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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 937 records · Page 52
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

On-board attitude determination and control algorithms for SAMPEX

Algorithms for onboard attitude determination and control of the Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) were developed. The algorithms include spacecraft ephemeris and geomagnetic field models, attitude determination with 2 degree accuracy, control of pitch axis pointing to the sun and yaw axis pointing away from the Earth to achieve control of pitch axis within 5 degrees of sunline, momentum unloading, and nutation damping. The closed loop simulations were performed on a VAX 8830 using a prototype version of the on-board software.

Flatley, Thomas W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A high temperature thermal diffusivity determination procedure for solids and liquids

A new method for measuring the thermal diffusivity of materials at high temperatures is presented. The method is applicable to solids on Earth, and to liquids in the reduced gravity environment of space. It is especially suited to levitated liquid metals at elevated temperatures where thermal diffusivity data is not available. The method is applied in two parts, such that lumped analysis is valid in the first part, and Fourier's law of conduction is valid in the second. In both parts, the spherical specimen is assumed to have been heated to a desired temperature and cooled. An inverse conduction problem is then formulated and solved using Laplace transformation techniques. Using this solution, sample sizes, and experimentally obtained surface temperature history, the thermal diffusivity is determined by minimizing a function that satisifies the heat balance at the surface. Minimization is performed using a modified quasilinearization algorithm. Accuracy is very sensitive to error in the temperature data and increases with better curve fits to the temperature data. An error analysis is also performed, and the effect of errors in the various parameters on the evaluated thermal diffusivity is determined. An experimental study for solids on Earth is suggested, before development for implementation in space.

Bayazitoglu, Yildiz↗
NASA NTRS1991

Study of factors determining the radiation sensitivity of quartz crystal oscillators (AO189)

Quartz resonators fabricated from two different grades of quartz material and selected for their susceptibility to radiation damage as determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were tested prior to the LDEF flight. These resonators were then flown on the LDEF mission where they were exposed to the radiation environment of low Earth orbit. Post-flight tests were then conducted to determine any differences in resonator performance caused by the space exposure. Results of the TEM analysis of the quartz material and preflight and postflight measurements of the flight resonators and of the space and ground based control resonators are presented. Further planned work on the TEM analysis of the quartz materials will also be outlined.

Ahearn, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Determining criteria for single stage to orbit

The criteria for single stage to orbit (SSTO) vehicles are determined. The Saturn 5 launch vehicle and Space Shuttle are examined to validate the assumptions and results. This velocity is then used to determine if the selected vehicle can achieve orbit and calculate its payload capacity. The Saturn 5 launch vehicle with the following stages is examined: (1) second stage (S2) with Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME); (2) second stage (S2) with J2 engines; (3) third stage (S4B) with SSME; and (4) third stage (S4B) with J2 engines. The Space Shuttle with the following configurations is examined: (1) external tank with SSME; (2) external tank with J2 engines; and (3) Atlas rocket booster (current configuration).

Thorpe, Douglas G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

How to determine spiral bevel gear tooth geometry for finite element analysis

An analytical method was developed to determine gear tooth surface coordinates of face milled spiral bevel gears. The method combines the basic gear design parameters with the kinematical aspects for spiral bevel gear manufacturing. A computer program was developed to calculate the surface coordinates. From this data a 3-D model for finite element analysis can be determined. Development of the modeling method and an example case are presented.

Handschuh, Robert F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A kinematic determination of the structure of the double ring planetary nebula NGC 2392, the Eskimo

Slit spectra and existing 'velocity cube' data have been used to determine the structure of the double ring PN NGC 2392. The inner shell is a stellar wind-sculpted prolate spheroid with a ratio of axes of 2:1 and the approaching end of the long axis pointed 20 deg from the line of sight in P.A. = 200 deg. The outer ring is caused by an outer disk with density dropping off with distance from the central star and with distance from its plane, which is the same as the equatorial band of high density in the inner shell. The outer disk contains a ring of higher density knots at a distance of 16 arcsec and is losing material through free expansion, forming an outer envelope of increasing velocity. Forbidden S II spectra are used to determine the densities in all of the major regions of the nebula. It is argued that the filamentary cores at the centers of the knots seen in the outer ring originate in the sublimation of bodies formed at the same time as the parent star.

