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At least 1,135 records · Page 63

It's time to go supersonic

An overview is presented of the most compelling technological and economic arguments for NASA's agressive coordination of an SST-development program that would enlist all available U.S. aerospace industry resources. Attention is given to the minimization of upper atmosphere pollution through the use of low-NO(x) emission combustors and the reduction of sonic boom through wing/fuselage optimization. It is projected that a successful SST program would boost U.S. civil aircraft market share to nearly 80 percent; this represents the creation of 140,000 new jobs.

Goldin, Daniel S.↗

Identification of CH(+) emission in the Red Rectangle

Waelkens et al. (1992) have recently reported high-resolution spectroscopic observations of the exciting star (HD 44179) of the Red Rectangle nebula. During this study a new set of sharp, optical emission features in the spectrum of the Red Rectangle was discovered. Here, these new features, which occur in the blue region of the spectrum between 4215 and 4245 A are analyzed and assigned to emission from low-lying rotational transitions in the (0,0) band of the A1Pi-Sigma(+) electronic system of the methylidyne ion, CH(+).

Balm, S. P.↗

The role of CO2 in weathering reactions and the presence of S2 on Venus: Implications for the pyrite stability field

The stability of pyrite has become the focal point of study, since regions of low radio thermal emissivity were detected during the Pioneer Venus and Magellan radar mapping missions of Venus. Thermodynamic calculations and experimental studies have been performed assuming CO2 is a major contributor to the weathering of sulfides, as CO2 is the major gas species in the Venusian atmosphere. The purpose of the present study, however, is to demonstrate that CO2 is a non-reactive gas and that a minor species, S2, is the most important gas in determining whether pyrite is stable in the high radar reflectivity regions.

Straub, Darcy W.↗

Neutral hydrogen and optical properties of three amorphous galaxies

We present new interferometric H I and optical observations of three amorphous galaxies, systems with a smooth, high surface brightness but an asymmetrical distribution of light. All three galaxies are forming stars and have LMC-like emission-line ratios, low dust content, and high H I velocity dispersions. NGC 1140 has a boxy inner morphology with a hook off one corner. At low light levels unusual extensions of starlight are seen curving to the northwest and southeast. The galaxy contains a very luminous central star-forming region and a small chain of H II regions that coincide with the hook. The central H II region has broad H(alpha) velocity profiles full width at half maximum (FWHM) less than or equal to 140 km/s, and it is a radio continuum source. There is a rotating H I gas disk, 40 kpc in radius, at a position angle 51 deg from the optical major axis. The central gas ridge follows the chain of H II regions, and the H I peak is on the hook. The outer gas on the southeast side curves away from the H I major axis. The central gas density is high, and the surface density declines very slowly with radius. The rotation velocity yields a mass of 1 x 10(exp 11) solar mass at 3.3 Holmberg radii (R(sub H)). NGC 1800 has a hook that coincides with a large H II region, and an r(exp 1/4) luminosity distribution. There are numerous H II regions along the major axis and extraordinary filaments of ionized gas. Emanating from the major axis on either side of the galaxy are H(alpha) fingers approximately 750 pc long. About 2.3 kpc to the north is a web of filaments approximately 3 kpc in extent. H(alpha) profiles of H II regions and filaments are narrow. The H I gas disk has a position angle that is approximately 13 deg different from that of the optical axis. There are two peaks near the center, one of which is near the largest H II region. Beyond the Holmberg radius to the west is a 6 x 10(exp 6) solar mass H I cloud. Its velocity indicates a mass of approximately 6 x 10(exp 9) solar mass for NGC 1800 at 1.5 R(sub H). At approximately R(sub 25) to the east there is a large H I shell. Also at approximately R(sub 25) on both sides the velocity gradient switches by 90 deg, and in the interior the rotation is about the major axis. The central gas density is low and falls off slowly. In the inner regions NGC 4670 resembles an S0/a galaxy seen rather edge-on. It contains a central supergiant H II region with very high velocity widths (FWHM less than or equal to 180 km/s) and complex velocity structures. It is a radio continuum source as well. The H I gas is a single spherical cloud or a disk at low inclination centered on the galaxy with a slight elongation along the optical major axis and rotation about the minor axis. The central gas density is high, and there is a high degree of concentration. The rotation speed indicates a total mass of 5 x 10(exp 10) solar mass at 1.1 R(sub H). We compare these characteristics with properties of gas in the presence of stellar bar potentials, gas warps, and interacting and merging galaxy models. Although there are inconsistencies and uncertainties, we conclude that NGC 1140 is a spiral of low surface brightness that has undergone a merger, while NGC 1800 and NGC 4670 are, respectively, probably an Im system and a spiral that had an encounter of the Noguchi (1988a) kind.

