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At least 91 records · Page 5

Multispectral Resource Sampler (MRS): Proof of concept. Study on bidirectional reflectance. A simulation analysis of bidirectional reflectance properties and their effects on scene radiance. Implications for the MRS

A study was performed to evaluate the geometrical implication of a Multispectral Resource Sampler; a pointable sensor. Several vegetative targets representative of natural and agricultural canopies were considered in two wavelength bands. All combinations of Sun and view angles between 5 and 85 degrees zenith for a range of azimuths were simulated to examine geometrical dependance arising from seasonal as well as latitudinal variation. The effects of three different atmospheres corresponding to clear, medium and heavy haze conditions are included. An extensive model data base was generated to provide investigators with means for possible further study of atmospheric correction procedures and sensor design questions.

Smith, J. A.↗

Multispectral Resource Sampler Workshop

The utility of the multispectral resource sampler (MRS) was examined by users in the following disciplines: agriculture, atmospheric studies, engineering, forestry, geology, hydrology/oceanography, land use, and rangelands/soils. Modifications to the sensor design were recommended and the desired types of products and number of scenes required per month were indicated. The history, design, capabilities, and limitations of the MRS are discussed as well as the multilinear spectral array technology which it uses. Designed for small area inventory, the MRS can provide increased temporal, spectral, and spatial resolution, facilitate polarization measurement and atmospheric correction, and test onboard data compression techniques. The advantages of using it along with the thematic mapper are considered.

Source record↗

Theoretical performance of a vortex generator type of cloud droplet sampler

One of the goals of the NASA global tropospheric research program is understanding the chemical processes which influence the chemistry of the natural troposphere. An important element of this program is the study of the role of heterogenous chemistry in global tropospheric chemical cycles. Any study of the part which clouds play in the chemistry of tropospheric trace constituents requires a determination of cloud water chemical composition. There exists, therefore, a need for highly efficient collector devices which can obtain unbiased samples of cloud water in sufficient quantities aboard an aircraft platform. A promising concept which could meet the dual requirements of accurate sampling and efficient collection of cloud water droplets in the vortex generator. This concept involves an inertial separator which uses the centrifugal force of a rotating airstream. The separator is built into a commercial device which has been used for many years as a dust separator for air breathing engines. Attention is given to the optimization of the sampler design.

Miller, I. M.↗

NSI-1 Squib adapter development and final test report for usage on space shuttle gas sampler valve/bottle assembly 3270

The possibility of utilizing the NSI-1 squib in place cartridge assembly 2270 for the function of both events required for the Space Shuttle Gas Sampler Valve/Bottle Assembly 3270 was determined. Additionally, it was a requirement that the closure disk of the NSI-1 squib and explosive residue therefrom be retained from the valve cavity in so far as possible to prevent any significant particulate from scratching the valve bore and causing sample leakage following the postfire 2 event.

Siebel, J. E.↗

Dual-Sampler Processor Digitizes CCD Output

Circuit for processing output of charge-coupled device (CCD) imager provides increased time for analog-to-digital conversion, thereby reducing bandwidth required for video processing. Instead of one sampleand-hold circuit of conventional processor, improved processor includes two sample-and-hold circuits alternated with each other. Dual-sampler processor operates with lower bandwidth and with timing requirements less stringent than those of single-sample processor.

Salomon, P. M.↗

Energy storage considerations for a robotic Mars surface sampler

The characteristics of various energy storage systems (including Ni-Cd, Ni-H2, Ag-Zn, Li-XS, Na-S, PbSO4, and regenerative fuel cell systems) considered for a robotic Mars surface sampler are reviewed. It is concluded that the bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery and the sodium-sulfur battery are both viable candidates as storage systems for the rover's Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator. For a photovoltaic storage system, the regenerative fuel cell and the bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery are the primary candidates.

O'Donnell, P. M.↗

Radiation dependence of inverter propagation delay from timing sampler measurements

A timing sampler consisting of 14 four-stage inverter-pair chains with different load capacitances was fabricated in 1.6-micron n-well CMOS and irradiated with cobalt-60 at 10 rad(Si)/s. For this CMOS process the measured results indicate that the rising delay increases by about 2.2 ns/Mrad(Si) and the falling delay increase is very small, i.e., less than 300 ps/Mrad(Si). The amount of radiation-induced delay depends on the size of the load capacitance. The maximum value observed for this effect was 5.65 ns/pF-Mrad(Si). Using a sensitivity analysis, the sensitivity of the rising delay to radiation can be explained by a simple timing model and the radiation sensitivity of dc MOSFET parameters. This same approach could not explain the insensitivity of the falling delay to radiation. This may be due to a failure of the timing model and/or trapping effects.

