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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1997

Plasma Hormone Concentrations in Monkeys after Spaceflight

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a 12.5 day spaceflight on the endocrine status of Rhesus monkeys. Male monkeys (three to four years old; 4 kg) were adapted to chair restraint and trained for 20 months. Blood samples were obtained from four control (C) and two flight (F) monkeys preflight (PF), post-flight (Recovery-R; days 0, 3, 11, and 17), and before and after a mission length simulation (S). Cortisol, T4, T3, testosterone (T), and IGF-1 were measured by RIA (radioimmunassay). Growth hormone (GH) was measured by an in vitro bioassay. Cortisol (16-34 ug/dl), T4 (3.9-7.4 ug/dl), and T (0.2-0.4 mg/ml) did not differ between F and C or between PF, R, and S samples. The low T values reflect the immaturity of the animals. In F, T3 fell from C levels of 208 +/- 4 ng/dl to 44 on R+0 and 150 on R+3, then returned to C. F showed a 55% decrease in GH at R+0 and decreases of 93, 89, and 80%, respectively, at R+3, 11, and 17. IGF-1 decreased from PF levels of 675 ng/ml to 365 (R+0) and 243 (R+3), but returned to C at R+11. GH and IGF-1 levels before and after S did not differ from each other or from C. The cause of the transitory decrease in T3 is unknown. The suppressed GH levels for 17 days after flight may reflect reduced proprioceptive input during flight. The faster recovery of IGF-1 suggests that factors other than reduced GH secretion are involved.

Grindeland, Richard E.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Antimatter Production at a Potential Boundary

Current antiproton production techniques rely on high-energy collisions between beam particles and target nuclei to produce particle and antiparticle pairs, but inherently low production and capture efficiencies render these techniques impractical for the cost-effective production of antimatter for space propulsion and other commercial applications. Based on Dirac's theory of the vacuum field, a new antimatter production concept is proposed in which particle-antiparticle pairs are created at the boundary of a steep potential step formed by the suppression of the local vacuum fields. Current antimatter production techniques are reviewed, followed by a description of Dirac's relativistic quantum theory of the vacuum state and corresponding solutions for particle tunneling and reflection from a potential barrier. The use of the Casimir effect to suppress local vacuum fields is presented as a possible technique for generating the sharp potential gradients required for particle-antiparticle pair creation.

LaPointe, Michael R.↗
NASA NTRS2016

The Maturing of High Contrast Imaging and Starlight Suppression Techniques for Future NASA Exoplanet Characterization Missions

Over 3000 exoplanets and hundreds of exoplanetary systems have been detected to date and we are now rapidly moving toward an era where the focus is shifting from detection to direct imaging and spectroscopic characterization of these new worlds and their atmospheres. NASA is currently studying several exoplanet characterization mission concepts for the 2020 Decadal Survey ranging from probe class to flagships. Detailed and comprehensive exoplanet characterization, particularly of exo-Earths, leading to assessment of habitability, or indeed detection of life, will require significant advances beyond the current state-of-the-art in high contrast imaging and starlight suppression techniques which utilize specially shaped precision optical elements to block the light from the parent star while controlling scattering and diffraction thus revealing and enabling spectroscopic study of the orbiting exoplanets in reflected light. In this paper we describe the two primary high contrast starlight suppression techniques currently being pursued by NASA: 1) coronagraphs (including several design variations) and 2) free-flying starshades. These techniques are rapidly moving from the technology development phase to the design and engineering phase and we discuss the prospects and projected performance for future exoplanet characterization missions utilizing these techniques coupled with large aperture telescopes in space.

high contrast↗
NASA NTRS1987

Preliminary results from an investigation of AIS-1 data over an area of epithermal alteration: Plateau, Northern Queensland, Australia

Airborne Imaging Spectrometer-1 (AIS-1) data were flown over undifferentiated sequences of acid to intermediate volcanics and intrusives; meta-sediments; and a series of partially lateritized sedimentary rocks. The area exhibits a considerable spectral variability, after the suppression of striping effects. Log residual, and Internal Average Relative Reflectance (IARR) analytical techniques were used to enhance mineralogically related spectral features. Both methods produce similar results, but did not visually highlight mineral absorption features due to processing artifacts in areas of significant vegetation cover. The enhancement of mineral related absorption features was achieved using a hybrid processing approach based on the relative reflectance differences between vegetated and non-vegetated surfaces at 1.2 and 2.1 micron. The result is an image with little overall contrast, but which enhances the more subtle spectral features believed to be associated with clays and epidote. The AIS data was subject to interactive analysis using SPAM. Clear separation of clay and epidote related absorption features was apparent, and the identification of kaolinite was possible despite detrimental spectral effects.

