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At least 1,117 records · Page 62

A preliminary report on the effect of elevated temperature exposure on the mechanical properties of titanium-alloy honeycomb-core sandwich panels.

A study has been initiated to determine the effects of elevated-temperature exposure on the room-temperature mechanical properties of titanium honeycomb-core sandwich panels fabricated by brazing or spot diffusion bonding. Only flatwise tensile properties following exposure have been determined to date. Preliminary results indicate very little change in the flatwise tensile strength of sandwich panels fabricated by spot diffusion bonding following exposures of 10,000 hr at 600 and 800 F and 1000 hr at 1000 F. Titanium panels fabricated by using a Ti-Zr-Be braze alloy are susceptible to oxidation at elevated temperature and experience flatwise tensile strength degradation after continuous exposures of 7500 hr at 600 F, 1000 hr at 800 F, and less than 100 hr at 1000 F. It is possible that the exposure life of the brazed panels may be substantially increased if the panel edges are sealed to prevent oxidation of the braze alloy.

Bales, T. T.↗

The 1969 Mariner view of Mars.

Summary of the 1969 Mariner mission, with emphasis on the planetary encounter and with discussion of the various scientific experiments conducted. Attention is also given to the results as they have been analyzed to date in terms of what they can tell about the atmosphere, surface, and other aspects of Mars. The mission concentrated on obtaining information that would set the basis for experiments on future missions, particularly those relevant to the search for extraterrestrial life. Details of the experimental apparatus are given.

Schurmeier, H. M.↗

On the selection of an optimum design point for phase-coherent receivers employing band-pass limiters.

Discussion of the optimum power allocation problem associated with the design of a phase-coherent receiver employing a bandpass limiter. A single channel system is treated in detail, and an optimization technique is proposed that makes use of up-to-date phase-locked loop and bandpass limiter theories recently contributed by Lindsey (1969) and Springett and Simon (1971). It is shown how this technique can be extended to a two-channel system.

Simon, M. K.↗

A survey of Kaufman thruster cathodes.

A survey is presented of various cathodes which have been developed and used in the Kaufman ion thruster. The electron-bombardment type ion source used in the thruster is briefly described. The general design, operating characteristics, and power requirements are shown for each type of cathode from the refractory metals used in 1960 to the plasma discharge hollow cathodes of today. A detailed discussion of the hollow cathode is given describing starting and cyclic operating characteristics as well as more fundamental design parameters. Tests to date show that the plasma hollow cathode is an efficient electron source with demonstrated durability over 10,000 hours and should offer further performance and life improvements.

Weigand, A. J.↗

Comparison of SLAR images and small-scale, low-sun aerial photographs.

A comparison of side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) images and black and white aerial photos of similar scale and illumination of an area in the Mojave Desert of California shows that aerial photos yield far more information about geology than do SLAR images because of greater resolution, tonal range, and geometric fidelity, and easier use in stereo. Nevertheless, radar can differentiate some materials or surfaces that aerial photos cannot; thus, they should be considered as complementary, rather than competing tools in geologic investigations. The most significant advantage of SLAR, however, is its freedom from the stringent conditions of weather, date, and time that are required by small-scale aerial photos taken with a specified direction and angle of illumination. Indeed, in low latitudes, SLAR is the only way to obtain small-scale images with low illumination from certain directions; moreover, in areas of nearly continuous cloudiness, radar may be the only practical source of small-scale images.

Clark, M. M.↗

Chemical composition of sawdust from lunar rock 12013 and comparison of a Java tektite with the rock.

Abundances of 11 major and minor elements and 11 trace elements have been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis of two Apollo 12013 rock fragments, a sample of rock 12013,17 sawdust, and a Java tektite (J2). Although the abundances of major elements in tektite J2 are similar to those of rock 12013, comparison of the minor and trace elements shows that no fragment of sawdust or rock 12013 that has been analyzed to date is chemically similar to tektite glass. Rock sawdust is representative of ?whole rock' composition only if the amount of contamination from the sawing process is known. After appropriate correction for saw wire contamination, analyses of sawdust yield fairly accurate averaged elemental compositions of complex clastic lunar and other rocks.

