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At least 577 records · Page 32
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2006

A Dynamical Systems Approach to the Design of the Science Orbit Around Europa

The science orbit for a future mission to Europa requires low eccentricity, low altitude, and high inclination. However, high inclination orbits around planetary satellites are unstable due to third-body perturbations. Without control, the orbiter impacts Europa after few weeks. To minimize control, a tour over the stable-unstable, averaged manifolds of unstable frozen orbits has been suggested. We proceed with the unaveraged equations and study the manifolds of unstable orbits that are periodic in a rotating frame attached to Europa. Massive numerical computation helps in understanding the unstable dynamics close to Europa, and, thus, in selecting long lifetime high inclination orbits. A final test of a selected set of initial conditions on a high fidelity, ephemeris model, validate the results.

Europa↗
NASA NTRS2007

Applications of Time-Reversal Processing for Planetary Surface Communications

Due to the power constraints imposed on wireless sensor and communication networks deployed on a planetary surface during exploration, energy efficient transfer of data becomes a critical issue. In situations where groups of nodes within a network are located in relatively close proximity, cooperative communication techniques can be utilized to improve the range, data rate, power efficiency, and lifetime of the network. In particular, if the point-to-point communication channels on the network are well modeled as frequency non-selective, distributed or cooperative beamforming can employed. For frequency-selective channels, beamforming itself is not generally appropriate, but a natural generalization of it, time-reversal communication (TRC), can still be effective. Time-reversal processing has been proposed and studied previously for other applications, including acoustical imaging, electromagnetic imaging, underwater acoustic communication, and wireless communication channels. In this paper, we study both the theoretical advantages and the experimental performance of cooperative TRC for wireless communication on planetary surfaces. We give a brief introduction to TRC and present several scenarios where TRC could be profitably employed during planetary exploration. We also present simulation results illustrating the performance of cooperative TRC employed in a complex multipath environment and discuss the optimality of cooperative TRC for data aggregation in wireless sensor networks

Barton, Richard J.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Orbital Maintenance for the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope: The Effects of Solar Radiation Pressure and Navigation Accuracies on Station Keeping

The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), a NASA observatory designed to investigate dark energy and astrophysics, is planned for a launch in 2025 to orbit the Sun-Earth L2 (SEL2) Libration Point. Due to the instability of the SEL2 environment, WFIRST must perform maneuvers to remain in its mission orbit. This paper investigates how different error sources affect the resulting stationkeeping delta v for WFIRST. We study how Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) modeling affects WFIRST's orbital motion and stability, and how SRP combined with Orbit Determination (OD) errors drive the stationkeeping maneuver magnitudes. Our goal is to determine the best way to model WFIRST's SRP so that we minimize its impact on total stationkeeping delta v required over the mission lifetime.

Radiation↗
NASA NTRS2019

ALMA Spectral Imaging of Titan Contemporaneous with Cassini's Grand Finale

The Cassini mission performed 127 targeted ybys of Titan during its 13 yr mission to Saturn, culminating in the Grand Finale between 2017 April and September. Here we demonstrate the use of the Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array (ALMA) to continue Cassini's legacy for chemical and climatological studies of Titan's atmosphere. Whole-hemisphere, interferometric spectral maps of HCN, HNC, HC3N, CH3CN, C2H3CN, C2H5CN,and C3H8 were obtained using ALMA in 2017 May at moderate (0 2, or 1300 km) spatial resolution, revealing the effects of seasonally variable chemistry and dynamics on the distribution of each species. The ALMA submillimeter observations of HCN and HC3N are consistent with Cassini infrared data on these species, obtained in the same month. Chemical/dynamical lifetimes of a few years are inferred for C2H3CN and C2H5CN, in reasonably close agreement with the latest chemical models incorporating the sticking of C2H5CN to stratospheric aerosol particles. ALMA radial limb ux proles provide column density information as a function of altitude, revealing maximum abundances in the thermosphere (above 600 km) for HCN, HNC, HC3N, and C2H5CN. This constitutes the rst detailed measurement of the spatial distribution of HNC, which is found to be conned predominantly to altitudes above 730 ± 60 km. The HNC emission map shows an east-west hemisphericasymmetry of 13% ± 3%. These results are consistent with very rapid production (and loss) of HNC in Titan's uppermost atmosphere, making this molecule an effective probe of short-timescale (diurnal) ionospheric processes.