Mackin, Steve↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Lunar-surface UV Photometric Investigation of Exospheres (LUPINE): Thermal Modeling of Payload in a Relevant Daylit Environment

Direct upward remote sensing of the moon’s exosphere from a surface vantage can address production of water-related lunar volatiles as well as their exospheric loss, ballistic transport, and ultimate adsorption in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs). Far UV (FUV) dayside measurements of atomic oxygen, liberated from regolith by energetic solar protons and micrometeorite impact, can provide critical insight into the endogenic lunar water cycle by constraining total column density [O] at site of production. A notional Lunar-surface UV Photometric Investigation of Exospheres (LUPINE) instrument is designed to exploit solar-pumped atomic oxygen fluorescence at 130.4-nm, in a manner similar to the Apollo 17 UV Spectrometer (UVS) experiment [Fastie 1973; Feldman and Morrison, 1991] and the LRO Lyman-alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) spectrograph [Cook et al., 2013], by implementing a zenith-directed FUV photometer from the lunar surface at low (± 10°) selenographic latitude during the lunar day. Atomic oxygen production from solar energetic particle impact sources is thought to maximize in near solar noon [Sarantos et al., 2012], and the lander-embedded zenith-directed LUPINE photometer, in contrast to UVS and LAMP twilight measurements from orbit, can potentially capture the full column abundance of lunar regolith liberated oxygen. Herein we describe adaptation of FUV reflective optics, pulse-counting electronics, and scattered-light-suppression technologies developed for LEO FUV photometry for the challenging thermal environment of the daylit lunar surface. Preliminary thermal modeling and TVAC measurements of heritage FUV photometer components suggests that, if allowed to shed ~8W of waste heat into the bus of a reference Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) lander, the LUPINE photometer will be kept sufficiently cool to limit dark current to less than 20 counts/s. This level of dark signal enables an OI 130.4-nm 3-sigma detection threshold of ~1 mR for assumed 2-hour integrations.

Lunar UV Photometer↗
NASA NTRS1994

Quantitative reflectance spectroscopy of buddingtonite from the Cuprite mining district, Nevada

Buddingtonite, an ammonium-bearing feldspar diagnostic of volcanic-hosted alteration, can be identified and, in some cases, quantitatively measured using short-wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance spectroscopy. In this study over 200 samples from Cuprite, Nevada, were evaluated by X ray diffraction, chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and SWIR reflectance spectroscopy with the objective of developing a quantitative remote-sensing technique for rapid determination of the amount of ammonium or buddingtonite present, and its distribution across the site. Based upon the Hapke theory of radiative transfer from particulate surfaces, spectra from quantitative, physical mixtures were compared with computed mixture spectra. We hypothesized that the concentration of ammonium in each sample is related to the size and shape of the ammonium absorption bands and tested this hypothesis for samples of relatively pure buddingtonite. We found that the band depth of the 2.12-micron NH4 feature is linearly related to the NH4 concentration for the Cuprite buddingtonite, and that the relationship is approximately exponential for a larger range of NH4 concentrations. Associated minerals such as smectite and jarosite suppress the depth of the 2.12-micron NH4 absorption band. Quantitative reflectance spectroscopy is possible when the effects of these associated minerals are also considered.

Felzer, Benjamin↗
NASA NTRS1984

Accuracy of velocity and power determination by the Doppler method

When designing a Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) radar antenna one has to trade between the choices to optimize the effective aperture or to optimize the sidelobe suppression. An optimization of the aperture increases the sensitivity. Suppression of side-lobes by tapering attenuates undesirable signals which spoil the estimates of reflectivity and velocity. Generally, any sidelobe effects are equivalent to a broadening of the antenna beam. The return signal is due to a product of the antenna pattern with the varying atmospheric reflectivity structures. Thus, knowing the antenna pattern, it is in principle possible to find the signal spectra, which, however, may be a tedious computational and ambiguous procedure. For vertically pointing main beams the sidelobe effects are efficiently suppressed because of the aspect sensitivity. It follows that sidelobes are a minor problem for spaced antenna methods. However, they can be crucial for Doppler methods, which need off-vertical beams. If a sidelobe is pointing towards the zenith a larger power may be received from the vertical than off-vertical directions, but quantitative estimates of this effect are not yet known. To get an error estimate of sidelobe effects with an off-vertical main beam a 1-dimensional example is considered.

Rottger, J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Electron reflection and secondary emission characteristics of sputter-textured pyrolytic graphite surfaces

Low secondary and reflected primary electron emission from the collector electrode surfaces is important for optimum collector efficiency and hence for high overall efficiency of microwave amplifier tubes used in communication satellites and in military systems. Ion sputter texturing of the surface effectively suppresses electron emission from pyrolytic graphite, which is a promising collector electrode material. Secondary and reflected primary electron emission characteristics of sputter textured pyrolytic graphite surfaces with microstructures of various sizes and densities are presented. The microstructure with the lowest electron emission levels, less than those of soot, consists of a dense array of tall, thin spires.