Showalter, D. L.↗

Comets and nongravitational forces. IV.

Orbital elements and nongravitational parameters are derived from observations at every apparition of the periodic comets Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova, Faye, Tempel 2, Biela, Brorsen, and Tempel-Swift. For all except the first comet, the observations go back a century and more, although the last three comets have failed to reappear for some considerable time. The circumstances of the splitting of P/Biela are studied, and it is shown that the motion of the primary component was scarcely affected; it is also demonstrated that, if the primary still exists, it may pass only 0.05 AU from the earth in November 1971. An up-to-date list of mass-loss rates from comets is presented. It is found that, while most of the reliable determinations indicate that the cometary nongravitational effects decrease with time, there are a few cases where the effects increase slightly. The former situation is discussed in terms of a nuclear core-mantle model, implying that these comets will eventually evolve into inert, asteroidal objects, while the nuclei of the other comets are interpreted as coreless, eventually to disappear completely (or almost completely).

Marsden, B. G.↗

Rubidium-strontium and potassium-argon age of lunar sample 15555.

The lunar mare basalt 15555 from the edge of Hadley Rille has been dated at 3.3 b.y. by both rubidium-strontium and potassium-argon techniques. Age and trace element abundances closely resemble those of the Apollo 12 mare basalts. Data from lunar basalts obtained thus far indicate that they cannot be derived by simple fractionation from a homogeneous source.

Murthy, V. R.↗

Simulating the operations of the reusable shuttle space vehicle.

A stochastic simulation model has been developed using the General Purpose Simulation System (GPSS) II language to analyze the operations of a fleet of Shuttle space vehicles. This paper presents the approach used in developing the model, results obtained from some of the analyses performed to date, and an interpretation of the results as they were presented to management personnel.

Schlagheck, R. A.↗

The selection of imaging systems for planetary photography from space vehicles.

Discussion of the selection of a type of imaging system for a specific mission which will maximize the return of scientific data while keeping development risk and cost to acceptable limits. A representative example is given which shows that the parameters of the optimizing process range from the scientific objectives through the engineering and programming constraints of the spacecraft and mission, to the characteristics of the types of systems. The selections for all planetary missions flown to date have been imaging systems using image tube cameras. Film cameras and mechanical scan cameras, however, have unique advantages which should find application in planetary exploration.

Smokler, M. I.↗

The NASA quiet engine program.

The NASA quiet engine program will incorporate all available noise-reduction technology into a propulsion system suitable for subsonic civil transport aircraft. Full-scale experimental hardware is being built and tested primarily for noise performance. The program is in process, and component and engine tests to date indicate that it is possible to achieve or exceed noise reduction objectives of 15-20 PNdB below the levels of 707/DC-8 long-range transport aircraft.

Kramer, J. J.↗

Development of a biowaste resistojet propulsion system propellant management and control subsystem.

The subject subsystem is under development as the major portion of an overall biowaste resistojet system development program. The design is based on the Space Station model, but incorporates features compatible with all envisioned/anticipated advancements in the interfacing environmental control life support (EC/LS) system. Results to date, for system design, development plan, component selection, and system acceptance test will be presented. Subsystem usage in functional system tests to be performed at Langley Research Center, and its application to an envisioned and integrated system, and extended manned tests, are delineated. Expanded applications of the subsystem, to control/limit external contamination of manned spacecraft, are identified.-

Greco, R. V.↗

U, Th, Pb and REE abundances and Pb 207/Pb 206 ages of individual minerals in returned lunar material by ion microprobe mass analysis.

Results of ion microprobe analyses of Apollo 11, 12 and 14 material, showing that U, Th, Pb and REE are concentrated in accessory minerals such as apatite, whitlockite, zircon, baddeleyite, zirkelite, and tranquillityite. Th/U ratios are found to vary by over a factor of 40 in these minerals. K, Ba, Rb and Sr have been localized in a K rich, U and Th poor glass phase that is commonly associated with the U and Th bearing accessory minerals. Li is observed to be fairly evenly distributed between the various accessory phases. The phosphates have been found to have REE abundance patterns (normalized to the chondrite abundances) that are fairly flat, while the Zr bearing minerals have patterns that rise steeply, by factors of ten or more, from La to Gd. All the accessory minerals have large negative Eu anomalies. Radiometric age dates (Pb 207/Pb 206) of the individual U and Th bearing minerals compare favorably with the Pb 207/Pb 206 age of the bulk rocks.

