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At least 631 records · Page 35

Lear jet telescope system

The telescope system was designed as a multi-user facility for observations of celestial objects at infrared wavelengths, where ground-based observations are difficult or impossible due to the effects of telluric atmospheric absorption. The telescope is mounted in a Lear jet model 24B which typically permits 70 min. of observing per flight at altitudes in excess of 45,000 ft (13 km). Telescope system installation is discussed, along with appropriate setup and adjustment procedures. Operation of the guidance system is also explained, and checklists are provided which pertain to the recommended safe operating and in-flight trouble-shooting procedures for the equipment.

Erickson, E. F.↗

An infrared foreoptics adaptor for the Learjet Telescope

A foreoptics adapter has been built for the Learjet telescope which permits simultaneous viewing of the visible star field in the image plane and acquisition of astronomical data at infrared wavelengths (less than 1 micrometer). The device uses an adjustable dichroic beamsplitter to transmit visible wavelengths to an eyepiece (or television camera), and to reflect infrared wavelengths to a port where an infrared detector system can be mounted. The instrument is intended as a multiple user facility for the Learjet telescope. This report describes the adapter and its use.

Erickson, E. F.↗

Space science on the Space Shuttle - Plans and prospects

The paper gives an overview of current planning for the use of the Space Shuttle and Spacelab for carrying out NASA's program in Space Science. Attention is given to the major categories of use: (1) as a launch and service vehicle; (2) as an experiment platform for carrying out passive observations; (3) as a component in active and controlled experiments in space; and (4) as a manned orbiting laboratory for carrying out investigations requiring hands-on access to equipment and samples. Examples of each type of use are given. Also discussed are some of the multi-user facility instruments which are planned for early development. Finally, payloads to be carried on the early missions are discussed with particular emphasis on the capabilities of the Shuttle/Spacelab.

Rosendhal, J. F.↗

Conceptual design study for an advanced cab and visual system, volume 2

The performance, design, construction and testing requirements are defined for developing an advanced cab and visual system. The rotorcraft system integration simulator is composed of the advanced cab and visual system and the rotorcraft system motion generator, and is part of an existing simulation facility. User's applications for the simulator include rotorcraft design development, product improvement, threat assessment, and accident investigation.

Rue, R. J.↗

Microgravity noncontact temperature requirements at NASA Lewis Research Center

NASA Lewis Research Center is currently supporting 66 microgravity science and applications projects. The 66 projects are separated into 23 flight projects and 43 ground-based projects. The part of the NASA Lewis program dealing with flight experiments is divided into six areas: Combustion Science, Materials Science, Fluid Physics, Instrumentation/Equipment, Advanced Technology Development, and Space Station Multi-User Facility studies. The part of the NASA Lewis program dealing with ground-based experiments is coincidentally also divided into six areas: Electronic Materials, Combustion Science, Fluid Dynamics and Transport Phenomena, Metals and Alloys, Glasses and Ceramics, and Physics and Chemistry Experiments. Several purposes exist for ground-based experimenting. Preliminary information is necessary before a decision can be made for flight status, the short low gravity durations available in ground facilities are adequate for a particular study, or extensive ground-based research must be conducted to define and support the microgravity science endeavors contemplated for space. Not all of the 66 microgravity science and application projects at NASA Lewis have temperature requirements, but most do. Since space allocation does not permit a review of all the pertinent projects, a decision was made to restrict the coverage to the science flight projects, flight projects minus the advanced technology development, and multiuser facility efforts. Very little is lost by this decision as the types of temperature requirements for science flight projects can be considered representative of those for the ground-based projects. The noncontact temperature needs at NASA Lewis, as represented by the science flight projects are discussed by describing briefly the experiments themselves, by displaying an illustration of each experimental setup, and by specifying their temperature requisites.

Santoro, G.↗

Automated inspection of turbine blades: Challenges and opportunities

Current inspection methods for complex shapes and contours exemplified by aircraft engine turbine blades are expensive, time-consuming and labor intensive. The logistics support of new manufacturing paradigms such as integrated product-process development (IPPD) for current and future engine technology development necessitates high speed, automated inspection of forged and cast jet engine blades, combined with a capability of retaining and retrieving metrology data for process improvements upstream (designer-level) and downstream (end-user facilities) at commercial and military installations. The paper presents the opportunities emerging from a feasibility study conducted using 3-D holographic laser radar in blade inspection. Requisite developments in computing technologies for systems integration of blade inspection in production are also discussed.