Wintucky, E. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Linear Phase Modulator

Circuit suppresses AM component while providing matched input impedance. Phase modulation uses reflective properties of series resonant tank to reflect all of signal except for small amount in unloaded Q of coils and varactor diode. Circuit used in payload integrator of Space Shuttle S-band communications and tracking equipment, has applications in other communications and tracking equipment.

Hesse, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Spacecraft external heating variations in orbit

The results of an evaluation of variations in on-orbit external heating of spacecraft surfaces are presented. The analyzed time-varying components are the direct solar, the latitude-dependent shortwave reflected, and the latitude-dependent longwave planetary-emitted radiation. Differences in instantaneous heating rates at a given latitude among the different model environments are found to be much larger than are differences in orbital mean heating rates. The discrepancies are found to increase with the orbit inclination angle. The ratio of Northern Hemisphere winter-to-summer orbital mean heating rates for a nadir-facing node is near unity and shows only a slight dependence on large variations in node absorptance. Mean orbital albedo and emission values for low-inclination orbits are found to differ significantly from global values obtained in meteorological studies. Algorithms relating mean orbital albedos and emissions to orbit inclination are developed. The relative importance of more realistic nondiffuse over diffuse reflections is evaluated for spacecraft heating and found to be negligible. The sun-spacecraft-earth angular configuration is such that, for reception of the peak intensities in the nondiffuse reflectance angular distribution, the albedo heating rate is more than adequately suppressed by an extremely small view factor from the spacecraft to the sunlit 'crescent' earth.

Leffler, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS2012

High Absorptance Coatings for THz Applications

High absorptance materials find application throughout the electromagnetic spectrum as radiation terminations, calibration standards, and glint reduction coatings. Successful use of materials at millimeter through submillimeter wavelengths requires an accurate knowledge and control over their thermal, mechanical, and electromagnetic properties in order to achieve the desired response while minimizing mass and volume. In practice, the achieved blackness is intimately linked to the material properties and geometry. Here, we summarize the characteristics of a variety of tunable artificial dielectric mixtures appropriate for THz applications at room and cryogenic temperatures. Theoretical guidelines for their application will be provided in the context of the effective-medium mean-field-approximation. The performance of these coatings as elements of reflectance standards, radiometric flux calibrators, passive thermal radiators, and stray light suppression baffles for imaging systems will be reviewed.

Wollack, Edward J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Inflight Assay of Red Blood Cell Deformability

Studies on Soviet and American astronauts have demonstrated that red blood cell production is altered in response to low gravity (g) environment. This is associated with changes in individual red cells including increased mean cell volume and altered membrane deformability. During long orbital missions, there is a tendency for the red cell mass deficit to be at least partly corrected although the cell shape anomalies are not. Data currently available suggest that the observed decrease in red cell mass is the result of sudden suppression of erythropoieses and that the recovery trend observed during long missions reflects re-establishment of erythropoietic homeostasis at a "set point" for the red cell mass that is slightly below the normal level at 1 g.

Ingram, M.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Hemispherical Reflectance and Emittance Properties of Carbon Nanotubes Coatings at Far-Infrared Wavelengths

Recent visible wavelength observations of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) coatings have revealed that they represent the blackest materials known in nature with a Total Hemispherical Reflectance (THR) less than .25%. This makes them as exceptionally good absorbers, with the potential to provide order-of-magnitude improvement in stray-light suppression over current black surface treatments when used in an optical system. Here we extend the characterization of this class of materials into the infrared spectral region to further evaluate their potential for use on instrument baffles for stray-light suppression and to manage spacecraft thermal properties to dissipate heat through radiant heat transfer process. These characterizations will include the wavelength-dependent Total Hemispherical Reflectance properties in the mid-IR and far-infrared spectral regions (2-100 micrometers). Determination of the temperature-dependent emittance will be investigated in the temperature range of 20 to 300 K. These results will be compared against other more conventional black coatings such as Acktar Fractal Black or Z-306 coatings among others.

Quijada, Manuel A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Metal-silicon reaction rates - The effects of capping

Evidence is presented showing that the presence of the commonly used anti-reflection coating material Ta2O5 on the free surface of contact metallization can either suppress or enhance, depending on the system, the interaction that takes place at elevated temperatures between the metallization and the underlying Si. The cap layer is shown to suppress both the generation and annihilation of vacancies at the free surface of the metal which are necessary to support metal-Si interactons. Evidence is also presented indicating that the mechanical condition of the free metal surface has a significant effect on the metal-silicon reaction rate.