Hunter, Deidre A.↗

Effects of the intense solar activity of March/June 1991 observed in the outer heliosphere

The properties of the large-scale global merged interaction region (GMIR) generated by the intense solar events of March and June 1991 are studied using the available solar wind, interplanetary magnetic field, and energetic particle data from the observing network of Pioneer 10 and Voyagers 1 and 2 in the outer heliosphere. At heliocentric distances extending to 55 AU the delayed effects of this enhanced solar activity are observed in the form of large inceases in the solar wind velocity and interplanetary magnetic field and significant decreases in the galactic cosmic ray intensity. For low-energy ions (5-MeV protons) there was a single long-lived event extending over a period of some 6 months. Near the strongest interplanetary disturbances the H and He spectra are best represented by similar exponentials in momentum/nucleon (i.e., particle velocity at these at these energies). Over the rest of the event the characteristic momentum for He, (P(sub 0))(sub He) is generally approximately 0.66 for hydrogen. These spectra and the consistently low H/He ratio (25.3) at 2 MeV/nucleon closely resemble that observed in corrotating interaction regions events. Despite the strong north/south asymmetry in the solar activity, the interplanetary disturbances produced the same net decrease in the galactic cosmic ray intensity of ions greater than 70 MeV at the three widely separated spacecraft when the effects of the long-term recovery are taken into account. A comparison of the relative intensity of MeV ions at these three spacecraft suggest that the most intense solar events occurred on the back side of the Sun in time periods adjacent to the March and June episodes of solar activity. It is argued that this GMIR as a system is responsible for the low-frequency radio emission observed by the Voyager Plasma Wave experiment some 1.46 years after the onset of the March 1991 activity.

Mcdonald, F. B.↗

High Performance Morphological Filtering of Cirrus Emission from Infrared Images

The project was designed to explore new morphological filtering, techniques for the removal of foreground Galactic 'Cirrus' emission from NASA Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) data, especially at 100 microns, using parallel processors as the main engine for achieving this result. The ultimate aim was to provide NASA with completely filtered data by the end of the grant period for the entire IRAS 100 and possibly 60 micron database. If successful, the filtered data would reveal many new sources of IR emission, especially at low galactic latitudes, which had previously been heavily confused with diffuse Galactic 'cirrus'.

Appleton, P. N.↗

A Search for a Near-Infrared Halo Around NGC 4565

We present a near-infrared (3.5-5 micron) search for the integrated emission from low-mass stars and/or brown dwarfs in the halo of the nearby edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 4565. The observation was made with a liquid-helium-cooled rocket-borne telescope using a 256 x 256 InSb array with a pixel scale of 17". Images of NGC 4565 were successfully obtained with sensitivity near the natural background limit. Our search reveals no evidence of a faint halo around the galaxy, in contrast with the previous reports of a halo around NGC 5907. The lower limit of the mass-to-light ratio for the halo of NGC 4565 is 260 (2 delta) in solar units at 3.5-5 microns. This implies that hydrogen-burning stars do not contribute significantly to the mass of the dark halo in NGC 4565.

