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At least 955 records · Page 53

Applied photo interpretation for airbrush cartography

New techniques of cartographic portrayal have been developed for the compilation of maps of lunar and planetary surfaces. Conventional photo interpretation methods utilizing size, shape, shadow, tone, pattern, and texture are applied to computer processed satellite television images. The variety of the image data allows the illustrator to interpret image details by inter-comparison and intra-comparison of photographs. Comparative judgements are affected by illumination, resolution, variations in surface coloration, and transmission or processing artifacts. The validity of the interpretation process is tested by making a representational drawing by an airbrush portrayal technique. Production controls insure the consistency of a map series. Photo interpretive cartographic portrayal skills are used to prepare two kinds of map series and are adaptable to map products of different kinds and purposes.

Inge, J. L.↗

Petrology of lunar rocks and implication to lunar evolution

Recent advances in lunar petrology, based on studies of lunar rock samples available through the Apollo program, are reviewed. Samples of bedrock from both maria and terra have been collected where micrometeorite impact penetrated the regolith and brought bedrock to the surface, but no in situ cores have been taken. Lunar petrogenesis and lunar thermal history supported by studies of the rock sample are discussed and a tentative evolutionary scenario is constructed. Mare basalts, terra assemblages of breccias, soils, rocks, and regolith are subjected to elemental analysis, mineralogical analysis, trace content analysis, with studies of texture, ages and isotopic composition. Probable sources of mare basalts are indicated.

Ridley, W. I.↗

Applied photo interpretation for airbrush cartography

Lunar and planetary exploration has required the development of new techniques of cartographic portrayal. Conventional photo-interpretive methods employing size, shape, shadow, tone, pattern, and texture are applied to computer-processed satellite television images. Comparative judgements are affected by illumination, resolution, variations in surface coloration, and transmission or processing artifacts. The portrayal of tonal densities in a relief illustration is performed using a unique airbrush technique derived from hill-shading of contour maps. The control of tone and line quality is essential because the mid-gray to dark tone densities must be finalized prior to the addition of highlights to the drawing. This is done with an electric eraser until the drawing is completed. The drawing density is controlled with a reflectance-reading densitometer to meet certain density guidelines. The versatility of planetary photo-interpretive methods for airbrushed map portrayals is demonstrated by the application of these techniques to the synthesis of nonrelief data.

Inge, J. L.↗

Infrared thermal mapping of the Martian surface and atmosphere - First results

The Viking infrared thermal mapper measures the thermal emission of the Martian surface and atmosphere and the total reflected sunlight. With the high resolution and dense coverage being achieved, planetwide thermal structure is apparent at large and small scales. The thermal behavior of the best-observed areas, the landing sites, cannot be explained by simple homogeneous models. The data contain clear indications for the relevance of additional factors such as detailed surface texture and the occurrence of clouds. Areas in the polar night have temperatures distinctly lower than the CO2 condensation point at the surface pressure. This observation implies that the annual atmospheric condensation is less than previously assumed and that either thick CO2 clouds exist at the 20-kilometer level or that the polar atmosphere is locally enriched by noncondensable gases.

Kieffer, H. H.↗

Status of silicon solar cell technology

Major progress in solar cell technology leading to increased efficiency has occurred since 1970. Technical approaches leading to this increased output include surface texturing, improved antireflection coatings, reduced grid pattern area coverage, shallow junctions and back surface fields. The status of these developments and their incorporation into cell production is discussed. Future research and technology trends leading to further efficiency increases and substantial cost reductions are described.

Brandhorst, H. W., Jr.↗

Geochemistry

The most effective strategy for the geochemical study of a planet is to proceed systematically with the mineralogical and chemical characterization of its materials in accordance with geologically determined priorities. It is insufficient merely to analyze chemically the surface rocks. To appreciate the meaning of a chemical analysis, some assessment must be made of the geologic history of the sample - what its source and mode of origin are and what processes have operated upon the sample to cause chemical fractionation. Determination of mineralogy, texture, lithology, and other properties of the rock that might be relevant to origin is, therefore, necessary.