Weizer, Victor G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Relationship of area postrema to three putative measures of motion sickness

Although the rat has an incomplete emetic reflex, several species-specific responses to motion were proposed as measures of 'motion sickness' in rats. The purpose was to determine the dependence of these responses on one of several neural structures known to be essential to motion-induced vomiting in species with a complete emetic reflex. The Area Postrema (AP) was shown to play an important role in the production of motion sickness in vomiting species. The effects of thermo-cautery ablations of the AP on three different responses supposedly reflecting motion sickness in the rat were compared: conditioned taste aversion (CTA); drinking suppression; and fecal boli. Efficacy of the ablations was determined by subjecting ablated, sham-operated, and unoperated control animals to a CTA test which is known to require a functional AP. Animals with AP ablations failed to form CTA when 0.15 M LiCl was paired with a 10 percent sucrose solution, while sham-operated control subjects conditioned as well as the unoperated control subjects. The extent of the ablations was evaluated histologically at the end of the experiment. To determine the effects of the ablations on the measures of motion sickness, all animals were subjected to rotation for 30 min or 90 min on a platform displaced 20 deg from earth horizontal. Results indicate that ablation of AP in the rat has no effect on the formation of CTA to a 4 percent solution of cider paired with motion, on the suppression of drinking immediately after exposure to motion, or on the frequency of fecal boli during exposure to motion. This failure of AP ablations to eliminate the effects of motion on any of these responses discourages their use as equivalents of motion-induced vomiting. The appropriateness of other suggested measures, e.g., pica, remains untested but the dependence of such measures on stimulation more severe than commonly used in motion sickness research and the absence of a demonstration of their dependence on neural structures essential to motion sickness in vomiting species, suggest caution in the use of such responses. Further, until more is known about the neural structures underlying these putative measures, the rat will remain a questionable subject in which to study motion sickness.

R Sutton↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Toba volcano super eruption destroyed the ozone layer and caused a human population bottleneck

Volcanic eruptions trigger a broad spectrum of climatic responses. For example, the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991 forced an El Niño and global cooling, and the Tambora eruption in 1815 caused the "Year Without a Summer." Especially grand eruptions such as Toba around 74,000 years ago can push the Earth's climate into a volcanic winter state, significantly lowering the surface temperature and precipitation globally. Here we present a new, previously overlooked element of the volcanic effects spectrum: the radiative mechanism of stratospheric ozone depletion. We found that the volcanic plume of Toba enhanced the UV optical depth and suppressed the primary formation of stratospheric ozone from O2 photolysis. Sulfate aerosols additionally reflect the photons needed to break the O2 bond (λ < 242 nm), otherwise controlled by ozone absorption and Rayleigh scattering alone during volcanically quiescent conditions. Our NASA GISS ModelE simulations of the Toba eruption reveal up to 50% global ozone loss due to the overall photochemistry perturbations of the sulfate aerosols. We also consider and quantify the radiative effects of SO2, which partially compensated for the ozone loss by inhibiting the photolytic O3 sink. Our analysis shows that the magnitude of the ozone loss and UV-induced health-hazardous effects after the Toba eruption are similar to those in the aftermath of a potential nuclear conflict. These findings suggest a “Toba ozone catastrophe" as a likely contributor to the historic population decline in this period, consistent with a genetic bottleneck in human evolution.

Toba volcano↗
NASA NTRS2016

Coupled Aerosol-Cloud Systems over Northern Vietnam during 7-SEAS BASELInE: A Radar and Modeling Perspective

The 2013 7-SEASBASELInE campaign over northern Southeast Asia (SEA) provided, for the first time ever, comprehensive ground-based W-band radar measurements of the low-level stratocumulus (Sc) systems that often exist during the spring over northern Vietnam in the presence of biomass-burning aerosols. Although spatially limited, ground-based remote sensing observations are generally free of the surface contamination and signal attenuation effects that often hinder space-borne measurements of these low-level cloud systems. Such observations permit detailed measurements of structures and lifecycles of these clouds as part of a broader effort to study potential impacts of these coupled aerosol-cloud systems on local and regional weather and air quality. Introductory analyses of the W-band radar data show these Sc systems generally follow a diurnal cycle, with peak occurrences during the nighttime and early morning hours, often accompanied by light precipitation. Preliminary results from idealized simulations of Sc development over land based on the observations reveal the familiar response of increased numbers and smaller sizes of cloud droplets, along with suppressed drizzle formation, as aerosol concentrations increase. Slight reductions in simulated W-band reflectivity values also are seen with increasing aerosol concentrations and result primarily from decreased droplet sizes. As precipitation can play a large role in removing aerosol from the atmosphere, and thereby improving air quality locally, quantifying feedbacks between aerosols and cloud systems over this region are essential, particularly given the negative impacts of biomass burning on human health in SEA. Such an endeavor should involve improved modeling capabilities along with comprehensive measurements of time-dependent aerosol and cloud profiles.

aerosol cloud interactions↗