Buehler, M. G.↗

Extended duration orbiter medical project Microbial Air Sampler (STS-50/USML-1)

The Microbial Air Sampler was used on mission days 1, 7, and 13 in the Spacelab during STS-50/USML-1. Microbial air samples were collected using two types of media strips containing agar (Rose Bengal for yeast and molds, TSA for bacteria). The bacterial level found on day 1 was lower than experienced on previous Spacelab missions. A high level of fungi was present on day 1, however subsequent samples on days 7 and 13 did not indicate fungal growth. Bacterial growth was also minimized in this microgravity environment as the mission progressed. No pathogenic microorganisms were isolated, and the health risk from airborne microbes was minimal throughout the mission.

Pierson, Duane L.↗

Next-Generation A/D Sampler ADS3000+ for VLBI2010

A high-speed A/D sampler, called ADS3000+, has been developed in 2008, which can sample one analog signal up to 4 Gbps to versatile Linux PC. After A/D conversion, the ADS3000+ can perform digital signal processing such as real-time DBBC (Digital Base Band Conversion) and FIR filtering such as simple CW RFI filtering using the installed FPGAs. A 4 Gsps fringe test with the ADS3000+ has been successfully performed. The ADS3000+ will not exclusively be used for VLBI but will also be employed in other applications.

Takefuji, Kazuhiro↗

Auto-Gopher: A Wireline Deep Sampler Driven by Piezoelectric Percussive Actuator and EM Rotary Motor

The ability to penetrate subsurfaces and perform sample acquisition at depth of meters may be critical for future NASA in-situ exploration missions to bodies in the solar system, including Mars and Europa. A corer/sampler was developed with the goal of enabling acquisition of samples from depths of several meters where if used on Mars would be beyond the oxidized and sterilized zone. For this purpose, we developed a rotary-hammering coring drill, called Auto-Gopher, which employs a piezoelectric actuated percussive mechanism for breaking formations and an electric motor that rotates the bit to remove the powdered cuttings. This sampler is a wireline mechanism that can be fed into and retrieved from the drilled hole using a winch and a cable. It includes an inchworm anchoring mechanism allowing the drill advancement and weight on bit control without twisting the reeling and power cables. The penetration rate is being optimized by simultaneously activating the percussive and rotary motions of the Auto-Gopher. The percussive mechanism is based on the Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corer (USDC) mechanism that is driven by piezoelectric stack and that was demonstrated to require low axial preload. The design and fabrication of this device were presented in previous publications. This paper presents the results of laboratory and field tests and lessons learned from this development.

piezoactuation↗

Coupling Online Conductivity with Offline Ion Chromatography Measurements using the Particle-into-Liquid Sampler

A particle-into-liquid sampler has been combined with a flow through conductivity cell to provide a continuous, non-destructive, online measurement in support of offline ion chromatography analysis. The conductivity measurement provides a rapid assessment of the total ion concentration augmenting the slower batch data from the offline analysis and is developed primarily to assist airborne measurements, where fast time response is essential. A model of the conductivity was developed for measured ions and excellent closure is derived for laboratory-generated aerosols. The PILS-conductivity measurement was extensively tested during the NASA Cloud, Aerosol and Monsoon Processes: Philippines Experiment (CAMP2Ex) across nineteen research flights and the conductivity data was found to augment the temporal capability of the PILS instrument for assessing ionic species, allowing sub-minute variability to be resolved. Through the sampling of a diverse range of ambient aerosol, including biomass burning, fresh and aged urban pollution, the conductivity measurement offered additional useful information to untangle the composition of complex aerosol mixtures, specifically for assessing acidic aerosol conditions.

Ewan Colin Crosbie↗

Carbon Cycle Gas Flask Sampler at SGP

As part of the In-Situ Aerosol Profiles (IAP) campaign, non-aerosol instruments which have been incorporated into the aerosol package include a programmable flask package for obtaining samples of carbon dioxide and other trace gases at each flight level.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Performance characterization of the Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler/Analyzer air sampler during a high-activity release event

The performance of the Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler/Analyzer (RASA) under high-activity conditions has been evaluated to maintain and protect the operations of International Monitoring System (IMS) radionuclide stations. Station measurements following the Fukushima Daichi accident of 11 March 2011 have been combined with laboratory measurements to understand how the quality of the measurements made using the RASA High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma-spectrometer are impacted by increased sample activity and detector dead-time. Detector saturation has been identified to occur at a count rate of 175,000 counts s-1, at which level there are significant impacts to the sample live-time and detector resolution in addition to a system contamination risk. To safeguard against these effects, a dead-time limit of 16.6% is proposed that could be maintained by monitoring the activity collecting on the filter using a Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detector installed into the particulate collection area of the RASA. This limit would ensure that the IMS technical specifications for measurement time (> 20 h) and detector resolution (2.5 keV at 1332 keV) are met. The CZT would dynamically control the RASA air flow to limit the collection of particulate activity beneath the HPGe dead-time threshold and would also provide measurements useful for CTBT verification purposes and dose assessments.

Burnett, Jonathan L.↗