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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 595 records · Page 33

Effects of hydrostatic pressure and temperature on the uptake and respiration of amino acids by a facultatively psychrophilic marine bacterium.

Studies of pressure and temperature effects on glutamic acid transport and utilization indicated that hydrostatic pressure and low temperature inhibit glutamate transport more than glutamate respiration. The effects of pressure on transport were reduced at temperatures near the optimum. Similar results were obtained for glycine, phenylalanine, and proline. Pressure effects on the transport systems of all four amino acids were reversible to some degree. Both proline and glutamic acid were able to protect their transport proteins against pressure damage. The data presented indicate that the uptake of amino acids by cells under pressure is inhibited, which is the cause of their inability to grow under pressure.

Paul, K. L.↗

Space vehicle engine and heat shield environment review. Volume 1: Engineering analysis

Methods for predicting the base heating characteristics of a multiple rocket engine installation are discussed. The environmental data is applied to the design of adequate protection system for the engine components. The methods for predicting the base region thermal environment are categorized as: (1) scale model testing, (2) extrapolation of previous and related flight test results, and (3) semiempirical analytical techniques.

Mcanelly, W. B.↗

Expected characteristics of large dust particles in periodic Comet Halley

Observational evidence is presented for dust particles heavier than 0.01 millionth of a gram expelled from Comet Halley. Dust emitted around 1.5 AU pre-perihelion, the point in orbit where a probe would fly through the comet in 1985, should have contributed to an anomalous tail that could have been observed in 1910. From positions of the trailing boundary of the ordinary dust tail at that time, it is concluded that the production of dust started to increase steeply at 0.7 to 0.8 AU before perihelion. Observations in late January 1836 are used to derive the production of dust vs. time and the the expected number of large-particle impacts on the protective shield of the 1985 flythrough probe. From data on other comets, it is estimated that the size distribution for large particles is likely to vary inversely according to the fourth or slightly higher power of the size.

Sekanina, Z.↗

Effects of forced and free convections on structural temperatures of Space Shuttle Orbiter during reentry flight

Structural performance and resizing (SPAR) finite-element thermal analysis computer program was used in the heat transfer analysis of the Space Shuttle Orbiter wing subjected to reentry aerodynamic heating. With sufficient external forced convective cooling near the end of the heating cycle, the calculated surface temperatures of the thermal protection system (TPS) agree favorably with the flight data for the entire flight profile. However, the effects of this external forced convective cooling on the structural temperatures were found to be negligible. Both free convection and forced convection elements were introduced to model the internal convection effect of the cool air entering the Shuttle interior. The introduction of the internal free convection effect decreased the calculated wing lower skin temperatures by 20 F at most, 1200 sec after touchdown. If the internal convection is treated as forced convection, the calculated wing lower skin temperatures after touchdown can be reduced to match the flight-measured data very closely. By reducing the TPS thicknesses to certain effective thickness to account for the TPs gap heating, the calculated wing lower skin temperatures prior to touchdown can be raised to agree with the flight data perfectly.

Ko, William L.↗

Heating Distributions For Aeroassisted Vehicles

Report discusses anticipated distributions of temperature on symmetric and asymmetric large-angle blunt nose-cone space vehicles re-entering atmosphere. Report considers three cone angles; 100 degree, 120 degree, and 140 degree. Experimental surface-temperature data obtained on specimens made of thermal-protection materials proposed for vehicles. Discusses relationship between stagnation-point heat-transfer rate and bow-shock standoff distance for cones.

Stewart, David A.↗

Lightning threat extent of a small thunderstorm

The concern for safety of the personnel at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has caused NASA to promulgate strict safety procedures requiring either termination or substantial curtailment when ground lightning threat is believed to exist within 9.3 km of a covered operation. In cases where the threat is overestimated, in either space or time, an opportunity cost is accrued. This paper describes a small thunderstorm initiated over the KSC by terrain effects, that serves to exemplify the impact such an event may have on ground operations at the Center. Data from the Air Force Lightning Location and Protection System, the AF/NASA Launch Pad Lightning Warning System field mill network, radar, and satellite imagery are used to describe the thunderstorm and to discuss its impact.

Nicholson, James R.↗

Adaptation of electronically scanned pressure measurement technology at Langley Research Center

The use of pressure-measurement devices based on electronic scanning in wind-tunnel and other settings with harsh conditions is discussed in terms of adaptations required to protect the integrity of the devices and output data. The applications considered include thermal extremes, long cable lengths, very low pressure, high-line pressure, and variable-reference calibrations. Some of the adaptation techniques are thermal enclosures, remote power supplies, low-pressure standards, and biasing regulators.