Uemizu, Kazunori↗

Radio Tracking of a White-Light CME from Solar Corona to Interplanetary Medium

We analyze the radio emissions associated with a flare/CME event on the sun. For this solar event there were type II radio emissions observed in both the metric and decametric to kilometric wavelength regimes. By comparing the dynamics of the CME with that implied by the frequencies and frequency-drift rates of the type II radio emissions, it is concluded that only the decametric/kilometric type II radio emissions are associated with the CME. We provide the first direct one-to-one comparison between a CME and the associated type II radio emissions. The dynamics implied by the metric type II radio emissions suggest a distinct coronal shock, associated with the flare, which only produces radio emissions in the low corona.

Reiner, M. J.↗

Electromagnetic Waves and Bursty Electron Acceleration: Implications from Freja

Dispersive Alfven wave activity is identified in four dayside auroral oval events measured by the Freja satellite. The events are characterized by ion injection, bursty electron precipitation below about I keV, transverse ion heating and broadband extremely low frequency (ELF) emissions below the lower hybrid cutoff frequency (a few kHz). The broadband emissions are observed to become more electrostatic towards higher frequencies. Large-scale density depletions/cavities, as determined by the Langmuir probe measurements, and strong electrostatic emissions are often observed simultaneously. A correlation study has been carried out between the E- and B-field fluctuations below 64 Hz (the dc instrument's upper threshold) and the characteristics of the precipitating electrons. This study revealed that the energization of electrons is indeed related to the broadband ELF emissions and that the electrostatic component plays a predominant role during very active magnetospheric conditions. Furthermore, the effect of the ELF electromagnetic emissions on the larger scale field-aligned current systems has been investigated, and it is found that such an effect cannot be detected. Instead, the Alfvenic activity creates a local region of field-aligned currents. It is suggested that dispersive Alfven waves set up these local field-aligned current regions and in turn trigger more electrostatic emissions during certain conditions. In these regions ions are transversely heated, and large-scale density depletions/cavities may be created during especially active periods.

Andersson, Laila↗

Lessons Learned from Real-Time, Event-Based Internet Science Communications

For the last several years the Science Directorate at Marshall Space Flight Center has carried out a diverse program of Internet-based science communication. The Directorate's Science Roundtable includes active researchers, NASA public relations, educators, and administrators. The Science@NASA award-winning family of Web sites features science, mathematics, and space news. The program includes extended stories about NASA science, a curriculum resource for teachers tied to national education standards, on-line activities for students, and webcasts of real-time events. The focus of sharing science activities in real-time has been to involve and excite students and the public about science. Events have involved meteor showers, solar eclipses, natural very low frequency radio emissions, and amateur balloon flights. In some cases, broadcasts accommodate active feedback and questions from Internet participants. Through these projects a pattern has emerged in the level of interest or popularity with the public. The pattern differentiates projects that include science from those that do not, All real-time, event-based Internet activities have captured public interest at a level not achieved through science stories or educator resource material exclusively. The worst event-based activity attracted more interest than the best written science story. One truly rewarding lesson learned through these projects is that the public recognizes the importance and excitement of being part of scientific discovery. Flying a camera to 100,000 feet altitude isn't as interesting to the public as searching for viable life-forms at these oxygen-poor altitudes. The details of these real-time, event-based projects and lessons learned will be discussed.

Phillips, T.↗

NASA/MSFC/NSSTC Science Communication Roundtable

For the last several years the Science Directorate at Marshall Space Flight Center has carried out a diverse program of Internet-based science communication. The Directorate's Science Roundtable includes active researchers, NASA public relations, educators, and administrators. The Science@NASA award-winning family of Web sites features science, mathematics, and space news. The program includes extended stories about NASA science, a curriculum resource for teachers tied to national education standards, on-line activities for students, and webcasts of real-time events. Science stories cover a variety of space-related subjects and are expressed in simple terms everyone can understand. The sites address such questions as: what is space weather, what's in the heart of a hurricane, can humans live on Mars, and what is it like to live aboard the International Space Station? Along with a new look, the new format now offers articles organized by subject matter, such as astronomy, living in space, earth science or biology. The focus of sharing real-time science related events has been to involve and excite students and the public about science. Events have involved meteor showers, solar eclipses, natural very low frequency radio emissions, and amateur balloon flights. In some cases broadcasts accommodate active feedback and questions from Internet participants. Information will be provided about each member of the Science@NASA web sites.

