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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

Voyager Briefing: Expectations of the Neptune Encounter

This NASA KSC video release presents a news briefing held Aug. 4, 1989 at NASA Headquarters three weeks after Voyager 2's official "encounter" with Neptune began. The video is comprised of two slide presentations followed by a short question and answer period. The press conference is moderated by Charles Redmond, (NASA Public Affairs), includes an introduction by Dr. Geoffrey A Briggs (Dir., Solar System Exploration Div.), and features Norman R. Haynes (Voyager Project Manager, JPL) and Dr. Edward C. Stone (Voyager Project Scientist, Cal Tech). Mr. Haynes' presentation centers on Voyager's history, engineering changes, and spacecraft trajectories while Dr. Stone presents the scientific aspects of Voyager, including the 11 scientific investigations planned for the mission, instruments used, and imaging techniques.

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NASA NTRS2010

Gigapan Voyage for Robotic Recon

Gigapan Voyage (GV) is a self-contained remotely-operable Gigapan capturing system that is currently being developed by the Intelligent Robotics Group (IRG) at NASA Ames Research Center. Gigapan Voyage was primarily designed to be integrated onto Johnson Space Center s Lunar Electric Rovers (LER). While on LER, Gigapan Voyage was used by scientists and astronauts during the 2009 and 2010 Desert RATS field tests. The concept behind Gigapan Voyage is to merge all the sub-components of the commercial GigaPan system into an all-in-one system that can capture, stitch, and display Gigapans in an automated way via a simple web interface. The GV system enables NASA to quickly and easily add remote-controlled Gigapan capturing capability onto rovers with minimal integration effort. Key Words: Geology, NASA, Black Point Lava Flow, Robot, K10, LER, Gigapan Voyage, Desert RATS, Intelligent Robotics Group

Lee, Susan Y.↗
NASA NTRS1977

NASA Facts: Voyager

A news release on NASA's Voyager project is presented. The spacecraft, science instrumentation, experiments and a mission profile are described. A drawing identifying Voyager's major components and instrumentation was included along with diagrams showing the path of Voyager 1 (JST trajectory) past Jupiter, and the path of Voyager 2 (JXT trajectory) during its encounter with Jupiter. An exercise for student involvement was also provided.

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NASA NTRS1978

Dynamic feature analysis for Voyager at the Image Processing Laboratory

Voyager 1 and 2 were launched from Cape Kennedy to Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond on September 5, 1977 and August 20, 1977. The role of the Image Processing Laboratory is to provide the Voyager Imaging Team with the necessary support to identify atmospheric features (tiepoints) for Jupiter and Saturn data, and to analyze and display them in a suitable form. This support includes the software needed to acquire and store tiepoints, the hardware needed to interactively display images and tiepoints, and the general image processing environment necessary for decalibration and enhancement of the input images. The objective is an understanding of global circulation in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. Attention is given to the Voyager imaging subsystem, the Voyager imaging science objectives, hardware, software, display monitors, a dynamic feature study, decalibration, navigation, and data base.

Yagi, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Development and flight experience of the Voyager propulsion system

The primary Voyager Project objective is to extend the exploration of the solar system to the neighborhood of Jupiter and Saturn with a spacecraft that can conduct scientific experiments at both planetary systems and pave the way for later missions to the outer planets. The development and in-flight performance of the Voyager propulsion system are described. Emphasis is placed on the unique features of this system and on the solution to several problems encountered in its development. Over the past 20-month flight, the propulsion systems on Voyager I and Voyager II have exhibited excellent performance without failures.

Schatz, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Voyager 2 encounter with the Jovian system

The Voyager 2 encounter with Jupiter is reviewed, with particular reference to the trajectory and the major sequence modifications made because of the Jupiter measurements obtained with Voyager 1. The specific Voyager 2 encounter was chosen to complement that of Voyager 1. Attention is given to results on the atmosphere, satellites and ring system, and magnetosphere.

Stone, E. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The Galilean satellites and Jupiter - Voyager 2 imaging science results

Continuous global observations of Jupiter were made by Voyager 2 for a period of 63 days. Voyager 2 provided images that both complement and supplement the Voyager 1 images. The combined Voyager 1 and 2 observations of Jupiter provide an almost continuous record, over a 6-month period, of the behavior of the Jovian atmosphere at a resolution far better than can be obtained from earth-based studies. The present report briefly describes the changes in the cloud morphologies and local atmospheric motions. On Io, changes are observed in eruptive activity, plume structure, and surface albedo patterns. Europa's surface retains little or no record of intense meteorite bombardment, but reveals a system of overlapping bright and dark linear features. Ganymede exhibits at least one unit of heavily cratered terrain on a surface that otherwise suggests widespread tectonism. Except for two large ringed basins, Callisto's entire surface is heavily cratered.

