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At least 955 records · Page 53

Graphite/polyimide state-of-the-art panel discussion

The state-of-the-art of graphite/polyimides (GR/PI) composites is presented under two related subject areas: technical roadblocks to increased application and priority of technical problems. Technical roadblocks are the maturity of the 589K GR/PI material system and GR/PI structure fabrication technology. Priority of the GR/PI technical problems involves the selection of a primary polyimide resin system to reduce the scope of development problems. The GR/PI structure first priority problem is the selection and development of high temperature adhesive systems.

Morita, W. H.↗

Custom large scale integrated circuits for spaceborne SAR processors

The application of modern LSI technology to the development of a time-domain azimuth correlator for SAR processing is discussed. General design requirements for azimuth correlators for such missions as Seasat-A, Venus Orbital Imaging Radar, and Shuttle Imaging Radar are summarized. Several azimuth correlator architectures suitable for implementation using custom LSI devices are described. Technical factors pertaining to selection of appropriate LSI technologies are discussed, and the maturity of alternative technologies for spacecraft application is examined in the context of the expected launch dates. In particular, it is demonstrated that a custom LSI device is practical for a system as complex as the DMSP.

Tyree, V. C.↗

Utilization of lunar materials in space

Reasons for conducting commercial mining operations on the moon are discussed with attention to physical parameters, material abundances, and economics. Adaptations of currently used mining techniques are considered, and space applications of moon-derived materials are suggested. Possible organization of the mining project is examined, and it is suggested that the transition from concept phase to implementation could proceed rapidly. Characteristics of maturing space industries and the roles of the public and the private sectors are considered.

Criswell, D. R.↗

Noble gases in Luna 24 core soils

Isotopic abundances of the noble gases have been determined in grain size separates of six soils from different depths in the Luna 24 core. Concentrations of cosmogenic Ne-21 in these soils show a complex pattern as a function of soil depth, and are inconsistent with a single stage, in situ production in a static regolith or with a simple model of slow accumulation of previously unirradiated soils followed by a static period. All soils have apparently had a complex pre-irradiation history. Some soils show significant differences in the concentration of cosmogenic Ne-21 between different grain sizes, which is consistent with suggestions that they formed as a mixture of soils with different maturities. The exact subsurface depth relationships of the soils are not known, and several possibilities are discussed. Because of this factor and the complex nature of the soils, the cosmogenic Ne data do not define the depositional-irradiational history of the core. Luna 24 core soils may have been deposited any time during the past 300 million years.

Bogard, D. D.↗

Particle track densities in the Luna 24 core

We report track density measurements in soil grains at six locations in the Luna 24 core. Irradiation levels are generally high precluding information on the depositional history, but indicating that the soils were exposed at the lunar surface at sometime in the past. Maturity levels determined from track density parameters disagree with those determined from ferromagnetic resonance and agglutinate contents. This discrepancy is not understood, but it could possibly indicate an ancient epoch of increased solar-flare activity.

Blanford, G. E.↗

Nuclear particle tracks and the regolith at the Luna 24 site

Track investigations of feldspars and pyroxenes in Luna 24 soils indicate that most of the grains resided within millimeters of the lunar surface. The two deepest samples appear to be less mature than the upper ones. Lack of correlation between tracks, agglutinates, and I sub S/FeO is puzzling and unique.

Crozaz, G.↗

Development of the Space Shuttle Main Engine /May 1979/

During the last year, significant progress was made toward the development of the Space Shuttle Main Engine, which will provide propulsion for the Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicle. Engine system testing continued at the National Space Technology Laboratories on both single engines and a three-engine cluster. A third single engine test position was activated at the Rocketdyne Santa Susana Field Laboratory to provide additional capability for demonstrating increasing engine maturity and for solving problems. The results of engine system testing is discussed as well as the major problems identified and the design changes incorporated to solve those problems. A review of the program efforts toward the delivery of the first set of flight engines and the certification of the SSME for manned flight is included.

Colbo, H. I.↗

Sputtering - Its relationship to isotopic fractionation on the lunar surface

Silicon, oxygen, sulfur and, possibly, potassium show systematic enrichment of heavier isotopes with increasing soil maturity, probably as a result of solar-wind sputtering, but such a pattern is not exhibited by solar wind-implanted species. Apparently sputter-erosion is not penetrating to their implantation depth, about 200 A. This suggests that sputtering on the moon is being impeded by deposition of vapor condensate following meteoritic impact. Although neither secular variation in the isotopic composition at the source of regolith carbon, probably the solar wind, nor isotopic fractionation of carbon after implantation in the regolith can be ruled out, carbon isotope systematics currently yield no evidence in support of either process.

Kerridge, J. F.↗

Irradiation stratigraphy in the Apollo 16 deep drill section 60002

Particle track density frequency distributions, abundance of track rich grains and minimum track densities are reported for the upper 20 cm of the 60002 section of the Apollo 16 deep drill core. The principal stratigraphic feature is a boundary approximately 7 cm from the top of the section. Experimental evidence does not conclusively determine whether this contact is an ancient regolith surface or is simply a depositional boundary. If it is an ancient surface, it has a model exposure age of 3 to 7 million years and a reworking depth of about 0.5 cm. However, because track density frequency distributions indicate the mixing of soils of different maturities, we favor interpreting this contact as a depositional boundary. There may be a second depositional boundary approximately 19 cm below the top of 60002.

