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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 1,117 records · Page 62
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Extension of pulmonary O2 tolerance in man at 2 ATA by intermittent O2 exposure

To study extension of O2 tolerance by interruption of hyperoxic exposure, five healthy volunteers were exposed to oxygen at 2 ATA on an intermittent schedule of 20 min breathing O2, alternating with 5 min on a normoxic N2-O2 mixture. The cycle was repeated until symptoms or signs of O2 toxicity caused cessation of the experiment. Tracheal irritation and burning on inspiration occurred after 6-9 'oxygen hours' of exposure and progressed to severe tracheobronchial burning sensation, chest pain, and dyspnea after 11-15 h of O2. With intermittent O2 administration, nearly a doubling of the average duration of actual oxygen breathing was required to induce marked vital capacity change (more than 10%) as compared to the previous studies of continuous O2 exposure.

Hendricks, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Ion cyclotron resonance studies of some reactions of N/+/ ions

Product distributions and rate constants for the reactions of ground-state N(+) ions with CO, NO, CO2, and CH4 were measured. Rate constants were obtained using ion-cyclotron-resonance trapped-ion methods, and product distributions were obtained using a tandem (Dempster-ICR) mass spectrometer. Rapid nitrogen isotope exchange was also observed in N(+)-N2 collisions.

Anicich, V. G.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A dynamical model of upper-atmospheric helium

This numerical study of the global distribution of helium in the terrestrial thermosphere is based on the extension of a three-dimensional single-fluid numerical model of the thermosphere previously developed by the authors to treat the dynamics of a minor gas imbedded in a background gas made up of N2, O2, and O. The Cira (1972) model of the upper atmosphere, based on satellite drag data, is used to specify the background gas density and temperature as functions of altitude, latitude, and local time for a given day of the year. Specific emphasis is placed on a study of the helium distribution at solstice, i.e., the 'winter helium bulge'. Effects of solar activity, eddy diffusion, and exospheric transport on the global distribution of helium are investigated. The model reproduces the general features of the winter helium bulge, including the variation of its amplitude with solar activity, as determined by comparison of data from several recent satellite-borne mass spectrometers.

Straus, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Satellite measurements of ionic concentrations applied to low altitude incoherent scatter interpretations

The determination of ion and electron temperatures and electron density from incoherent scatter radar data has in the past involved assumptions concerning the ionospheric composition below 250 km. Using a very large data base of measurements of O(+), O2(+), NO(+), and N2(+) made by the Atmosphere Explorer C satellite, a model has been developed of the ionic concentration between 130 and 300 km as a function of solar zenith angle. As the effect of the new model is to increase the radar determinations of the temperature, this may explain previous discrepancies between Langmuir probe and incoherent scatter temperatures, where the comparisons have been made at these low altitudes

Torr, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Further developments in oxidation of methane traces with radiofrequency discharge

The radiofrequency discharge, previously shown to oxidize trace levels of methane in oxygen, was studied with contaminated air at 50, 600, and 760 torr. As with oxygen, the concentration of methane traces could be reduced by several orders of magnitude, and no organic reaction products were detected in the effluent; however, substantial concentrations of NOx (0.1-6%) were formed during treatment. The concentration of NOx was decreased by using a large diameter electrode. There is evidence that the process will oxidize N2 and NO as well as organic impurities in oxygen or oxygen/inert gas atmospheres.

Flamm, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Global exospheric temperatures from ESRO 4 scale height measurements

The scale height temperatures considered are based on molecular nitrogen measurements by the gas analyzer aboard the ESRO 4 in the altitude range from 280 to 310 km during the interval from December 1972 to April 1974, a period of low solar activity. At the altitude of measurement during the considered period, the scale height temperature is essentially the exospheric temperature. The mean scale height temperature derived from 1833 independent N2 scale heights is 708 K. It is concluded that the ESRO 4 data provides evidence of mean global temperatures of less than 800 K.

Keating, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Double-discharge stabilization of supersonic CO laser mixtures

Experiments have been conducted to study the applicability of a CW double-discharge stabilization scheme under conditions appropriate for high-energy lasers in supersonic flows. Steady arc-free volume discharges have been produced in a Mach 3 supersonic-flow test cavity using an auxiliary discharge to stabilize the main discharge at low-current densities in N2 and He/CO mixtures. A significant result is the lack of observed plasma E/N changes in response to auxiliary-discharge current changes. Also, where glow discharges were obtained, the energy loading achieved was less than the threshold required for laser operation.

Srinivasan, G.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Small-signal gain diagnostic measurements in a flowing CO2 pin discharge laser

Small-signal gain diagnostic measurements were conducted on closed loop, high power, carbon dioxide laser to assess the coupling between gas flow velocity and resonator saturation. Parameters investigated included optical cavity and discharge power. Results of gain measurements within and downstream of the excitation volume are presented for a laser gas composition He:N2:CO2 of 10:7:1 at 90 torr. The gain at constant discharge power was observed to be dependent upon discharge power level and time. An important result of this study is that the effects of gain swept downstream of the discharge region must be considered in the resonator design if efficient extraction of stored optical energy is desired.

