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At least 595 records · Page 33

ERTS-1 data user investigation of wetlands ecology

The author has identified the following significant results. ERTS-1 imagery (enlarged to 1:250,000) is an excellent tool by which large area coastal marshland mapping may be undertaken. If states can sacrifice some accuracy (amount unknown at this time) in placing of boundary lines, the technique may be used to do the following: (1) estimate extent of man's impact on marshes by ditching and lagooning and accelerated successional trends; (2) place boundaries between wetland and upland and hence estimate amount of coastal marshland remaining in the state; (3) distinguish among relatively large zones of various plant species including high and low growth S. alterniflora, J. roemerianus, and S. cynosuroides; and (4) estimate marsh plant species productivity when ground based information is available.

Anderson, R. R.↗

A study of the utilization of ERTS-1 data from the Wabash River Basin

The author has identified the following significant results. For the urban land use analysis project, classification results were good to excellent for the following classes: single family residential, commercial/industrial, cloud, cloud shadow, trees, and water. Grassy areas were defined fairly well, but residential areas located between multi-family residential and single-family residential were misclassified as grassy. Residential areas dominated by tree cover, termed wooded residential, were unable to be classified in a single class. Data points in such areas were classified randomly as either grassy or trees.

Landgrebe, D. A.↗

Utilizing ERTS-A imagery for tectonic analysis through study of Big Horn Mountains Region

The author has identified the following significant results. NASA-provided color composite (1048-17234) which includes the southeastern portion of the Bighorn Mountains and the western Powder River basin is of excellent quality. The considerable variations in the red hues indicate that vegetational mapping will be enhanced over the black and white. Some additional delineation of rock units can be made, particularly the Chugwater formation. Preliminary look at just received winter scenes indicates that topographic features are enhanced both due to the snow cover and to the lower sun angle.

Hoppin, R. A.↗

S8DR shield examination

The SNAP 8 developmental reactor lithium hydride shield was examined after being irradiated for over 7000 hours at relatively low temperature. A crack was located in the seam weld of the containment vessel, probably the result of hot short cracking under thermal stress. The LiH was visually examined at two locations and its appearance was typical of low temperature irradiated LiH. The adherence of the chrome oxide emittance coating was found to be excellent.

Mason, D. G.↗

Synthesis of hover autopilots for rotary-wing VTOL aircraft

The practical situation is considered where imperfect information on only a few rotor and fuselage state variables is available. Filters are designed to estimate all the state variables from noisy measurements of fuselage pitch/roll angles and from noisy measurements of both fuselage and rotor pitch/roll angles. The mean square response of the vehicle to a very gusty, random wind is computed using various filter/controllers and is found to be quite satisfactory although, of course, not so good as when one has perfect information (idealized case). The second part of the report considers precision hover over a point on the ground. A vehicle model without rotor dynamics is used and feedback signals in position and integral of position error are added. The mean square response of the vehicle to a very gusty, random wind is computed, assuming perfect information feedback, and is found to be excellent. The integral error feedback gives zero position error for a steady wind, and smaller position error for a random wind.

Hall, W. E.↗

Investigation of ERTS-A images for application to thematic mapping

The author has identified the following significant results. Composite mosaics made of open water extractions of the Mississippi River at normal stage and those derived for various flood stages illustrate with startling clarity the recent flood and provide an excellent and timely historical documentation of the temporal changes in flood extent between successive cloud-free ERTS-1 passes.

Edson, D. T.↗

Eleventh order resonance terms in the geopotential from the orbit of Vanguard 3

The orbit of Vanguard 3 (1959-7A) is strongly resonant with 11th order and odd degree terms in the geopotential. It affords an excellent opportunity to determine a significant linear constraint between these terms. Tracking data on this satellite (in the form of mean Kepler elements) are analyzed over a 3 1/2 year period in the early 1960's, which ends with the orbit having just passed through perfect commensurability. The eccentricity and inclination show the deep resonance variations (up to 0.0002 in e and .02 deg in i) with great clarity. Previous and current geopotential solutions fail to explain these perturbations.

