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Airframe installation effects on exhaust nozzle systems mounted on underwing engine nacelles at transonic speeds
Laboratory irradiation of rock samples for solar wind flux effects on IR reflectivity of lunar rocks
Wind tunnel effects on experimental sonic boom signature determinations
Solar wind modulation effects on galactic protons and cosmic rays, using radial magnetic field mathematical model and Monte Carlo method
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The use of a tracking radar to measure the flight paths of migrating birds on nights with opaque clouds is discussed. The effects of wind and lack of visual references are examined. The limitations of the radar observations are described, and samples of tracks obtained during radar observations are included. It is concluded that nonvisual mechanisms of orientation make it possible for birds to migrate in opaque clouds, but the exact nature of the sensory information cannot be determined by radar observations.
Evidence is presented of directional orientation by an alighting dragonfly relative to the azimuth of the sun. The effects of wind direction on this orientation are analyzed. It was concluded that wind does not play a major role in orientation but may have some secondary function in helping greater numbers of dragonflies face windward more often than leeward. A search was made to find the principle sensory receptor for orientation. Two possibilities, the large compound eye and the frontal ocelli, were noted; however, no conclusive evidence could be found.
The Woods Hole air/space oceanographic program for 1969 is discussed. Studies included: (1) monitoring the sharp temperature boundary of the Gulf Stream by microwave and infrared observation, (2) spectrophotometry of the Gulf Stream and the adjacent continental slope and shelf water over Georges Bank, (3) interpretation of cloud and other meteorological data in terms of the effects of wind and sun on the upper ocean, (4) a sea state test plan, (5) systems research, and (6) ocean data recovery by aircraft and satellite.
The structural cost of non-return wind tunnels is significantly less than that of the more conventional closed-circuit wind tunnels. However, because of the effects of external winds, the flow quality of non-return wind tunnels is an area of concern at the low test speeds required for V/STOL testing. The flow quality required at these low speeds is discussed and alternatives to the traditional manner of specifying the flow quality requirements in terms of dynamic pressure and angularity are suggested. The development of a non-return wind tunnel configuration which has good flow quality at low as well as at high test speeds is described.
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The author has identified the following significant results. The delineation of the transient snow cover can generally be made directly from any of the RBV of MSS images. On many glaciers, however, there seems to be a relatively small difference between the reflectivities of snow and ice in the visible portion of the spectrum (corresponding to MSS bands 4 and 5). On the other hand, the reflectivity is distinctly lower for ice than for snow in the near infrared (MSS bands 6 and 7). By applying the sensors of the latter spectral bands the position of the transient snowline, indicative of the mass balance, can in many cases be determined with what appears to be a satisfactory accuracy. This circumstance should prove especially useful in studies of regional variations of glacier mass balances. It had been found that the effect of winds early in the fall seasons can be seen on the arctic slope when a light dusting of snow is present. Winds channeled by topography redistribute the snow and actually remove it from regions. After freeze up has occurred and a continuous snow cover exists it is possible to identify open water reaches on streams flowing through the region. Such cases are identifiable on the ERTS images especially on the MSS 7 images.
The structural cost of open return wind tunnels is significantly less than that of the more conventional closed return wind tunnels. However, because of the effects of external winds, the flow quality of open return wind tunnels is an area of concern at the low speeds required for V/STOL testing. The development of a configuration which has good flow quality at low as well as at high test speeds is described. The flow quality required at the low test speeds of interest for V/STOL aircraft is discussed and alternatives to the traditional manner of specifying the flow quality requirements in terms of dynamic pressure and angle of attack are suggested.
The author has identified the following significant results. Photographic data received from the ERTS-1 satellite over the Lesser Antilles Islands shows distinct ocean features on the leeward side of each island. Attempts to relate these features to ocean eddy formations with the aid of ground truth data proved unsuccessful. However, analysis of surface and upper air wind data correlate extremely well with the size, shape, and downwind extent of the ocean features. Studies to date indicate strongly that these features result from horizontal differences in sea surface roughness due to the wind shadow effect of the islands. The results suggest that horizontal variations in the reflectance of the sea surface will make remote sensing of the ocean mixed layer more difficult than previously anticipated. The surface reflection seems to be large enough to mask the smaller variations in backscattered energy from the mixed layer. Efforts to limit the effect of surface reflectance by photographic differencing of two MSS bands were unsuccessful. A supplementary study to enhance the energy reflected from the mixed layer through numerical differencing of ERTS-1 digital data is planned.
