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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 577 records · Page 32
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

GEOS 3 STDN S band Doppler tracking investigation

GEOS 3S Doppler band and laser ranging data, acquired from August 1975 to March 1976 in the spacecraft altimeter calibration area, are examined. An evaluation of two-way and three-way Doppler data, for the positioning of Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network S band stations is presented, as well as the Goddard Space Flight Center laser system that is used to reference the exact position of the Doppler stations. The two-way and three-way Doppler tracking devices, situated at Rosman and Bermuda, have yielded data for the recovery of GEOS 3 arc height with an uncertainty of only 1 m. Attention is given to the effects of beacon signal frequency instability, controlled by a temperature sensitive auxiliary crystal oscillator on board the spacecraft, and to the one-way range rate tracking noise that was found to be within a range of 2 to 10 cm/s. 1- and 2-way passes and their different arc meters are graphed, showing the Doppler tracking interval. It was concluded that other accurate computations and recovery of station coordinates could be performed employing tracking data from S band stations.

Rosenbaum, B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The dynamics and control of large flexible space structures, 3. Part A: Shape and orientation control of a platform in orbit using point actuators

The dynamics, attitude, and shape control of a large thin flexible square platform in orbit are studied. Attitude and shape control are assumed to result from actuators placed perpendicular to the main surface and one edge and their effect on the rigid body and elastic modes is modelled to first order. The equations of motion are linearized about three different nominal orientations: (1) the platform following the local vertical with its major surface perpendicular to the orbital plane; (2) the platform following the local horizontal with its major surface normal to the local vertical; and (3) the platform following the local vertical with its major surface perpendicular to the orbit normal. The stability of the uncontrolled system is investigated analytically. Once controllability is established for a set of actuator locations, control law development is based on decoupling, pole placement, and linear optimal control theory. Frequencies and elastic modal shape functions are obtained using a finite element computer algorithm, two different approximate analytical methods, and the results of the three methods compared.

Bainum, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Development and performance of a laser heterodyne spectrometer using tunable semiconductor lasers as local oscillators

A diode laser based IR heterodyne spectrometer for laboratory and field use was developed for high efficiency operation between 7.5 and 8.5 microns. The local oscillator is a PbSSe tunable diode laser kept continuously at operating temperatures of 12-60 K using a closed cycle cooler. The laser output frequency is controlled and stabilized using a high precision diode current supply, constant temperature controller, and a shock isolator mounted between the refrigerator cold tip and the diode mount. Single laser modes are selected by a grating placed in the local oscillator beam. The system employs reflecting optics throughout to minimize losses from internal reflection and absorption, and to eliminate chromatic effects. Spectral analysis of the diode laser output between 0 and 1 GHz reveals excess noise at many diode current settings, which limits the infrared spectral regions over which useful heterodyne operation can be achieved. System performance has been studied by making heterodyne measurements of etalon fringes and several Freon 13 (CF3Cl) absorption lines against a laboratory blackbody source. Preliminary field tests have also been performed using the Sun as a source.

Glenar, D.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Input signal conditioner for the multimegasymbol telemetry system feasibility model

The input signal conditioner portion of the multimegasymbol telemetry demodulator and detector feasibility model is described. The input signal conditioner accepts the 55 MHz wideband IF signal of a Block 4 Deep Space Network receiver and provides selectable bandpass filtering, total power automatic gain control, and frequency translation providing inphase and quadrature outputs at baseband.

Stevens, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

On the design of a postprocessor for a search for extraterrestrial intelligence /SETI/ system

The design of an on-line postprocessor for a search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) system is described. Signal processing tasks of the postprocessor include: (1) analysis of power level, phase coherence, and state of polarization of single-channel signals in a search for significant signals; (2) grouping or aggregation of adjacent channel data, time averaging of data; and (3) the detection of drifting and modulated signals. Control functions include multichannel spectrum analyzer frequency and clock control, system calibration and selfdiagnostic, control of data flow to and from short-term and long-term (archival) memories, and operation of detection subsystems, such as a visual display and a tunable receiver.

