Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “shadow bands”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Study to develop improved spacecraft snow survey methods using Skylab/EREP data

The author has identified the following significant results. Of the four black and white S190A camera stations, snowcover is best defined in the two visible spectral bands, due in part to their better resolution. The overall extent of the snow can be mapped more precisely, and the snow within shadow areas is better defined in the visible bands. Of the two S190A color products, the aerial color photography is the better. Because of the contrast in color between snow and snow-free terrain and the better resolution, this product is concluded to be the best overall of the six camera stations for detecting and mapping snow. Overlapping frames permit stereo viewing, which aids in distinguishing clouds from the underlying snow. Because of the greater spatial resolution of the S190B earth terrain camera, areal snow extent can be mapped in greater detail than from the S190A photographs. The snow line elevation measured from the S190A and S190B photographs is reasonable compared to the meager ground truth data available.

Barnes, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

ASCA Observation of an "X-Ray Shadow" in the Galactic Plane

The diffuse X-ray background (DXB) emission near the Galactic plane (l,b about 25.6 deg., 0.78 deg.) has been observed with ASC.4. The observed re-ion is toward a Galactic molecular'cloud which was recently reported to cast a deep X-ray shadow in the 0.5 - 2.0 keV band DXB. The selection of this particular region is intended to provide a constraint on the spatial distribution of the DXB emission along the line of sight: i.e., the molecular cloud is optically thick at < 2 keV and so the bulk of the observed soft X-rays must originate in the foreground of the cloud, which is at about 3 kpc from the Sun. In the 0.8 - 9.0 keV band, atomic emission lines have been detected, and the observed spectrum is primarily from thermal plasmas. Although the detailed nature of the spectrum is complicated, the observed DXB emission appears to originate from the multiple components of hot plasmas including a thermal plasma of T about 10(exp 7) K, which prevails within about 3 kpc from the Sun.

Park, Sangwook↗
NASA NTRS2001

ASCA Observation of an "X-Ray Shadow" in the Galactic Plane

The diffuse X-ray background (DXB) emission near the Galactic plane (l,b approximately 25.6 degrees, 0.78 degrees) has been observed with ASCA (Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics). The observed region is toward a Galactic molecular cloud which was recently reported to cast a deep X-ray shadow in the 0.5 - 2.0 keV band DXB. The selection of this particular region is intended to provide a constraint on the spatial distribution of the DXB emission along the line of sight: i.e., the molecular cloud is optically thick at <2 keV and so the bulk of the observed soft X-rays must originate in the foreground of the cloud, which is at approximately 3 kpc from the Sun. In the 0.8 - 9.0 keV band, the observed spectrum is primarily from multiple components of thermal plasmas. We here report a detection of soft X-ray (0.5 - 2 keV) emission from an approximately 10(exp 7) K thermal plasma. Comparisons with the ROSAT (Roentgen Satellite) data suggest that this soft X-ray emission is absorbed by N(sub H) = 1 - 3 x 10(exp 21) cm(exp -2), which implies a path-length through the soft X-ray emitting regions of approximately less than 1 kpc from the Sun.

Park, Sangwook↗
NASA NTRS1987

The dynamical oscillation and propulsion of magnetic fields in the convective zone of a star. II - Thermal shadows. III - Accumulation of heat and the onset of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability

The dynamics of thermal shadows which develop in the convective zone of a star around an insulating obstacle such as a horizontal band in intense magnetic field are studied. The depth of the shadow on the cool side of the obstacle is found to depend largely on the width of the obstacle multiplied by the temperature gradient. Thermal shadows pressing fields up to 10,000 G downward against the bottom of the convective zone are produced by the broad bands of the azimuthal field in the sun's convective zone. In the third part, the time-dependent accumulation of heat beneath a thermal barrier simulating such a band in the lower convective zone of the sun is considered. The resulting Rayleigh-Taylor instability is shown to cause tongues of heated gas to penetrate upward through the field, providing the emerging magnetic fields that give rise to the activity of the sun.

