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At least 847 records · Page 47
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Space transportation - Options and opportunities

The development space transportation options to earth orbit and beyond are summarized. The performance of available launch systems is reviewed, including the Scout, Delta, Long March 3, Atlas Centaur, Ariane 3, Titan 34D, Proton, the Japanese M-3S-II, N-1, and H-1, and the Space Shuttle. Launch vehicle which are planned or are under development are examined, including the Conestoga, Industrial Launch Vehicle, Titan II, Delta II, H-II, Ariane 5, Titan IV, and the NASA/DOD Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle. Also, issues pertinent to the development of space transportation vehicles are considered, such as reliability, reduced unit cost, reduced lead time, and improved payload accommodations.

Loftus, J. P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Coronal temperature diagnostics from high-resolution soft X-ray spectra

The problem of deriving the temperature of the coronal plasma from soft X-ray spectra is discussed. Spectral atlas scans of the soft X-ray spectrum from the Flat Crystal Spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission are compared with theoretical predictions of the relative intensities of some of the brighter lines to determine which line intensity ratios give the most reliable temperature diagnostics. The techniques considered include line widths, He-like G ratios, intensity ratios, and ratios of lines formed by different elements. It is found that the best temperature diagnostics come from the ratios of lines formed by successive ionization stages of the same element.

Strong, K. T.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Spectrophotometry near the atmospheric cutoff of the strongest Bowen resonance fluorescence lines of O III in two planetary nebulae

Spectrophotometric results are presented for the stronger, well-resolved Bowen O III resonance fluorescence emission lines in the planetary nebulae 7027 and NGC 7662 down to and including the intrinsically strong line at 3133 A. These data are combined with results from the IUE atlas of spectra and similar results for the longer wavelength lines by Likkel and Aller (1986) to give the first full coverage of the Bowen lines. Good agreement is found with fluorescence theory for the primary cascade lines, except for the Likkel and Aller results. The efficiency of conversion of the exciting He II Ly-alpha into O III lines is determined, and values comparable to other planetary nebulae are found.

O'Dell, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Future observations of and missions to Mercury

Key scientific objectives of Mercury explorations are discussed, and the methods by which remote observations of Mercury can be carried out from earth and from space are examined. Attention is also given to the scientific rationale and technical concepts for missions to Mercury. It is pointed out that multiple Venus-Mercury encounter trajectories exist which, through successive gravity assists, reduce mission performance requirements to levels deliverable by available systems, such as Titan-Centaur, Atlas-Centaur, and Shuttle/TOS. It is shown that a single launch in July of 1994, using a Titan-Centaur combination, could place a 1477-kg payload into orbit around Meercury. The components of a Mercury-orbiter payload designed to study surface geology and geochemistry, atmospheric composition and structure, the local particle and fields environment, and solid-body rotation dynamics are listed.

Stern, Alan S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Options for a 30 kWe SP-100 flight demonstration

Possible mission scenarios for a 30 kWe reactor demonstration are considered. An NEP arcjet spacecaft design utilizing state of the art technology is outlined, and mission performance with launches from Kennedy Space Center using Titan 4, Titan 3, and Atlas 2AS ELVs is described. Performance data are represented parametrically with payload mass and trip time presented as a function of maneuver velocity increment delta-V. The latter is also presented as a function of final altitude and inclination change so that specific mission maneuvers can be examined.

Vondra, Robert J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Nitrous oxide as a dynamical tracer in the 1987 Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment

In situ N2O measurements were made using an airborne tunable laser absorption spectrometer (ATLAS) on 12 flights into the Antarctic vortex, as well as on five transit flights outside the vortex region in August and September 1987, as part of the Airborne Antartic Ozone Experiment. Vertical profiles of N2O were obtained within the vortex on most of these flights and were obtained outside the vortex on several occasions. Flights into the vortex region show N2O decreasing southward between 53 and 72 S latitude on constant potential temperature surfaces in the lower stratosphere. The data lead to two important conclusions about the vortex region: (1) the lower stratosphere in August/September 1987 was occupied by 'old' air, which had subsided several kilometers during polar winter; (2) the N2O profile in the vortex was in an approximately steady state in August/September 1987, which indicates that the spring upwelling, suggested by several theories, did not occur.