Smith, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Television optics for the Voyager mission to Jupiter and Saturn

This paper is concerned with the optical portion of the Voyager spacecraft imaging science subsystem (ISS). After a brief description of the Voyager mission and its photographic aspects, the functional requirements for the television optics are outlined. Environmental considerations that constrained the design are summarized. One section of the paper is devoted to radiation testing and its impact on the design of the wide-angle optics. The main portion of this report, however, is devoted to a description of the Voyager television optics. Finally, Voyager imagery results that are current with the preparation of this paper are presented.

Snyder, L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Voyager 2 to make closest encounter with Saturn in August

The planned Voyager 2 Saturn mission is described. Information about Saturn obtained from the Voyager 1 encounter is summarized. Data on the satellites and rings of Saturn are tabulated. The video programming schedule for the Voyager 2 Saturn encounter is given. The Voyager science team is listed.

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NASA NTRS1981

Large-scale variations of the interplanetary magnetic field: Voyager 1 and 2 observations between 1-5 AU

Observations by the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft of the interplanetary magnetic field between 1 and 5 AU were used to investigate the large scale structure of the IMF in a period of increasing solar activity. The Voyager spacecraft found notable deviations from the Parker axial model. These deviations are attributed both to temporal variations associated with increasing solar activity, and to the effects of fluctuations of the field in the radial direction. The amplitude of the latter fluctuations were found to be large relative to the magnitude of the radial field component itself beyond approximately 3 AU. Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 observed decreases with increasing heliocentric distance in the amplitude of transverse fluctuations in the averaged field strength (B) which are consistent with the presence of predominantly undamped Alfven waves in the solar wind, although and necessarily implying the presence of them. Fluctuations in the strength of B (relative to mean field strength) were found to be small in amplitude, with a RMS which is approximately one third of that for the transverse fluctuations and they are essentially independent of distance from the Sun.

Burlaga, L. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Magnetic field studies by Voyager 2 - Preliminary results at Saturn

Results of Voyager 2 studies of the magnetosphere and planetary magnetic field of Saturn are presented. Magnetometer studies have confirmed the results obtained by Voyager 1, indicating the magnetic field to be that of a centered dipole of moment 0.21 gauss Saturn radii-cubed, tilted approximately 0.8 deg from the rotation axis and a maximum measured field intensity of 1187 nT at latitude 17.3 deg N just before periapsis. Voyager 2 observed multiple bow shock and magnetopause crossings during its inbound and outbound trajectories, which were complementary to those of Voyager 1, including magnetopause crossing at 18.5 Saturn radii on the inbound trajectory, and at 48.4-50.9 Saturn radii outbound indicative of magnetospheric expansion due to changing solar wind conditions. Throughout the outbound passage, the magnetospheric field was observed to be relatively steady and smooth, with no evidence for any azimuthal asymmetry or magnetic anomaly. Results thus are incapable of accounting for the observed periodic modulation of the Saturnian kilometric radio emissions.

Ness, N. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Improved downlink frequency calculations for Voyager 2

Voyager 2 and her sister Voyager 1 were launched, respectively, in August and September 1977. The object of these spacecraft was to conduct exploratory investigations of the Jupiter and Saturn planetary systems and the interplanetary medium between Earth and Saturn. In April 1978 the Voyager 2 redundant receiver and the loop capacitor in the prime spacecraft receiver failed, leaving the Voyager Project with a major problem: how to communicate with the spacecraft and get the data back.

Ricardo, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Planetary radio astronomy from Voyager

The technique of radio astronomy makes it possible for a remote observer to detect the presence of magnetic fields and plasmas in planetary environments. Prior to the flights of the Voyager spacecraft, radio astronomical studies of Jupiter from earth and from earth orbit had correctly predicted the strength and orientation of Jupiter's magnetic field and trapped radiation belts. The Voyager Planetary Radio Astronomy investigations have now provided measurements of the complete spectrum of low frequency radio emissions from both planets. Each Voyager instrument consists of a pair of orthogonal, 10-m, electric monopole antennas which are connected to a step-tuned, superheterodyne receiver operating over the frequency range from 1.2 kHz to 40.5 MHz. The Voyager trajectory provided observations from above both the sunlit and nightside hemispheres of Jupiter. Saturn's nonthermal radio emission has been observed at frequencies as low as 3 kHz and as high as 1.2 MHz.

