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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 649 records · Page 36
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Solar generated quasi-biennial geomagnetic variation

The existence of highly correlated quasi-biennial variations in the geomagnetic field and in solar activity is demonstrated. The analysis uses a numerical filter technique applied to monthly averages of the geomagnetic horizontal component and of the Zurich relative sunspot number. Striking correlations are found between the quasi-biennial geomagnetic variations determined from several magnetic observatories located at widely different longitudes, indicating a worldwide nature of the obtained variation. The correlation coefficient between the filtered Dst index and the filtered relative sunspot number is found to be -0.79 at confidence level greater than 99% with a time-lag of 4 months, with solar activity preceding the Dst variation. The correlation between the unfiltered data of Dst and of the sunspot number is also high with a similar time-lag. Such a timelag has not been discussed in the literature, and a further study is required to establish the mode of sun-earth relationship that gives this time delay.

Sugiura, M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The 64-meter antenna pedestal tilt at DSS 43, Tidbinbilla, Australia

The present and possible future effects of pedestal tilt at the deep space tracking station are discussed. Topics include causes of the tilt, its amplitude and rate of change, and the method of measurement used. The degree of confidence in the measurements made is also examined.

Gale, G.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Electronic and mechanical improvement of the receiving terminal of a free-space microwave power transmission system

Significant advancements were made in a number of areas: improved efficiency of basic receiving element at low power density levels, improved resolution and confidence in efficiency measurements mathematical modelling and computer simulation of the receiving element and the design, construction, and testing of an environmentally protected two-plane construction suitable for low cost, highly automated construction of large receiving arrays.

Brown, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Rolling-element fatigue life of AMS 5749 corrosion resistant, high temperature bearing steel

The rolling element fatigue lives of AMS 5749 and AISI M-50 were compared in tests run in the five ball fatigue tester and the rolling contact fatigue tester. The effects of double vacuum melting and retained austenite on the life of AMS 5749 were determined in five ball fatigue tests. The double vacuum melting process consisted of induction vacuum melting followed by vacuum arc remelting (VIM-VAR). In the five ball tests, VIM-VAR AMS 5749 gave lives at least six times that of VIM-VAR AISI M-50. Similar tests in the rolling contact fatigue tester showed no significant difference in the lives of the two materials. The rolling element fatigue life of VIM-VAR AMS 5749 was at least 14 times that of vacuum induction melted AMS 5749. A trend toward increased rolling element fatigue life with decreased retained austenite is apparent, but the confidence that all experimental differences are significant is not great.

Parker, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Space station systems analysis study. Part 3: Documentation. Volume 4: Supporting research and technology report

A brief description of recommended supporting research and technology items resulting from the space station analysis study is provided. Descriptions include the title; the status with respect to the state of the art; the justification; the technical plan including objectives and technical approach; resource requirements categorized by manpower, specialized facilities, and funding in 1977 dollars; and also the target schedule. The goal is to provide high confidence in the solutions for the various functional system development problems, and to do so within a time period compatible with the overall evolutionary space construction base schedule.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1977

Vectorcardiographic changes during extended space flight (M093): Observations at rest and during exercise

The objectives of Skylab Experiment M093 were to measure electrocardiographic signals during space flight, to elucidate the electrophysiological basis for the changes observed, and to assess the effect of the change on the human cardiovascular system. Vectorcardiographic methods were used to quantitate changes, standardize data collection, and to facilitate reduction and statistical analysis of data. Since the Skylab missions provided a unique opportunity to study the effects of prolonged weightlessness on human subjects, an effort was made to construct a data base that contained measurements taken with precision and in adequate number to enable conclusions to be made with a high degree of confidence. Standardized exercise loads were incorporated into the experiment protocol to increase the sensitivity of the electrocardiogram for effects of deconditioning and to detect susceptability for arrhythmias.

Smith, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Absolute integrated intensity for the nu-1 sulfur dioxide band

The absolute integrated intensity of the IR vibration-rotation nu-1 SO2 band was measured using the linear portion of the curve of growth. Infrared spectroscopic-absorption cell measurements were performed on sulfur dioxide at partial pressures less than 0.15 torr with nitrogen added to give a total pressure of 705 torr, the path length being 4 mm. The absolute integrated intensity was determined to be 112.0 plus or minus 2.6/cm/sq (atm cm) at 296 K at the 95% confidence level.

