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NASA NTRS1995

Basic principles and recent observations of rotationally sampled wind

The concept of rotationally sampled wind speed is described. The unusual wind characteristics that result from rotationally sampling the wind are shown first for early measurements made using an 8-point ring of anemometers on a vertical plane array of meteorological towers. Quantitative characterization of the rotationally sampled wind is made in terms of the power spectral density function of the wind speed. Verification of the importance of the new concept is demonstrated with spectral analyses of the response of the MOD-OA blade flapwise root bending moment and the corresponding rotational analysis of the wind measured immediately upwind of the MOD-OA using a 12-point ring of anemometers on a 7-tower vertical plane array. The Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) theory of the rotationally sampled wind speed power spectral density function is tested successfully against the wind spectrum measured at the MOD-OA vertical plane array. A single-tower empirical model of the rotationally sampled wind speed is also successfully tested against the measurements from the full vertical plane array. Rotational measurements of the wind velocity with hotfilm anemometers attached to rotating blades are shown to be accurate and practical for research on winds at the blades of wind turbines. Some measurements at the rotor blade of a MOD-2 turbine using the hotfilm technique in a pilot research program are shown. They are compared and contrasted to the expectations based upon application of the PNL theory of rotationally sampled wind to the MOD-2 size and rotation rate but without teeter, blade bending, or rotor induction accounted for. Finally, the importance of temperature layering and of wind modifications due to flow over complex terrain is demonstrated by the use of hotfilm anemometer data, and meteorological tower and acoustic doppler sounder data from the MOD-2 site at Goodnoe Hills, Washington.

Connell, James R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Stripline feed for a microstrip array of patch elements with teardrop shaped probes

A circularly polarized microstrip array antenna utilizing a honeycomb substrate made of dielectric material to support on one side the microstrip patch elements in an array, and on the other side a stripline circuit for feeding the patch elements in subarray groups of four with angular orientation and phase for producing circularly polarized radiation, preferably at a 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. relationship. The probe used for coupling each feed point in the stripline circuit to a microstrip patch element is teardrop shaped in order to introduce capacitance between the coupling probe and the metal sheet of the stripline circuit that serves as an antenna ground plane. The capacitance thus introduced tunes out inductance of the probe. The shape of the teardrop probe is not critical. The probe capacitance required is controlled by the maximum diameter for the teardrop shaped probe, which can be empirically determined for the operating frequency. An aluminum baffle around each subarray blocks out surface waves between subarrays.

Huang, John↗

NASA NTRS1989

Stripline feed for a microstrip array of patch elements with teardrop shaped probes

A circularly polarized microstrip array antenna utilizing a honeycomb substrate made of dielectric material to support on one side the microstrip patch elements in an array, and on the other side a stripline circuit for feeding the patch elements in subarray groups of four with angular orientation and phase for producing circularly polarized radiation, preferably at a 0, 90, 180, and 270 degree relationship is described. The probe used for coupling each feed point in the stripline circuit to a microstrip patch element is teardrop shaped in order to introduce capacitance between the coupling probe and the metal sheet of the stripline circuit that serves as an antenna ground plane. The capacitance thus introduced tunes out inductance of the probe. The shape of the teardrop probe is not critical. The probe capacitance required is controlled by the maximum diameter for the teardrop shaped probe, which can be empirically determined for the operating frequency. An aluminum baffle around each subarray blocks out surface wave between subarrays.

Huang, John↗

NASA NTRS2006

Magnetic Field Response Measurement Acquisition System

Magnetic field response sensors designed as passive inductor-capacitor circuits produce magnetic field responses whose harmonic frequencies correspond to states of physical properties for which the sensors measure. Power to the sensing element is acquired using Faraday induction. A radio frequency antenna produces the time varying magnetic field used for powering the sensor, as well as receiving the magnetic field response of the sensor. An interrogation architecture for discerning changes in sensor s response kequency, resistance and amplitude is integral to the method thus enabling a variety of measurements. Multiple sensors can be interrogated using this method, thus eliminating the need to have a data acquisition channel dedicated to each sensor. The method does not require the sensors to be in proximity to any form of acquisition hardware. A vast array of sensors can be used as interchangeable parts in an overall sensing system.