Cordiner, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Lifetime of binary asteroids versus gravitational encounters and collisions

We investigate the effect on the dynamics of a binary asteroid in the case of a near encounter with a third body. The dynamics of the binary is modeled as a two-body problem perturbed by an approaching body in the following ways: near encounters and collisions with a component of the system. In each case, the typical value of the two-body energy variation is estimated, and a random walk for the cumulative effect is assumed. Results are applied to some binary asteroid candidates. The main conclusion is that the collisional disruption is the dominant effect, giving lifetimes comparable to or larger than the age of the solar system.

Chauvineau, Bertrand↗
NASA NTRS1994

The isotopic composition of cosmic-ray beryllium and its implication for the cosmic ray's age

We report a new measurement of the cosmic-ray isotopic composition of beryllium in the low-energy range from 35 to 113 MeV per nucleon. This measurement was made using the High Energy Telescope of the CRS experiment on the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft during the time period from 1977 to 1991. In this overall time period of 14 years the average solar modulation level was about 500 MV. The cosmic-ray beryllium isotopes were completely separated with an average mass resolution sigma of 0.185 amu. The isotope fractions of Be-7, Be-9, and Be-10 obtained are 52.4 +/- 2.9%, 43.3 +/- 3.7%, and 4.3 +/- 1.5%, respectively. The measured cosmic-ray abundances of Be-7 and Be-9 are found to be in agreement with calculations based on standard Leaky-Box model for the interstellar propagation of cosmic-ray nuclei using the recent cross sections of the New Mexico-Saclay collaboration. From our observed ratio Be-10/Be = 4.3 +/- 1.5% we deduce an average interstellar density of about 0.28 (+0.14, -0.11) atoms/cu cm, and acosmic-ray lifetime for escape of 27 (+19, -9) x 10(exp 6) years. The surviving fraction of Be-10 is found to be 0.19 +/- 0.07. Modifications to the conclusions of the Leaky-Box model when a diffusion + convection halo model for propagation is used are also considered.

Lukasiak, A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Strong-field Gravitational Effects in the Timing and Spectroscopy of X-Ray Binaries

Using the ray-tracing code described, we developed additional features to the hot spot model to explain the broadening of the quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) peaks as well as the damping of higher frequency harmonics in the power spectrum. We derived a number of analytic results that agree closely with more detailed numerical calculations. Three primary pieces are developed: the superposition of multiple hot spots with finite lifetimes and random phases, a width in the radial distribution of geodesic orbits, and the scattering of photons from the hot spot through a corona around the black hole. The complete model is used to fit the observed power spectra of both type A and type B QPOs seen in XTE 51550-564, giving confidence limits on each of the model parameters. These results were presented in a conference paper and in a refereed publication. We also explored the possibility of using higher-order statistics, particularly the bispectrum and bicoherence, to distinguish between competing QPO models. These methods were applied to the hot spot model and a method was proposed to map out the spacetime metric around Kerr black holes in Ref. 3 below.