Mitchell, Michael↗

Airborne lidar mapping of vertical ozone distributions in support of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments

The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments mandated attainment of the ozone standard established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Improved photochemical models validated by experimental data are needed to develop strategies for reducing near surface ozone concentrations downwind of urban and industrial centers. For more than 10 years, lidar has been used on large aircraft to provide unique information on ozone distributions in the atmosphere. However, compact airborne lidar systems are needed for operation on small aircraft of the type typically used on regional air quality investigations to collect data with which to develop and validate air quality models. Data presented in this paper will consist of a comparison between airborne differential absorption lidar (DIAL) and airborne in-situ ozone measurements. Also discussed are future plans to improve the airborne ultraviolet-DIAL for ozone and other gas observations and addition of a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) emission spectrometer to investigate the effects of other gas species on vertical ozone distribution.

Uthe, Edward E.↗

Single-chip microcontrollers for switchgear control

A switchgear controller utilizing a microcontroller is described. The primary goal was to mimic the functions and performance of the generic controller board with a microcontroller board which will cause the power automation system to consume less power. The code for the microcontroller implementation on a development board has been developed, and the signal conditioning for the signals to the microcontroller has been designed and tested. The implementation of this decision system for data gathering, command control, fault detection, and circuit protection, when compared to other implementations, provides more functions and better response while reducing weight, volume, and power consumption.

Watson, Karan↗

Surface Catalytic Efficiency of Advanced Carbon Carbon Candidate Thermal Protection Materials for SSTO Vehicles

The catalytic efficiency (atom recombination coefficients) for advanced ceramic thermal protection systems was calculated using arc-jet data. Coefficients for both oxygen and nitrogen atom recombination on the surfaces of these systems were obtained to temperatures of 1650 K. Optical and chemical stability of the candidate systems to the high energy hypersonic flow was also demonstrated during these tests.

Stewart, David A.↗

Computational Aeroheating Predictions for X-34

Radiative equilibrium surface temperatures, heating rates, streamlines, surface pressures, and flow-field features as predicted by the Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm (Laura) are presented for the X-34 Technology Demonstrator. Results for two trajectory points corresponding to entry peak heating and two control surface deflections are discussed. This data is also discussed in context of Thermal Protection System (TPS) design issues. The work presented in this report is part of a larger effort to define the X-34 aerothermal environment, including the application of engineering codes and wind-tunnel studies.

Kelb, William L.↗

Effect of Porosity on Surface Catalytic Efficiency

This paper describes the effect of surface porosity of thermal protection materials on surface catalytic efficiency using test data taken from both arc-jet and side-arm reactor facilities. Relative surface porosity of the samples varied from 6% to 50%. Surface porosity was measured using a flow apparatus and Bernoulli equation. The surface catalytic efficiency of the materials was calculated using aerothermodynamic, and kinetic theories. The catalytic efficiency of the materials are compared at surface temperatures between room temperature and 2500 F. The data are presented in the form of graphs and tables.

Stewart, David A.↗

Surface Characterization of LMMS Molybdenum Disilicide Coated HTP-8 Using Arc- Jet Hypersonic Flow

Surface properties for an advanced Lockheed Martin Missile and Space (LMMS) molybdenum disilicide coated insulation (HTP-8) were determined using arc-jet flow to simulate Earth entry at hypersonic speeds. The catalytic efficiency (atom recombination coefficients) for this advanced thermal protection system was determined from arc-jet data taken in both oxygen and nitrogen streams at temperatures ranging from 1255 K to roughly 1600 K. In addition, optical and chemical stability data were obtained from these test samples.

Stewart, David A.↗

Effects of heavy ions on visual function and electrophysiology of rodents: the ALTEA-MICE project

ALTEA-MICE will supplement the ALTEA project on astronauts and provide information on the functional visual impairment possibly induced by heavy ions during prolonged operations in microgravity. Goals of ALTEA-MICE are: (1) to investigate the effects of heavy ions on the visual system of normal and mutant mice with retinal defects; (2) to define reliable experimental conditions for space research; and (3) to develop animal models to study the physiological consequences of space travels on humans. Remotely controlled mouse setup, applied electrophysiological recording methods, remote particle monitoring, and experimental procedures were developed and tested. The project has proved feasible under laboratory-controlled conditions comparable in important aspects to those of astronauts' exposure to particle in space. Experiments are performed at the Brookhaven National Laboratories [BNL] (Upton, NY, USA) and the Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung mbH [GSI]/Biophysik (Darmstadt, FRG) to identify possible electrophysiological changes and/or activation of protective mechanisms in response to pulsed radiation. Offline data analyses are in progress and observations are still anecdotal. Electrophysiological changes after pulsed radiation are within the limits of spontaneous variability under anesthesia, with only indirect evidence of possible retinal/cortical responses. Immunostaining showed changes (e.g. increased expression of FGF2 protein in the outer nuclear layer) suggesting a retinal stress reaction to high-energy particles of potential relevance in space. c2004 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NASA Center JSC↗

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Contamination Control Program

Over the past two decades, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Contamination Control Program has evolved from a ground-based integration program to a space-based science-sustaining program. On-orbit, the telescope s primary contamination requirement was maintaining a low contamination flux in the telescope s optical path. In addition, to maintain the scientific capability of the telescope, the contamination requirements and specific contamination controls from the second- and third-generation Scientific Instruments and Orbital Replacement Units were captured within the HST Contamination Control Program. Contamination controls were developed for on-orbit operations and four Servicing Missions (Orbiter, Astronauts, and mission). Long-term on-orbit scientific data has shown that these contamination controls successfully protected the HST from contamination.

