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At least 577 records · Page 32

High Gain Antenna System Deployment Mechanism Integration, Characterization, and Lessons Learned

The integration and deployment testing of the High Gain Antenna System (HGAS) for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission is summarized. The HGAS deployment mechanism is described. The gravity negation system configuration and its influence on vertical, ground-based deployment tests are presented with test data and model predictions. A focus is made on the late discovery and resolution of a potentially mission-degrading deployment interference condition. The interaction of the flight deployment mechanism, gravity-negation mechanism, and use of dynamic modeling is described and lessons learned presented

Parong, Fil↗

Large Gain in Air Quality Compared to an Alternative Anthropogenic Emissions Scenario

During the last 30 years, significant effort has been made to improve air quality through legislation for emissions reduction. Global three-dimensional chemistrytransport simulations of atmospheric composition over the past 3 decades have been performed to estimate what the air quality levels would have been under a scenario of stagnation of anthropogenic emissions per capita as in 1980, accounting for the population increase (BA1980) or using the standard practice of neglecting it (AE1980), and how they compare to the historical changes in air quality levels. The simulations are based on assimilated meteorology to account for the yearto- year observed climate variability and on different scenarios of anthropogenic emissions of pollutants. The ACCMIP historical emissions dataset is used as the starting point. Our sensitivity simulations provide clear indications that air quality legislation and technology developments have limited the rapid increase of air pollutants. The achieved reductions in concentrations of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, black carbon, and sulfate aerosols are found to be significant when comparing to both BA1980 and AE1980 simulations that neglect any measures applied for the protection of the environment. We also show the potentially large tropospheric air quality benefit from the development of cleaner technology used by the growing global population. These 30-year hindcast sensitivity simulations demonstrate that the actual benefit in air quality due to air pollution legislation and technological advances is higher than the gain calculated by a simple comparison against a constant anthropogenic emissions simulation, as is usually done. Our results also indicate that over China and India the beneficial technological advances for the air quality may have been masked by the explosive increase in local population and the disproportional increase in energy demand partially due to the globalization of the economy.

Law (Jurisprudence)↗

Resonant Pulse Combustors: A Reliable Route to Practical Pressure Gain Combustion

A particular type of pressure gain combustion (PGC) device is described, which is under investigation at GRC. The Resonant Pulse Combustor (RPC) has been largely overlooked due to its theoretically low performance. However, its practical performance is quite competitive with other PGC systems, and its physical simplicity is unmatched.

detonation↗

High Gain Antenna Calibration on Three Spacecraft

This paper describes the alignment calibration of spacecraft High Gain Antennas (HGAs) for three missions. For two of the missions (the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Solar Dynamics Observatory) the calibration was performed on orbit. For the third mission (the Global Precipitation Measurement core satellite) ground simulation of the calibration was performed in a calibration feasibility study. These three satellites provide a range of calibration situations-Lunar orbit transmitting to a ground antenna for LRO, geosynchronous orbit transmitting to a ground antenna fer SDO, and low Earth orbit transmitting to TDRS satellites for GPM The calibration results depend strongly on the quality and quantity of calibration data. With insufficient data the calibration Junction may give erroneous solutions. Manual intervention in the calibration allowed reliable parameters to be generated for all three missions.

Hashmall, Joseph A.↗

Maturing Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device Photon-Counting with Variable Multiplication Gain Imaging for a Coronagraphic Instrument

This is an introduction to a US Government Program that conducted high-contrast imaging experiments with an Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device (EMCCD) in an interferometric coronagraph. This report will introduce the concepts of “Charge Blooming” and “Starlight Saturation” in the context of high-contrast astronomical imaging. These phenomena adversely affect the performance of high-contrast photon-counting instruments that do not use a mask to physically block starlight in the science channel of the coronagraph. The problems will be presented with the help of images taken with a commercial EMCCD camera in the Visible Nulling Coronagraph at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). A new clocking scheme for EMCCDs – Variable Multiplication Gain Clocking – will be proposed as a means for suppressing horizontal blooming and starlight saturation in an astronomical camera. This opening report from the program will conclude with an introduction to a new controller for high-contrast imaging with EMCCDs in coronagraphs. This controller is being designed to allow a single frame from an EMCCD to be scanned in multiple modes – photon counting and digitization – to enable direct imaging of an exo-planet and wavefront control of a coronagraph, simultaneously.

