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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Revealing the Moon's Taurus‐Littrow Landslide via Integrated Analysis of Pristine Apollo 17 Soil Core 73001/2

The “light mantle” deposit at the base of South Massif in the Moon's Taurus‐Littrow Valley was a primary science target for the Apollo 17 exploration. The possibility that it was a landslide triggered by ejecta from Tycho Crater is critical for establishing the age of Tycho and constraining recent lunar impact chronology; however, the mechanism of emplacement of the deposit has recently been questioned. The newly opened 73001/73002 double drive tube from Station 3 sampled 70.6 cm deep into the regolith and represents the first stratigraphic section of an extraterrestrial landslide deposit returned to Earth. Here we provide an overview of the stratigraphy of the 73001/73002 core based on top to bottom variations revealed by coordinated laboratory analyses and explore constraints on the emplacement of the light mantle deposit. Briefly, the upper ∼10 cm of 73002 contains a disturbed zone from space weathering and emplacement of ejecta from a nearby crater that excavated and ejected basaltic material. Below 10 cm is a nearly uniform unit of immature regolith. These data support a single event for the emplacement of the deposit at this location, followed by weathering and mixing of materials from nearby crater ejecta in the upper 10 cm. Slight variations in chemistry and clast components may reflect the relative stratigraphy of the South Massif slope, with material toward the bottom of 73001 originating from lower slopes and material from higher up in the core representing regolith from higher up the South Massif slopes.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Iron, magnesium, and titanium isotopic fractionations between garnet, ilmenite, f ayalite, biotite, and tourmaline: Results from NRIXS, ab initio , and study of mineral separates from the Moosilauke metapelite

Interpreting isotopic signatures documented in natural rocks requires knowledge of equilibrium isotopic fractionation factors. Here, we determine equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation factors between several common rock-forming minerals using a comparative approach involving three independent methods: (i) isotopic analyses of natural minerals from a metapelite from Mt. Moosilauke, New Hampshire, for which equilibration temperature and pressure are well constrained to be near the aluminosilicate triple point (T ≃ 500 °C, P ≃ 4 kbar), (ii) Nuclear Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (NRIXS) measurements of Fe force constants of minerals, and (iii) Density Functional Theory (DFT) ab initio calculations of Fe force constants of minerals. The minerals studied for Fe isotopes include, in increasing order of their β-factors: garnet < ilmenite ≈ fayalite < biotite < tourmaline < muscovite ≈ plagioclase. Some of this ordering is affected by the presence of Fe 3+ in the minerals, which tends to form stiffer bonds and be associated with heavy Fe isotope enrichments relative to Fe 2+ . We are, however, able to assess the magnitude of the effect of the ratio Fe 3+ /ΣFe on equilibrium fractionation factors, notably on the ilmenite-hematite solid solution. Equilibrium Fe isotopic fractionation factors between garnet, ilmenite, biotite, tourmaline and fayalite are determined. We also report Mg and Ti isotopic compositions of selected Moosilauke minerals that allow us to better constrain the equilibrium fractionation factors for garnet-biotite-tourmaline (Mg isotopes) and biotite-ilmenite (Ti isotopes). We show how the newly determined equilibrium fractionation factors can be used to address diverse problems in Earth and planetary sciences, notably (i) Fe and Mg isotopic fractionation during anatexis, (ii) Fe isotopic fractionation in lunar ilmenite, and (iii) Ti isotopic fractionation during fluvial transport of minerals.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Shock behavior of materials

The physics governing the response of materials to shock loading has many applications in various fields, ranging from Earth and planetary science to engineering and ballistics. Elucidating the behavior of materials experiencing the passage of shock waves motivates active research worldwide, including experimental developments with in situ and time-resolved measurements, modern computational approaches, and multi-scale simulations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of fluorapatite to 61 GPa

Apatite is a mineral of widespread importance in Earth and planetary science. Here we examine the behavior of a natural fluorapatite (FAp) crystal from Durango (Mexico) under compression to 61 GPa. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments were carried out in a diamond-anvil cell using a synchrotron source. The apatite structure persists up to 32.4 GPa. Birch-Murnaghan equation of state parameters were fit to the pressure-volume data for fluorapatite for two cases: fixing V 0 at its measured ambient value resulted in a bulk modulus, K 0T , of 97.0(8) GPa and a pressure derivative of the bulk modulus, K' 0T , of 3.3(1), while fixing V 0 and K 0T at its ambient value 90.5 GPa (derived from ultrasonically measured elastic constants) resulted in a K' 0T value of 4.1(1). At 35.6 GPa, fluorapatite transforms to a triclinic phase (P$\bar{1}$, Z = 4), designated here as fluorapatite II (FAp-II). This phase persists up to at least 61 GPa. The major structural differences between FAp and FAp-II involve the buckling of the Ca polyhedra along the c-axis and changes in the number and coordination of the Ca sites. Furthermore, our study extends the pressure range over which fluorapatite has been examined by more than a factor of three, providing new insights into its structural response to high-pressure conditions.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1974

Report on active and planned spacecraft and experiments

Information dealing with active and planned spacecraft and experiments known to the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) is presented. Included is information concerning a wide range of disciplines: astronomy, earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, particles and fields, solar physics, life sciences, and material sciences. These spacecraft represent the efforts and funding of individual countries, as well as cooperative arrangements among different countries.