O'Dell, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Attitude determination error analysis - General model and specific application

This paper presents a comprehensive approach to filter and dynamics modeling for attitude determination error analysis. The discussion includes models for both batch least-squares and sequential estimators, a specific dynamic model for attitude determination error analysis of a three-axis stabilized spacecraft equipped with strapdown gyros, and the incorporation of general attitude sensor observations. An analyst using this approach to perform an error analysis chooses a subset of the spacecraft parameters to be 'solve-for' parameters, which are to be estimated, and another subset to be 'consider' parameters, which are assumed to have errors but not to be estimated. The result of the error analysis is an indication of overall uncertainties in the 'solve-for' parameters, as well as the contributions of the various error sources to these uncertainties, including those of errors in the a priori 'solve-for' estimates, of measurement noise, of dynamic noise (also known as process noise or plant noise), and of 'consider' parameter uncertainties. The analysis of attitude, star tracker alignment, and gyro bias uncertainties for the Gamma Ray Observatory spacecraft provide a specific example of the use of a general-purpose software package incorporating these models.

Markley, F. Landis↗
NASA NTRS1990

Determination of the thermal stability of fluids by tensimetry - Instrumentation and procedure

A computerized tensimeter and experimental procedure for determination of the thermal decomposition temperature (T sub d) of perfluoro alkylethers were developed and tested. Both the apparatus and the procedure are described in detail. Results of testing with bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and trimethylolpropane triheptanoate demonstrate that the reciprocal of the decomposition temperature is a linear function of the logarithm of the gas volume/heated liquid volume ratio. The T sub d obtained for each compound at a gas volume/heated liquid volume ration of one was similar to the value previously reported using an isoteniscope technique. Results of testing with a polymer of hexafluoropropylene oxide demonstrate that this instrument and procedure can be used to determine the T sub d of perfluoro alkylethers.

Helmick, Larry S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Determining experimentally induced variation in coniferous canopy chemistry with Airborne Imaging Spectrometer data

Experimental treatments in a Douglas-fir forest in NE New Mexico were carried out to determine whether differences in forest canopy chemistry could be detected using data from the Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS-2). Experimental treatments consisted of nitrogen fertilizer additions, sawdust additions, and control plots. After AIS-2 data were collected, the digital number of a given pixel was extracted from each channel, yielding 128 values that were used to form a spectrum. Four spectra were extracted from each treatment plot. Multiple stepwise linear regressions between first and second difference transformations of AIS-2 spectra and the canopy characteristics of biomass, nitrogen concentration, and nitrogen content were performed. The results showed a coefficient of multiple determination of 0.71 between first-difference AIS-2 spectra and measured nitrogen concentration in foliage, indicating that it may be possible to predict nitrogen concentration in Douglas fir using AIS-2 spectra.

Swanberg, N. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Orbit determination and gravitational field accuracy for a Mercury transponder satellite

Covariance studies were performed to investigate the orbit determination problem for a small transponder satellite in a nearly circular polar orbit with 4-hour period around Mercury. With X band and Ka band Doppler and range measurements, the analysis indicates that the gravitational field through degree and order 10 can be solved for from as few as 40 separate 8-hour arcs of tracking data. In addition, the earth-Mercury distance can be determined during each ranging period with about 6-cm accuracy. The expected geoid accuracy is 10 cm up through degree 5, and 1 m through degree 8. The main error sources were the geocentric range measurement error, the uncertainties in higher degree gravity field terms, which were not solved for, and the solar radiation pressure uncertainty.

Vincent, Mark A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Electrochemistry of cations in diopsidic melt - Determining diffusion rates and redox potentials from voltammetric curves

Results are presented on determinations of reduction potentials and their temperature dependence of selected ions in diopsidic melt, by using linear sweep voltammetry. Diffusion coefficients were measured for cations of Eu, Mn, Cr, and In. Enthalpies and entropies of reduction were determined for the cations V(V), Cr(3+), Mn(2+), Mn(3+), Fe(2+), Cu(2+), Mo(VI), Sn(IV), and Eu(3+). Reduction potentials were used to study the structural state of cations in the melt.

Colson, Russell O.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A new self-calibration method applied to TOMS and SBUV backscattered ultraviolet data to determine long-term global ozone change

The currently archived (1989) total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) and solar backscattered ultraviolet (SBUV) total ozone data (version 5) show a global average decrease of about 9.0 percent from November 1978 to November 1988. This large decrease disagrees with an approximate 3.5-percent decrease estimated from the ground-based Dobson network. The primary source of disagreement was found to arise from an overestimate of reflectivity change and its incorrect wavelengths dependence for the diffuse plate used when measuring solar irradiance. Both of these factors have led to an overestimate of the rate of atmospheric ozone depletion by SBUV and TOMS. For total ozone measured by TOMS, a means has been found to use the measured radiance-irradiance ratio from several wavelengths pairs to construct an internally self-consistent calibration. The method uses the wavelength dependence of the sensitivity to calibration errors and the requirement that albedo ratios for each wavelength pair yield the same total ozone amounts. Smaller errors in determining spacecraft attitude, synchronization problems with the photon counting electronics, and sea-glint contamination of boundary reflectivity data have been corrected or minimized. New climatological low-ozone profiles have been incorporated into the TOMS algorithm that are appropriate for Antarctic ozone hole conditions and other low ozone cases. The combined corrections have led to a new determination of the global average total ozone trend (version 6) as a 2.9 + or - 1.3 percent decrease over 11 years (October 1978 to November 1989).