Udayan Mallik↗

Insights Gained from the Ongoing Integrated Arrival/Departure/Surface (IADS) Traffic Flow Operational Prototype

The Insights Gained from the Ongoing Integrated Arrival/Departure/Surface (IADS) Traffic Flow Operational Prototype presentation will include a definition of the learning objectives for the audience, an overview/explanation of the ATD-2 project, an overview of the ATC/Operator data exchange and integration that is foundational for advanced surface capability, and a description of the ATC/Operator data exchange and integration research questions and insights. It will also give an overview of the overhead stream around CLT and a preview of the operational integration benefits, research questions, and insights related to the overhead stream. It will continue with a surface metering process flow overview, a description of local surface demand/capacity imbalance, the benefits of collaborative surface metering, the associated research questions and insights, and wrap up with the next steps planned for ATD-2.

collaborative operational environment↗

Galileo's Telecom Using the Low-gain Spacecraft Antenna

Galileo's accomplishment of a science-rich mission through a low-gain antenna was made possible by a coordinated efforts of the Deep Space Network Support team, the spacecraft designers, and the science principal investigators.

on-board↗

All-Metal Dual Frequency RHCP High Gain Antenna for the Extreme Environments of a Potential Europa Lander

A new all-metal dual-frequency RHCP high gain antenna is under development at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a potential Europa Lander. The antenna is mainly made of metal so it could survive the harsh environment conditions (i.e. very low temperature and high radiation and ESD levels). The antenna is also flat to meet drastic volume constraints and has efficiencies higher than 80% at both the uplink and downlink X-band Deep Space frequency bands. This antenna is a key component for the potential mission enabling Direct Link to Earth (DTE) from and Direct-from-Earth (DFE) to the lander without any relay.

Estabrook, Polly↗

All-metal dual frequency RHCP high gain antenna for the extreme environments of a potential Europa Lander

A new all-metal dual-frequency RHCP high gain antenna is under development at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a potential Europa Lander. The antenna is mainly made of metal so it could survive the harsh environment conditions of Europa (i.e. very low temperature and high radiation and ESD levels). The antenna is flat to meet drastic volume constraints and has efficiencies higher than 80% at both the uplink and downlink X-band Deep Space frequency bands. This antenna is a key component for the potential mission enabling Direct Link to Earth (DTE) without any relying on an Orbiter to relay the data.

Chahat, Nacer↗

Large all-Metal Dual-Frequency Circularly Polarized High Gain Antenna for potential Europa Lander

A new all-metal dual-frequency RHCP high gain antenna is under development at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a potential Europa Lander. The antenna is mainly made of metal so it could survive the harsh environment conditions (i.e. very low temperature and high radiation and ESD levels). The antenna is also flat to meet drastic volume constraints and has efficiencies higher than 80% at both the uplink and downlink X-band Deep Space frequency bands. This antenna is a key component for the potential mission enabling Direct Link to Earth (DTE) from and Direct-from-Earth (DFE) to the lander without any relay.

Estabrook, Polly↗

Noise Evaluation of Various High-gain, Very-low-noise Current Sense Amplifier Circuits

We report an evaluation of three different electronic topologies for a high-gain, very-low-noise current sense amplifier (CSA) for use in remote sensing applications. The circuits in question were built from commercially available parts and were evaluated for their performance in an interface to a photodetector used in NASA’s Lunar Flashlight infrared spectrometer spacecraft. Through constraints on the test environment, we were able to reduce the impact of systematic noise sources by making them common mode to the measurement. The parts compared were based on the ADA4530-1, the LTC6240, and the LSK389A. We determined which of the three different versions of the CSA had superior noise performance for selection for use on the instrument. Two tests and simulations of each board compare and contrast functionality and performance, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and based on those results, we show that the ADA4350-1 out-performed the opposing components.