Brecht, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The 1975 report on active and planned spacecraft and experiments

Information is presented on current and planned spacecraft activity for various disciplines: astronomy, earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, solar physics, and life sciences. For active orbiting spacecraft, the epoch date, orbit type, orbit period, apoasis, periapsis, and inclination are given along with the spacecraft weight, launch date, launch site, launch vehicle, and sponsoring agency. For each planned orbiting spacecraft, the orbit parameters, planned launch date, launch site, launch vehicle, spacecraft weight, and sponsoring agency are given.

Horowitz, R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Report on active and planned spacecraft and experiments

Information concerning active and planned spacecraft and experiments is reported. The information includes a wide range of disciplines: astronomy, earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, particles and fields, solar physics, life sciences, and material sciences. These spacecraft projects represent the efforts and funding of individual countries as well as cooperative arrangements among different countries.

Vette, J. I.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Report on active and planned spacecraft and experiments

Information is presented, concerning active and planned spacecraft and experiments known to the National Space Science Data Center. The information included a wide range of disciplines: astronomy, earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, particles and fields, solar physics, life sciences, and material sciences. These spacecraft projects represented the efforts and funding of individual countries as well as cooperative arrangements among different countries.

Vette, J. I.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Report on Active and Planned Spacecraft and Experiments

Information concerning concerning active and planned spacecraft and experiments known to the National Space Science Data Center are included. The information contains a wide range of disciplines: astronomy, earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, particles and fields, solar physics, life sciences, and material sciences. These spacecraft projects represent the efforts and funding of individual countries as well as cooperative arrangements among different countries. Approximately 850 articles are included.

Vostreys, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Report on active and planned spacecraft and experiments

Information on current and planned spacecraft activity for a broad range of scientific disciplines is presented. The information covers a wide range of disciplines: astronomy, Earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, particles and fields, solar physics, life sciences, and material sciences. These spacecraft projects represent the efforts and funding of individual countries as well as cooperative arrangements among different countries.

Horowitz, R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Report on Active and Planned Spacecraft and Experiments

Active and planned spacecraft activity and experiments between June 1, 1980 and May 31, 1981 known to the National Space Science Data Center are described. The information covers a wide range of disciplines: astronomy, Earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, particles and fields, solar physics, life sciences, and material sciences. Each spacecraft and experiment is described and its current status presented. Descriptions of navigational and communications satellites and of spacecraft that contain only continuous radio beacons used for ionospheric studies are specifically excluded.

Vostreys, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Fractionation of mineral species by electrophoresis

The fractionation of fine-grained aggregates into their major components is a problem in many scientific areas including earth and planetary science. Electrophoresis, the transport of electrically charged particles, immersed in a suspension medium, by a direct current field (Bier, 1959), was employed in this study as a means of separating simulated lunar soil into its constituent minerals. In these tests, conducted in a static analytical cylindrical microelectrophoresis apparatus, samples of simulated lunar soil and samples of pure mineral constituents were placed in the chamber; the electrophoretic mobilities of the lunar soil and the individual mineral constituents were measured. In most of the suspension buffers employed separability was indicated, on the basis of differences in mobility, for all the constituent mineral species except ilmenite and pyroxene, which were not efficiently separable in any of the buffers. Although only a few suspension media were employed, the success of this initial study suggests that electrophoresis may be an important mineral fractionation option in fine-grained aggregate processing.

Dunning, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Report on active and planned spacecraft and experiments

Information concerning active and planned spacecraft and experiments is included. The information covers a wide range of scientific disciplines: astronomy, earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, particles and fields, solar physics, life sciences, and material sciences. These spacecraft projects represent the efforts and fundng of individual countries as well as cooperative arrangements among different countries.