Adams, Mitzi L.↗

Issues in Informal Education: Event-Based Science Communication Involving Planetaria and the Internet

For the last several years the Science Directorate at Marshall Space Flight Center has carried out a diverse program of Internet-based science communication. The program includes extended stories about NASA science, a curriculum resource for teachers tied to national education standards, on-line activities for students, and webcasts of real-time events. The focus of sharing real-time science related events has been to involve and excite students and the public about science. Events have involved meteor showers, solar eclipses, natural very low frequency radio emissions, and amateur balloon flights. In some cases broadcasts accommodate active feedback and questions from Internet participants. Panel participation will be used to communicate the problems and lessons learned from these activities over the last three years.

Adams, Mitzi L.↗

The Winds of B Supergiants

We present the most suitable data sets available in the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) archive for the study of time-dependent stellar winds in early B supergiants. The UV line profile variability in 11 B0 to B3 stars is analyzed, compared and discussed, based on 16 separate data sets comprising over 600 homogeneously reduced high-resolution spectrograms. The targets include 'normal' stars with moderate rotation rates and examples of rapid rotators. A gallery of grey-scale images (dynamic spectra) is presented, which demonstrates the richness and range of wind variability and highlights different structures in the winds of these stars. This work emphasizes the suitability of B supergiants for wind studies, under-pinned by the fact that they exhibit unsaturated wind lines for a wide range of ionization. The wind activity of B supergiants is substantial and has highly varied characteristics. The variability evident in individual stars is classified and described in terms of discrete absorption components, spontaneous absorption, bowed structures, recurrence, and ionization variability and stratification. Similar structures can occur in stars of different fundamental parameters but also different structures may occur in the same star at a given epoch. We discuss the physical phenomena that may be associated with the spectral signatures, and highlight the challenges that these phenomena present to theoretical studies of time-dependent outflows in massive stars. In addition, SEI line-synthesis modelling of the UV wind lines is used to provide further information about the state of the winds in our program stars. Typically the range, implied by the line profile variability, in the product of mass-loss rate and ion fraction (M qi) is a factor of approximately 1.5, when integrated between 0.2 and 0.9 v infinity; it it can however be several times larger over localized velocity regions. At a given effective temperature the mean relative ion ratios can differ by a factor of 5. The general excess in predicted (forward-scattered) emission in the low velocity regime is discussed in turns of structured outflows. Mean ion fractions are estimated over the B0 to B1 spectral classes, and trends in the ionic ratios as a function of wind velocity are described. The low values obtained for the ion fractions of UV resonance lines may reflect the role of clumping in the wind.

Massa, Derck↗

A Low NO(x) Lean-Direct Injection, Multipoint Integrated Module Combuster Concept for Advanced Aircraft Gas Turbines

A low NO(x) emissions combustor has been demonstrated in flame-tube tests. A multipoint, lean-direct injection concept was used. Configurations were tested that had 25- and 36- fuel injectors in the size of a conventional single fuel injector. An integrated-module approach was used for the construction where chemically etched laminates, diffusion bonded together, combine the fuel injectors, air swirlers and fuel manifold into a single element. Test conditions were inlet temperatures up to 810 K, inlet pressures up to 2760 kPa, and flame temperatures up to 2100 K. A correlation was developed relating the NO(x) emissions with the inlet temperature, inlet pressure, fuel-air ratio and pressure drop. Assuming that 10 percent of the combustion air would be used for liner cooling and using a hypothetical engine cycle, the NO(x) emissions using the correlation from flame-tube tests were estimated to be less than 20 percent of the 1996 ICAO standard.

