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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 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

A facility for testing the acoustic combustion instability characteristics of solid rocket propellants

A facility is described that has been specifically designed for small-scale laboratory testing of solid rocket propellants. A description of the facility is provided which includes the general plan of the facility and features related to personnel safety. One of the major activities in the facility is testing solid rocket propellants for combustion response to acoustic perturbations. A detailed discussion of acoustic instability testing is given including specially designed combustion apparatus, data acquisition, and signal conditioning. Techniques of data reduction are reviewed and some of the instrumentation problems that arise in this type of testing are mentioned along with practical solutions.

Mathes, H. B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Chemical composition of earth, Venus, and Mercury

Model compositions of the earth, Venus, and Mercury are calculated from the premise that planets and chondrites underwent four identical fractionation processes in the solar nebula. Because elements of similar properties stay together in these processes, five constraints suffice to define the composition of a planet: mass of the core, abundance of U, and the ratios K/U, TI/U, and FeO/(FeO + MgO). Complete abundance tables, and normative mineralogies, are given for all three planets. A review of available data shows only a few gross trends for the inner planets: FeO decreases with heliocentric distance, whereas volatiles are depleted and refractories are enriched in the smaller planets.

Morgan, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Air transport flight parameter measurements program - Concepts and benefits

A program is described in which statistical flight loads and operating practice data for both narrow- and wide-body airline transport aircraft, intended primarily for use by manufacturers in updating design criteria, are obtained from existing, on-board digital flight data recorders. Procedures for editing and processing the data are explained, and differences between these and past NACA/NASA analog data are discussed. One major such difference is the automatic bandpass filtering of normal acceleration data to separate high-frequency gust response from low-frequency maneuver response. Plans and preliminary efforts for the development of an on-board data processing system, able to derive statistical aircraft operating parameters directly from real-time data, are also reviewed.

Morris, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

IUE observations of symbiotic stars

The main photometric and spectroscopic characteristics in the ultraviolet and visual range of the most extensively studied symbiotic stars are reviewed. The main data obtained with IUE concern: (1) the determination of the shape of the UV continuum, which, in some cases, proves without doubt the presence of a hot companion; and the determination of the interstellar extinction by means of the lambda 2200 feature; (2) the measurement of emission lines, which enables us to derive the electron temperature and density of the circumstellar envelope, and, taken together with those lines observed in the visual, give more complete information on which spectroscopic mechanisms operate in the envelope; (3) the observation of absorption lines in the UV, which are present in just a few cases.

Hack, M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Integrated application of active controls (IAAC) technology to an advanced subsonic transport project. Conventional baseline configuration study

Characteristics of the U.S. domestic fleet were evaluated to determine the mission characteristics that would have the most impact on U. S. transport fuel use in the future. This resulted in selection of a 197-passenger (plus cargo), about 3710-km (2000 nmi) mission. The existing data base was reviewed and additional analysis was conducted as necessary to complete the technical descriptions. The resulting baseline configuration utilizes a double-lobe, but nearly circular, body with seven-abreast seating. External characteristics feature an 8.71 aspect ratio, 31.5-degree sweep wing, a T-tail empennage, and a dual CF6-6D2, wing-mounted engine arrangement. It provides for 22 LD-2 or 11 LD-3 containers plus bulk cargo in the lower lobe. Passenger/cargo loading, servicing provisions, taxi/takeoff speeds, and field length characteristics are all compatible with accepted airline operations and regulatory provisions. The baseline configuration construction uses conventional aluminum structure except for advanced aluminum alloys and a limited amount of graphite epoxy secondary structure. Modern systems are used, including advanced guidance, navigation, and controls which emphasize application of digital electronics and advanced displays.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1982

Radial widths, optical depths, and eccentricities of the Uranian rings

Observations of the stellar occultation by the Uranian rings of 15/16 August 1980 are used to estimate radial widths and normal optical depths for segments of rings 6, 5, 4, alpha, beta, eta, gamma, and delta. Synthetic occultation profiles are generated to match the observed light curves. A review of published data confirms the existence of width-radius relations for rings alpha and beta, and indicates that the optical depths of these two rings vary inversely with their radial widths. Masses are obtained for rings alpha and beta, on the assumption that differential precession is prevented by their self-gravity. A quantitative comparison of seven epsilon-ring occultation profiles obtained over a period of 3.4 yr reveals a consistent structure, which may reflect the presence of unresolved gaps and subrings.