Andersen, C. A.↗

Our present state of ignorance of the outer planets and their satellites.

Although the outer solar system contains the bulk of the angular momentum of the system and a huge fraction of the total planetary mass, very little is actually known about it. Massive Jupiter, with its low mean density and huge red spot (possibly a Taylor column), shows a complex rotational pattern as a result of three rotating systems, each having a different period. Atmospheric scattering of the reflected solar radiation makes spectral interpretation uncertain. Imprecisions in the Bond albedo cause discrepancies between actual and predicted solar energy absorbed. Saturn is similar to Jupiter in massiveness, low density, atmospheric aerosols, and albedo. Its rings are believed to be largely water ice. To date, no evidence of radiation belts, analogous to Jupiter's, exists for Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune. Methane and hydrogen have been detected in the atmospheres of all these planets, but the mole fraction of hydrogen is lower in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune. Uranus' 98 degree inclination will provide basis for study of its atmospheric circulation. Our knowledge of Pluto is restricted to the sparsest physical data.

Rea, D. G.↗

Search for a Venus halo effect during 1970.

Photometric observations of Venus during 1970 inferior conjunction, in contrast to observations made during the 1969 inferior conjunction, show no evidence of a Venus halo effect at 158 phase angle. The upper limit to brightening is about 0.005 mag but can still be reconciled with earlier results. Because of the importance of the question of H2O-ice in the Venus clouds, further observations are encouraged to remove the marginality of most observations to date.

Ward, D.↗

Lyman-alpha measurements of neutral hydrogen in the outer geocorona and in interplanetary space.

Results of hydrogen Lyman-alpha (1216 A) measurements made on a continuous basis by a two-channel photometer on Ogo 5 from March 1968 to June 1971. The highly elliptical orbit provided measurements of both the outer geocorona and of the 1216-A sky background emission, since geocoronal scattering is minimal at the apogee distance of 150,000 km. Selected data (through 1970) are presented, as well as an interpretation of the three principal discoveries to date - namely, (1) a pronounced antisolar enhancement of the geocoronal scattering beyond 70,000 km, which is regarded as evidence for a hydrogen 'geotail' produced by solar Lyman-alpha radiation pressure; (2) a clear correlation of periodic variations in the sky background emission with solar activity associated with solar rotation; and (3) an annual variation of the 1216-A sky background emission, caused by the earth's orbital motion within the cavity created by the solar wind in the nearby interstellar hydrogen.

Thomas, G. E.↗

The NASA/GE quiet engine 'A.'

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the General Electric Company are jointly developing two low noise propulsion technology demonstrators (Engine 'A' and 'C' incorporating respectively a low tip speed and high tip speed fan) under the Experimental Quiet Engine Program. The acoustic and aerodynamic performance characteristics of Engine 'C' which is currently on test will be reported at a later date. The present paper describes the design, component development and engine evaluation of the 'A' demonstrator. The aerodynamic and acoustic performance obtained on the fan component are discussed. The demonstrator engine acoustic test program is outlined. The effect of inlet geometry and duct acoustic treatment are presented. The static acoustic data are extrapolated to flight and compared with the FAA noise regulations.

Benzakein, M. J.↗

STOL research at NASA.

Review of the overall goals, individual objects of ongoing and proposed programs, target dates, and fund requests of NASA's STOL research effort. The realization of a separate STOL short-haul transportation system with a 2000-foot field length capability is shown likely to reduce airport acreage requirements to less than one tenth, approach speed to nearly one half, and airspace required for terminal maneuvering to less than 10% of what conventional high-performance jet aircraft necessitate, and to promise terminal congestion alleviation in areas of high traffic density, improved safety in steep approach, noise abatement, and community annoyance reduction. NASA's described programs will provide the technical foundation upon which industry can base the design and development of aircraft and avionics for the new STOL systems in the latter 1970s, and upon which the government can establish criteria for the certification and regulation of such systems.

Kayton, G. G.↗