Wagner, C. A.↗

Research into the feasibility of metal- and oxide-film capacitors

Thin film capacitors with up to twenty-two active layers have been deposited by RF sputtering. The materials were aluminum electrodes of 1200 to 1500 angstrom thickness and silica dielectric layers of 3000 to 6000 angstrom thickness. The best electrical characteristics were capacitances of nearly 0.1 microfarad for an active area of 1.25 square centimeters, dissipation factor of less than 0.01 over a frequency range of 0.5 to 100 kilohertz and energy density of approximately 70 millijoules per cubic centimeter of active deposited material at a working voltage of 40 volts. These aluminum-silica capacitors exhibit excellent electrical stability over a temperature range from -55 C to +300 C.

Jorgenson, G. V.↗

An evaluation of the suitability of ERTS data for the purposes of petroleum exploration

The author has identified the following significant results. ERTS-1 imagery seems to be good to excellent for reconnaissance level investigations of large sedimentary basins such as the Anadarko Basin. Many lithologic boundaries, and geomorphic features, and linear features inferred to be indicative of geologic structure are visible in the imagery. This imagery in conjunction with high altitude photography seems to be useful as a tool for intermediate level geologic exploration. Several types of crudely circular anomalous features, such as geomorphic/structural anomalies, hazy areas and tonal anomalies, are identifiable in the imagery. There seems to be a strong correlation between the geomorphic/structural and hazy anomalies and known structurally controlled oil and gas fields. The features recognizable on ERTS-1 imagery and their ease of recognition vary from area to area even in imagery acquired at the same time under essentially uniform atmospheric conditions. Repeated coverage is exceedingly valuable in geologic applications. One time complete coverage even for the various seasons does not reveal all the features that ERTS-1 can reveal.

Collins, R. J., Jr.↗

Monolithic catalyst beds for hydrazine reactors

A monolithic catalyst bed for monopropellant hydrazine decomposition was evaluated. The program involved the evaluation of a new hydrazine catalyst concept wherein open-celled foamed materials are used as supports for the active catalysts. A high-surface-area material is deposited upon the open-celled foamed material and is then coated with an active metal to provide a spontaneous catalyst. Only a fraction of the amount of expensive active metal in currently available catalysts is needed to promote monolithic catalyst. Numerous parameters were evaluated during the program, and the importance of additional parameters became obvious only while the program was in progress. A demonstration firing (using a 2.2-Newton (N)(0.5-lbf) reactor) successfully accumulated 7,700 seconds of firing time and 16 ambient temperature starts without degradation. Based on the excellent results obtained throughout the program and the demonstrated life capability of the monolithic foam, it is recommended that additional studies be conducted to further exploit the advantages of this concept.

Source record↗

Experimental cold-flow evaluation of a ram air cooled plug nozzle concept for afterburning turbojet engines

A concept for plug nozzles cooled by inlet ram air is presented. Experimental data obtained with a small scale model, 21.59-cm (8.5-in.) diameter, in a static altitude facility demonstrated high thrust performance and excellent pumping characteristics. Tests were made at nozzle pressure ratios simulating supersonic cruise and takeoff conditions. Effect of plug size, outer shroud length, and varying amounts of secondary flow were investigated.

Straight, D. M.↗

Design, develop and test high temperature dynamic seals for the space shuttle's aerodynamic control surfaces

A description is given of the design, development and testing of high temperature dynamic seals for the gaps between the structure and aerodynamic control surfaces on the space shuttle. These aerodynamic seals are required to prevent high temperature airflow from damaging thermally unprotected structures and components during entry. Two seal concepts evolved a curtain seal for the spanwise elevon cove gap, and a labyrinth seal for the area above the elevon, at the gap between the end of the elevon and the fuselage. On the basis of development testing, both seal concepts were shown to be feasible for controlling internal temperatures to 350 F or less when exposed to a typical space shuttle entry environment. The curtain seal concept demonstrated excellent test results and merits strong consideration for application on the space shuttle orbiter. The labyrinth seal concept, although demonstrating significant temperature reduction characteristics, may or may not be required on the Orbiter, depending on the actual design configuration and flight environment.