Blanford, G. E.↗

Chemistry of orange/black soils from core 74001/2

Double core 74001/2 soils were studied. Bulk soils and the 90-150 micrometer and less than 20 micrometer size fractions of 13 soils from the core for both major and trace elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis were analyzed. The orange and black glassy soils in the core 74001/2 are homogeneous in composition and due to their unusual compositional characteristics probably have derived from a single source with the same composition. The top of the core has been reworked to a depth of about 5 cm. The reworked layer is marked by compositional differences in the first 3 cm which reflect the addition (at least 10%) of materials including mare basalt and a CaO-rich component. The maturity profile (I sub s/FeO) clearly indicates reworking depth of about 5 cm. It is likely that at least some of the ferro-magnetically active component (including agglutinitic glass) has been 'inherited' with the added material.

Blanchard, D. P.↗

Depositional and surface exposure history of the Shorty Crater core 74001/2 - FMR and magnetic studies

Surface exposure (maturity) indices and concentrations of FeO and metallic iron were determined at 0.5-cm intervals of the Apollo 17 core section, which sampled a pyroclastic deposit on the rim of Shorty Crater. The determinations showed that all of the soil in the core is extremely immature. An exposure history of the core is proposed: accumulation (about 3.6 billion years ago), shallow burial (during the first 20 million years), deep burial (till about 10-15 million years ago), followed by excavation (10-15 million years ago), and in situ reworking (till the present).

Morris, R. V.↗

Nature of the gases released from lunar rocks and soils upon crushing

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of inorganic gases released from lunar basalts, breccias and soils by crushing have been performed in an apparatus which consists of a piston operating in a stream of purified He and a dual-column gas chromatograph equipped with He-ionization detectors. The apparatus eliminates the problem of adsorption of the released gases by fresh sample surfaces generated by crushing. Upper concentration levels for nitrogen, H2, CH4, O2 and other gases released from crushed basalts are reported. A direct correlation is established between the amount of nitrogen released from lunar soils by crushing and the lunar soil maturity indicator proposed by Morris (1976).

Gibson, E. K., Jr.↗

Mare basalt types on the front side of the moon - A summary of spectral reflectance data

A unit map of nearside basalt types has been prepared from all telescopic spectral reflectance data currently available for lunar soils. Four parameters were chosen (UV/VIS ratio, albedo, 1 micron band strength, 2 micron band strength) to distinguish and map each of 13 mare basalt types and three additional volcanic groups. Multispectral imagery and albedo maps were used to define unit boundaries while spectra were used to examine the 1 and 2 micron bands and calibrate and quantify the multispectral images. Although the volume of each basalt type is not known, it is clear from the unit map that only 1/3 to 1/2 of the surface basalt types are likely to be represented in the returned lunar samples. For mature lunar soils a single parameter alone does not provide chemical information, but when the four are used together, TiO2 and in some cases FeO can be estimated. Further study of the mineralogy of unsampled lunar basalts requires precise spectra to 2.5 microns with higher spectra and spatial resolution.

Pieters, C. M.↗

Graphite fiber reinforced glass matrix composites for aerospace applications

The graphite fiber reinforced glass matrix composite system is described. Although this composite is not yet a mature material, it possesses low density, attractive mechanical properties at elevated temperatures, and good environmental stability. Properties are reported for a borosilicate glass matrix unidirectionally reinforced with 60 volume percent HMS graphite fiber. The flexural strength and fatigue characteristics at room and elevated temperature, resistance to thermal cycling and continuous high temperature oxidation, and thermal expansion characteristics of the composite are reported. The properties of this new composite are compared to those of advanced resin and metal matrix composites showing that graphite fiber reinforced glass matrix composites are attractive for aerospace applications.

Prewo, K. M.↗

STARPAHC space-oriented medical evaluation

Development of the STARPAHC telemedicine system is documented. Using STARPAHC assessment results and monitoring experience, on board and ground based flight medical system monitoring requirements and operational procedures were developed for use with the Space Transportation System during OFT and mature operation phases of the shuttle.

Source record↗

Energy from aquatic plant wastewater treatment systems

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), duckweed (Spirodela sp. and Lemma sp.), water pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides), and kudzu (Pueraria lobata) were anaerobically fermented using an anaerobic filter technique that reduced the total digestion time from 90 days to an average of 23 days and produced 0.14-0.28 cu m CH4/kg (dry weight) (2.3-4.5 cu ft/lb) from mature filters. The anaerobic filter provided a large surface area for the anaerobic bacteria to establish and maintain an optimum balance of facultative, acid-forming, and methane-producing bacteria. Consequently the efficiency of the process was greatly improved over prior batch fermentations.

Wolverton, B. C.↗

Initial dynamics of the EKG during an electrical defibrillation of the heart

In tests on 11 mature dogs, immobilized by means of an automatic blocking and synchronization system, artefact free EKG were obtained, beginning 0.04-0.06 sec after passage of a defibrillating current. Different versions of the start of fibrillation were noted, in application of the defibrillating stimulus in the early phase of the cardiac cycle. A swinging phenomenon, increasing amplitude, of fibrillation was noted for 0.4-1.5 sec after delivery of a subthreshold stimulus. Conditions for a positive outcome of repeated defibrillation were found, and a relationship was noted between the configuration of the exciting process with respect to the lines of force of the defibrillating current and the defibrillation threshold. It was shown that the initial EKG dynamics after defibrillation is based on a gradual shift of the pacemaker from the myocardium of the ventricles to the sinus node, through phases of atrioventricular and atrial automatism.

Bikov, I. I.↗