Mehta, Manish↗

The Light Microscopy Module Design and Performance Demonstrations

The Light Microscopy Module (LMM) is a state-of-the-art space station payload to provide investigations in the fields of fluids, condensed matter physics, and biological sciences. The LMM hardware will reside inside the Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR), a multi-user facility class payload that will provide fundamental services for the LMM and future payloads. LMM and FIR will be launched in 2005 and both will reside in the Destiny module of the International Space Station (ISS). There are five experiments to be performed within the LMM. This paper will provide a description of the initial five experiments: the supporting FIR subsystems; LMM design; capabilities and key features; and a summary of performance demonstrations.

Motil, Susan M.↗

The James Webb Space Telescope: Mission Overview and Status

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the infrared successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a cryogenic infrared space observatory with a 25 sq. m aperture (6 m telescope yielding diffraction limited angular resolution at a wavelength of 2 micron. The science instrument payload includes three passively cooled near-infrared instruments providing broad- and narrow-band imagery, coronagraphy, as well as multi object and integral-field spectroscopy over the 0.6 < 0 < 5.0 micron spectrum. An actively cooled mid-infrared instrument provides broad-band imagery, coronagraphy, and integral-field spectroscopy over the 5.0 < 0 < 29 micron spectrum. The JWST is being developed by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian Space Agencies, as a general user facility with science observations to be proposed by the international astronomical community in a manner similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. Technology development and mission design are complete, and construction is underway in all areas of the program. The JWST is on schedule to reach launch readiness during 2014.

Greenhouse, Matthew A.↗

Advances in Non-contact Measurement of Creep Properties

Our team has developed a novel approach to measuring creep at extremely high temperatures using electrostatic levitation (ESL). This method has been demonstrated on niobium up to 2300 C, while ESL has melted tungsten (3400 C). High-precision machined spheres of the sample are levitated in the NASA MSFC ESL, a national user facility, and heated with a laser. The laser is aligned off-center so that the absorbed photons transfer their momentum to the sample, causing it to rotate at up to 250,000+ RPM. The rapid rotation loads the sample through centripetal acceleration, causing it to deform. The deformation of the sample is captured on high-speed video, which is analyzed by machine-vision software from the University of Massachusetts. The deformations are compared to finite element models to determine the constitutive constants in the creep relation. Furthermore, the noncontact method exploits stress gradients within the sample to determine the stress exponent in a single test. This method was validated in collaboration with the University of Tennessee for niobium at 1985 C, with agreement within the uncertainty of the conventional measurements. A similar method is being employed on Ultra-High-Temperature ZrB2- SiC composites, which may see application in rocket nozzles and sharp leading edges for hypersonic vehicles.

Hyers, Robert W.↗

Improved Creep Measurements for Ultra-High Temperature Materials

Our team has developed a novel approach to measuring creep at extremely high temperatures using electrostatic levitation (ESL). This method has been demonstrated on niobium up to 2300 C, while ESL has melted tungsten (3400 C). This method has been extended to lower temperatures and higher stresses and applied to new materials, including a niobium-based superalloy, MASC. High-precision machined spheres of the sample are levitated in the NASA MSFC ESL, a national user facility and heated with a laser. The samples are rotated with an induction motor at up to 30,000 revolutions per second. The rapid rotation loads the sample through centripetal acceleration, producing a shear stress of about 60 MPa at the center, causing the sample to deform. The deformation of the sample is captured on high-speed video, which is analyzed by machine-vision software from the University of Massachusetts. The deformations are compared to finite element models to determine the constitutive constants in the creep relation. Furthermore, the non-contact method exploits stress gradients within the sample to determine the stress exponent in a single test.