Hansen, Patricia A.↗

Circuits Enhance Scientific Instruments and Safety Devices

Since its founding in 1958, NASA has pioneered the use of different frequencies on the electromagnetic spectrum - including X-ray, microwave, and infrared wavelengths - to gather information about distant celestial bodies. During the 1962 Mariner 2 mission, NASA used microwave radiometers that operated in the range of 15-23 gigahertz (GHz) to assess the surface temperature of Venus and to determine the percentage of water vapor in its atmosphere. Today, there is another area on the spectrum proving uniquely useful to scientists: the terahertz (THz) range, spanning from about 100 GHz-10,000 GHz. (1 THz equals approximately 1,000 GHz.) Terahertz frequencies span the lesser-known gap on the electromagnetic spectrum between microwave radiation and infrared (and visible) light, falling within the spectral range where most simple molecules resonate. This molecular resonance makes terahertz particularly useful for chemical spectroscopy and the remote sensing of specific molecules. In the 1990s, NASA began using frequencies above 300 GHz (more than an order of magnitude higher than the instrumentation on Mariner 2) to perform spectral analysis of molecular clouds and planetary atmospheres. Instruments using these higher frequencies have included the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), deployed from 1991-2001, and the Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO), launched in 2004. With UARS-MLS, NASA used advanced terahertz receivers to measure the emission signatures from atmospheric molecules, providing researchers with valuable data about the changes in the Earth s protective ozone layer. MIRO, set to rendezvous with the comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014, will use terahertz instrumentation to analyze the comet s dust and gases. Although NASA has been a driving force behind the development of terahertz technology, scientific equipment for terahertz research - including transmitters, receivers, and basic test and measurement equipment - is not widely available, making scientific experiments in this range between traditional electronics and quantum photonics more costly and greatly limiting commercial development in the field. Given NASA s interest in studying distant bodies in space as well as in improving life on Earth, the Agency has collaborated with private industry to develop terahertz technologies.

Source record↗

Enhancing Battery Safety with Fractional Thermal Runaway Calorimetry

Effective thermal management systems, designed to handle the impacts of thermal runaway (TR) and to prevent cell-to-cell propagation, are key to safe operation of lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery assemblies. Critical factors for optimising these systems include the total energy released during a single cell TR event and the fraction of the total energy that is released through the cell casing versus through the ejecta material. A unique fractional thermal runaway calorimeter (FTRC), designed to characterise said critical factors, was utilised to examine the TR behaviour of Li-ion cells). Delegates will be provided with an in-depth discussion on what fractional thermal runaway calorimetry is and how it benefits the development of safe and optimised battery assemblies that protect against thermal runaway. Delegates will see calorimetry data associated with a variety of Li-ion cells. Data presented is relevant to any industry that utilises high-energy Li-ion cells in closed environments and has a need to focus on safety.

Walker, William↗

Study the Vertical Structure and Transportation of the Extreme African Dust Storms using MERRA-2 Data

The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Application, Version 2 (MERRA-2) provides the first long-term global reanalysis to assimilate space-based observations of aerosols and represents their interactions with other physical processes in the climate system. In this study, we have examined the variations of atmospheric aerosols for the last 20 years since 2002 using the sub-daily MERRA-2 data and found seven extreme African dust storms that were transported westward across the Atlantic Ocean from the Sahara, crossing 70o-80oW. In particular, the well-known ‘Godzilla’ dust storm occurred in June 2020, and its dust cloud, with the highest-on-record aerosol optical depths, was transported toward the Americas. This storm greatly degraded air quality over large areas of the Caribbean Basin and the United States. The air quality index reached unhealthy levels for sensitive groups in more than ten U.S. states. In our study, the vertical structure and transport characteristics of the dust layers during this extreme dust event are investigated. The geopotential height and temperature were found anomalously low (around 600 hPa) over the Atlantic Ocean off northwest Africa before the June 2020 dust storm. This anomalous circulation pattern was persistent for more than 12 days starting from around May 30, breaking the regular easterly waves that transport dust from the Sahara Desert to the west. To verify the data quality, daily MERRA-2 PM2.5 data were calculated and compared with PM2.5 observations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at several selected ground stations in Florida. We provide this case study to illustrate how to effectively use various MERRA-2 data services at Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) where MERRA-2 data are archived, hoping to help data users in exploring their own topics of interest using data services at GES DISC.

data management, reanalysis↗