thermal plasma in the plasmasphere

All of the OGO-5 light ion density measurements were used to determine the average global topology of the equatorial plasmasphere density distribution. The variation of the light ion equatorial density at L less than or equal to 3.2 with local time was deduced by determining the average density observed within one hour of a specific local time and within 0.1 of a given L coordinate. The average H(+) density showed a semidiurnal variation with peaks near noon and midnight. The He(+) observations also revealed multiple peaks throughout the day but with smaller amplitudes than those of H(+). At L above 3.2 plasma trough conditions increase the scatter of densities. The average variation of the H(+) density with L within the plasmasphere is found to be steepest near midnight and can be least-squares fitted equally well to either an exponential variation or to a power law.

Chen, A. J.↗

Rocket measurements of electron density irregularities during MAC/SINE

Four Super Arcas rockets were launched at the Andoya Rocket Range, Norway, as part of the MAC/SINE campaign to measure electron density irregularities with high spatial resolution in the cold summer polar mesosphere. They were launched as part of two salvos: the turbulent/gravity wave salvo (3 rockets) and the EISCAT/SOUSY radar salvo (one rocket). In both salvos meteorological rockets, measuring temperature and winds, were also launched and the SOUSY radar, located near the launch site, measured mesospheric turbulence. Electron density irregularities and strong gradients were measured by the rocket probes in the region of most intense backscatter observed by the radar. The electron density profiles (8 to 4 on ascent and 4 on descent) show very different characteristics in the peak scattering region and show marked spatial and temporal variability. These data are intercompared and discussed.

Ulwick, J. C.↗

An experimental investigation of the internal methane pressure in hydrogen attack

An experimental investigation of the internal methane pressure that is the driving force for bubble growth in hydrogen attack (HA) was done on pure iron (204 ppm C) and on two low carbon steels of slightly different compositions. The methane content N (c.c gas/g. material) in attacked specimens was measured by a vacuum extraction technique. The total void volume V (c.c) was determined from density measurements before and after HA exposure. The two values, N and V, were then used in an equation of state to calculate an average methane pressure P for the attack stages beyond a density loss (d.l.) greater than 0.05 pct. It was determined that N and P depend on hydrogen exposure conditions and the presence of traces of strong carbide forming alloying elements (in steel). They are independent of specimen size and grain size over a limited range. P varies as the bubble volume increases, showing a generally decreasing trend which brings it to values lower than calculated equilibrium pressures, although well within the same order of magnitude. Possible reasons for this behavior are discussed.

Natan, M.↗

Determination of Jupiter's electron density profile from plasma wave observations

The electron density measurements obtained in the Jovian magnetosphere from the plasma wave instruments on the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft are summarized. Three basic techniques for determining the electron density are discussed. They are (1) local measurements from the low-frequency cutoff of continuum radiation, (2) local measurements from the frequency of upper hybrid resonance emissions, and (3) integral measurements from the dispersion of whistlers. The limitations and advantages of each technique are reviewed.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

A flux-density scale for microwave frequencies.

Accurate flux-density measurements of the thermal radio source DR 21 have been made at centimeter wavelengths relative to the KPW absolute flux-density scale based on Cas A and at millimeter wavelengths relative to absolute brightness-temperature measurements of Jupiter and Saturn. The form of the absolute spectrum of DR 21 thus defined is given and used to relate two formerly independent flux-density scales. With an accuracy of about 3 percent, this spectrum of DR 21 defines a flux-density scale that can be used to calibrate antennas having beamwidths between 1 and 6 minutes of arc at microwave frequencies above 7 GHz where other methods of absolute calibration are much less accurate.

Dent, W. A.↗

Rocket measurements of ion and electron densities in the D- and lower E-regions near sunrise

Positive-ion and electron densities were measured in the 75 to 110 km altitude range with the aid of two rockets launched from White Sands near sunrise. The solar zenith angles were 91 and 79 deg respectively. The densities were derived from measurements made by an ion collector and from data obtained with a Faraday rotation technique capable of detecting electrons in the D-region. It has been found that in the 80-95 km altitude range, electron detachment from negative ions takes place mainly at zenith angles of less than 91 deg. The source of the high positive-ion density (N(+) approximately 700/cu cm) at an altitude of 75 km just before sunrise is presumed to be scattered Lyman alpha radiation which is ionizing nitric oxide.

Pedersen, A.↗

Characterization and durability testing of plasma-sprayed zirconia-yttria and hafnia-yttria thermal barrier coatings. Part 1: Effect of spray parameters on the performance of several lots of partially stabilized zirconia-yttria powder

Initial experiments conducted on thermal barrier coatings prepared in the newly upgraded research plasma spray facility and the burner rig test facilities are discussed. Part 1 discusses experiments which establish the spray parameters for three baseline zirconia-yttria coatings. The quality of five similar coating lots was judged primarily by their response to burner rig exposure supplemented by data from other sources such as specimen characterizations and thermal diffusivity measurements. After allowing for burner rig variability, although there appears to be an optimum density (i.e., optimum microstructure) for maximum burner rig life, the distribution tends to be rather broad about the maximum. In Part 2, new hafnia-yttria-based coatings were evaluated against both baseline and alternate zirconia-yttria coatings. The hafnia-yttria coatings and the zirconia-yttria coatings that were prepared by an alternate powder vendor were very sensitive to plasma spray parameters, in that high-quality coatings were only obtained when certain parameters were employed. The reasons for this important observation are not understood. Also not understood is that the first of two replicate specimens sprayed for Part 1 consistently performed better than the second specimen. Subsequent experiments did not display this spray order affect, possibly because a chiller was installed in the torch cooling water circuit. Also, large changes in coating density were observed after switching to a new lot of electrodes. Analyses of these findings were made possible, in part, because of the development of a sensitive density measurement technique described herein in detail. The measured thermal diffusivities did not display the expected strong relationship with porosity. This surprising result was believed to have been caused by increased microcracking of the denser coatings on the stainless steel substrates.

Miller, Robert A.↗

Stationary Plasma Thruster Plume Characteristics

Stationary Plasma Thrusters (SPT's) are being investigated for application to a variety of near-term missions. This paper presents the results of a preliminary study of the thruster plume characteristics which are needed to assess spacecraft integration requirements. Langmuir probes, planar probes, Faraday cups, and a retarding potential analyzer were used to measure plume properties. For the design operating voltage of 300 V the centerline electron density was found to decrease from approximately 1.8 x 10 exp 17 cubic meters at a distance of 0.3 m to 1.8 X 10 exp 14 cubic meters at a distance of 4 m from the thruster. The electron temperature over the same region was between 1.7 and 3.5 eV. Ion current density measurements showed that the plume was sharply peaked, dropping by a factor of 2.6 within 22 degrees of centerline. The ion energy 4 m from the thruster and 15 degrees off-centerline was approximately 270 V. The thruster cathode flow rate and facility pressure were found to strongly affect the plume properties. In addition to the plume measurements, the data from the various probe types were used to assess the impact of probe design criteria

Myers, Roger M.↗