Alexander, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Comparison of Hapke's photometric theory with Voyager observations of Europa, Enceladus, Rhea and Mimas

Voyager imaging observations of the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn provide an excellent test for various photometric theories that were proposed to describe the scattering properties of planetary and satellite surfaces. Not only does the Voyager data set include observations of surfaces ranging widely in albedo, but it provides measurements (in both disc-integrated and disc-resolved forms) over a wide range of phase angles. A detailed comparison of the above models with Voyager data for Europa, Enceladus, Rhea, and Mimas was described. These satellites were selected because they cover a range of reflectances from 0.65 to 1.0 and because for them the Voyager photometric data sets are most complete.

Buratti, B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Voyager flight engineering - Preparing for Uranus

Two Voyager spacecraft are currently engaged in exploration of the outer solar system with Voyager 2 scheduled to conduct the first close-up investigation of the planet Uranus during the period November 4, 1985 through March 3, 1986. Flight engineering for the Voyager project has the objectives of delivering a functioning spacecraft containing observing sequences to the right places at the right times. Due to the changing environment as the mission has progressed outward from Jupiter to Saturn to Uranus (and on to Neptune), this engineering task has included the development of significant new capabilities. The paper utilizes the case-study method to examine some new spacecraft capabilities in three subsystems: data, attitude and articulation control, and power. The implementation of a new navigational data-type, delta DOR, is also reviewed. An overview is given of the Voyager sequencing process for the cruise and encounter phases with a case study focusing on late updating of part of the near encounter sequence. The prospective mission to Neptune is previewed.

Mclaughlin, W. I.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Saturn radio emission and the solar wind - Voyager-2 studies

Voyager 2 data from the Plasma Science experiment, the Magnetometer experiment and the Planetary Radio Astronomy experiment were used to analyze the relationship between parameters of the solar wind/interplanetary medium and the nonthermal Saturn radiation. Solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field properties were combined to form quantities known to be important in controlling terrestrial magnetospheric processes. The Voyager 2 data set used in this investigation consists of 237 days of Saturn preencounter measurements. However, due to the immersion of Saturn and the Voyager 2 spacecraft into the extended Jupiter magnetic tail, substantial periods of the time series were lacking solar wind data. To cope with this problem a superposed epoch method (CHREE analysis) was used. The results indicate the superiority of the quantities containing the solar wind density in stimulating the radio emission of Saturn - a result found earlier using Voyager 1 data - and the minor importance of quantities incorporating the interplanetary magnetic field.

Desch, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Voyager at the seventh planet

The success of the Voyager 1 flyby of Titan permitted configuring the Voyager 2 trajectory for flybys of Uranus and Neptune. Satellite instruments will gather data on the Uranian atmosphere, rings, satellites and magnetosphere (if there is one). The observational sequences were coded for transmission to Voyager 2 in November 1985. Earlier commands have stabilized the spacecraft to avoid image smearing during the approach and have reduced the time of firing of the thrusters for course changes. Imaging data compression will economize on the degraded communications link to Voyager 2 and lower the demands on the slowly failing radiothermoelectric power supply. The encounter will take place in February 1986 and, should failure of the command link occur, be accompanied by carrying out of a preprogrammed set of observational and operational sequences lasting through a 1989 Neptune flyby.

Mclaughlin, W. I.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Environment-induced electrostatic discharges as the cause of Voyager 1 power-on resets

The Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft all experienced anomalous behavior during their encounters with Jupiter. In particular, the Voyager 1 spacecraft experienced 42 electrical circuitry designed to protect the on-board computer from power fluctuations. Given the diversity of instrumentation and frequency of the anomalies observed by Voyager 1 in the inner magnetosphere of Jupiter, this set of data is particularly well suited as a case study. Although the nature of the anomalies clearly indicates a spacecraft-charging origin, the Voyager low-energy plasma data apparently imply absolute surface potentials of only a few tens of volts. It is thus difficult to explain the anomalies in terms of surface charging. The anomalies are, however, shown to be consistent with the hypothesis of internal charging of spacecraft parts and components.

Leung, P.↗