Carr, M. H.↗

Reconnaissance mapping from aerial photographs

The author has identified the following significant results. Engineering soil and geology maps were successfully made from Pennsylvania aerial photographs taken at scales from 1:4,800 to 1:60,000. The procedure involved a detailed study of a stereoscopic model while evaluating landform, drainage, erosion, color or gray tones, tone and texture patterns, vegetation, and cultural or land use patterns.

Weeden, H. A.↗

Mineralogic and petrologic study of the low-temperature minerals in carbonaceous chondrites

Samples and petrographic thin sections of the Orgueil, Ivuna, and Alais chondrites were examined by optical, X-ray, and SEM techniques. Mineral species identified as primary vein constituents were epsomite, gypsum, and a calcium-magnesium carbonate. Relative abundances and textural relationships have suggested that fracture mineralization was a multi stage process, with individual mineralizations closely associated with impact brecciation events. Mass balance considerations of carbonaceous chondrite matrix support the prevailing view that the source of the fracture filling minerals was local. By inference they also suggest that the phyllosilicate matrix has been chemically altered and that there are probably very few primitive mineral phases in the primitive Cl chondrites.

Wood, J. A.↗

Geological and hydrogeological investigation in West Malaysia

The author has identified the following significant results. The broad synoptic view of the images allowed easy identification of circular features and major fault traces in low lying areas. Sedimentary units were delineated in accordance with the prevailing rock types and where applicable the folding characteristics. Igneous units could easily be differentiated by tone, degree of fracturing, texture, and drainage pattern. The larger fold structures, anticlinoriums and synclinoriums, of the younger sediments on the eastern edge of the central belt could also be easily delineated.

Ahmad, J. B.↗

Investigation of the fracture mechanism in Ti-5Al-2.5Sn at cryogenic temperatures

The influence of microstructure on the fracture mechanism and plane-strain fracture toughness of Ti-5Al-2.5Sn was studied through the use of fractography and metallographic sectioning techniques. One-inch thick plates of extra low interstitial (ELI) and normal interstitial Ti-5Al-2.5Sn were mill annealed at 815 C followed by either air or furnace cooling. These variations in composition and cooling rate resulted in differences in the volume fraction and internal structure of the iron-stabilized phase, and in the crystallographic texture and ordering of the alpha matrix. The tensile properties of these plates were determined at 20 K, 77 K, and 295 K. The air-cooled ELI plate was the toughest material evaluated.

Vanstone, R. H.↗

Performance evaluation of a quasi-microscope for planetary landers

Spatial resolutions achieved with cameras on lunar and planetary landers have been limited to about 1 mm, whereas microscopes of the type proposed for such landers could have obtained resolutions of about 1 um but were never accepted because of their complexity and weight. The quasi-microscope evaluated in this paper could provide intermediate resolutions of about 10 um with relatively simple optics that would augment a camera, such as the Viking lander camera, without imposing special design requirements on the camera of limiting its field of view of the terrain. Images of natural particulate samples taken in black and white and in color show that grain size, shape, and texture are made visible for unconsolidated materials in a 50- to 500-um size range. Such information may provide broad outlines of planetary surface mineralogy and allow inferences to be made of grain origin and evolution. The mineralogical descriptions of single grains would be aided by the reflectance spectra that could, for example, be estimated from the six-channel multispectral data of the Viking lander camera.

Burcher, E. E.↗

Introduction to the Apollo collections. Part 1: Lunar igneous rocks

The basic petrographic, chemical, and age data is presented for a representative suite of igneous rocks gathered during the six Apollo missions. Tables are given for 69 samples: 32 igneous rocks and 37 impactites (breccias). A description is given of 26 basalts, four plutonic rocks, and two pyroclastic samples. The textural-mineralogic name assigned each sample is included.