Pilon, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Uhuru observations of the globular cluster X-ray source NGC 6712

Two years of Uhuru observations of the globular-cluster X-ray source A1850-08 = NGC 6712 are reported. An X-ray flare with a duration longer than that of reported X-ray bursts but shorter than that of X-ray transients is analyzed during which the source reached an intensity approximately one-third that of the Crab Nebula. It is found that the source shows day-to-day variability similar to that observed for the other six globular-cluster sources and for the great majority of galactic X-ray sources. A location is determined with 90% confidence by combining the Uhuru location with the Ariel 5 error box, and the identification of the X-ray source with the globular cluster is confirmed. Several possible models for the flaring behavior of the source are evaluated.

Cominsky, L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Remote sensing as a tool for watershed-wide estimation of net solar radiation and water loss to the atmosphere

Results are presented for a study intended to develop a general remote sensing-aided cost-effective procedure to estimate watershed-wide water loss to the atmosphere via evapotranspiration and to estimate net solar radiation over the watershed. Evapotranspiration estimation employs a basic two-stage two-phase sample of three information resolution levels. Net solar radiation is taken as one of the variables at each level of evapotranspiration modeling. The input information for models requiring spatial information will be provided by Landsat digital data, environmental satellite data, ground meteorological data, ground sample unit information, and topographic data. The outputs of the sampling-estimation/data bank system will be in-place maps of evapotranspiration on a data resolution element basis, watershed-wide evapotranspiration isopleths, and estimates of watershed and subbasin total evapotranspiration with associated statistical confidence bounds. The methodology developed is being tested primarily on the Spanish Creek Watershed Plumas County, California.

Khorram, S.↗
NASA NTRS1976

On the occurrence of sympathetic flares

Random-coincidence formulas are applied to the data used in previous studies of alleged sympathetic flares to determine whether statistical evidence on the occurrence of such flares can be found for specific physically connected pairs of active regions. Only those active regions that are interconnected by magnetic loops in soft X-rays on Skylab photographs are considered to be physically connected. All pairs of flaring active regions (both interconnected and otherwise) observed on the sun during the Skylab flight are also evaluated. The only positive result is obtained with statistical confidence of 3.4 sigmas for pairs of active regions separated by no more than 30 deg. The occurrence of short time intervals between flares is shown to be increased for such active-region pairs, but the pattern of time intervals is found not to correspond with any propagation mode of a triggering agent in the solar atmosphere. It is suggested that some subphotospheric synchronization of activity in nearby plages and sunspot groups could increase the number of short time intervals between flares at different locations without any actual influence of one 'sympathetic' flare upon another, leading to the concept of 'sympathetic active regions' instead of 'sympathetic flares'.

Fritzova-Svestkova, L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Microturbulence, systematic motions, and line formation in molecular clouds

Microturbulence and systematic motions are viewed as simplifying assumptions made to facilitate treatment of line formation in molecular clouds, and line intensities calculated in the two approximations are compared to estimate how uncertainties about the actual line-broadening mechanism affect the interpretation of molecular emission lines. For lines formed by two-level molecules in an isothermal homogeneous cloud, the alternative assumptions lead to peak and integrated line intensities which agree within the differences (up to a factor of 3) associated with the ignorance of cloud geometry. New multilevel calculations for CO in the same cloud model bear out the generality of this result. It follows that, within the geometrical uncertainties, the Sobolev (1960) approximation may be used confidently in the numerous applications for which this simple cloud model suffices.

White, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A reliable dual-redundant sensor FDI system for the NASA F8C-DFBW aircraft

In this paper we outline the structure of a sensor failure detection and identification (FDI) system designed for the NASA F8C DFBW aircraft. The system is for use in a dual-redundant environment, and it takes maximal advantage of all functional and kinematic relationships among the sensed variables. The technique is reliable in that we have designed the system to account for a variety of unmodeled effects and have introduced a new concept - the quality sequential probability ratio (QSPR) - that provides a useful measure of our confidence in each test. The methodology used for determining detector parameters and the 'outer loop logic' for combining the various sources of information are described.

