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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 631 records · Page 35

Mapping of wildlife habitat in Farmington Bay, Utah

Mapping was accomplished through the interpretation of high-altitude color infrared photography. The feasibility of utilizing LANDSAT digital data to augment the analysis was explored; complex patterns of wildlife habitat and confusion of spectral classes resulted in the decision to make limited use of LANDSAT data in the analysis. The final product is a map which delineates wildlife habitat at a scale of 1:24,000. The map is registered to and printed on a screened U.S.G.S. quadrangle base map. Screened delineations of shoreline contours, mapped from a previous study, are also shown on the map. Intensive field checking of the map was accomplished for the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in August 1981; other areas on the map received only spot field checking.

Jaynes, R. A.↗

Research and technology report of the Langley Research Center

Highlights of major accomplishments and applications made during the past year at the Langley Research Center are reported. The activities and the contributions of this work toward maintaining United States leadership in aeronautics and space research are also discussed. Accomplishments in the fields of aeronautics and space technology, space science and applications and space transportation systems are discussed.

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Solution of nonlinear multivariable constrained systems using a gradient projection digital algorithm that is insensitive to the initial state

Optimal digital control of nonlinear multivariable constrained systems was studied. The optimal controller in the form of an algorithm was improved and refined by reducing running time and storage requirements. A particularly difficult system of nine nonlinear state variable equations was chosen as a test problem for analyzing and improving the controller. Lengthy analysis, modeling, computing and optimization were accomplished. A remote interactive teletype terminal was installed. Analysis requiring computer usage of short duration was accomplished using Tuskegee's VAX 11/750 system.

Hargrove, A.↗

Strain gage balances and buffet gages

One-piece strain gage force balances were developed for use in the National Transonic Facility (NTF). This was accomplished by studying the effects of the cryogenic environment on materials, strain gages, cements, solders, and moisture proofing agents, and selecting those that minimized strain gage output changes due to temperature. In addition, because of the higher loads that may be imposed by the NTF, these balances are designed to carry a larger load for a given diameter than conventional balances. Full cryogenic calibrations were accomplished, and wind tunnel results that were obtained from the Langley 0-3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel were used to verify laboratory test results.

Ferris, A. T.↗

The asteroid rendezvous spacecraft. An adaptation study of TIROS/DMSP technology

The feasibility of using the TIROS/DMSP Earth orbiting meteorological satellite in application to a near Earth asteroid rendezvous mission. System and subsystems analysis was carried out to develop a configuration of the spacecraft suitable for this mission. Mission analysis studies were also done and maneuver/rendezvous scenarios developed for baseline missions to both Anteros and Eros. The fact that the Asteroid mission is the most complex of the Pioneer class missions currently under consideration notwithstanding, the basic conclusion very strongly supports the suitability of the basic TIROS bus for this mission in all systems and subsystems areas, including science accommodation. Further, the modifications which are required due to the unique mission are very low risk and can be accomplished readily. The key issue is that in virtually every key subsystem, the demands of the Asteroid mission are a subset of the basic meteorological satellite mission. This allows a relatively simple reconfiguration to be accomplished without a major system redesign.

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Advanced composite aileron for L-1011 transport aircraft: Aileron manufacture

The fabrication activities of the Advanced Composite Aileron (ACA) program are discussed. These activities included detail fabrication, manufacturing development, assembly, repair and quality assurance. Five ship sets of ailerons were manufactured. The detail fabrication effort of ribs, spar and covers was accomplished on male tools to a common cure cycle. Graphite epoxy tape and fabric and syntactic epoxy materials were utilized in the fabrication. The ribs and spar were net cured and required no post cure trim. Material inconsistencies resulted in manufacturing development of the front spar during the production effort. The assembly effort was accomplished in subassembly and assembly fixtures. The manual drilling system utilized a dagger type drill in a hydraulic feed control hand drill. Coupon testing for each detail was done.