Healy, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Interaction of oscillations of channel flow and flow separation at duct discontinuities

A two dimensional experiment was used to study the flow fluctuations in the separated region resulting from a wall slot step (convergent step). This geometry corresponds to the geometry present in a segmented solid rocket motor in the region of the ends of adjoining segments. A modulated tunnel flow of controlled oscillation frequency was used, and the effect on flow fluctuations in the separated region was examined by hot wire velocity measurements. The transfer function between free stream oscillations and separated flow fluctuations at the driven frequency was determined over a range of frequencies and main stream flow velocities. The transfer function exhibited a frequency dependence with maximum in the 10 - 25 Hz range, with the maximum occurring at higher frequency when the mean flow velocity was higher.

Price, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Controller for computer control of brushless dc motors

A motor speed and torque controller for brushless d.c. motors provides an unusually smooth torque control arrangement. The controller provides a means for controlling a current waveform in each winding of a brushless dc motor by synchronization of an excitation pulse train from a programmable oscillator. Sensing of torque for synchronization is provided by a light beam chopper mounted on the motor rotor shaft. Speed and duty cycle are independently controlled by controlling the frequency and pulse width output of the programmable oscillator. A means is also provided so that current transitions from one motor winding to another is effected without abrupt changes in output torque.

Hieda, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Formation of chromospheric resonance line profiles in supergiants

The formation of chromospheric resonance line profiles is examined for the case of the relatively low-density atmospheres appropriate to late-type supergiants. The effects of partial frequency redistribution control the emergent line profiles, to the extent that even an isothermal atmosphere can give rise to apparent emission features. Schematic model chromospheres are used to demonstrate the effects of different velocity fields and temperature-density structures on the line profiles, as a first step toward a clearer understanding of the chromospheric line profiles and why supergiants have broad emission lines (the Wilson-Bappu effect). Neither the Doppler nor the mass column density explanation alone can explain the Wilson-Bappu effect in supergiants, but both theories may play a role.

Basri, G. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Decoupler pylon: wing/store flutter suppressor

A device for suspending a store from a support such as an aircraft wing and more specifically for increasing the flutter speed of an aircraft flying with attached store and reducing the sensitivity of flutter to changes in the pitch inertia and center of gravity location of the store is described. It comprises softspring where the store pitch mode is decoupled from support modes and a low frequency active control mechanism which maintains store alignment. A pneumatic suspension system both isolates the store in pitch and, under conditions of changing mean load, aligns the store with the wing to which it is attached.

Reed, W. H., III↗
NASA NTRS1982

The importance of plasma effects on electron-cyclotron maser-emission from flaring loops

Electron cyclotron maser instability has been suggested as the cause of the observed short (10-20 msec), intense (an approximate brightness temperature of 10 to the 15th K) and up to 100% polarized microwave solar emission. It is shown that plasma effects and thermal cyclotron damping, ignored in previous theories, play an important role in controlling the frequency range of the emission. The radio emission is suppressed for ratios of the plasma frequency to the cyclotron frequency smaller than 0.4. An examination of the cyclotron damping, reveals that the maser action is suppressed unless a large fraction (i.e., over 10%) of the accelerated electrons participates in the emission process.

Sharma, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Off-Resonance Acoustic Levitation Without Rotation

Orthogonal acoustic-levitation modes excited at slightly different frequencies to control rotation. Rotation of object in square cross-section acoustic-levitation chamber stopped by detuning two orthogonal (x and y) excitation drivers in plane of square cross section. Detuning done using fundamental degenerate modes or odd harmonic modes.

Barmatz, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The Arecibo Observatory as an MST radar

The radars and other systems at the Arecibo Observatory were designed and built, originally, for incoherent-scatter and radio-astronomy research. More recently, important additions have been made for planetary radar and artificial RF heating of the ionosphere. Although designed and built for a different application, these systems have shown to be very powerful tools for tropospheric, stratospheric and mesospheric research. The Observatory at present has two main radars: one at 430 and the other at 2380 MHz. In addition, 50-MHz MST radar work has been done using portable transmitters brought to the Observatory for this purpose. This capability will become permanent with the recent acquisition of a transmitter at this frequency. Furthermore, control and data processing systems have been developed to use the powerful HF transmitter and antennas of the HF-heating facility as an HF bistatic radar. A brief description of the four radars available at the Observatory is presented.