Hyers, Robert W.↗

Challenges in Transitioning Research Data to Operations: The SPoRT Paradigm

Established in 2002 to demonstrate the weather and forecasting application of real-time EOS measurements, the NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) program has grown to be an end-to-end research to operations activity focused on the use of advanced NASA modeling and data assimilation approaches, nowcasting techniques, and unique high-resolution multispectral data from EOS satellites to improve short-term weather forecasts on a regional and local scale. With the ever-broadening application of real-time high resolution satellite data from current EOS and planned NPP, JPSS, and GOES-R sensors to weather forecast problems, significant challenges arise in the acquisition, delivery, and integration of the new capabilities into the decision making process of the operational weather community. For polar orbiting sensors such as MODIS, AIRS, VIIRS, and CRiS, the use of direct broadcast ground stations is key to the real-time delivery of the data and derived products in a timely fashion. With the ABI on the geostationary GOES-R satellite, the data volume will likely increase by a factor of 5- 10 from current data streams. However, the high data volume and limited bandwidth of end user facilities presents a formidable obstacle to timely access to the data. This challenge can be addressed through the use of subsetting techniques, innovative web services, and the judicious selection of data formats. Many of these approaches have been implemented by SPoRT for the delivery of real-time products to NWS forecast offices and other weather entities. Once available in decision support systems like AWIPS II, these new data and products must be integrated into existing and new displays that allow for the integration of the data with existing operational products in these systems. SPoRT is leading the way in demonstrating this enhanced capability. This paper will highlight the ways SPoRT is overcoming many of the challenges presented by the enormous data volumes of current and future satellite systems to get unique high quality research data into the operational weather environment.

Jedloved, Gary J.↗

The James Webb Space Telescope: Mission Overview and Status

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the Infrared successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a cryogenic infrared space observatory with a 25 sq m aperture (6 m class) telescope yielding diffraction limited angular resolution at a wave1ength of 2 micron. The science instrument payload includes three passively cooled near-infrared instruments providing broad- and narrow-band imagery, coronagraphy, as well as multi-object and integral-field spectroscopy over the 0.6 <lambda < 5.0 micron spectrum. An actively cooled mid-infrared instrument provides broad-band imagery, coronagraphy, and integral-field spectroscopy over the 5.0 < lambda < 29 micron spectrum. The JWST is being developed by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian Space Agencies, as a general user facility with science observations to be proposed by the international astronomical community in a manner similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. Technology development and mission design are complete, and construction is underway in all areas of the program.

Greenhouse, Matthew A.↗

SPoRT: Transitioning NASA and NOAA Experimental Data to the Operational Weather Community

Established in 2002 to demonstrate the weather and forecasting application of real-time EOS measurements, the NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) program has grown to be an end-to-end research to operations activity focused on the use of advanced NASA modeling and data assimilation approaches, nowcasting techniques, and unique high-resolution multispectral data from EOS satellites to improve short-term weather forecasts on a regional and local scale. With the ever-broadening application of real-time high resolution satellite data from current EOS, Suomi NPP, and planned JPSS and GOES-R sensors to weather forecast problems, significant challenges arise in the acquisition, delivery, and integration of the new capabilities into the decision making process of the operational weather community. For polar orbiting sensors such as MODIS, AIRS, VIIRS, and CRiS, the use of direct broadcast ground stations is key to the real-time delivery of the data and derived products in a timely fashion. With the ABI on the geostationary GOES-R satellite, the data volumes will likely increase by a factor of 5-10 from current data streams. However, the high data volume and limited bandwidth of end user facilities presents a formidable obstacle to timely access to the data. This challenge can be addressed through the use of subsetting techniques, innovative web services, and the judicious selection of data formats. Many of these approaches have been implemented by SPoRT for the delivery of real-time products to NWS forecast offices and other weather entities. Once available in decision support systems like AWIPS II, these new data and products must be integrated into existing and new displays that allow for the integration of the data with existing operational products in these systems. SPoRT is leading the way in demonstrating this enhanced capability. This paper will highlight the ways SPoRT is overcoming many of the challenges presented by the enormous data volumes of current and future satellite systems to get unique high quality research data into the operational weather environment.