Nicholson, P. D.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A technique for determining solar irradiance deficits

An analytic technique which determines the variation of solar irradiance from long term averages is presented. The technique involves computer-assisted data reduction techniques, and was designed to improve system reliability by determining the amount of storage capability required to supplement a baseline system. Variations in time intervals of up to 60 days can be determined, and 10 years of data collection are reviewed. The technique involves first calculating average monthly irradiance values, then examining the average irradiance deviation over time intervals. The calculation procedure is clarified by determining solar energy level probabilities and the long term solar energy deviation (achieved by repeatedly integrating actual irradiance figures). It is found that a 15% increase in collector area and the addition of energy storage or backup are essential contributions to achieving cost-effectiveness. In addition, one to seven no-sun day storage capacities are required to accommodate weather caused deficits.

Gonzalez, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A proposed origin for palimpsests and anomalous pit craters on Ganymede and Callisto

The hypothesis that palimpsests and anomalous pit craters are essentially pristine crater forms derived from high-velocity impacts and/or impacts into an ice crust with preimpact temperatures near melting is explored. The observational data are briefly reviewed, and an impact model is proposed for the direct formation of a palimpsest from an impact when the modification flow which produces the final crater is dominated by 'wet' fluid flow, as opposed to the 'dry' granular flow which produces normal craters. Conditions of 'wet' modification occur when the volume of impact melt remaining in the transient crater attains a volume comparable to the transient crater. The normal crater-palimpsest transition is found to occur for sufficiently large impacts or sufficiently fast impactors. The range of crater diameters and morphological characteristics inferred from the impact model is consistent with the observed characteristics of palimpsests and anomalous pit craters.

Croft, S. K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The analysis of forest policy using Landsat multi-spectral scanner data and geographic information systems

The role of Landsat multi-spectral scanner (MSS) data for forest policy analysis in the state of California has been investigated. The combined requirements for physical, socio-economic, and institutional data in policy analysis were studied to explain potential data needs. A statewide MSS data and general land cover classification was created from which country-wide data sets could be extracted for detailed analyses. The potential to combine point sample data with MSS data was examined as a means to improve specificity in estimations. MSS data was incorporated into geographic information systems to demonstrate modeling techniques using abiotic, biotic, and socio-economic data layers. The review of system configurations to help the California Department of Forestry (CDF) acquire the capability demonstrated resulted in a sequence of options for implementation.

Peterson, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Attenuation and depolarization of low angle and site diversity slant paths

This paper reviews some experimental data collected over a three year period at Blacksburg, VA. Attenuation and crosspolarization were measured on two 10.7 degree elevation angle paths to the SIRIO satellite, with a baseline separation between the two receiving sites of 7 km. Results for attenuation and crosspolarization at the two sites are presented, together with some limited data for joint performance of the two sites when used in a diversity mode.

Pratt, T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Rainout lifetimes of highly soluble aerosols and gases as inferred from simulations with a general circulation model

The rainout-determined lifetimes of highly soluble particulate and gaseous atmospheric compounds are investigated using general circulation model simulations in which removal is explicitly calculated in terms of the local, model-produced precipitation rates. The calculations indicate that because of the episodic and asymmetric nature of rainout, species' lifetimes depend not only on the amount of precipitation but also on the characteristics of the precipitation regime (such as duration and frequency of the precipitation events) and on the direction of the tracer main flow (determined by the species' average mixing ratio gradient). For this reason, averaged rainout lifetimes of tracers flowing downstream from the stratosphere are found to differ substantially from those of tracers of surface origin flowing upward or tracers of a more ubiquitous tropospheric source. These results imply that the use of a first-order parameterization to simulate rainout in a photochemical model that does not explicitly calculate precipitation can be inadequate in representing this process. A computationally efficient parameterization that includes the effects of intermittence and asymmetry of rainout is proposed, and it is shown how this parameterization can be used to estimate rainout-determined tropospheric residence times from observational data sets. A review of published estimates of submicron aerosol tropospheric residence times based on observations shows that these are consistent with the model results.