Woodard, Stanley E.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Rapid systemic up-regulation of genes after heat-wounding and electrical stimulation

When one leaf of a tomato plant is electrically-stimulated or heat-wounded, proteinase inhibitor genes are rapidly up-regulated in distant leaves. The identity of the systemic wound signal(s) is not yet known, but major candidates include hormones transmitted via the phloem or the xylem, the electrically-stimulated self-propagating electrical signal in the phloem (the action potential, AP), or the heat-wound-induced surge in hydraulic pressure in the xylem evoking a local change in membrane potential in adjacent living cells (the variation potential, VP). In order to discriminate between these signals we have adopted two approaches. The first approach involves applying stimuli that evoke known signals and determining whether these signals have similar effects on the "model" transcripts for proteinase inhibitors (pin) and calmodulin (cal). Here we show that a heat wound almost invariably evokes a VP, while an electrical stimulation occasionally evokes an AP, and both of these signals induce accumulation of transcripts encoding proteinase inhibitors. The second approach involves identifying the array of genes turned on by heat-wounding. To this end, we have constructed a subtractive library for heat-wounded tissue, isolated over 800 putatively up-regulated clones, and shown that all but two of the fifty that we have analyzed by Northern hybridization are, indeed, up-regulated. Here we show the early kinetics of up-regulation of three of these transcripts in the terminal (4th) leaf in response to heat-wounding the 3rd leaf, about 5 cm away. Even though these transcripts show somewhat different time courses of induction, with one peaking at 30 min, another at 15 min, and another at 5 min after flaming of a distant leaf, they all exhibit a similar pattern, i.e., a transient period of transcript accumulation preceding a period of transcript decrease, followed by a second period of transcript accumulation.

NASA Discipline Plant Biology↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Murine Host-gut Microbiota Interactions are Modulated During Spaceflight

The rodent habitat on the International Space Station has provided critical insight into the impact of spaceflight on mammalian physiology. These effects include dysfunction of carbohydrate, steroid and lipid metabolism, and immune response, as well as induction of symptoms characteristic of liver disease, insulin resistance, osteopenia and myopathy, which are anticipated to intensify over long-duration spaceflight. Although these physiological responses can involve the microbiome, the host-microorganism interactions during spaceflight are still largely unknown. NASA GeneLab curates a wide range of space research data and the current work harnesses GeneLab multi’omic data from recent Rodent Research studies to explore changes to gut microbiota during spaceflight and their associations with host physiology when compared to ground controls. Using a hybrid analysis of DNA barcoding and whole genome shotgun data, an array of bacteria, fungi and nematodes could be identified at species level, and significant differences in relative abundances associated with spaceflight. Functional prediction based on differential abundance of species and metagenome gene inventories as well as metatranscriptomic gene expression at the host-gut microbiome interface implicate microbiota interactions could contribute to spaceflight pathology. Harnessing carefully curated publicly available data, such as from Genelab, to generate multi‘omic space science discoveries can help decipher the complex host-microbiome interactions that influence both health on Earth and the feasibility of long-duration spaceflight.

Microbiome↗

NASA NTRS2002

The action of a dietary retinoid on gene expression and cancer induction in electron-irradiated rat skin

Current models of radiation carcinogenesis generally assume that the DNA is damaged in a variety of ways by the radiation and that subsequent cell divisions contribute to the conversion of the damage to heritable mutations. Cancer may seem complex and intractable, but its complexity provides multiple opportunities for preventive interventions. Mitotic inhibitors are among the strongest cancer preventive agents, not only slowing the growth rate of preneoplasias but also increasing the fidelity of DNA repair processes. Ionizing radiation, including electrons, is a strong inducer of cancer in rat skin, and dietary retinoids have shown potent cancer preventive activity in the same system. A non-toxic dietary dose of retinyl acetate altered gene expression levels 24 hours after electron irradiation of rat skin. Of the 8740 genes on an Affymetrix rat expression array, the radiation significantly (5 fold or higher) altered 188, while the retinoid altered 231, including 16 radiation-altered genes that were reversely altered. While radiation strongly affected the expression of stress response, immune/inflammation and nucleic acid metabolism genes, the retinoid most strongly affected proliferation-related genes, including some significant reversals, such as, keratin 14, retinol binding protein, and calcium binding proteins. These results point to reversal of proliferation-relevant genes as a likely basis for the anti-radiogenic effects of dietary retinyl acetate.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS2019