Jedlovec, Gary J.↗

The JWST Science Instrument Payload: Mission Context and Status

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the scientific successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a cryogenic infrared space observatory with a 25 sq m aperture (6 m class) telescope that will achieve diffraction limited angular resolution at a wavelength of 2 micrometers. The science instrument payload includes four passively cooled near-infrared instruments providing broad- and narrow-band imagery, coronography, as well as multi-object and integral-field spectroscopy over the 0.6 is less than lambda is less than 5.0 micrometers spectrum. An actively cooled mid-infrared instrument provides broad-band imagery, coronography, and integral-field spectroscopy over the 5.0 is less than lambda is less than 29 micrometers spectrum. The JWST is being developed by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian Space Agencies, as a general user facility with science observations proposed by the international astronomical community in a manner similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. Technology development and mission design are complete. The science instrument payload is in the final stage of testing ahead of delivery for integration with the telescope during early 2016. The JWST is on schedule for launch during 2018.

narrow-band imagery↗

The JWST Science Instrument Payload: Mission Context and Status

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the scientific successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a cryogenic infrared space observatory with a 25 sq m aperture (6 m class) telescope that will achieve diffraction limited angular resolution at a wavelength of 2 microns. The science instrument payload includes four passively cooled near-infrared instruments providing broad- and narrow-band imagery, coronography, as well as multi-object and integral-field spectroscopy over the 0.6 < lambda < 5.0 microns spectrum. An actively cooled mid-infrared instrument provides broad-band imagery, coronography, and integral-field spectroscopy over the 5.0 < lambda < 29 microns spectrum. The JWST is being developed by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian Space Agencies, as a general user facility with science observations to be proposed by the international astronomical community in a manner similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. Technology development and mission design are complete. Construction, integration and verification testing is underway in all areas of the program. The JWST is on schedule for launch during 2018.

cryogenic infrared space observatory↗

The James Webb Space Telescope: Mission Overview and Status

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the scientific successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a cryogenic infrared space observatory with a 25 m2 aperture (6 m class) telescope that will achieve diffraction limited angular resolution at a wavelength of 2 um. The science instrument payload includes four passively cooled near-infrared instruments providing broad- and narrow-band imagery, coronography, as well as multi-object and integral-field spectroscopy over the 0.6 < λ < 5.0 µm spectrum. An actively cooled mid-infrared instrument provides broad-band imagery, coronography, and integral-field spectroscopy over the 5.0 < λ < 29 µm spectrum. The JWST is being developed by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian Space Agencies, as a general user facility with science observations proposed by the international astronomical community in a manner similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. Technology development and mission design are complete. Construction, integration and verification testing is underway in all areas of the program. The JWST is on schedule for launch during 2021.

Greenhouse, Matthew↗

Aerosol-Ice Formation Closure Pilot Study (AEROICSTUDY) Field Campaign Report

The aerosol-ice formation closure pilot study (AEROICESTUDY) was a field campaign conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility at the Southern Great Plains (SGP) observatory from October 7 to 28, 2019. The purpose of this campaign was to test a field observational approach for conducting an aerosol-ice formation closure study. In other words, the goal was to predict the number of ice nucleating particles (INPs) from the measurements of physical and chemical aerosol properties and compare those to measured INP number concentrations. This project was motivated by the fact that the aerosol community has widely conducted aerosol radiative closure, aerosol-cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), and CCN-droplet closure studies to test the physical models and parameterizations that cloud-resolving and climate models rely on to perform reliable simulations of the Earth system and energy budget. However, very few closure studies related to INPs have been conducted, and to our knowledge, none using robust, size-resolved, ambient aerosol composition measurements as model inputs.

aerosol-ice formation↗

Aerosol-Ice Formation Closure Pilot Study (AEROICESTUDY) Field Campaign Report

The aerosol-ice formation closure pilot study (AEROICESTUDY) was a field campaign conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility at the Southern Great Plains (SGP) observatory from October 7 to 28, 2019. The purpose of this campaign was to test a field observational approach for conducting an aerosol-ice formation closure study. In other words, the goal was to predict the number of ice nucleating particles (INPs) from the measurements of physical and chemical aerosol properties and compare those to measured INP number concentrations. This project was motivated by the fact that the aerosol community has widely conducted aerosol radiative closure, aerosol-cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), and CCN-droplet closure studies to test the physical models and parameterizations that cloud-resolving and climate models rely on to perform reliable simulations of the Earth system and energy budget. However, very few closure studies related to INPs have been conducted, and to our knowledge, none using robust, size-resolved, ambient aerosol composition measurements as model inputs

AEROICESTUDY↗