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At least 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Effects of sudden mixing in the solar core on solar neutrinos and ice ages.

Some numerical experiments with a solar model have been conducted in connection with the hypothesis regarding the effects of mixing in the solar core. Questions concerning a plausible mechanism by which such a mixing could be produced are explored. The variation of solar luminosity throughout the numerical experiments is shown. In connection with a great change in luminosity after a second mixing, it is suggested that the earth is presently undergoing an ice age.

Ezer, D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Measurements of heavy solar wind and higher energy solar particles during the Apollo 17 mission

The lunar surface cosmic ray experiment, consisting of sets of mica, glass, plastic, and metal foil detectors, was successfully deployed on the Apollo 17 mission. One set of detectors was exposed directly to sunlight and another set was placed in shade. Preliminary scanning of the mica detectors shows the expected registration of heavy solar wind ions in the sample exposed directly to the sun. The initial results indicate a depletion of very-heavy solar wind ions. The effect is probably not real but is caused by scanning inefficiencies. Despite the lack of any pronounced solar activity, energetic heavy particles with energies extending to 1 MeV/nucleon were observed. Equal track densities of approximately 6000 tracks/cm sq 0.5 microns in length were measured in mica samples exposed in both sunlight and shade.

Walker, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Geomagnetic responses to the solar wind and to solar activity

A unified overview of present knowledge of the geomagnetic response to the dynamic solar wind is reported. The formation of the magnetosphere and the magnetospheric tail is discussed the importance of electric fields is stressed, and the magnetospheric convection of plasma and frozen-in magnetic field lines under the influence of large scale magnetospheric electric fields is outlined. Ionospheric electric fields and currents are intimately related to electric fields and currents in the magnetosphere and the strong coupling between the two regions is discussed. The energy input of the solar wind to the magnetosphere and upper atmosphere is discussed in terms of the reconnection model where interplanetary magnetic field lines merge or connect with the terrestrial field on the sunward side of the magnetosphere. The merging model emphasizes the importance of the interplanetary magnetic field and especially the north-south component. The solar sector structure with its organized magnetic field and embeeded high speed plasma streams is identified as the source of recurrent geomagnetic disturbances while flare associated interplanetary shock waves are the source of most violet and sporadic geomagnetic storms.

Svalgaard, L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Heavy solar cosmic rays in the January 25, 1971 solar flares

A detailed study of the charge composition of heavy solar cosmic rays measured in the January 25, 1971 solar flare including differential fluxes for the even charged nuclei from carbon through argon is presented. The measurements are obtained for varying energy intervals for each nuclear species in the energy range from 10 to 35 MeV/nucleon. In addition, abundances relative to oxygen are computed for all the above nuclei in the single energy interval from 15 to 25 MeV/nucleon. This interval contains measurements for all of the species and as a result requires no spectral extrapolations. An upper limit for the abundance of calcium nuclei is also presented. These measurements, when combined with other experimental results, enable the energy dependence of abundance measurements as a function of nuclear charge to be discussed. It is seen that at energies above about 10 MeV/nucleon, the variations of abundance ratios are limited to about a factor of 3 from flare to flare, in spite of large variations in other characteristics of these solar events.

Pellerin, C. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1973

High voltage solar cell power generating system for regulated solar array development

A laboratory solar power system regulated by on-panel switches has been delivered for operating high power (3 kw), high voltage (15,000 volt) loads (communication tubes, ion thrusters). The modular system consists of 26 solar arrays, each with an integral light source and cooling system. A typical array contains 2560 series-connected cells. Each light source consists of twenty 500 watt tungsten iodide lamps providing plus or minus 5 per cent uniformity at one solar constant. An array temperature of less than 40 C is achieved using an infrared filter, a water cooled plate, a vacuum hold-down system, and air flushing.

Levy, E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Effects of heavy ions on electron temperatures in the solar corona and solar wind

The effects of the reduction in the thermal conductivity due to heavy ions on electron temperatures in the solar corona and solar wind are examined. Large enhancements of heavy ions in the corona appear to be necessary to give appreciable changes in the thermal gradient of the electrons. These enhancements, if they should occur, may contribute to the understanding of some low values of solar wind temperature measurements at 1 AU.

Nakada, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Solar collector performance evaluation with the NASA-Lewis solar simulator-results for an all-glass-evacuated-tubular selectively-coated collector with a diffuse reflector

A solar collector was tested in a solar simulator for inlet temperatures of temperatures of 70 to 200 F, flux levels of 230 and rate of 7 lb/(hr)(sq. ft), and incident angles of 0 deg, 33 deg, and 52 deg. Test results plotted in a form suggested by analysis indicate a very low heat loss coefficient. The collector shows excellent performance on an all-day performance basis, and also for conditions corresponding to temperatures required in solar Rankine systems and/or for low flux level radiation.

Simon, F.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Initial comparisons of solar collector performance data obtained out-of doors and with a solar simulator

A facility was constructed to evaluate solar collector performance outdoors for conditions that would be encountered by collectors if they were incorporated in a solar heating/cooling system. In addition to obtaining initial collector performance data, the outdoor facility will enable collector durability and degradation rates to be evaluated for operating periods of several months. The data obtained from the outdoor tests were compared to collector performance predicted on the basis of results obtained with a solar simulator. The performance measured outdoors was less than the predicted performance.