Loewenstein, M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Automatic classification of spectra from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS)

A new classification of Infrared spectra collected by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) is presented. The spectral classes were discovered automatically by a program called Auto Class 2. This program is a method for discovering (inducing) classes from a data base, utilizing a Bayesian probability approach. These classes can be used to give insight into the patterns that occur in the particular domain, in this case, infrared astronomical spectroscopy. The classified spectra are the entire Low Resolution Spectra (LRS) Atlas of 5,425 sources. There are seventy-seven classes in this classification and these in turn were meta-classified to produce nine meta-classes. The classification is presented as spectral plots, IRAS color-color plots, galactic distribution plots and class commentaries. Cross-reference tables, listing the sources by IRAS name and by Auto Class class, are also given. These classes show some of the well known classes, such as the black-body class, and silicate emission classes, but many other classes were unsuspected, while others show important subtle differences within the well known classes.

Cheeseman, Peter↗
NASA NTRS1989

Airborne observations of the infrared emission bands

The data concerning low resolution airborne spectra from 5 to 8 microns available for a sample of 40 sources selected from the Infrared Astronomy Satellite low resolution spectral Atlas with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission features, are discussed. A new emission band at 5.2 microns, previously predicted for PAHs, was found in 33 sources; it also correlates with the 7.7 microns band. This extends the spectrum of narrow observed PAH features to 3.3, 5.2, 5.6, 6.2, 6.9, 7.7, 8.7, 11.3, and 12.7 microns. From the data the relative strengths of most of these bands are defined in three separate nebular environments: planetaries, H II regions, and reflection nebulae. The differences in the PAHs spectra in those environments are analyzed.

Cohen, M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Spectroscopic study of combustion diagnostics on hydroxyl radicals

Experimental observations of propane-air flames were performed. Measurements of hydroxyl (OH) radical concentration were made using resonance line absorption techniques. A microwave-pumped low pressure discharge in argon and water vapor is employed to produce strong OH radical band radiation in the 308 nm region. This radiation is transmitted through the plume and absorption data are taken at various radical positions using an optical multichannel analyzer. This absorption data is used to compute OH number density using a model for the absorption band characteristics as a function of temperature based on an atlas of line strengths. A numerical computation of flow fields, temperature profile and OH number density is carried out by using a technique of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results of CFD computation are good compared with experimental observation with a good agreement.

Hung, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

On the calibration of the IRAS low-resolution spectra

The need for corrections to the LRS spectra based on a study of a number of normal stars observed by IRAS is discussed. The spectra of bright stars, such as alpha CMa, were found to be inconsistent with blackbody sources, this effect being generally observed in sources earlier than about K3. An attempt is made to correct the LRS spectra by changing the blackbody calibration temperature for Alpha Tau, assumed to be a 10,000-K blackbody source for the original LRS flux calibration. It is found that an anomalously low color temperature must be assumed for alpha Tau to produce reasonable results for earlier-type stars. Corrections based on a set of stars with well-determined effective temperatures are examined, as are the resulting color temperatures for 72 stars with Atlas spectra.

Volk, Kevin↗
NASA NTRS1989

On the calibration of climatological satellite rainfall measurements using a transportable ground-based polarization radar

The use of a ground-based polarization radar is proposed for the calibration of climatological satellite rainfall measurements. A distribution matching method for improving the correlations between radar reflectivity and rainfall brightness temperatures is discussed. The importance of collecting measurements of all observables at the same spatial resolution is demonstrated using GATE rainrate data (Patterson et al., 1979). The use of the matched distribution method to calibrate techniques such as HART (Atlas et al., 1988; Rosenfeld et al., 1988) is examined. Also, consideration is given to the application of polarization radar data to the interpretation of brightness temperatures.