Deckert, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Economics of modern long-haul cargo airships

The economic characteristics and historical trends of long-haul air transportation are discussed. Various published estimates of modern airship direct operating costs are presented and comparatively analyzed. The large discrepancies in these estimates are in large measure explained, allowing airship direct operating costs to be estimated with some confidence. Indirect costs are also briefly discussed. Projected airship operating costs are compared with actual costs of competing modes such as airplanes, trucks, rail, and pipelines, and it is concluded that airships cannot economically compete with other long-haul modes. Thus attention is drawn to short-haul applications of the airship; and because short-haul missions lead to vehicle requirements that are considerably different from those for long-haul missions, it is concluded that the civil airship of the future is likely to bear little resemblance to those of the past.

Ardema, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Attitude determination system for Seasat-A mission

The attitude determination (AD) system hardware of Seasat-A consists of two sun aspect sensors, two infrared (IR) horizon scanners, related electronics, telemetry, and science sensors. The earth horizon pulse signal sensing is accomplished by a variable thresholding method intended to self-adjust for earth radiance variations. The use of sun sensors rather than star trackers for yaw determination calls for estimation rather than measurement of yaw attitude about 50% of mission time. Features of the yaw interpolation algorithm include adaptability and automatic incorporation of time-varying confidence levels of various data sources. The performance accuracy of the AD system was assessed, where it is found that the most important error source is the variation in earth atmospheric radiance. Analysis of science instrument sensitivity to AD uncertainties was performed, and the most sensitive instrument, the scatterometer system, shows only gradual degradation of performance in the vicinity of the AD accuracy requirement.

Ohtakay, H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Nonaxisymmetric nozzle technology program - An overview

Nonaxisymmetric nozzles, with in-flight thrust vectoring and/or reversing capabilities, provide the potential for substantial gains in fighter aircraft performance, maneuvering, survivability and ground handling. This paper presents an overview of some of the current programs to develop nonaxisymmetric nozzle technology for future aircraft applications. The initial phase of this program, which consists of a series of subscale model tests, engine/nozzle studies, system integration studies and simulation studies, has been initiated. Successful completion of this program will allow designers of future aircraft to consider, with high confidence, the integration of nonaxisymmetric nozzle concepts to improve aircraft mission performance effectiveness, survivability and cost.

Berrier, B. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Kinetic theory analysis of rarefied gas flow through finite length slots

A kinetic-theory analysis is made of the flow of a rarefied monatomic gas through a two-dimensional slot connecting two reservoirs. Numerical solutions are obtained by the moment and discrete-ordinate methods. The former method portrays the transition-regime characteristics well but has limitations in the free-molecule regime. The latter method gives accurate results in the free-molecule and slip regimes and bolsters confidence in the accuracy of the transition-regime results. The numerical solution for the mass flux through the slot agrees well with an approximate analytical solution of the moment equations for length-to-width ratios from 6 to 0.5, pressure ratios from 0.8 to 0.1, and Knudsen numbers from 5 to 0.5.

Raghuraman, P.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Solar flare activity - Evidence for large-scale changes in the past

An analysis of radar and photographic meteor data and of spacecraft meteoroid-penetration data indicates that there probably has not been a large increase in meteoroid impact rates in the last 10,000 yr. The solar-flare tracks observed in the glass linings of meteoroid impact pits on lunar rock 15205 are therefore reanalyzed assuming a meteoroid flux that is constant in time. Based on this assumption, the data suggest that the production rate of Fe-group solar-flare tracks may have varied by as much as a factor of 50 on a time scale of about 10,000 yr. No independently obtained data are known to require conflict with this interpretation. Confidence in this conclusion is somewhat qualified by the experimental and analytical uncertainties involved, but the conclusion nevertheless remains the present 'best' explanation for the observed data trends.

Zook, H. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

On the optical identifications of five X-ray sources

The data from a recently completed survey of the galactic plane with the SAS-3 modulation collimators provide precise (20 to 60 arcsec) celestial positions of galactic X-ray sources. Preliminary positions of 60-arcsec precision are reported for five sources. One of these led to the identification of the star, Gamma Cas, as an X-ray source, and the others lend substantial confidence to previously proposed optical identifications: 3U 0352+30 = X Per, 3U 1145-61 = HEN 715, GX301-2 = WRA977, and GX304-1 = MMV star. These identifications seem to establish the existence of a previously suggested class of Be-star X-ray emitters.

Bradt, H. V.↗