Vernon, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Large-scale and solar cycle variations of the solar wind

Space probe observations relevant to the determination of the large-scale, three-dimensional structure of the solar wind and its solar cycle variations are summarized. There is a pronounced decrease in the velocity spread about the average as distance from the sun increases (from 0.6 to 5 AU). A latitude variation is found for several plasma parameters, and a dependence on the phase of the solar activity cycle is demonstrated by some of the data.

Neugebauer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Heavy solar cosmic rays in the January 25, 1971 solar flare

A detailed study of the charge composition of heavy solar cosmic rays measured in the January 25, 1971 solar flare including differential fluxes for the even-charged nuclei from carbon through argon is presented. The measurements are obtained for varying energy intervals for each nuclear species in the energy range from 10 to 35 MeV per nucleon. In addition, abundances relative to oxygen are computed for all the above nuclei in the single energy interval from 15 to 25 MeV per nucleon. This interval contains measurements for all of the species and as a result requires no spectral extrapolations. An upper limit for the abundance of calcium nuclei is also presented. These measurements, when combined with other experimental results, enable the energy dependence of abundance measurements as a function of nuclear charge to be discussed. It is seen that at energies above about 10 MeV per nucleon, the variations of abundance ratios are limited to about a factor of 3 from flare to flare, in spite of large variations in other characteristics of these solar events.

Pellerin, C. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Initial comparisons of solar collector performance data obtained out-of doors and with a solar simulator

A facility was constructed to evaluate solar collector performance outdoors for conditions that would be encountered by collectors if they were incorporated in a solar heating/cooling system. In addition to obtaining initial collector performance data, the outdoor facility will enable collector durability and degradation rates to be evaluated for operating periods of several months. The data obtained from the outdoor tests were compared to collector performance predicted on the basis of results obtained with a solar simulator. The performance measured outdoors was less than the predicted performance.

Vernon, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Solar hot water systems application to the solar building test facility and the Tech House

Projects which relate to the current national thrust toward demonstrating applied solar energy are discussed. The first project has as its primary objective the application of a system comprised of a flat plate collector field, an absorption air conditioning system, and a hot water heating system to satisfy most of the annual cooling and heating requirements of a large commercial office building. The other project addresses the application of solar collector technology to the heating and hot water requirements of a domestic residence. In this case, however, the solar system represents only one of several important technology items, the primary objective for the project being the application of space technology to the American home.

Goble, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Solar sources of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind

Open magnetic field lines, those which extend from the solar photosphere to interplanetary space, are traced in the current-free (potential field) approximation using measured photospheric fields as a boundary condition. It is found that (1) only a relatively small fraction of the photospheric area connects via open field lines to the interplanetary magnetic field; (2) those photospheric areas which do contribute open field lines lie beneath coronal holes and within the boundaries of the holes as projected onto the photosphere or else between loop systems of an active region; (3) the interplanetary magnetic field in the plane of the sun's equator, essentially the field in the ecliptic plane, may connect to photospheric regions of high latitude; and (4) the fastest solar wind streams are correlated with those magnetic flux tubes which expand least in cross-sectional area over the distance between the photosphere and the coronal height where the solar wind begins.

Levine, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

An unusual aspect of solar wind speed variations during solar cycle 20

Geomagnetic records from 1868 through 1975 indicate that geomagnetic activity during 1973-1975 was unusually enhanced for that phase of the sunspot cycle (5-7 years after solar maximum). Previous work indicates that long-term variations in geomagnetic activity are closely coupled to long-term variations in the bulk flow speed of the solar wind. Thus, it is inferred that reported averages of the solar-wind speed for the 1973-1975 era are unusually large for that phase of the sunspot cycle.

Gosling, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Solar electric propulsion thruster interactions with solar arrays

The effect of interactions of spacecraft-generated and naturally occurring plasmas with high voltage solar array components on an advanced solar electric propulsion system proposed for the Halley's Comet rendezvous mission was investigated. The spacecraft-generated plasma consists of mercury ions and neutralizing electrons resulting from the operation of ion thrusters (the charge-exchange plasma) and associated hollow cathode neutralizers. Quantitative results are given for the parasitic currents and power coupled into solar arrays with voltage fixed as a function of position on the array.

Parks, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Solar sail-solar electric technology readiness and transfer assessment

A method of conducting a technology readiness assessment was developed. It uses existing OAST technology readiness and risk criteria to define a technology readiness factor that considers both the required gain in technology readiness level to achieved technology readiness plus the degree of effort associated with achieving the gain. The results indicate that Solar Electric Propulsion is preferred based on technology readiness criteria. Both Solar Sail and Solar Electric Propulsion have a high level of transfer potential for future NASA missions, and each has considerable technology spillover for non-NASA applications.

Chase, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The 40 KW of Solar Cell Modules for the Large Scale Production Task a Low Cost Silicon Solar Array Project

Forty kilowatts of solar cell modules was produced in this program. This is equivalent to 4123 modules. The average power output per module was 9.7 watts at 16.5 volts, 60 C and 100 mW/sq cm. The peak production rate was 200 modules per week which is equal to 1.9 kW per week. This rate was sustained for over four and one-half months and is equivalent to 100 kW per year. This final report covers the solar cell module design, electrical and power performance, module preproduction environmental test results, production and shipping schedule, program summary, and delivery. A cost analysis section is written. Particular emphasis on the percentage of labor and material utilized in constructing a solar cell module is presented. Also included are cost reduction recommendations.

Jones, G. T.↗