Mcgee, P. E.↗

Photomorphic analysis techniques: An interim spatial analysis using satellite remote sensor imagery and historical data

The use of machine scanning and/or computer-based techniques to provide greater objectivity in the photomorphic approach was investigated. Photomorphic analysis and its application in regional planning are discussed. Topics included: delineation of photomorphic regions; inadequacies of existing classification systems; tonal and textural characteristics and signature analysis techniques; pattern recognition and Fourier transform analysis; and optical experiments. A bibliography is included.

Keuper, H. R.↗

Bulk and thin films of FeTe: A Moessbauer study

Studies of bulk and thin films of FeTe using Moessbauer spectroscopy showed that FeTe has one noncubic Fe (+2) site which is 3d2 4s 4p3 hybridized. The presence of dangling bands was indicated in spectra of FeTe thin films. The films showed a tendency of texture formation. The substrate was observed to influence the film structure and nature of bonds in films.

Escue, W. T.↗

Analysis of ablation debris from natural and artificial iron meteorites

Artificial ablation studies were performed on iron and nickel-iron samples using an arc-heated plasma of ionized air. Experiment conditions simulated a meteoroid traveling about 12 km/sec at an altitude of 70 km. The artificially produced fusion crusts and ablation debris show features very similar to natural fusion crusts of the iron meteorites Boguslavka, Norfork, and N'Kandhla and to magnetic spherules recovered from Mn nodules. X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe, optical, and scanning electron microscope analyses reveal that important mineralogical, elemental, and textural changes occur during ablation. Some metal is melted and ablated. The outer margin of the melted rind is oxidized and recrystallizes as a discontinuous crust of magnetite and wustite. Adjacent to the oxidized metallic ablation zone is an unoxidized metallic ablation zone in which structures such as Widmannstatten bands are obliterated as the metal is transformed to unequilibrated alpha 2 nickel-iron. Volatile elements are vaporized and less volatile elements undergo fractionation.

Blanchard, M. B.↗

Ion-beam technology and applications

Ion propulsion research and development yields a mature technology that is transferable to a wide range of nonpropulsive applications, including terrestrial and space manufacturing. A xenon ion source was used for an investigation into potential ion-beam applications. The results of cathode tests and discharge-chamber experiments are presented. A series of experiments encompassing a wide range of potential applications is discussed. Two types of processes, sputter deposition, and erosion were studied. Some of the potential applications are thin-film Teflon capacitor fabrication, lubrication applications, ion-beam cleaning and polishing, and surface texturing.

Hudson, W. R.↗

Lunar sample studies

Lunar samples discussed and the nature of their analyses are: (1) an Apollo 15 breccia which is thoroughly analyzed as to the nature of the mature regolith from which it derived and the time and nature of the lithification process, (2) two Apollo 11 and one Apollo 12 basalts analyzed in terms of chemistry, Cross-Iddings-Pirsson-Washington norms, mineralogy, and petrography, (3) eight Apollo 17 mare basalts, also analyzed in terms of chemistry, Cross-Iddings-Pirsson-Washington norms, mineralogy, and petrography. The first seven are shown to be chemically similar although of two main textural groups; the eighth is seen to be distinct in both chemistry and mineralogy, (4) a troctolitic clast from a Fra Mauro breccia, analyzed and contrasted with other high-temperature lunar mineral assemblages. Two basaltic clasts from the same breccia are shown to have affinities with rock 14053, and (5) the uranium-thorium-lead systematics of three Apollo 16 samples are determined; serious terrestrial-lead contamination of the first two samples is attributed to bandsaw cutting in the lunar curatorial facility.

Source record↗

Plastic (wire-combed) grooving of a slip-formed concrete runway overlay at Patrick Henry Airport: An initial evaluation

A wire-comb technique is described for transversely grooving the surface of a freshly laid (plastic state) slip-formed concrete overlay installed at Patrick Henry Airport. This method of surface texturing yields better water drainage and pavement skid resistance than that obtained with an older conventional burlap drag concrete surface treatment installed on an adjacent portion of the runway.

Marlin, E. C.↗