Acoustic Directivity and Insertion Loss Measurements of Advanced Liners Installed the Inlet of the DGEN Aeropropulsion Research Turbofan

The NASA Glenn Research Center’s DGEN Aeropropulsion Research Turbofan (DART) is based on the Price Induction DGEN380—a small, ~500-lbf thrust class, high-bypass, geared-turbofan engine with a separate flow nozzle. The general characteristics of the DART make it an ideal candidate for utilization as a test bed for engine aeroacoustic research in a relevant performance environment. The DART was used to document the efficacy of acoustic liners installed in the inlet of the DGEN380. An advanced multi-degree-of-freedom liner (MDOF) was designed and tested, along with a traditional single-degree-of- freedom liner (SDOF), and those results compared to a hard-wall baseline inlet. Farfield acoustic data were acquired from an external array, evaluated, and reported here-in terms of overall, broadband, and tonal components of the insertion loss.

Noise Reduction↗

NASA NTRS2003

Mars Surveyor Program '01 Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment wet chemistry lab: a sensor array for chemical analysis of the Martian soil

The Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment (MECA) instrument was designed, built, and flight qualified for the now canceled MSP (Mars Surveyor Program) '01 Lander. The MECA package consisted of a microscope, electrometer, material patch plates, and a wet chemistry laboratory (WCL). The primary goal of MECA was to analyze the Martian soil (regolith) for possible hazards to future astronauts and to provide a better understanding of Martian regolith geochemistry. The purpose of the WCL was to analyze for a range of soluble ionic chemical species and electrochemical parameters. The heart of the WCL was a sensor array of electrochemically based ion-selective electrodes (ISE). After 20 months storage at -23 degrees C and subsequent extended freeze/thawing cycles, WCL sensors were evaluated to determine both their physical durability and analytical responses. A fractional factorial calibration of the sensors was used to obtain slope, intercept, and all necessary selectivity coefficients simultaneously for selected ISEs. This calibration was used to model five cation and three anion sensors. These data were subsequently used to determine concentrations of several ions in two soil leachate simulants (based on terrestrial seawater and hypothesized Mars brine) and four actual soil samples. The WCL results were compared to simulant and soil samples using ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results showed that flight qualification and prolonged low-temperature storage conditions had minimal effects on the sensors. In addition, the analytical optimization method provided quantitative and qualitative data that could be used to accurately identify the chemical composition of the simulants and soils. The WCL has the ability to provide data that can be used to "read" the chemical, geological, and climatic history of Mars, as well as the potential habitability of its regolith.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS2008

Operational Characteristics and Plasma Measurements in a Low-Energy FARAD Thruster

Pulsed inductive plasma accelerators are spacecraft propulsion devices in which energy is stored in a capacitor and then discharged through an inductive coil. The device is electrodeless, inducing a plasma current sheet in propellant located near the face of the coil. The propellant is accelerated and expelled at a high exhaust velocity (order of 10 km/s) through the interaction of the plasma current with an induced magnetic field. The Faraday Accelerator with RF-Assisted Discharge (FARAD) thruster is a type of pulsed inductive plasma accelerator in which the plasma is preionized by a mechanism separate from that used to form the current sheet and accelerate the gas. Employing a separate preionization mechanism in this manner allows for the formation of an inductive current sheet at much lower discharge energies and voltages than those found in previous pulsed inductive accelerators like the Pulsed Inductive Thruster (PIT). In this paper, we present measurements aimed at quantifying the thruster's overall operational characteristics and providing additional insight into the nature of operation. Measurements of the terminal current and voltage characteristics during the pulse help quantify the output of the pulsed power train driving the acceleration coil. A fast ionization gauge is used to measure the evolution of the neutral gas distribution in the accelerator prior to a pulse. The preionization process is diagnosed by monitoring light emission from the gas using a photodiode, and a time-resolved global view of the evolving, accelerating current sheet is obtained using a fast-framing camera. Local plasma and field measurements are obtained using an array of intrusive probes. The local induced magnetic field and azimuthal current density are measured using B-dot probes and mini-Rogowski coils, respectively. Direct probing of the number density and electron temperature is performed using a triple probe.