Bertschinger, Edmund↗
NASA NTRS1985

A review of fracture mechanics life technology

Current lifetime prediction technology for structural components subjected to cyclic loads was reviewed. The central objectives of the project were to report the current state of and recommend future development of fracture mechanics-based analytical tools for modeling and forecasting subcritical fatigue crack growth in structures. Of special interest to NASA was the ability to apply these tools to practical engineering problems and the developmental steps necessary to bring vital technologies to this stage. A survey of published literature and numerous discussions with experts in the field of fracture mechanics life technology were conducted. One of the key points made is that fracture mechanics analyses of crack growth often involve consideration of fatigue and fracture under extreme conditions. Therefore, inaccuracies in predicting component lifetime will be dominated by inaccuracies in environment and fatigue crack growth relations, stress intensity factor solutions, and methods used to model given loads and stresses. Suggestions made for reducing these inaccuracies include: development of improved models of subcritical crack growth, research efforts aimed at better characterizing residual and assembly stresses that can be introduced during fabrication, and more widespread and uniform use of the best existing methods.

Thomas, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Disk Evaporation in Star Forming Regions

Young stars produce sufficient ultraviolet photon luminosity and mechanical luminosity in their winds to significantly affect the structure and evolution of the accretion disks surrounding them. The Lyman continuum photons create a nearly static, ionized, isothermal 10(exp 4) K atmosphere forms above the neutral disk at small distances from the star. Further out, they create a photoevaporative flow which relatively rapidly destroys the disk. The resulting slow (10-50 km/s) ionized outflow, which persists for approx. greater than 10(exp 5) years for disk masses M(sub d) approx. 0.3M(sub *), may explain the observational characteristics of many ultracompact HII regions. We compare model results to the observed radio free-free spectra and luminosities of ultracompact HII regions and to the interesting source MWC349, which is observed to produce hydrogen masers. We apply the results to Ae and Be stars in order to determine the lifetimes of disks around such stars. We also apply the results to the early solar nebula to explain the the dispersal of the solar nebula and the differences in hydrogen content in the giant planets. Finally, we model the small bright objects ("proplyds") observed in the Orion Nebula as disks around young, low mass stars which are externally illuminated by the UV photons from the nearby massive star Theta(sup 1) C.

Hollenbach, David↗
NASA NTRS2006

Probabilistic Prediction of Lifetimes of Ceramic Parts

ANSYS/CARES/PDS is a software system that combines the ANSYS Probabilistic Design System (PDS) software with a modified version of the Ceramics Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures Life (CARES/Life) Version 6.0 software. [A prior version of CARES/Life was reported in Program for Evaluation of Reliability of Ceramic Parts (LEW-16018), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 20, No. 3 (March 1996), page 28.] CARES/Life models effects of stochastic strength, slow crack growth, and stress distribution on the overall reliability of a ceramic component. The essence of the enhancement in CARES/Life 6.0 is the capability to predict the probability of failure using results from transient finite-element analysis. ANSYS PDS models the effects of uncertainty in material properties, dimensions, and loading on the stress distribution and deformation. ANSYS/CARES/PDS accounts for the effects of probabilistic strength, probabilistic loads, probabilistic material properties, and probabilistic tolerances on the lifetime and reliability of the component. Even failure probability becomes a stochastic quantity that can be tracked as a response variable. ANSYS/CARES/PDS enables tracking of all stochastic quantities in the design space, thereby enabling more precise probabilistic prediction of lifetimes of ceramic components.

Nemeth, Noel N.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Cometary atmospheres: Modeling the spatial distribution of observed neutral radicals

Progress during the second year of a program of research on the modeling of the spatial distributions of cometary radicals is discussed herein in several major areas. New scale length laws for cometary C2 and CN were determined which explain that the previously-held apparent drop of the C2/CN ratio for large heliocentric distances does not exist and that there is no systematic variation. Monte Carlo particle trajectory model (MCPTM) analysis of sunward and anti-sunward brightness profiles of cometary C2 was completed. This analysis implies a lifetime of 31,000 seconds for the C2 parent and an ejection speed for C2 of approximately 0.5 km/sec upon dissociation from the parent. A systematic reanalysis of published C3 and OH data was begun. Preliminary results find a heliocentric distance dependence for C3 scale lengths with a much larger variation than for C2 and CN. Scale lengths for OH are generally somewhat larger than currently accepted values. The MCPTM was updated to include the coma temperature. Finally, the collaborative effort with the University of Arizona programs has yielded some preliminary CCD images of Comet P/Halley.