Source record↗

Remote sensing in Iowa agriculture

The author has identified the following significant results. Photo-interpretive methods have been used for vegetation identification to include additive false color analysis using the I2S Miniadcol system. Enlarged black and white ERTS-1 imagery provides excellent synoptic coverage over large areas and this provides the vegetation type interpretor with a first tool. Analysis of field type using MSS bands individually gives the interpretor only shades of gray to base his decision. Combining the MSS bands and adding color through the I2S Miniadcol system provides the interpretor a greater degree of freedom in his decision making process. The information potentially available from ERTS-1 can be of great use in state planning and as an aid to the present crop survey programs.

Mahlstede, J. P.↗

An analytical procedure for evaluating shuttle abort staging aerodynamic characteristics

An engineering analysis and computer code (AERSEP) for predicting Space Shuttle Orbiter - HO Tank longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics during abort separation has been developed. Computed results are applicable at Mach numbers above 2 for angle-of-attack between plus or minus 10 degrees. No practical restrictions on orbiter-tank relative positioning are indicated for tank-under-orbiter configurations. Input data requirements and computer running times are minimal facilitating program use for parametric studies, test planning, and trajectory analysis. In a majority of cases AERSEP Orbiter-Tank interference predictions are as accurate as state-of-the-art estimates for interference-free or isolated-vehicle configurations. AERSEP isolated-orbiter predictions also show excellent correlation with data.

Meyer, R.↗

Use of satellite imagery for wildland resource evaluation in the Great Basin

The author has identified the following significant results. Most major vegetation types of Nevada have been mapped with success. The completed set of mosaic overlays will be more accurate and detailed than previous maps compiled by various State and Federal agencies due to the excellent vantage point that ERTS-1 data affords. This new vegetation type map will greatly aid resource agencies in their daily work. Such information as suitable grazing areas, wildlife habitat, forage production, and approximate wildland production potentials can be inferred from such a map. There has been some success in detecting vegetational changes with the use of ERTS-1 MSS imagery, but exposure differences have somewhat confounded the results. Future plans include work to solve this problem.

Tueller, P. T.↗

Application of composites to the selective reinforcement of metallic aerospace structures

The use of composite materials to selectively reinforce metallic structures provides a low-cost way to reduce weight and a means of minimizing the risks usually associated with the introduction of new materials. An overview is presented of the NASA Langley Research Center programs to identify the advantages and to develop the potential of the selective reinforcement approach to the use of composites. These programs have shown that selective reinforcement provides excellent strength and stiffness improvements to metallic structures. Significant weight savings can be obtained in a cost effective manner. Flight service programs which have been initiated to validate further the merits of selective reinforcement are described.

Brooks, W. A., Jr.↗

Investigation of the Statistics of Pure Tone Sound Power Injection from Low Frequency, Finite Sized Sources in a Reverberant Room

The effect of finite source size on the power statistics in a reverberant room for pure tone excitation was investigated. Theoretical results indicate that the standard deviation of low frequency, pure tone finite sources is always less than that predicted by point source theory and considerably less when the source dimension approaches one-half an acoustic wavelength or greater. A supporting experimental study was conducted utilizing an eight inch loudspeaker and a 30 inch loudspeaker at eleven source positions. The resulting standard deviation of sound power output of the smaller speaker is in excellent agreement with both the derived finite source theory and existing point source theory, if the theoretical data is adjusted to account for experimental incomplete spatial averaging. However, the standard deviation of sound power output of the larger speaker is measurably lower than point source theory indicates, but is in good agreement with the finite source theory.

Smith, Wayne Farrior↗

Two-inch Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) multispectral three camera subsystem

A return beam vidicon multispectral three camera subsystem was developed and built as one of the two principal sensor payloads for the ERTS-A and -B missions. The performance of the cameras on ERTS-1 has been excellent, meeting or exceeding all expectations, especially in the area of geometric fidelity and stability. The three cameras are coaligned in the spacecraft to view the same square ground scene but in different spectral bands. When the separate images are processed and superimposed in their respective colors, they provide a single false color image containing the radiometric and cartographic information required for the ERTS system. The three spectral regions covered by the RBV subsystem are the blue-green red, and the near infrared. The three cameras are exposed simultaneously to facilitate registration of the three separate images into the final color composite.

Weinstein, O.↗