Polzin, K. A.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Imaging the Moon's Core with Seismology

Constraining the structure of the lunar core is necessary to improve our understanding of the present-day thermal structure of the interior and the history of a lunar dynamo, as well as the origin and thermal and compositional evolution of the Moon. We analyze Apollo deep moonquake seismograms using terrestrial array processing methods to search for the presence of reflected and converted energy from the lunar core. Although moonquake fault parameters are not constrained, we first explore a suite of theoretical focal spheres to verify that fault planes exist that can produce favorable core reflection amplitudes relative to direct up-going energy at the Apollo stations. Beginning with stacks of event seismograms from the known distribution of deep moonquake clusters, we apply a polarization filter to account for the effects of seismic scattering that (a) partitions energy away from expected components of ground motion, and (b) obscures all but the main P- and S-wave arrivals. The filtered traces are then shifted to the predicted arrival time of a core phase (e.g. PcP) and stacked to enhance subtle arrivals associated with the Moon s core. This combination of filtering and array processing is well suited for detecting deep lunar seismic reflections, since we do not expect scattered wave energy from near surface (or deeper) structure recorded at varying epicentral distances and stations from varying moonquakes at varying depths to stack coherently. Our results indicate the presence of a solid inner and fluid outer core, overlain by a partial-melt-containing boundary layer (Table 1). These layers are consistently observed among stacks from four classes of reflections: P-to-P, S-to-P, P-to-S, and S-to-S, and are consistent with current indirect geophysical estimates of core and deep mantle properties, including mass, moment of inertia, lunar laser ranging, and electromagnetic induction. Future refinements are expected following the successful launch of the GRAIL lunar orbiter and SELENE 2 lunar lander missions.

Weber, Renee C.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Bioreactor Development for CO2-Based In Situ Resource Utilization Manufacturing

Sustainable long-duration manned missions on both the Moon and Mars will require in situ resource utilization (ISRU). Carbon dioxide (CO2) has great potential as a harvestable resource, making up 95% of the atmosphere on Mars and being produced as respiratory waste in spacecraft and future planetary habitats. Through ISRU, biomanufacturing has the capability to produce a near limitless array of products from local space resources. Here, a CO2-based ISRU recombinant protein producing bioreactor and associated biomanufacturing organisms were designed to produce a highly stable carbonic anhydrase (CA). Candidate organisms were selected by growth characterization on acetate and formic acid, carbon substrates that are synthesized via electrochemical conversion of CO2. To improve growth on the CO2 producing substrate formic acid and for direct integration of ISRU CO2, a synthetic Calvin-Benson-Bassam cycle was designed for use in Escherichia coli. Multiplex genetic modification in E. coli was facilitated by a tailored CRISPR/Cas9 and λ red recombineering two-vector system. For expression of CA, a blue light regulated T7 promoter was employed for dynamic and small molecule free induction. Efficient bioproduction through a fed-batch exponential feeding strategy was determined via mass balance analysis from ISRU substrates to biomass and CA yield. Flux balance analysis was used to model ISRU substrate metabolism and metabolic pathway engineering in candidate organisms under cultivation strategy conditions for both metabolism reconstruction and pathway design optimization. Finally, a small-scale, disposable bag bioreactor for use in the NASA Bioculture System infrastructure was designed to enable CO2-based CA biomanufacturing in reduced-gravity environments.