Combi, Michael R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Evolution of super-Jupiters

The physics of the interiors of Jovian-class objects is reviewed, and its extension to substellar objects is discussed. Some results are presented for objects cooling from effective temperatures starting at 2500 K. The interior calculations are coupled to model atmosphere surface conditions computed by Lunine; the latter are continued to higher temperatures and pressures in the ideal gas region and are then matched by entropy to the strongly-coupled interior region. Except in the planetary-mass models, this transition region occupies a negligible fraction of the total mass. For the observed parameters of VB8B, only models with masses in excess of 0.05 solar mass have cooling ages above a billion years. Thus, for plausible VB8B lifetimes, this object is likely to be close to the critical hydrogen-ignition mass.

Hubbard, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

SCATHA mission termination report

The SCATHA (Spacecraft Charging at High Altitudes) satellite was operated from the Consolidated Space Test Center in Sunnyvale, California from February 1979 to May 1991. It was a spin stabilized vehicle in a highly eccentric orbit that collected data on spacecraft charging. The purpose of such data gathering was to predict and/or model the effects of the Earth's magnetic field on synchronous and near synchronous satellites. During the majority of its lifetime, attitude precession maneuvers were done every 10-15 days to maintain solar panel orientation. Maneuver planning was difficult due to the structural characteristics of SCATHA. It is cylindrically shaped and has seven booms ranging in length from 2 to 50 meters. These precession maneuvers induced predictable nutation that damped out after a few days. Eventually fuel began running low due to these frequent maneuvers. Experiments that had required the spin axis be in the orbit plane had already been turned off or had collected all their data. To increase the vehicle lifetime, the spin axis was moved to ecliptic normal. While this stopped the need for frequent attitude maneuvering (only two per year required now), this movement of the spin axis caused nutation that would not damp out for the remainder of the mission. This phase of the mission, with the ecliptic normal orientation, lasted for approximately three years. Although nutation never damped, data gathering was uninterrupted. In late 1990, when SCATHA's transmitter became seriously degraded, the Air Force decided to turn SCATHA off. This would only be done after the satellite was made 'safe'. The most difficult part of making the vehicle safe was quickly purging the fuel. Several plans were considered. The selected plan was to perform a series of 20 degree attitude precession maneuvers (3 days apart to allow for the worst nutation to damp) until the fuel was depleted. Although this sounded simple, the actual execution proved difficult. This was due to a nearly complete lack of available telemetry data, large undamped motion of the long booms, inadequacies in attitude determination software, and an error in the fuel level calculation software. This paper discusses the various proposed termination plans and execution of the selected one. Attitude determination methodologies, nutation from maneuvers, and effects of the flexible booms on the termination mission are presented and analyzed from a satellite analyst point of view.

Stakkestad, Kjell↗
NASA NTRS1993

Plasma contactor development for Space Station

Plasma contactors have been baselined for the Space Station (SS) to control the electrical potentials of surfaces to eliminate/mitigate damaging interactions with the space environment. The system represents a dual-use technology which is a direct outgrowth of the NASA electric propulsion program and, in particular, the technology development effort on ion thrustor systems. The plasma contactor subsystems include the plasma contactor unit, a power electronics unit, and an expellant management unit. Under this pre-flight development program these will all be brought to breadboard or engineering model status. Development efforts for the plasma contactor include optimizing the design and configuration of the contactor, validating its required lifetime, and characterizing the contactor plume and electromagnetic interference. The plasma contactor unit design selected for the SS is an enclosed keeper, xenon hollow cathode plasma source. This paper discusses the test results and development status of the plasma contactor unit subsystem for the SS.