Herman, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Determination of the half-life of Ca-41 from measurements of Antarctic meteorites

Accelerator mass spectrometry is utilized to determine the half-life of Ca-41 from the decrease of its concentration with terrestrial age in five Antarctic meteorites and a recent fall. The meteorites were selected on the basis of their Cl-36 concentrations, which showed a span of terrestrial ages of about 600 ka, and on the basis of other cosmogenic nuclide concentrations which indicated that the meteorites had small preatmospheric sizes, and sufficiently long irradiation times in space that the concentrations of Ca-41 and Cl-36 were in secular equilibrium prior to the meteorites' fall to earth. The half-life of Ca-41 is determined at 103 + or - 7 ka. Topics discussed include the effects of undersaturation (short exposure time in space), shielding (the samples are from the interior of a large meteorite), and weathering on the cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in meteorites.

Klein, Jeffrey↗
NASA NTRS1991

A bulk similarity approach in the atmospheric boundary layer using radiometric skin temperature to determine regional surface fluxes

Profiles of wind velocity and temperature in the outer region of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) were used together with surface temperature measurements, to determine regional shear stress and sensible heat flux by means of transfer parameterizations on the basis of bulk similarity. The profiles were measured by means of radiosondes and the surface temperatures by infrared radiation thermometry over hilly prairie terrain in northeastern Kansas during the First ISLSCP Field Experiment (FIFE). In the analysis, the needed similarity functions were determined and tested.

Brutsaert, Wilfried↗
NASA NTRS1991

Determination of absolute strengths of N2 quadrupole lines from high-resolution ground-based IR solar observations

The strength of S-branch lines of the N2 (1-0) electric quadrupole vibration-rotation band are determined by an analysis of solar absorption spectra. The solar data were recorded with a Fourier transform spectrometer and are characterized by high resolution, and a high signal-to-noise ratio. By extrapolating equivalent width measurements of the lines from varying air masses to zero air mass, the line strengths are found for the transitions from S7 to S10. The results presented do not include half widths and are found to be accurate to within 5 percent, and following a redetermination the N2 transitions are accurate to within 0.0002/cm. Line-of-sight atmospheric air masses associated with remotely sensed IR spectroscopic observations can be determined directly by utilizing the highly accurate data.

Demoulin, P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Optical techniques for determination of normal shock position in supersonic flows for aerospace applications

Techniques for the quantitative determination of shock position in supersonic flows using direct and indirect methods is presented. A description of an experimental setup is also presented, different configurations of shock position sensing systems are explained, and some experimental results are given. All of the methods discussed are analyzed to determine the ease of technology transfer from the laboratory to in-flight operation.

Adamovsky, Grigory↗
NASA NTRS1992

Determining Extinction Ratio Of A Laser Diode

Improved technique to determine extinction ratio of pulsed laser diode based partly on definition of extinction ratio applicable to nonideal laser pulses. Heretofore, determinations involved assumption of ideal laser pulses, and neglected optical power from background light. Because power fluctuates during real pulse, more realistic to define extinction ratio in terms of energy obtained.

Unger, Glenn L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Correlation techniques to determine model form in robust nonlinear system realization/identification

The fundamental challenge in identification of nonlinear dynamic systems is determining the appropriate form of the model. A robust technique is presented which essentially eliminates this problem for many applications. The technique is based on the Minimum Model Error (MME) optimal estimation approach. A detailed literature review is included in which fundamental differences between the current approach and previous work is described. The most significant feature is the ability to identify nonlinear dynamic systems without prior assumption regarding the form of the nonlinearities, in contrast to existing nonlinear identification approaches which usually require detailed assumptions of the nonlinearities. Model form is determined via statistical correlation of the MME optimal state estimates with the MME optimal model error estimates. The example illustrations indicate that the method is robust with respect to prior ignorance of the model, and with respect to measurement noise, measurement frequency, and measurement record length.

Stry, Greselda I.↗