Parker, E. N.↗
DOE OSTI2015

SHADOWS CAST BY A WARP IN THE HD 142527 PROTOPLANETARY DISK

Detailed observations of gaps in protoplanetary disks have revealed structures that drive current research on circumstellar disks. One such feature is the two intensity nulls seen along the outer disk of the HD 142527 system, which are particularly well traced in polarized differential imaging. Here we propose that these are shadows cast by the inner disk. The inner and outer disk are thick, in terms of the unit-opacity surface in the H band, so that the shape and orientation of the shadows inform on the three-dimensional structure of the system. Radiative transfer predictions on a parametric disk model allow us to conclude that the relative inclination between the inner and outer disks is 70° ± 5°. This finding taps the potential of high-contrast imaging of circumstellar disks, and bears consequences on the gas dynamics of gapped disks, as well as on the physical conditions in the shadowed regions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Solar Resource Measurements in Cocoa, Florida (FSEC) - Equipment Loaned to NREL: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-08-318

Site-specific measurements of global and diffuse solar irradiance components, passively separated by alternate shading and unshading of a pyranometer mounted under a shading band with alternating opaque and open panels (for a site other than NREL) are needed to verify the underlying theory and mathematical techniques for developing direct, global and diffuse renewable resource data from such a system. These data are used for several research and development activities consistent with the NREL mission: Establish a national 30-year climatological database of measured solar irradiances; Support development of radiative transfer models for estimating solar irradiance from available meteorological observations; Provide solar resource information needed for technology deployment and operations. NREL will provide the supporting equipment (Shadow Bank Stand) for the specially designed shading band. FSEC will provide the calibrated pyranometer and perform data acquisition of the radiometer signal. Data acquired under this agreement will be shared with the NREL Principle Investigator for the purposes of validating techniques for estimating direct radiation from global and diffuse components measured with the ZEBRA system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1988

Measurement and modeling of land mobile satellite propagation at UHF and L-band

A propagation experiment is described in which a stratospheric balloon served as a transmitter platform at 870 and 1502 MHz in simulation of a land mobile satellite. A vehicle followed the drifting balloon along roads of western Texas and New Mexico, collecting at L-band amplitude and phase, and at UHF amplitude information only for elevation angles between 25 and 45 deg. The data obtained have been analyzed and are presented along with results from modeling of multipath scattering and roadside tree attenuation. The signal, with variations caused by multipath propagation and tree shadowing, was reduced by 3 dB at L-band and 2 dB at UHF for one percent of all locations. A median ratio of 3.9 was found between peak-to-peak phase (degrees) and power (dB) fluctuations. The ratio between L-band and UHF dB attenuation averages varied from 1.3 to 1.0 at fade levels from 6 to 23 dB. Optical sky brightness was measured and used to predict fade distribution with great accuracy. A single-scatterer multipath model is introduced. It is used to duplicate some of the measured data and to show the dependence of power variations on satellite elevation angle. Using Fresnel diffraction theory, the attenuation caused by a model tree was calculated to be near 10 dB and the maximum fade was found to increase by the logarithm of the number of branches.

Vogel, Wolfhard J.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Successful Starshade Petal Deployment Tolerance Verification in Support of NASA's Technology Development for Exoplanet Missions

A Starshade is a sunflower-shaped satellite with a large inner disk structure surrounded by petals that flies in formation with a space-borne telescope, creating a deep shadow around the telescope over a broad spectral band to permit nearby exoplanets to be viewed. Removing extraneous starlight before it enters the observatory optics greatly loosens the tolerances on the telescope and instrument that comprise the optical system, but the nature of the Starshade dictates a large deployable structure capable of deploying to a very precise shape. These shape requirements break down into key mechanical requirements, which include the rigid-body position and orientation of each of the petals that ring the periphery of the Starshade. To verify our capability to meet these requirements, we modified an existing flight-like Astromesh reflector, provided by Northrup Grumman, as the base ring to which the petals attach. The integrated system, including 4 of the 30 flight-like subscale petals, truss, connecting spokes and central hub, was deployed tens of times in a flight-like manner using a gravity compensation system. After each deployment, discrete points in prescribed locations covering the petals and truss were measured using a highly-accurate laser tracker system. These measurements were then compared against the mechanical requirements, and the as-measured data shows deployment accuracy well within our milestone requirements and resulting in a contrast ratio consistent with exoplanet detection and characterization.

External occulters↗
NASA NTRS1981

Soybean canopy reflectance as a function of view and illumination geometry

Reflectances were calculated from measurements at four wavelength bands through eight view azimuth and seven view zenith directions, for various solar zenith and azimuth angles over portions of three days, in an experimental characterization of a soybean field by means of its reflectances and physical and agronomic attributes. Results indicate that the distribution of reflectance from a soybean field is a function of the solar illumination and viewing geometry, wavelength, and row direction, as well as the state of canopy development. Shadows between rows were found to affect visible wavelength band reflectance to a greater extent than near-IR reflectance. A model describing reflectance variation as a function of projected solar and viewing angles is proposed, which approximates the visible wavelength band reflectance variations of a canopy with a well-defined row structure.