Giorgi, Filippo↗
NASA NTRS1987

The sulfur cycle in the marine atmosphere

The simulation of the sulfur cycle in the marine atmosphere using a one-dimensional photochemical model is described and evaluated. Theoretical uncertainties concerning the operation of the marine sulfur cycle are examined, and measurements of sulfur gases in the marine atmosphere necessary for developing the model are derived. Previous modeling studies are reviewed, and the data from these studies are compared to the model simulations. Recommendations for improving the simulation of the sulfur cycle in the marine atmosphere are discussed.

Toon, Owen B.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Observations of coherent transverse ion acceleration

DE-1 retarding ion mass spectrometer (RIMS) observations of transverse O(+) acceleration in the topside ionosphere are reported and analyzed. The operation and capabilities of RIMS are reviewed, and the data are presented graphically and characterized in detail. Torus or ring O(+) distributions with radii 10 km/s are observed, consistent with coherent transverse acceleration to 10-eV energies in the bulk-plasma reference frame, and conical hot tails at energies above the 50-eV RIMS maximum are noted. Possible mechanisms for these phenomena are discussed.

Moore, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Search for brown dwarfs in the IRAS data bases

The results of two searches for brown dwarfs using IRAS data bases are reviewed. From one survey, it is concluded that all of the 5776 high-latitude point sources in the IRAS Point Source Catalog can be positionally associated with stars or galaxies by simple comparisons with optical catalogs and atlases. Only one object near the north Galactic pole possesses an optical/IR color cool enough to be considered as a candidate; it is found to be an unusual carbon star of 1300 K with a probable distance far out in the Galactic halo. The more sensitive Serendipitous Survey, which detected objects about five times fainter than the other survey, also found no brown dwarfs. This survey found fewer ordinary stars than the number extrapolated from the less sensitive survey.

Low, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Summary of radiation dosimetry results on U.S. and Soviet manned spacecraft

Measurements of the radiation environment aboard U.S. and Soviet manned spacecraft are reviewed and summarized. Data obtained mostly from passive and some active radiation detectors now exist for the case of low-earth-orbit missions. Major uncertainties still exist for space exposure in high-altitude, high-inclination geostationary orbits, in connection with solar effects and that of shielding. Data from active detectors flown in Spacelabs 1 and 2 suggest that a variety of phenomena must be understood before the effects of long-term exposure at the Space Station type of orbit and shielding can be properly assessed.

Benton, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Model-based analysis of control/display interaction in the hover task

The effect of Control/Display interaction in the hover task is analyzed using an optimal control approach to modeling pilot control behavior. The control/display configurations considered are those previously evaluated in a flight research program. The experimental data-base is reviewed and the procedure for modeling the task and the displayed information is presented in detail. All model-based results, time-domain as well as frequency-domain, are found to correlate extremely well with the subjective pilot ratings and comments. Time-domain measures consist of root mean-square errors and control inputs, attention allocation to displayed quantities, and magnitudes of task objective function. Frequency-domain measures include bandwidth, stability margins, and pilot phase compensation. Results are also shown to agree with previous findings on task interference in multi-axis tasks.

Schmidt, David K.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Laboratory experiments of relevance to the space station environment

It has been found that the interaction between orbital vehicles and the ambient environment produces a contaminant cloud which can cause deletrious effects to spacecraft materials and equipment, create increased radiative backgrounds that would interfere with observational instrumentation, and enhance surface charging. A brief overview of the phenomena that produce the contaminant cloud is presented along with a review of physical data required to characterize it. Laboratory techniques which can be utilized to provide the required data are described. In particular, several oxygen beam apparati are discussed.

Caledonia, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Electrochemically regenerable carbon dioxide/moisture control technology for an Advanced Extravehicular Mobility Unit

Regenerable CO2/moisture removal techniques that reduce the expendables and logistics requirements are needed to sustain people undertaking EVAs for the Space Station. Here, the development of electrochemically regenerable CO2 absorption (ERCA) technology to replace the nonregenerable LiOH absorber for the advanced Portable Life Support System (PLSS) is reported. During EVA the ERCA uses a mechanism involving gas absorption into a liquid absorbent for the removal and storage of the metabolically produced CO2 and moisture. Following the EVA, the expended absorbent is regenerated onboard the Space Station by an electrochemical CO2 concentrator. The ERCA concept has the ability to effectively satisfy the high metabolic CO2 and moisture removal requirements of PLSS applications. This paper defines the ERCA concept and its advantages for the PLSS application, reviews breadboard test data, and presents physical characteristics of the breadboard and projected flight hardware.

Lee, M. C.↗