Patterson, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Estimate of Space Radiation-Induced Cancer Risks for International Space Station Orbits

Excess cancer risks from exposures to space radiation are estimated for various orbits of the International Space Station (ISS). Organ exposures are computed with the transport codes, BRYNTRN and HZETRN, and the computerized anatomical male and computerized anatomical female models. Cancer risk coefficients in the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements report No. 98 are used to generate lifetime excess cancer incidence and cancer mortality after a one-month mission to ISS. The generated data are tabulated to serve as a quick reference for assessment of radiation risk to astronauts on ISS missions.

Wu, Honglu↗
NASA NTRS1998

Space Station Cathode Design, Performance, and Operating Specifications

A plasma contactor system was baselined for the International Space Station (ISS) to eliminate/mitigate damaging interactions with the space environment. The system represents a dual-use technology which is a direct outgrowth of the NASA electric propulsion program and, in particular, the technology development efforts on ion thruster systems. The plasma contactor includes a hollow cathode assembly (HCA), a power electronics unit, and a xenon gas feed system. Under a pre-flight development program, these subsystems were taken to the level of maturity appropriate for transfer to U.S. industry for final development. NASA's Lewis Research Center was subsequently requested by ISS to manufacture and deliver the engineering model, qualification model, and flight HCA units. To date, multiple units have been built. One cathode has demonstrated approximately 28,000 hours lifetime, two development unit HCAs have demonstrated over 10,000 hours lifetime, and one development unit HCA has demonstrated more than 32,000 ignitions. All 8 flight HCAs have been manufactured, acceptance tested, and are ready for delivery to the flight contractor. This paper discusses the requirements, mechanical design, performance, operating specifications, and schedule for the plasma contactor flight HCAs.

Patterson, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

On the Nature of the High Velocity(26) Al Near the Galactic Center

Recent observations of the Galactic Center region by the GRIS balloon-borne germanium spectrometer have determined that the diffuse 1809 keV emission resulting from the decay of Al-26 has an intrinsic width of 5.4 keV FWHM. This line width indicates that the Al-26 is either at a temperature of approximately 4.5 x 10(exp 8) K or it has a nonthermal velocity of approximately 500 km/s. Previous authors have suggested that the Al-26 must be trapped within dust grains in the ISM in order for these conditions to persist over the 10(exp 6) year lifetime of the aluminum (see e.g. Naya et al. 1996, Chen et al. 1998). We discuss the results of our model for the initial acceleration of the Al-26 in dust grains as they exit their source, Type II supernovae, and their subsequent reacceleration in the ISM by ambient supernova remnant (SNR) shocks. Our results show that dust grains can be maintained at a velocity sufficient to explain the GRIS observation for ISM densities of approximately 0.2 cu cm, dust grain sizes near 10(exp -5) cm, and distances between SNR shocks in the ISM of 100 - 200 pc.

Sturner, Steven J.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Implications of Enhanced Relative Humidity in Cold Tropical Cirrus

In situ measurements of water vapor concentration and temperature in tropical cirrus during the CRYSTAL-FACE and Pre-AVE missions indicate that the steady-state relative humidity within cirrus at T less than 200 K is about 20-30% higher than ice saturation. These measurements challenge the conventional belief, that any water vapor in excess of ice saturation should be depleted by crystal growth given sufficient time. Detailed simulations of thin cirrus near the tropopause indicate that this enhanced steady-state relative humidity increases ice number densities, decreases crystal sizes and extends cloud lifetimes. The areal coverage of thin cirrus in the tropics is increased rather than decreased as indicated by simpler conceptual models. Perhaps most significantly, the increased steady-state H2O saturation mixing ratio over ice in thin cirrus near the tropopause results in about a 0.5-1 ppmv increase in the amount of water that can enter the stratosphere across the tropical tropopause cold trap. Hence, the enhanced steady-state relative humidity in cold cirrus implies that lower tropopause temperatures are required to explain the observed stratospheric water vapor mixing ratios than previously assumed.

Jensen, Eric↗