Ranson, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Scene shadow effects on multispectral response

Spectral responses measured from nonuniform balsam fir canopies with varying amounts and locations of shadows are examined in order to study the effects of scene shadows on spectral response. The behavior of canopy reflectance and spectral band transformations, normalized difference (ND), and greenness for a variety of solar zenith angles and background types are analyzed. The use of vegetation indices for monitoring vegetation is studied in terms of shadowing. It is observed that the red and near-IR reflectance factors decrease as the amount of scene shadows increase; the ND increases with increasing scene shadows; changing shadow amounts have little effect on greenness; and the ND from 'pure' pixels increases as the shadows cast by adjacent vegetation canopies increases.

Ranson, K. Jon↗
NASA NTRS1999

X-Raying Molecular Clouds

Dense interstellar clouds are known to consist almost entirely of molecular hydrogen gas which is, however, normally not observable directly. We have developed a new method for measuring gas column density through its X-ray absorption. The latest data analysis software has been implemented to correct for both exposure and flat- fielding and to subtract various non-cosmic background from individual images. The ROSAT PSPC observations on the R CrA cloud have been merged into maps in three broad energy bands, with corrections for residual differential background between the observations. Individual sources have been detected and removed from these maps. We have then applied the shadowing technique to derive the first column density map based on X-ray data alone. We have conducted various tests to access systematic errors, including possible background intensity variations. We have also proposed a NRAO 12m telescope mapping of the CO distribution in the R CrA cloud. This mapping will supplement our X-ray measurement to allow for a direct calibration of the Co-to-H2 conversion ratio. We use a multi-energy band X-ray shadowing technique to measure the total column density distribution of molecular clouds.

Wang, Q. Daniel↗
DOE OSTI2016

X-RAYING THE DARK SIDE OF VENUS—SCATTER FROM VENUS’ MAGNETOTAIL?

We analyze significant X-ray, EUV, and UV emission coming from the dark side of Venus observed with Hinode /XRT and Solar Dynamics Observatory /Atmospheric Imaging Assembly ( SDO /AIA) during a transit across the solar disk that occurred in 2012. As a check we have analyzed an analogous Mercury transit that occurred in 2006. We have used the latest version of the Hinode /XRT point spread function to deconvolve Venus and Mercury X-ray images, to remove instrumental scattering. After deconvolution, the flux from Venus’ shadow remains significant while that of Mercury becomes negligible. Since stray light contamination affects the XRT Ti-poly filter data we use, we performed the same analysis with XRT Al-mesh filter data, not affected by the light leak. Even the latter data show residual flux. We have also found significant EUV (304 Å, 193 Å, 335 Å) and UV (1700 Å) flux in Venus’ shadow, measured with SDO /AIA. The EUV emission from Venus’ dark side is reduced, but still significant, when deconvolution is applied. The light curves of the average flux of the shadow in the X-ray, EUV, and UV bands appear different as Venus crosses the solar disk, but in any of them the flux is, at any time, approximately proportional to the average flux in a ring surrounding Venus, and therefore proportional to that of the solar regions around Venus’ obscuring disk line of sight. The proportionality factor depends on the band. This phenomenon has no clear origin; we suggest that it may be due to scatter occurring in the very long magnetotail of Venus.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1986

Transpression as the main deformational event in an Archaean greenstone belt, northeastern Minnesota

Deformed and metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Vermilion district constitute an Archean greenstone belt trending east-west between higher grade rocks of the Vermilion Granitic Complex to the north and the Giants Range batholith to the south. Metamorphic grade is low throughout, being lowest in the center of the belt (chlorite zone of the greenschist facies). All the measured strain, a cleavage or schistosity, and a mineral lineation in this belt are attributed to the main phase of deformation D sub 2 that followed an earlier nappe-forming event D sub 1, which left little evidence of penetrative fabric. Previous work assumed that the D sub 2 deformation resulted from north-south compression across the district. It is now believed that a significant component of this deformation resulted from dextral shear across the whole region. Thus the Vermilion fault, a late-state largely strike-slip structure that bounds the Vermilion district to the north, may simply be the latest, most brittle expression of a shear regime that was much more widespread in space and time. Features that are indicative of shear include ductile shear zones with sigmoidal foliation patterns, highly schistose zones with the development of shear bands, feldspar clasts or pyrite cubes with asymmetric pressure shadows, and the fact that the asymmetry of the F sub 2 folds is predominantly Z for at least 15 km south of the Vermilion fault.

Hudleston, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Method and program product for determining a radiance field in an optical environment

A hybrid method is presented by which Monte Carlo techniques are combined with iterative relaxation techniques to solve the Radiative Transfer Equation in arbitrary one-, two- or three-dimensional optical environments. The optical environments are first divided into contiguous regions, or elements, with Monte Carlo techniques then being employed to determine the optical response function of each type of element. The elements are combined, and the iterative relaxation techniques are used to determine simultaneously the radiance field on the boundary and throughout the interior of the modeled environment. This hybrid model is capable of providing estimates of the under-water light field needed to expedite inspection of ship hulls and port facilities. It is also capable of providing estimates of the subaerial light field for structured, absorbing or non-absorbing environments such as shadows of mountain ranges within and without absorption spectral bands such as water vapor or CO.sub.2 bands.