Tacina, Robert↗

Measurement of Arcminute Scale Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy with the BIMA Array

We report the results of our continued study of arcminute scale anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) with the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) array. The survey consists of ten independent fields selected for low infrared dust emission and lack of bright radio point sources. With observations from the VLA (Very Large Array) at 4.8 GHz, we have identified point sources which could act as contaminants in estimates of the CMB power spectrum and removed them in the analysis. Modeling the observed power spectrum with a single. flat band power with average multipole of l(sub eff) = 6864, we find Delta T = 14.2((sup +4.8)(sub -6.0)) micro K at 68% confidence. The signal in the visibility data exceeds the expected contribution from instrumental noise with 96.5% confidence. We have also divided the data into two bins corresponding to different spatial resolutions in the power spectrum. We find Delta T(sub 1) = 16.6((sup +5.3)(sub -5.9)) micro K at 68% confidence for CMB flat band power described by an average multipole of l(sub eff) = 5237 and Delta T(sub 2) is less than 26.5 micro K at 95% confidence for l(sub eff) = 8748.

Dawson, K. S.↗

Radiation Insulation

The Apollo and subsequent spacecraft have had highly effective radiation barriers; made of aluminized polymer film, they bar or let in heat to maintain consistent temperatures inside. Tech 2000, formerly Quantum International Corporation used the NASA technology in its insulating materials, Super "Q" Radiant Barrier, for home, industry and mobile applications. The insulation combines industrial aluminum foil overlaid around a core of another material, usually propylene or mylar. The outer layer reflects up to 97 percent of heat; the central layer creates a thermal break in the structure and thus allows low radiant energy emission. The Quantum Cool Wall, used in cars and trucks, takes up little space while providing superior insulation, thus reducing spoilage and costs. The panels can also dampen sound and engine, exhaust and solar heat.

Source record↗

The Winds of B Supergiants

We present the most suitable data sets available in the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) archive for the study of time-dependent stellar winds in early B supergiants. The UV line profile variability in 11 B0 to B3 stars is analyzed, compared and discussed, based on 16 separate data sets comprising over 600 homogeneously reduced high-resolution spectrograms. The targets include 'normal' stars with moderate rotation rates and examples of rapid rotators. A gallery of grey-scale images (dynamic spectra) is presented, which demonstrates the richness and range of wind variability and highlights different structures in the winds of these stars. This work emphasises the suitability of B supergiants for wind studies, under-pinned by the fact that they exhibit unsaturated wind lines for a wide range of ionization. The wind activity of B supergiants is substantial and has highly varied characteristics. The variability evident in individual stars is classified and described in terms of discrete absorption components, spontaneous absorption, bowed structures, recurrence, and ionization variability and stratification. Similar structures can occur in stars of different fundamental parameters, but also different structures may occur in the same star at a given epoch. We discuss the physical phenomena that may be associated with the spectral signatures, and highlight the challenges that these phenomena present to theoretical studies of time-dependent outflows in massive stars. In addition, SEI line-synthesis modelling of the UV wind lines is used to provide further information about the state of the winds in our program stars. Typically the range, implied by the line profile variability, in the product of mass-loss rate and ion fraction (M (dot) q(sub i)) is a factor of approximately 1.5, when integrated between 0.2 and 0.9 v infinity; it can however be several times larger over localized velocity regions. At a given effective temperature the mean relative ion ratios can differ by a factor of 5. The general excess in predicted (forward-scattered) emission in the low velocity regime is discussed in terms of structured outflows. Mean ion fractions are estimated over the B0 to B1 spectral classes, and trends in the ionic ratios as a function of wind velocity are described. The low values obtained for the ion fractions of UV resonance lines may reflect the role of clumping in the wind.

Massa, D.↗

Issues in Informal Education: Event-Based Science Communication Involving Planetaria and the Internet

For the past four years the Science Directorate at Marshall Space Flight Center has carried out a diverse program of science communication through the web resources on the Internet. The program includes extended stories about NAS.4 science, a curriculum resource for teachers tied to national education standards, on-line activities for students, and webcasts of real-time events. Events have involved meteor showers, solar eclipses, natural very low frequency radio emissions, and amateur balloon flights. In some cases broadcasts accommodate active feedback and questions from Internet participants. We give here, examples of events, problems, and lessons learned from these activities.

Adams, M.↗