biomanufacturing↗

NASA NTRS2009

Differential InP HEMT MMIC Amplifiers Embedded in Waveguides

Monolithic microwave integrated-circuit (MMIC) amplifiers of a type now being developed for operation at frequencies of hundreds of gigahertz contain InP high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) in a differential configuration. The differential configuration makes it possible to obtain gains greater than those of amplifiers having the single-ended configuration. To reduce losses associated with packaging, the MMIC chips are designed integrally with, and embedded in, waveguide packages, with the additional benefit that the packages are compact enough to fit into phased transmitting and/or receiving antenna arrays. Differential configurations (which are inherently balanced) have been used to extend the upper limits of operating frequencies of complementary metal oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) amplifiers to the microwave range but, until now, have not been applied in millimeter- wave amplifier circuits. Baluns have traditionally been used to transform from single-ended to balanced configurations, but baluns tend to be lossy. Instead of baluns, finlines are used to effect this transformation in the present line of development. Finlines have been used extensively to drive millimeter- wave mixers in balanced configurations. In the present extension of the finline balancing concept, finline transitions are integrated onto the affected MMICs (see figure). The differential configuration creates a virtual ground within each pair of InP HEMT gate fingers, eliminating the need for inductive vias to ground. Elimination of these vias greatly reduces parasitic components of current and the associated losses within an amplifier, thereby enabling more nearly complete utilization of the full performance of each transistor. The differential configuration offers the additional benefit of multiplying (relative to the single-ended configuration) the input and output impedances of each transistor by a factor of four, so that it is possible to use large transistors that would otherwise have prohibitively low impedances. Yet another advantage afforded by the virtual ground of the differential configuration is elimination of the need for a ground plane and, hence, elimination of the need for back-side metallization of the MMIC chip. In turn, elimination of the back-side metallization simplifies fabrication, reduces parasitic capacitances, and enables mounting of the MMIC in the electric-field plane ("E-plane") of a waveguide. E-plane mounting is consistent with (and essential for the utility of) the finline configuration, in which transmission lines lie on a dielectric sheet in the middle of a broad side of the waveguide. E-plane mounting offers a combination of low loss and ease of assembly because no millimeter-wave wire bonds or transition substrates are required. Moreover, because there is no ground plane behind the MMIC, the impedance for the detrimental even (single-ended) mode is high, suppressing coupling to that mode. Still another advantage of E-plane mounting is that the fundamental waveguide mode is inherently differential, eliminating the need for a balun to excite the differential mode.

Kangaslahti, Pekka↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Bioreactor Development for CO2-Based In Situ Resource Utilization Manufacturing

Sustainable long-duration manned missions on both the Moon and Mars will require in situ resource utilization (ISRU). Carbon dioxide (CO2) has great potential as a harvestable resource, making up 95% of the atmosphere on Mars and being produced as respiratory waste in spacecraft and future planetary habitats. Through ISRU, biomanufacturing has the capability to produce a near limitless array of products from local space resources, which include pharmaceuticals, bioplastics, chemical feedstocks, and industrial enzymes. Here, a CO2-based ISRU recombinant protein bioreactor and associated biomanufacturing organisms were designed to produce a highly stable carbonic anhydrase (CA). Initial work characterized candidate organisms for growth on acetate and formic acid, carbon substrates that can be synthesized via electrochemical conversion of CO2. To improve growth on the CO2 producing substrate formic acid and for direct integration of ISRU CO2, a synthetic Calvin-Benson-Bassam cycle was designed for use in Cyberlindnera jadinii and Escherichia coli. Genetic modifications in E. coli will be facilitated by a tailored CRISPR/Cas9 and λ red recombineering two-vector system. For expression of CA, a blue light regulated T7 promoter was employed for dynamic and small molecule free induction. Efficient bioproduction through a fed-batch exponential feeding strategy was determined via mass balance calculations from ISRU substrates to biomass and CA yield. Flux balance analysis was used to model ISRU substrate metabolism and metabolic pathway engineering in candidate organisms under cultivation strategy conditions for both metabolism reconstruction and pathway design optimization. Finally, a small-scale, disposable bag bioreactor concept for use in the NASA Bioculture System infrastructure was designed to enable CO2-based CA production in reduced-gravity environments.

Biomanufacturing, Pathway Engineering, Flux Balanc↗

NASA NTRS1997

On the Use of Statistics in Design and the Implications for Deterministic Computer Experiments

Perhaps the most prevalent use of statistics in engineering design is through Taguchi's parameter and robust design -- using orthogonal arrays to compute signal-to-noise ratios in a process of design improvement. In our view, however, there is an equally exciting use of statistics in design that could become just as prevalent: it is the concept of metamodeling whereby statistical models are built to approximate detailed computer analysis codes. Although computers continue to get faster, analysis codes always seem to keep pace so that their computational time remains non-trivial. Through metamodeling, approximations of these codes are built that are orders of magnitude cheaper to run. These metamodels can then be linked to optimization routines for fast analysis, or they can serve as a bridge for integrating analysis codes across different domains. In this paper we first review metamodeling techniques that encompass design of experiments, response surface methodology, Taguchi methods, neural networks, inductive learning, and kriging. We discuss their existing applications in engineering design and then address the dangers of applying traditional statistical techniques to approximate deterministic computer analysis codes. We conclude with recommendations for the appropriate use of metamodeling techniques in given situations and how common pitfalls can be avoided.