The author has identified the following significant results. Photographic data received from the ERTS-1 satellite over the Lesser Antilles Islands show distinct ocean features on the leeward side of each island. Attempts to relate these features to ocean eddy formations with the aid of ground truth data proved unsuccessful. However, surface and upper air wind data indicate a good correlation with the size, shape, and downwind extent of the ocean features. Studies to date indicate strongly that these features result from horizontal differences in sea surface roughness due to the wind shadow effect of the islands. The results suggest that horizontal variations in the reflectance of the sea surface will make remote sensing of the ocean mixed layer more difficult than previously anticipated. The surface reflection seems to be large enough to mask the smaller horizontal variations in backscattered energy from the mixed layer.
Observations of electron fluxes with a lunar-based electron spectrometer when the moon was upstream of the earth have shown that a subset of observed fluxes are strongly controlled by the interplanetary magnetic field direction. The fluxes occur only when the IMF lines connect back to the earth's bow shock. Observed densities and temperatures were in the ranges 2-4 x 0,001/cu cm and 1.7-2.8 x 1,000,000 K. It is shown that these electrons can account for increases in effective solar wind electron temperatures on bow-shock connected field lines which have been observed previously by other investigators. It is further shown that if a model of the bow shock with an electrostatic potential barrier is assumed, the potential can be estimated to be 500 volts.
The dynamics of the lunar ionosphere and resulting flux of lunar ions to the lunar surface are reviewed. In the Lunar rest frame, ions formed from the neutral lunar atmosphere are accelerated by the interplanetary electric and magnetic fields. The trajectories of heavier ions are primarily along the electric field; the ion flux is in a direction perpendicular to the solar wind flow, correlated to the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field, and impacts the surface with energies of tens of electron volts to a few keV. Thus we predict a relatively energetic (compared to thermal energies), highly directional, lunar ion flux but with the possibility that light ions such as hydrogen can execute orbits that return them to portions of the lunar surface not directly exposed to the solar wind. The effects of surface electric and magnetic fields are discussed, as is the ion energy spectrum. We calculate the trapping of atmospheric ions which impact the surface and from this the density of neutral Ar 40 in the lunar atmosphere. We show that using the acceleration model, the lunar atmosphere total neutral number density can be calculated from ion detector data.
Photographs of the surface of the planet Mars which were obtained by the Mariner 9 space probe are presented. Areas of investigation during the Mariner 9 flight involved television coverage, ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, infrared radiometry, S-band occultation, and celestial mechanics. Descriptions of the photographs are provided to further identify the surface features and the coordinates of the area photographed are included. Emphasis is placed on the visual evidence of the effects of wind in shaping the Martian surface. Photographs of cloud formations and dust storms are analyzed.
Theoretical development and computer implementation of three guidance algorithms are presented. From a small set of input parameters the algorithms generate the ground track, altitude profile, and speed profile required to implement an experimental 4-D guidance system. Given a sequence of waypoints that define a nominal flight path, the first algorithm generates a realistic, flyable ground track consisting of a sequence of straight line segments and circular arcs. Each circular turn is constrained by the minimum turning radius of the aircraft. The ground track and the specified waypoint altitudes are used as inputs to the second algorithm which generates the altitude profile. The altitude profile consists of piecewise constant flight path angle segments, each segment lying within specified upper and lower bounds. The third algorithm generates a feasible speed profile subject to constraints on the rate of change in speed, permissible speed ranges, and effects of wind. Flight path parameters are then combined into a chronological sequence to form the 4-D guidance vectors. These vectors can be used to drive the autopilot/autothrottle of the aircraft so that a 4-D flight path could be tracked completely automatically; or these vectors may be used to drive the flight director and other cockpit displays, thereby enabling the pilot to track a 4-D flight path manually.