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At least 1,135 records · Page 63
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

The relation of metal composition to rock type for clasts in Apollo 16 soils

The moderately magnetic fractions of soils from a bright ray of South Ray Crater and from the continuous ejecta of North Ray Crater are described. The clasts in these fractions are classified as agglutinate, ANT melt rocks, glassy melt rocks, and ANT hornfels/breccia. Determinations are made of the Ni-Co and P contents of single-phase metal grains in the clasts. It is found that most of these grains have compositions in the meteoritic range and that the compositions tend to cluster at about 6% Ni. A significant amount of Fe-rich metal is also detected in some clasts along with a clear P-enrichment in metal from one soil sample. Meteoritic contamination of lunar metal having compositions in or close to the meteoritic range is considered. A model involving nine separate factors is proposed as an explanation of the observed metal compositions.

Hewins, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The surface structure and composition of 60017,43

A surface fragment of 60017, itself an exposed section of Shadow Rock, has been characterized structurally and chemically using gas adsorption, helium pycnometry, scanning electron microscopy, and Auger and ESCA spectroscopy. The fragment is seen as a partially melted devitrified-glass impact breccia possessing a relatively low surface area, macroporosity, and low absolute density. The fragment appears to be plagioclase-enriched with respect to 60017 and to possess significant surface heterogeneity. Confirmation of the surface reduction of iron was obtained; however, the extent of this reduction varied from point to point. Significant amounts of surface volatiles were also found, and it is hypothesized that these were released during the North Ray cratering event. If this is proved correct, similar volatile concentrations should be found on other North Ray ejecta.

Cadenhead, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Cosmic ray exposure ages of Apollo 17 samples and the age of Tycho

Cosmic ray exposure data for Apollo 17 samples and quantitative photogeologic data are presented which support the hypothesis that the Central Cluster unit and the Bright Mantle at the Apollo 17 landing site are related to impact of ejecta from the crater Tycho, lying about 2000 km to the southwest. The exposure ages point to a site-wide event 96 m.y ago, which included emplacement of the Bright Mantle and Central Cluster units.

Arvidson, R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Secondary impact craters of lunar basins

Numerous lunar features are examined and identified as being secondary to basins, that is, as having been formed by secondary impact of ejecta from basins. Most of the terra features previously attributed to volcanism and tectonism and many attributed previously to primary impact must be attributed to basin-secondary impact. Secondary craters of the Imbrium Basin cover a large part of the south-central near side. Imbrium secondaries are more numerous than primaries in the size ranges 3 or 4 to 10 km on the near side, and may be more numerous at diameters of 10-25 km. Preliminary stratigraphic dating results based on superposition relations among basin secondaries suggest that the Crisium and south Serenitatis basins are younger than Nectaris and Humboldtianum.

Wilhelms, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Petrographic analysis of Apollo 16 samples 66083,1 and 67943,1

Sample 66083,1 was a 0.5 g sample of 2-4 mm fines from a clod of white impact ejecta. Petrography of 12 fragments of it reveals the following types of fragments: a breccia with a glassy matrix containing about 20-30% of crystal fragments, a fragment of partly devitrified glass, a fine-grained feldspar-rich rock containing plagioclase laths with about 10% of interstitial pyroxene and olivine, a breccia consisting of clasts of plagioclase and plagioclase-rich rock in a fine-grained microcrystalline feldspathic groundmass, a fragment of plagioclase clasts in a fine-grained groundmass of plagioclase and ferromagnesians with some opaques, and a crystalline rock made of subequal amounts of plagioclase and ferromagnesians with some opaque material. For sample 67943,1, all but two fragments could be classed as brecciated anorthosites.

Mason, B.↗
NASA NTRS1977

CNO nucleosynthesis and the nova outburst

Predictions for CNO nucleosynthesis by the classical nova outburst are presented. Properties of the nova phenomenon pertinent to the production of CNO isotopes are discussed, the effect of beta(+) unstable nuclei on outburst evolution is examined, and the need for enhanced CNO nuclei in the envelope is described. Possible mechanisms for producing such enhancement are considered, and recent observations of enhanced CNO nuclei in nova ejecta are reviewed. Results of model evolutionary calculations are outlined which show that a thermonuclear runaway in the hydrogen envelope of a carbon-oxygen white dwarf can reproduce the gross features of the classical nova outburst, that the behavior of the outburst depends at least on the hydrogen-envelope mass and the degree of CNO enhancement, and that all degrees of isotopic enhancement result in an outburst that may be compared with observed events. Two enhancement mechanisms are identified, both of which involve mixing in the envelope.