Dunning, E. G.↗

Space Transportation System Mission STS-7

The second flight of Challenger was another exceptional flight in that 11 major objectives were accomplished. The TELESAT-F and PALAPA-B1 were deployed exactly on time. The SPAS-01 attached and detached operations went extremely well despite some heating problems with the SPAS. The OSTA-2 experiments for the Material Experiments Assembly and Material Wissenschaftliche Autone Unter Schwerelosigkeit were activated as planned with no indications of anomalies, and the MLR and CFES experiment packages in the middeck area were operated by the crew as planned. Ninety-six percent (56 of 58) of the assigned flight test objectives were completed. The turnaround time was accomplished in the least time to date (only 99.5 hours) and the return to KSC was completed with a total of only 5 days loss of program time.

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Investigation of air transportation technology at Ohio University, 1982

Refinement of the Loran-C receiver system for general aviation use was described. The capability to provide area navigation sometimes called random navigation (RNAV) was accomplished by providing new software. Microcomputers were used to accomplish the calculations which were performed in flight to demonstrate these devices are cost effective in the implementation of Loran-C navigational information.

Mcfarland, R. H.↗

Suitability of commercially available laboratory cryogenic refrigerators to support shipboard electro-optical systems in the 10 - 77 Kelvin region

The primary development of cryogenically cooled infrared systems was accomplished by FLIR systems designed for airborne, passive night vision. Essential to the development of these FLIR systems was a family of closed cycle refrigerators which had to meet a limited envelope requirement, utilize a nonlubricated compressor module, and be light in weight. Closed cycle refrigerators accomplished the same cooling function, they use modified oil lubricated reciprocating compressors which are limited in their axis of orientation to an angle of approximately 15-20 degrees maximum from horizon.

Hansen, R. G.↗

Importance of gravity for plant growth and behavior

Accomplishments during the past fiscal year consisted of (1) completion of research on a study of the kinetics of damping out of circummutation when the axially directed g-force was abruptly eliminated (Research Task NULYRL). (2) Further experiments were accomplished on a comprehensive study, underway for several years, to validate (or invalidate) the use of clinostat rotation as a hypogravity simulation device. (3) Some of our earlier (unpublished) observations on plant seedlings resistance to g-loading were evaluated, interpreted, and a paper was submitted for publication (Research Task HYGEFF). (4) In what has been called ""Shuttle middeck locker ecology" an attempt to acquire reliable empirical information on the thermal profile experienced by test packages housed in middeck lockers (MDDL) during shuttle flights at long last seems to be yielding some results.

Brown, A. H.↗

Ground test challenges in the development of the Space Shuttle orbiter auxiliary power unit

A conventional aircraft hydraulic system design approach was selected to provide fluid power for the Space Shuttle Orbiter. Developing the power unit, known as the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), to drive the hydraulic pumps presented a major technological challenge. A small, high speed turbine drive unit powered by catalytically decomposed hydrazine and operating in the pulse mode was selected to meet the requirement. Because of limitations of vendor test facilities, significant portions of the development, flight qualification, and postflight anomaly testing of the Orbiter APU were accomplished at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) test facilities. This paper discusses the unique requirements of attitude, gravity forces, pressure profiles, and thermal environments which had to be satisfied by the APU, and presents the unique test facility and simulation techniques employed to meet the ground test requirements. In particular, the development of the zero-g lubrication system, the development of necessary APU thermal control techniques, the accomplishment of integrated systems tests, and the postflight investigation of the APU lube oil cooler behavior are discussed.

Chaffee, N. H.↗

Research and technology

The role of the Langley Research Center is to engage in the basic and applied research necessary for the advancement of aeronautics and space flight, to enerate new and advanced concepts for the accomplishment of related national goals, and to provide research advice, technological support, and assistance to other NASA installations, other government agencies, and industry. Highlights of the major accomplishments and applications made during the past year are described. The highlights illustrate both the broad range of the research and technology activities at the Langley Research Center and the contributions of this work toward maintaining United States leadership in aeronautics and space research.