Jameson, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The IRAS low-resolution spectra of planetary nebulae

This paper presents the low-resolution spectra of 170 planetary nebulae observed by IRAS, most of which were not included in the Atlas of Low-Resolution Spectra. These have been classified into eight groups based upon the spectral morphology, with emphasis on the dust continuum rather than the spectral lines. The Low-Resolution Spectrometer (LRS) spectra are nearly evenly divided between spectra which show only a dust continuum with no lines, and spectra where there are strong lines with a dust continuum appearing longwards of about 15 microns. A study has been made of the strength of the 11.3-micron PAH emission feature as a function of the nebular C/O ratio, combining ground-based and LRS data. The C/O ratio for IC 2621 is derived from IUE spectra and used in this study. The 11.3-micron feature is present with essentially constant strength in all nebulae with C/O above about 1. Only marginal evidence exists for its presence below C/O about 1 and then at a level about 5 times lower than in carbon-rich nebulae.

Volk, Kevin↗
NASA NTRS1987

All Shuttle Centaur engine and nozzle support plug vibration testing

Loads applied to the RL10 engines while in flight in the orbiter payload bay are significantly different from the load environment experienced in Atlas and Titan/Centaur applications. To predict the engine loads, a NASTRAN analysis was conducted. As part of this effort a vibration test program was accomplished to provide input to the analysis, and to verify engine durability. This program was completed in two phases. The first phase provided data and characteristics which were used as input to the analysis. The second phase subjected the engine to limit loads, and included hot firings before and after the vibration test. The test hardware, performance, and results are described.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1989

Airborne observations of the infrared emission bands

Earlier airborne studies of the infrared bands between 5 and 8 microns have now been extended to a sample of southern sources selected from the IRAS Low Resolution Spectra (LRS) atlas. The correlation between the strongest bands at 6.2 and 7.7 microns is now based on a total sample of 40 sources and is very strong. A new emission band at 5.2 microns, previously predicted for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is recognized in 27 sources; it too correlates with the dominant 7.7 micron band, showing that the 5.2 micron feature also belongs to the generic spectrum of PAH features at 3.3, 5.6, 6.2, 6.2, 7.7, 8.7, 11.3, and 12.7 microns. Sufficient sources are had now to define the relative strengths of most of these bands in three separate nebular environments: planetaries, H II regions, and reflection nebulae. Significant variations are detected in the generic spectra of PAHs in these different environments which are echoed by variations in the exact wavelength of the strong 7.7 micron peak. The earlier suggestion that, in planetaries, the fraction of total emission observed by IRAS that is carried by the PAH emissions is correlated with nebular gas-phase C/O ratio is supported by the addition of newly-observed southern planetaries, including the unusually carbon-rich (WC10) nebular nuclei. These (WC10) nuclei also exhibit a strong plateau of emission linking the 6.2 and 7.7 micron features.

Cohen, M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Radio emission in peculiar galaxies

During the last decades a number of surveys of peculiar galaxies have been carried out and accurate positions become available. Since peculiarities are a possible evidence of radio emission (Wright, 1974; Sulentic, 1976; Stocke et al., 1978), the authors selected a sample of 24 peculiar galaxies with optical jet-like features or extensions in different optical catalogues, mainly the Catalogue of Southern Peculiar Galaxies and Associations (Arp and Madore, 1987) and the ESO/Uppsala Survey of the ESO(B) Atlas (Lauberts, 1982) for observation at the radio continuum frequency of 22 GHz. The sample is listed in a table. Sol (1987) studied this sample and concluded that the majority of the jet-like features seem to admit an explanation in terms of interactive galaxies with bridges and/or tails due to tidal effects. Only in a few cases do the jets seem to be possibly linked to some nuclear activity of the host galaxy. The observations were made with the 13.7m-radome enclosed Itapetinga Radiotelescope (HPBW of 4.3 arcmin), in Brazil. The receiver was a 1 GHz d.s.b. super-heterodine mixer operated in total-power mode, with a system temperature of approximately 800 K. The observational technique consisted in scans in right ascention, centralized in the optical position of the galaxy. The amplitude of one scan was 43 arcmin, and its duration time was 20 seconds. The integration time was at least 2 hours (12 ten-minute observations) and the sensibility limit adopted was an antenna temperature greater than 3 times the r.m.s. error of the baseline determination. Virgo A was used as the calibrator source. Three galaxies were detected for the first time as radio sources and four other known galaxies at low frequencies had their flux densities measured at 22 GHz. The results for these sources are presented.