Reinersman, Phillip N.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Soybean canopy reflectance as a function of view and illumination geometry

The results of an experiment designed to characterize a soybean field by its reflectance at various view and illumination angles and by its physical and agronomic attributes are presented. Reflectances were calculated from measurements at four wavelength bands through eight view azimuth and seven view zenith directions for various solar zenith and azimuth angles during portions of three days. An ancillary data set consisting of the agronomic and physical characteristics of the soybean field is described. The results indicate that the distribution of reflectance from a soybean field is a function of the solar illumination and viewing geometry, wavelength and row direction, as well as the state of development of the canopy. Shadows between rows greatly affected the reflectance in the visible wavelength bands and to a lesser extent in the near infrared wavelengths. A model is proposed that describes the reflectance variation as a function of projected solar and projected viewing angles. The model appears to approximate the reflectance variations in the visible wavelength bands from a canopy with well defined row structure.

Bauer, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS2024

Advanced Libya-4 radiometric and atmospheric characterization utilizing MODIS and VIIRS full-scan reflective solar band measurements

The NASA Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) project provides observed flux and cloud products to the climate science community. The CERES instruments, along with the MODIS and VIIRS imagers, are onboard the Terra, Aqua, NPP, and NOAA20 satellites. In order to produce seamless multi-platform integrated products, long-term sensor stability and inter-calibration are required. Inter-calibration between sensors within the same sun-synchronous orbit relies on Earth invariant targets because simultaneous nadir overpasses are not possible. To facilitate inter-calibration efforts, the CERES Imager and Geostationary Calibration Group (IGCG) has improved the Libya-4 target characterization. Improvements include full scan angle characterization to enable daily observations, clear-sky identification using individual scan angle dynamic spatial homogeneity thresholds, and atmospheric corrections. The water vapor correction was found to be effective across the full scan, whereas the ozone and aerosol corrections were less effective. The atmospheric-corrected normalized radiance temporal fluctuations are similar across scan angles, spectral bands, and between the MODIS and VIIRS imagers, suggesting that the fluctuations are a result of the natural variability of the Libya-4 surface reflectance. The Libya-4 surface variability is more than likely caused by changes in the prevailing winds that alter sand dune orientation and resulting shadows. The full-scan-imager atmosphere and angle corrected reflected solar band radiance trend standard errors are between 0.6% and 1.0%, and for near-nadir observations, are between 0.5% and 0.8%. The advanced characterization suggests that the Libya-4 short-term surface reflectance anomalies may need to be considered for imager stability monitoring and inter-calibration efforts.

Libya-4 Pseudo-invariant Calibration Site↗
NASA NTRS1993

Propagation considerations in the American Mobile Satellite system design

An overview of the American Mobile Satellite Corporation (AMSC) mobile satellite services (MSS) system with special emphasis given to the propagation issues that were considered in the design is presented. The aspects of the voice codec design that effect system performance in a shadowed environment are discussed. The strategies for overcoming Ku-Band rain fades in the uplink and downlink paths of the gateway station are presented. A land mobile propagation study that has both measurement and simulation activities is described.

Kittiver, Charles↗
NASA NTRS2017

Design and characterization of a low cost CubeSat multi-band optical receiver to map water ice on the lunar surface for the Lunar Flashlight mission

Lunar Flashlight is an innovative NASA CubeSat mission dedicated to mapping water ice in the permanently shadowed regions of the Moon, which may act as cold traps for volatiles. To this end, a multi-band reflectometer will be sent to orbit the Moon. This instrument consists of an optical receiver aligned with four lasers, each of which emits sequentially at a different wavelength in the near-infrared between 1 μm and 2 μm. The receiver measures the laser light reflected from the lunar surface; continuum/absorption band ratios are then analyzed to quantify water ice in the illuminated spot. Here, we present the current state of the optical receiver design. To optimize the optical signal-to-noise ratio, we have designed the receiver so as to maximize the laser signal collected, while minimizing the stray light reaching the detector from solar-illuminated areas of the lunar surface outside the field-of-view, taking into account the complex lunar topography. Characterization plans are also discussed. This highly mass- and volume-constrained mission will demonstrate several firsts, including being one of the first CubeSats performing science measurements beyond low Earth orbit.

Sellar, Glenn R.↗