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Software used with the flux mapper at the solar parabolic dish test site

Software for data archiving and data display was developed for use on a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP-11/34A minicomputer for use with the JPL-designed flux mapper. The flux mapper is a two-dimensional, high radiant energy scanning device designed to measure radiant flux energies expected at the focal point of solar parabolic dish concentrators. Interfacing to the DEC equipment was accomplished by standard RS-232C serial lines. The design of the software was dicated by design constraints of the flux-mapper controller. Early attemps at data acquisition from the flux-mapper controller were not without difficulty. Time and personnel limitations result in an alternative method of data recording at the test site with subsequent analysis accomplished at a data evaluation location at some later time. Software for plotting was also written to better visualize the flux patterns. Recommendations for future alternative development are discussed. A listing of the programs used in the anaysis is included in an appendix.

Miyazono, C.↗

Shuttle-tethered satellite system definition study. Volume 1: Executive study

The Tethered Satellite System has great prospects for extending orbital operations capability of the Space Transportation System to science, applications, and technology projects not otherwise attainable. The system will installed in the Shuttle Orbiter and will have the capability to deploy a captive satellite up to 100 km away from the Orbiter. Control and retrieval of the satellite are accomplished by means of a tether line connecting the satellite and the cargo bay mounted equipment in the Orbiter. At low satellite altitudes, the system will permit investigations of a duration that could not be pursued with sounding rockets of free-flying spacecraft. The propose of the Shuttle/Tethered Satellite System Definition Study was to produce the preliminary design, preliminary specifications, gross program plans, and program cost estimate for a 1982 operational verification flight. This was accomplished during a fifteen month effort under by the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The MSFC Phase 1 and related studies demonstrated the feasibility of the system and served as a starting point for the Phase 2 definition study.

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Publications of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory 1983

The Jet propulsion Laboratory (JPL) bibliography describes and indexes by primary author the externally distributed technical reporting, released during calendar year 1983, that resulted from scientific and engineering work performed, or managed, by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Three classes of publications are included. JPL Publication (81-,82-,83-series, etc.), in which the information is complete for a specific accomplishment, articles published in the open literature, and articles from the quarterly telecommunications and Data Acquisition (TDA) Progress Report (42-series) are included. Each collection of articles in this class of publication presents a periodic survey of current accomplishments by the Deep Space Network as well as other developments in Earth-based radio technology.

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Component-specific modeling

Accomplishments are described for the second year effort of a 3-year program to develop methodology for component specific modeling of aircraft engine hot section components (turbine blades, turbine vanes, and burner liners). These accomplishments include: (1) engine thermodynamic and mission models; (2) geometry model generators; (3) remeshing; (4) specialty 3-D inelastic stuctural analysis; (5) computationally efficient solvers, (6) adaptive solution strategies; (7) engine performance parameters/component response variables decomposition and synthesis; (8) integrated software architecture and development, and (9) validation cases for software developed.

Mcknight, R. L.↗

Flat-plate module efficiency versus cost tradeoffs

The Five Year Research Plan energy cost methodology and in depth analyses based on the extensive data that are relevant to PV systems are used to facilitate the accomplishment of the $0.15/kWh energy cost goal. An equation is given for the five year energy cost methodology. The allocation guidelines are designed to be consistent with flat solar array (FSA) milestones for module cost, module efficiency, and the programmatic goal for energy cost. They are research targets that appear to be achievable, given prior accomplishments and planned activities in the areas of low cost silicon purification, low cost sheet material, high efficiency cell processing, low cost, long life encapsulants, and automated fabrication method. Extensive sensitivity analysis work has been performed that shows that these guidelines represent an efficient way to meet the intent of the DOE program.

Aster, R. W.↗

Coding schemes for improving MST radar performance, part 7.1A

The performance of an mesosphere-stratosphere-troposphere (MST) radar can be characterized by its system sensitivity and its range resolution. The former enables Doppler velocities to be determined even in the presence of very weak structures; the latter permits study of the fine structure within a turbulent region. Coding of transmitted signals has as its aim an increase in the effective radar sensitivity or range resolution without an increase in the peak transmitted power. This is accomplished by spreading the power in the frequency domain, giving better range resolution, without reducing the pulse width. Two basic techniques are used to accomplish this frequency dispersion: (1) using a type of pseudorandom code for the phase or amplitude within a single pulse, or within a finite sequence of pulses; (2) to code the frequency of the transmitted signal in some way. The various possibilities are discussed and are compared with the pulse-coding methods.

Bowhill, S. A.↗