Demellorabaca, Dulia F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Theoretical models of gas dynamics and star formation in interacting ring galaxies

A series of one and two dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of a ring wave in interstellar gas disks was completed. These calculations included nonlinear source terms to model the effects of interstellar interactions and star formation, as well as the spatial-temporal gas flow. Toomre's kinematical model was merged with the Arnold, Shandarin, and Zeldovich 'pancake' theory of caustics in galaxy formation. The resulting theory can describe almost all the structure in restricted three-body simulations of single-pass collisions, even with multi-component potentials. Off-center galactic collisions were studied to understand the dynamics involved. Multi-color optical and near-infrared observations of faint tidal features were performed in about two dozen interacting galaxies selected from the Arp atlas. This sample provided evidence for ongoing star formation in tidal structures, and even enhancements of star formation in some cases. The task of assembling the data for gas-rich, late-type galaxies, was undertaken to see if a more coherent picture of the gas distribution would emerge from the more complete data. Analytic solutions of the equations with subsonic flows to balance gas consumption for expulsion form a galactic fountain were also derived.

Struck-Marcell, Curtis↗
NASA NTRS1990

The COLD-SAT Experiment for Cryogenic Fluid Management Technology

Future national space transportation missions will depend on the use of cryogenic fluid management technology development needs for these missions. In-space testing will be conducted in order to show low gravity cryogenic fluid management concepts and to acquire a technical data base. Liquid H2 is the preferred test fluid due to its propellant use. The design of COLD-SAT (Cryogenic On-orbit Liquid Depot Storage, Acquisition, and Transfer Satellite), an Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) launched orbital spacecraft that will perform subcritical liquid H2 storage and transfer experiments under low gravity conditions is studied. An Atlas launch vehicle will place COLD-SAT into a circular orbit, and the 3-axis controlled spacecraft bus will provide electric power, experiment control, and data management, attitude control, and propulsive accelerations for the experiments. Low levels of acceleration will provide data on the effects that low gravity might have on the heat and mass transfer processes used. The experiment module will contain 3 liquid H2 tanks; fluid transfer, pressurization and venting equipment; and instrumentation.

Schuster, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The Geologic Remote Sensing Field Experiment (GRSFE): The first geology multisensor airborne campaign

The primary objective of the Geologic Remote Sensing Field Experiment (GRSFE) is to acquire relevant data for geological sites that can be used to test models for extraction of surface property information from remote sensing data for earth, Mars and Venus in support of the Earth Observing System (EOS), Mars Observer, and Magellan, respectively. Over forty scientists from eight universities and three NASA centers are participating in GRSFE which is co-sponsored by the NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program and the NASA Geology Program. Highlights of the airborne campaign included the first simultaneous acquisition of Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVRIS) and Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) data on September 29, 1989, and acquisition of Advanced Solid-State Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS), Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR), and Airborne Terrain Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) data all within three months of each other. The sites covered were Lunar Crater Volcanic Field and Fish Lake Valley in Nevada; and Cima Volcanic Field, Death Valley, and Ubehebe Crater in California. Coincident field measurements included meteorological and atmospheric measurements, visible/near-infrared and thermal spectra, and characterization of geology and vegetation cover. The GRSFE airborne and field data will be reduced to a suite of standard products and submitted, along with appropriate documentation, to the Planetary Data System (PDS) and the Pilot Land Data System (PLDS). These data will be used for a variety of investigations including paleoclimatic studies in the arid southwestern United States, and analysis of Magellan data. GRSFE data will also be used to support Mars Observer Laser Altimeter (MOLA) and Mars Rover Sample Return (MRSR) simulation studies.

Evans, Diane L.↗