Starrfield, S.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The spectral development of Nova Cygni 1975

Optical and near-infrared (0.3-2.5 microns) observations of Nova Cygni 1975 made during the period from August 30 to December 11, 1975, are reported. The persistent strength of O I at 8446 and 11,287 A is shown to be due to L-beta fluorescence in clouds with high (greater than 1000) H-alpha optical depth. A simple model of the nova ejecta is presented and shown to be consistent with the observed evolution of the nova spectrum.

Strittmatter, P. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Mass ejections from the solar corona into interplanetary space

Results obtained from analysis of Skylab coronagraph images of mass ejections from the solar corona are reviewed which demonstrate the importance of mass-ejection coronal transients to the interplanetary medium and which support the belief that magnetic forces are the primary mechanism driving mass ejections from the corona. Observations of 13 large ejection events are examined which indicate that coronal mass ejections contribute a nonnegligible fraction of the mass flux from the sun, especially toward the heliographic equator near the maximum of a solar activity cycle. It is shown that observed loop-shaped transients were associated with regions of increased magnetic field and with separations of unipolar field regions, that the forces driving the transients outward acted to great heights long after the onsets of the events, and that the behavior of the ejecta was magnetically controlled. It is concluded that mass ejections from the corona contributed at least 3% of the mass flux from the sun during the Skylab era and that the most common loop-shaped ejections are magnetically driven through the corona.

Hildner, E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Lunar highland rock types: Their implications for impact-induced fractionation

Lunar rocks may be classified into three major groups: (1) coarse-grained igneous rocks, (2) fine-grained igneous rocks, and (3) breccias. Group 1 is interpreted as primitive lunar crustal rocks that display various degrees of crushing and/or annealing. Group 2 is interpreted as volcanic rocks. Group 3 is interpreted as resulting from impacts on the lunar surface and is subdivided on the basis of matrix textures into fragmental breccias, crystalline breccias that have been annealed, and crystalline breccias with igneous matrices. A synthesis of the data concerning lunar highlands polymict breccias compels the prediction that the breccias should have homogeneous matrices from rock to rock within regions of the highlands of limited size where impact mixing has been efficient and extensive. But the returned breccias, even from one landing site, display a wide range in composition. This incompatibility between prediction and observation is a paradox that may be resolved by a process that acts after impact mixing to cause a differentiation of the breccia compositions. Partial melting of the local average crustal composition (as modeled by the average soil composition for each site) and separation of melt and residue in ejecta and/or fall-back blankets are compatible with the reviewed data and may resolve the paradox.

Phinney, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The exposure history of the Apollo 16 site: An assessment based on methane and hydrolysable carbon

Nineteen soils from eight stations at the Apollo 16 landing site have been analyzed for methane and hydrolysable carbon. These results, in conjunction with published data from photogeology, bulk chemistry, rare gases, primordial and cosmogenic radionuclides, and agglutinate abundances have been interpreted in terms of differing contributions from three components-North and South Ray Crater ejecta and Cayley Plains material.

Pillinger, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Time delay occultation data of the Helios spacecraft for probing the electron density distribution in the solar corona

S-band time delay measurements were collected from the spacecraft Helios A and B during three solar occultations in 1975/76 within heliocentric distances of about 3 and 215 earth radius in terms of range, Doppler frequency shift, and electron content. Characteristic features of measurement and data processing are described. Typical data sets are discussed to probe the electron density distribution near the sun (west and east limb as well) including the outer and extended corona. Steady-state and dynamical aspects of the solar corona are presented and compared with earth-bound-K-coronagraph measurements. Using a weighted least squares estimation, parameters of an average coronal electron density profile are derived in a preliminary analysis to yield electron densities at r = 3, 65, 215 earth radius. Transient phenomena are discussed and a velocity of propagation v is nearly equal to 900 km/s is determined for plasma ejecta from a solar flare observed during an extraordinary set of Helios B electron content measurements.

Edenhofer, P.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Time delay occultation data of the Helios spacecrafts and preliminary analysis for probing the solar corona

S-band time delay measurements were collected from the spacecrafts Helios A and B during three solar occultations in 1975/76 within heliocentric distances of about 3 and 215 solar radii in terms of range, Doppler frequency shift, and electron content. A description is given concerning some characteristic features of the methods of measurement and data processing. Typical data sets are discussed to probe the electron density distribution near the sun (west and east limb as well) including the outer and extended corona. Steady-state and dynamical aspects of the solar corona are presented and compared with earth-bound K-coronagraph measurements. Using a weighted least squares estimation 3 parameters of an average coronal electron density profile are derived in a preliminary analysis to yield electron densities of about 130 billion; 100 million; 7 million/cu m at r?3; 65; 215 solar radii. Transient phenomena are discussed and a velocity of propagation v approximately 900 km/s for plasma ejecta from a solar flare is determined from an extraordinary set of Helios B electron content measurements on April 30/May 1, 1976.