Foor, David↗

Time Averaged Pressure Measurement in Fundamentally Unsteady Pressure Gain Combustion Systems

Experimental results and analysis are presented on a technique for obtaining time averaged pressure in the harsh and highly unsteady environment of a pressure gain combustor. The technique utilizes a long, narrow, stand-off tube leading from the measurement point to a pressure transducer. The tube damps the fluctuations (which may result from strong shocks and/or detonations) and thermally isolates the transducer. The damping must be sufficient to ensure that net gasdynamic work exchange does not occur on the fluid in the stand-off tube, and it must be linear to insure that the time-averaged pressure at the transducer end is the same as that at the combustor end. The paper presents experimental and analytical results from two rigs which indicate that, using certain stand-off tube dimensions, these criteria are met. Physical rational for the tube dimensions (i.e., guidelines) are also presented.

detonation↗

Differential Ranging Experiments with NASA’s High-Gain Deep Space Network Antennas

Radar experiments are currently under way at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC) to determine the range of cis-lunar objects using a single high-gain 34m antenna transmitting 20 kW at X-band wavelengths, and two 34m receivers located at the GDSCC. The 34m antennas of the Deep Space Network (DSN) have effective fields-of-view of approximately 1 milli-radians, hence predetermined pointing predicts with accuracies on the order of 1 milli-degree are required. The extremely accurate 1 nano-second timing distribution of the DSN network enables sub-meter level ranging in the radial direction, by measuring delays in phase-modulated pseudonoise (PN) echoes reflected from the target. In this paper we demonstrate experimental verification of the proposed techniques by post-processing radar reflections obtained from a decommissioned geo-synchronous satellite. The characteristics of correlation-based delay measurements obtained simultaneously with two different receiving antennas are described. These are the fundamental quantities used to form the “time difference of arrival” (TDOA) observables commonly used in GPS positioning algorithms, and the results interpreted in the context of hyperbolic position location that could be used in the future to monitor spacecraft in cis-lunar space.

Cheung, Kar-Ming↗

Flex-Capsules for the Roman Space Telescope High Gain Antenna Gimbal

The Cable Wrap mechanism has been traditionally used for feeding power and telemetry through each gimbal actuator exiting at the gimbal output flange. Such a mechanism had often utilized round wire bundles or a multitude of single insulated conductors woven together flatwise to handle the angular rotation. Though flexible printed circuit board (PCB) is not a new technology, it was decided to implement it for the Roman Space Telescope (RST) High Gain Antenna Gimbal in an effort to improve reliability with consistency of manufacture and to save mass and minimize required volume. This paper provides a description of what we term Flex-Capsule (a similar vendor flight development is termed Twist Capsule), discusses the reasoning behind choosing a new engineering development over maintaining heritage, and includes commentary pertaining to life cycle analysis, electrical performance, and flexible PCB lubrication. Lessons learned from the design, analysis, and test campaign are also included. The conclusion is that benefits of pursuing the Flex-Capsule over heritage Cable Wrap have been realized.

twist capsule↗

Flex-Capsule for the Roman Space Telescope High Gain Antenna Gimbal

The Cable Wrap mechanism has been traditionally used for feeding power and telemetry through each gimbal actuator exiting at the Gimbal output flange. Such a mechanism had often utilized round wire bundles, or a multitude of single insulated conductors woven together flatwise to handle the angular rotation. Though flexible printed circuit board (PCB) is not a new technology, it was decided to implement it for the Roman Space Telescope (RST) High Gain Antenna Gimbal in an effort to improve reliability with consistency of manufacture and to save mass and minimize required volume. This paper provides a description of what we term Flex-Capsule (a similar vendor flight development is termed Twist Capsule), discusses the reasoning behind choosing a new engineering development over maintaining heritage, and includes commentary pertaining to life cycle analysis, electrical performance, and flexible PCB lubrication. Lessons learned from the design, analysis, and test campaign are also included. The conclusion is that benefits of pursuing the Flex-Capsule over heritage Cable Wrap have been realized.

twist capsule↗