Blech, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Electrolytic pretreatment of urine

Electrolysis has been under evaluation for several years as a process to pretreat urine for ultimate recovery of potable water in manned spacecraft applications. The conclusions that were drawn from this investigation are the following: (1) A platinum alloy containing 10 percent rhodium has been shown to be an effective, corrosion-resistant anode material for the electrolytic pretreatment of urine. Black platinum has been found to be suitable as a cathode material. (2) The mechanism of the reactions occurring during the electrolysis of urine is two-stage: (a) a total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total organic carbon (TOC) removal in the first stage is the result of electrochemical oxidation of urea to CO2, H2O, and ammonia followed by chloride interaction to produce N2 from ammonia, (b) after the urea has been essentially removed and the chloride ions have no more ammonia to interact with, the chloride ions start to oxidize to higher valence states, thus producing perchlorates. (3) Formation of perchlorates can be suppressed by high/low current operation, elevated temperature, and pH adjustment. (4) UV-radiation showed promise in assisting electrolytic TOC removal in beaker tests, but was not substantiated in limited single cell testing. This may have been due to non-optimum configurations of the single cell test rig and the light source.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1976

Distribution of E/N and N sub e in a cross-flow electric discharge laser

The spatial distribution of the ratio of electric field to neutral gas density on a flowing gas, multiple pin-to-plane discharge was measured in a high-power, closed loop laser. The laser was operated at a pressure of 140 torr (1:7:20, CO2, N2, He) with typically a 100 meter/second velocity in the 5 x 8 x 135 centimeter discharge volume. E/N ratios ranged from 2.7 x 10 to the minus 16th power to 1.4 x 10 to the minus 16th power volts/cu cm along the discharge while the electron density ranged from 2.8 x 10 to the 10th power to 1.2 x 10 to the 10th power cm/3.

Dunning, J. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Apollo 14 coarse fines (4-10 mm) sample location and classification

The 4 to 10 mm sieve fraction from the soil samples collected during the Apollo 14 Mission was identified and described. Examination and description of the fines were carried out in nitrogen-filled, stainless steel cabinets during a general examination of the Apollo 14 sample collection. Each particle was held between forceps, dusted in a jet of N2, and placed on a teflon-covered stage. They were examined with a binocular microscope, separated by lithology, and the lithologic types described. Weights of individual particles in the fraction ranged from about 0.10 to 0.50 gm, large enough in size for studies of age, chemistry, and petrology to be accomplished.

Kramer, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Recent nuclear pumped laser results

Recent direct nuclear pumped laser research has concentrated on experiments with three gas mixtures (Ne-N2, He-Ne-O2, and He-Hg). One mixture has been made to lase and gain has been achieved with the other two. All three of these mixtures are discussed with particular attention paid to He-Hg. Of interest is the 6150-angstroms ion transition in Hg(+). The upper state of this transition is formed directly by charge transfer and by Penning ionization.

Miley, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Study of dynamics of minor constituents in the thermosphere, addendum

Numerical studies of a model of the earth's thermosphere are presented. The distribution of thermospheric helium was investigated. Changes in the global transport of helium under solstice conditions caused by a small increase in the latitudes at which the background gas pressure extremes occur lead to much better agreement of the model predictions with data taken by the mass spectrometers on board the ESRO-4 and OGO-6 satellites. The model was applied to a study of the global distributions of atmospheric gases (N2, O2, and O) at both equinox and solstice with emphasis on the winter enhancement of atomic oxygen in the lower thermosphere. Comparison of the results with measurements taken by the ESRO-4 mass spectrometer indicates that the distribution of atomic oxygen is generally a result of global transport by winds.

Straus, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Photochemistry and evolution of Mars' atmosphere - A Viking perspective

Viking measurements of the upper atmosphere of Mars have indicated thermospheric temperatures below 200 K, colder than those originally calculated by remote sensing experiments. It is suggested that dynamical coupling of the upper and lower regions of the Martian atmosphere may account for the variability in thermospheric temperature. The absorption of extreme ultraviolet solar radiation may account for observed ionospheric features, and may provide a source of fast N and O atoms escaping the planet's gravitational field. Measurements of the isotopic composition of O and N may be used to place constraints on models of the evolution of the Martian atmosphere. It is suggested that previous abundance of N2 may have exceeded that of CO2 in the present atmosphere, and that large sources of H2O may exist on the planet. The present degassing rate for nitrogen is felt to be less than the time-averaged degassing rate by at least a factor of 20.

Mcelroy, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The composition of the atmosphere at the surface of Mars

The current status is summarized of investigations of the composition of the Martian atmosphere, in which use was made of the mass spectrometers that function as the analytical component of the molecular analysis experiments on the two Viking landers. The following points seem well established: N2, Ar-40, Ne, Kr, Xe, and the primordial isotope of Ar are present. The present atmosphere of Mars represents only a small fraction of the total amount of volatiles outgassed by the planet, so that high surface pressure and abundant water may have been present. The noble gases in the Martian atmosphere exhibit a relative abundance pattern similar to that in the earth's atmosphere and (except for Xe) to that in the primordial component of meteorites. The existence of a 'planetary component' is thus proven, supporting the arguments of those who favor a fractionation of noble gases prior to the formation of the planets. In spite of these similarities, the isotopic ratios of nitrogen, argon, and xenon indicate that the histories of the Martian and the earth's atmospheres have been very different.

Owen, T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Mars - Photodesorption from mineral surfaces and its effects on atmospheric stability

Kinetic constraints are employed to identify the reactive chemisorbed complexes, to describe the mechanism of UV-accelerated desorption from Fe (+2) on mineral surfaces, and to estimate the photodesorption rate on Mars. In particular, it is proposed that gases such as O2, CO2, CO, H2O and N2 undergo an adsorption-desorption process at octahedrally coordinated Fe (+2) surface sites to produce seven-coordinate transition-state complexes. The ligand field stabilization energy acquired by these complexes lies between 16 and 18 kcal per mole. Published photocatalysis data are used to assess the role of photodesorption in Martian atmospheric chemistry and stability.

Huguenin, R. L.↗