Edenhofer, P.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The geology of the Viking Lander 1 site

Stereo pictures show that Viking Lander 1 landed on volcanic terrain of undulating topography in the plains of Chryse. The bedrock is exposed along several ridge crests, and blocks are more numerous than can be attributed to impact ejecta. The presence of a variety of rock types suggests in situ weathering of extrusive and near-surface basaltic igneous rocks along a linear volcanic vent. Fine-grained sediment is present in drift complexes and isolated drifts. A small patch of fine-grained sediment slumped down one of the drift faces during the course of the Viking mission. Otherwise, no other morphological changes unrelated to spacecraft activity have been observed.

Binder, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The geology of the Viking Lander 2 site

Models are discussed of several competitive geologic histories that can be hypothesized for the Viking Lander 2 site, none of which is uniquely persuasive. The craft landed on a flat plain of fine-grained sediment overlain by dispersed evenly distributed boulders. The fine-grain material appears to be part of a high-latitude mantle comprising material swept south of the pole regions. The boulders, which are covered by distinctive deep pits, or vesicles, may be the residue of an ejecta deposit from the crater Mie. Alternatively, they may be the remnants of lava flows which formerly covered the region. Polygonal sediment-filled cracks may have been formed by ice wedging, similar to the process that occurs in terrestrial permafrost regions. The possibility that they are desiccation polygons may not be excluded.

Mutch, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Origin and relative age of lunar and Mercurian intercrater plains

Differences in the diameter/density distribution of craters in the size range 7-100 km between heavily cratered areas and areas of intercrater plains indicate the deposition of both lunar and Mercurian intercrater plains has preferentially obliterated craters not greater than about 30 km diameter. This obliteration has altered the original lunar population distribution function from about a -1.3 slope to about -0.7 slope. At least a significant portion of both the lunar and Mercurian intercrater plains appear to be volcanic deposits emplaced during the later stages of heavy bombardment on each body rather than basin ejecta or an ancient primordial surface. The very widespread distribution of intercrater plains on Mercury compared to the moon may be related to Mercury's core formation which would have resulted in a large radius increase leading to widespread extensional fracturing to provide egress for the eruption of volcanic deposits on a global scale. This was followed by a radius decrease due to contraction of the lithosphere to produce thrust faulting represented by Mercury's lobate scarps.

Strom, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Rayed craters on the moon and Mercury

Systems of bright rays are exhibited by many fresh craters on the moon and Mercury. Diameter/density distributions suggest that lunar-rayed craters represent the Class 1 craters, and that Mercurian rayed craters represent post-Caloris craters. Photogeological analyses of lunar imagery indicate that the ray systems are composed of finely divided material from the primary crater along with locally derived ejecta from secondary and tertiary craters. The primary ray material probably occurs in moderately thick (0.1-1 meter) deposits. The rate of darkening may depend more on the thickness of the ray material than on the rates of various darkening processes. Darkening rate may also be a function of crater size. It is observed that rays of craters more than 1 b.y. old remain bright, whereas those older than Class 1 generally fade to imperceptibility.

Allen, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Orientale and Caloris

Based on revised stratigraphy, structural interpretation, explosion-crater data, and a genetic model for Orientale, it is suggested that Orientale and Caloris have much in common. It is noted that: (1) although the basin fill in Caloris is different from that seen in Orientale, the materials between the most prominent scarp and the weakly-developed outer scarp may be degraded equivalents of the massifs and knobs associated with the Montes Rook, (2) the Montes Rook and the main Caloris scarp have similar stratigraphic and structural features, (3) the lineated ejecta derived from shallower horizons are found near and beyond the weakly-developed outer Caloris scarp which is the counterpart of the Orientale scarp, (4) a well developed field of secondary craters is observed beyond 1 basin diameter at Caloris, (5) the observed textural differences between the material around the main Caloris scarp and the lineated material beyond suggest that Mercury is layered and that Caloris crater excavated coherent materials from one or more of these layers at depth, and (6) the difference in spacing between the Caloris rings is not related to internal layering effects.

Mccauley, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Electrostatic dust transport and Apollo 17 LEAM experiment

The Lunar Ejecta and Meteorite (LEAM) experiment has been in operation since December 1973 when it was deployed in the Taurus-Littrow region of the moon by the Apollo 17 crew. A specialized analysis based on more than twenty-two lunations of the impact data shows that all of the events recorded by the sensors during the terminator passages are essentially lunar surface microparticles carrying a high electrostatic charge. Charged lunar fines held in place by adhesive forces can be ejected into space if the electrostatic stress exceeds the adhesive strength. A simple laboratory test demonstrated that this soil transport can indeed take place at the lunar terminator and in the vicinity of it.

Rhee, J. W.↗