Littlefield, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Report on active and planned spacecraft and experiments

This report provides the professional community with information on current and planned spacecraft activity (including both free-flying spacecraft and Shuttle-attached payloads) for a broad range of scientific disciplines. By providing a brief description of each spacecraft and experiment as well as its current status, it is hoped that this document will be useful to many people interested in the scientific, applied, and operational uses of the data collected. Furthermore, for those investigators who are planning or coordinating future observational programs employing a number of different techniques such as rockets, balloons, aircraft, ships, and buoys, this document can provide some insight into the contributions that may be provided by orbiting instruments. The document includes information concerning active and planned spacecraft and experiments. The information covers a wide range of scientific disciplines: astronomy, earth sciences, meteorology, planetary sciences, aeronomy, particles and fields, solar physics, life sciences, and material sciences. These spacecraft projects represent the efforts and funding of individual countries, as well as cooperative arrangements among different countries.

Schofield, N. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Spaceborne imaging radar research in the 90's

The imaging radar experiments on SEASAT and on the space shuttle (SIR-A and SIR-B) have led to a wide interest in the use of spaceborne imaging radars in Earth and planetary sciences. The radar sensors provide unique and complimentary information to what is acquired with visible and infrared imagers. This includes subsurface imaging in arid regions, all weather observation of ocean surface dynamic phenomena, structural mapping, soil moisture mapping, stereo imaging and resulting topographic mapping. However, experiments up to now have exploited only a very limited range of the generic capability of radar sensors. With planned sensor developments in the late 80's and early 90's, a quantum jump will be made in our ability to fully exploit the potential of these sensors. These developments include: multiparameter research sensors such as SIR-C and X-SAR, long-term and global monitoring sensors such as ERS-1, JERS-1, EOS, Radarsat, GLORI and the spaceborne sounder, planetary mapping sensors such as the Magellan and Cassini/Titan mappers, topographic three-dimensional imagers such as the scanning radar altimeter and three-dimensional rain mapping. These sensors and their associated research are briefly described.

Elachi, Charles↗
NASA NTRS1989

Space Station Freedom - Its role as an international research laboratory and observatory

The international partnership agreed to just a year ago among the United States, Canada, Japan and nations participating in the European Space Agency bring us one giant leap closer to unprecedented opportunities in space science and observation. While the driving force of Space Station Freedom has been and continues to be an expansion of human presence in space, the goals of the program go far beyond support of exploration. Integral to the international program is research, conducted on four spacecraft, centering on laboratory and observatory experiments. Research onboard the station's manned base, two polar orbiting observation platforms and the Columbus Free Flying Laboratory will offer research opportunities never available before in life sciences, materials sciences, earth observation, astrophysics and planetary sciences for a wide variety of users over a period of three decades. As such, Space Station Freedom, the world's largest and most useful facility in space, is expected to stimulate advanced technologies, promote the commercial use of space, and increase international cooperation in the peaceful utilization of outer space.

Griner, Carolyn↗
NASA NTRS1989

Scientific Literacy for the 21st Century (SL-21)

A proposal called, 'Scientific Literacy for the 21st Century (SL-21)', has been introduced, suggesting ways in which NASA may work to increase scientific literacy in the U.S. The future need for an adequate supply of scientists and engineers for the space program is discussed. The principles of the SL-21 proposal are outlined. The program would emphasize education in the fields of space technologies and earth and planetary sciences. The educational elements of the proposal for teachers, students, universities, and the general adult population are described.

Brown, Robert W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Exploration planning in the context of human exploration and development of the Moon

It is widely believed that the next step beyond low Earth orbit in attaining the United States' stated goal of 'Expanding human presence beyond the Earth' should be to reestablish a lunar capability, building on the Apollo program, and preparing the way for eventual human missions to Mars. The Moon offers important questions in planetary and Earth science, can provide a unique platform for making astronomical observations of high resolution and sensitivity, and can be in the development path for unlocking resources of the inner solar system to support space activities and return benefits to Earth. NASA's Office of Exploration has undertaken the planning of future lunar exploration missions with the assistance of the Solar System Exploration Division in matters dealing with the quality of scientific data and the manner in which it will be made available to the scientific community. The initial elements of the proposed program include the Lunar Scout missions, which consist of two small identical spacecraft in polar orbit around the Moon, which can accomplish most of the objectives associated with previous proposals for Lunar Polar Orbiters. These missions would be followed by 'Artemis' landers, capable of emplacing up to 200 kg payloads anywhere on the Moon. In addition, the exploration program must incorporate data obtained from other missions, including the Galileo lunar flybys, the Clementine high orbital observations, and Japanese penetrator missions. In the past year, a rather detailed plan for a 'First Lunar Outpost (FLO)' which would place 4 astronauts on the lunar surface for 45 days has been developed as a possible initial step of a renewed human exploration program. In the coming year, the FLO concept will be reviewed and evolved to become more highly integrated with planning for the initial human exploration of Mars, which could come perhaps 5 years after the reestablishment of lunar capability. Both programs could benefit from the common development of systems and subsystems, where that is sensible from a performance perspective.

Duke, Michael B.↗