Simpson, Timothy W.↗

NASA NTRS2011

SA13B-1900 Auroral Charging of the International Space Station

Electrostatic potential variations of the International Space Station (ISS) relative to the space plasma environment are dominated by interaction of the negatively grounded 160 volt US photovoltaic power system with the plasma environment in sunlight and inductive potential variations across the ISS structure generated by motion of the vehicle across the Earth's magnetic field. Auroral charging is also a source of potential variations because the 51.6? orbital inclination of ISS takes the vehicle to sufficiently high magnetic latitudes to encounter precipitating electrons during geomagnetic storms. Analysis of auroral charging for small spacecraft or isolated insulating regions on ISS predict rapid charging to high potentials of hundreds of volts but it has been thought that the large capacitance of the entire ISS structure on the order of 0.01 F will limit frame potentials to less than a volt when exposed to auroral conditions. We present three candidate auroral charging events characterized by transient ISS structure potentials varying from approximately 2 to 17 volts. The events occur primarily at night when the solar arrays are unbiased and cannot therefore be due to solar array current collection. ISS potential decreases to more negative values during the events indicating electron current collection and the events are always observed at the highest latitudes along the ISS trajectory. Comparison of the events with integral >30 keV electron flux measurements from NOAA TIROS spacecraft demonstrate they occur within regions of precipitating electron flux at levels consistent with the energetic electron thresholds reported for onset of auroral charging of the DMSP and Freja satellites. In contrast to the DMSP and Freja events, one of the ISS charging events occur in sunlight.

Minow, Joseph I.↗

NASA NTRS2020

An Embedded Planar-Foil Capacitor Material, FPGA Based Interposer, Aimed at Improving System Performance and Reduced Board Size for Space Based Electronics

This paper presents our work to date in developing, and testing an embedded planar-foil capacitor based interposer intended to be integrated together with high-density components such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) applications. FPGA devices typically have a large number of I/O and power pins. The high speed enabled by these devices requires a large number of discrete bypass capacitors as close as possible to the power pins. These capacitors take up a considerable amount of the board area on the application circuit board. Our interposer replaces these components freeing up space of traditional bypass capacitors for other circuitry. Our Interposer focuses on the needs of Micro Semi’s RTG4 FPGA. We developed the interposer using COTS embedded foil capacitors. The Interposer is customized to the capacitance requirements for each of the FPGA banks. We evaluated three foil manufactures Oak Mitsui, 3M and TDK. The three different designs were evaluated, but we will focus on the Oak-Mitsui based Interposer that we constructed and tested. Through simulations, we validate the horizontal and vertical interconnect inductances, that FPGA decoupling requirements are met. The use of the interposer results in an overall reduction in our Printed Wiring Board (PWB) area.

Hunter, Don J↗

NASA NTRS1996

Pulse Detonation Engine Air Induction System Analysis

A preliminary mixed-compression inlet design concept for potential pulse-detonation engine (PDE) powered supersonic aircraft was defined and analyzed. The objectives of this research were to conceptually design and integrate an inlet/PDE propulsion system into a supersonic aircraft, perform time-dependent CFD analysis of the inlet flowfield, and to estimate the installed PDE cycle performance. The study was baselined to a NASA Mach 5 Waverider study vehicle in which the baseline over/under turboramjet engines were replaced with a single flowpath PDE propulsion system. As much commonality as possible was maintained with the baseline configuration, including the engine location and forebody lines. Modifications were made to the inlet system's external ramp angles and a rotating cowl lip was incorporated to improve off-design inlet operability and performance. Engines were sized to match the baseline vehicle study's ascent trajectory thrust requirement at Mach 1.2. The majority of this study was focused on a flight Mach number of 3.0. The time-dependent Navier Stokes CFD analyses of a two-dimensional approximation of the inlet was conducted for the Mach 3.0 condition. The Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems-developed FALCON CFD code with a two equation 'k-1' turbulence model was used. The downstream PDE was simulated by an array of four sonic nozzles in which the flow areas were rapidly varied in various opening/closing combinations. Results of the CFD study indicated that the inlet design concept operated successfully at the Mach 3.0 condition, satisfying mass capture, total pressure recovery, and operability requirements. Time-dependent analysis indicated that pressure and expansion waves from the simulated valve perturbations did not effect the inlet's operability or performance.

Pegg, R. J.↗