Woodman, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The solar vector magnetograph of the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory

The vector magnetograph of the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory is fed to the 65 cm solar coude telescope with a 10 m Littrow spectrograph. The polarimeter put at the telescope focus analyzes the incident polarization. Photomultipliers (PMT) at the exit of the spectrograph pick up the modulated light signals and send them to the electronic controller. The controller analyzes frequency and phase of the signal. The analyzer of the polarimeter is a combination of a single wave plate rotating at 40 Hz and a Wallaston prism. Incident linear and circular polarizations are modified at four times and twice the rotation frequency, respectively. Two compensators minimize the instrumental polarization, mainly caused by the two tilt mirrors in the optical path of the telescope. The four photomultipliers placed on the wings of the FeI 5250A line give maps of intensity, longitudinal field and transverse field. The main outputs, maps of intensity, and net linear and circular polarizations in the neighboring continuum are obtained by the other two monitor PMTs.

Makita, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Higher harmonic control for rotary wing aircraft

Higher Harmonic Control reduces helicopter airframe vibration through the exercise of rotor blade pitch control at frequencies that are higher harmonics of rotor rotation. Analysis wind tunnel tests and flight tests of this technology with an OH-6A helicopter have led to vibration reduction levels of the order of more than 80 percent. Blade feathering capability at rotor speed harmonics other than the first also promises the improvement of such rotor characteristics as acoustics, aerodynamic efficiency and ground resonance.

Gupta, B. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Design of a digital flexible mobile transceiver

A flexible, modular transceiver design for digital voice and data transmissions in the proposed Mobile Satellite Experimental (MSAT-X) System is presented. Major system design issues are addressed, including frequency stability control, modulation method, linear predictive coding vocoder algorithm, and error control technique. Detailed design aspects of the modular and flexible transceiver, including the core, RF/IF, modem, vocoder, forward error correction codec, and I/O modules, as well as the flexible interface, are also discussed.

Fang, R. J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

An in-flight data system for chordwise turbulence measurements during acoustic disturbances

An in-flight data system for chordwise turbulence measurements has been developed by NASA to investigate laminar flow stability in the presence of acoustic disturbances. Flight tests were performed with an OV-1B turboprop with a JT-15D engine in order to establish the feasibility of utilizing natural laminar flow (NLF) nacelles to reduce drag and to determine the extent of NLF over a range of controlled acoustic frequencies. The data system consisted of PCM and FM data acquisition subsystems, dual wide-band magnetic flight recorders, and acoustic generating and measuring subsystems.

Calloway, Raymond S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Design of an MSAT-X mobile transceiver and related base and gateway stations

This paper summarizes the results of a design study of the mobile transceiver, base station, and gateway station for NASA's proposed Mobile Satellite Experiment (MSAT-X). Major ground segment system design issues such as frequency stability control, modulation method, linear predictive coding vocoder algorithm, and error control technique are addressed. The modular and flexible transceiver design is described in detail, including the core, RF/IF, modem, vocoder, forward error correction codec, amplitude-companded single sideband, and input/output modules, as well as the flexible interface. Designs for a three-carrier base station and a 10-carrier gateway station are also discussed, including the interface with the controllers and with the public-switched telephone networks at the gateway station. Functional specifications are given for the transceiver, the base station, and the gateway station.

Fang, Russell J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Optically reconfigured active phased array antennas

Future generations of phased array antennas for space-based and airborne platforms are designed based on a large number of active T/R modules. The constructed radiating beam is degraded in the event of modules failure. Simulation results indicate that the control of frequency, interelement spacing, and the individual radiating element pattern alongside the more conventional technique of amplitude and phase can be used to reconfigure the desired radiating beam in the event of the active T/R module failure.

Daryoush, A. S.↗