NASA Spacelink Computer
This video tape introduces Spacelink, a computer resource that educators and students can access. The purpose of Spacelink is to stimulate interest in math and science.
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This video tape introduces Spacelink, a computer resource that educators and students can access. The purpose of Spacelink is to stimulate interest in math and science.
This video tape describes the redesign and construction of the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor.
This video tape presents a dynamic overview of the hard work and tireless efforts of NASA employees and contractors.
This video tape looks at research done in the Manned Vehicle Systems Research Facility at ARC to investigate issues related to aircraft pilot and crew performance.
This video tape contains footage selected and narrated by the STS-26 crew including launch, TDRS-C/IUS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite C / Inertial Upper Stage) deployment, onboard activities, and landing.
This video tape features scenes shot by the crew of onboard activities including the TDRS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite) deploy, Earth views, and middeck experiments.
This video tape documents the planned design and development of the Space Station.
This video tape details the importance of the Inertial Upper Stage in projecting various satellites from the Shuttle's cargo bay.
This video tape chronicles NASA's research and development programs, especially regarding space travel from 1958 to 1983.
The objective of this effort was to validate in flight, data that has been gathered in the NASA Lewis Research Center's Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) over the past several years. All data was acquired in flight on the NASA Lewis Research Center's Twin Otter Icing Research Aircraft. A faired 3.5 in. diameter metal-clad cylinder exposed to the natural icing environment was observed by a close-up video camera. The grazing angle video footage was recorded to S-VHS video tape and after the icing encounter, the resultant ice shape was documented by 35 mm photography and pencil tracings. The feather growth area was of primary interest; however, all regions of the ice accretion, from the stagnation line to the aft edge of run back were observed and recorded. After analysis of the recorded data several interesting points became evident: (1) the measured flight feather growth rate is consistent with IRT values, (2) the feather growth rate appears to be influenced by droplet size, (3) the feathers were straighter in the lower, spottier LWC of flight in comparison to those observed in the IRT, (4) feather shedding and ice sublimation may be significant to the final ice shape, and (5) the snow encountered on these flights appeared to have little influence on ice growth.
This paper describes the requirements for a Fuzzy Logic Controller for the physiologic administration of hormones by means of a FDA-approved surgically implantable infusion pump. Results of a LabVIEW computer simulation for the administration of insulin for diabetic adult patients as well as human growth hormone for pediatric patients are presented. A VHS video tape of the simulation in action has been prepared and is available for viewing.
Two video tapes of raw material show examples of research activity at the center from the 1950's to the 1980's.
This paper is a summary of the work presented in the video tape demonstrating the integrated modeling capabilities that exist in an analytical tool being developed at JPL called IMOS (Integrated Modeling of Advanced Optical Systems). A segmented reflector telescope, whose performance is based on structural, controls, thermal, and optical disciplines was analyzed.
Development and application of linear array imaging technologies to address specific aging-aircraft inspection issues is described. Real-time video-taped images were obtained from an unmodified commercial linear-array medical scanner of specimens constructed to simulate typical types of flaws encountered in the inspection of aircraft structures. Results suggest that information regarding the characteristics, location, and interface properties of specific types of flaws in materials and structures may be obtained from the images acquired with a linear array. Furthermore, linear array imaging may offer the advantage of being able to compare 'good' regions with 'flawed' regions simultaneously, and in real time. Real-time imaging permits the inspector to obtain image information from various views and provides the opportunity for observing the effects of introducing specific interventions. Observation of an image in real-time can offer the operator the ability to 'interact' with the inspection process, thus providing new capabilities, and perhaps, new approaches to nondestructive inspections.
Current concern for ensuring, the air-worthiness of the aging commercial air fleet has prompted the establishment of broad-agency programs to develop NDT technologies that address specific aging-aircraft issues. One of the crucial technological needs that has been identified is the development of rapid, quantitative systems for depot-level inspection of bonded aluminum lap joints on aircraft. Research results for characterization of disbond and corrosion based on normal-incidence pulse-echo measurement geometries are showing promise, but are limited by the single-site nature of the measurement which requires manual or mechanical scanning to inspect an area. One approach to developing efficient systems may be to transfer specific aspects of current medical imaging technology to the NDT arena. Ultrasonic medical imaging, systems offer many desirable attributes for large scale inspection. They are portable, provide real-time imaging, and have integrated video tape recorder and printer capabilities available for documentation and post-inspection review. Furthermore, these systems are available at a relatively low cost (approximately $50,000 to $200,000) and can be optimized for use with metals with straight-forward modifications.
A general description of Virtual Reality technology and possible applications was given from publicly available material. A video tape was shown demonstrating the use of multiple large-screen stereoscopic displays, configured in a 10' x 10' x 10' room, to allow a person to evaluate and interact with a vehicle which exists only as mathematical data, and is made only of light. The correct viewpoint of the vehicle is maintained by tracking special glasses worn by the subject. Interior illumination was changed by moving a virtual light around by hand; interior colors are changed by pointing at a color on a color palette, then pointing at the desired surface to change. We concluded by discussing research needed to move this technology forward.
During the past year, pre-, in- and postflight studies were conducted in association with the Axon project for Bion 10 (Cosmos 2229). Recordings were made during pre- and postflight studies, from 118 horizontal semicircular canal afferents and 27 vestibular nucleus neurons in 7 rhesus monkeys; 137 pulse rotation protocols alone were executed (548 acceleration and deceleration responses were curve fit). Usable data was obtained from 127 horizontal afferents concerning their spontaneous discharge. Curve fits and analysis was made of sinusoidal and sum of sinusoidal responses from 42 and 35 horizontal afferents, respectively. Also recordings were made from neurons inflight from the two flight animals. The mean spontaneous rate varied from 128 spikes/sec. during preflight to 92 spikes/sec during postflight (day 5) - a change of 28%. In direct contrast to the results of Cosmos 2044, the best fitted neural adaptation operator (k) and the gain of the pulse response were decreased during post flight when compared to preflight. Surprisingly, the best fitted gain and k values for the sum of sines were slightly elevated during post flight tests. The gain and phase of single sine responses were compared for pre- and post flight tests and compared to a larger population of afferents. In contrast to Cosmos 2044 results where on the first day of post flight testing the gains of the best fitted sine response were skewed toward the higher values of the Miles and Braitman distribution, the gain of the best fitted sine responses during the first day of post flight testing (day 2) during Cosmos 2229 were exactly on the mode of the Miles and Braitman distribution. Thus, at least for the periodic stimuli, (pulses and sine waves) we found no change in gain and neural adaptation during post flight testing following Cosmos 2229. This conclusion is different from the one derived following the Cosmos 2044 flight. Cosmos flight 2229 differed from Cosmos flight 2044 in several significant ways: For example, during preflight, (1) The animals preflight training was different (less well trained on the gaze task) and (2) the animals were exposed to more experimental manipulations (surgical and rotational). Inflight, (1) the animals were required to make a pointing gesture (motor response) in association with eye movements to obtain reward, (2) the inflight diet was different (more balanced), (3) the feeder for one of the animals clogged following 9 days of flight resulting in evident dehydration and probably less head motion exposure in that monkey and (4) there was limited video taping of the monkeys in space. During postflight, (1) we were unable to test the flight animals until 26 hours postflight as compared to 14.5 hours during Cosmos 2044, (2) the animals received significantly more exposure to motion stimuli during postflight testing than during Cosmos 2044. These differences in the vestibular environment will require analysis of several parameters other than just neural and eye movement responses. For example, computer programs will have to be written and used to recover and quantify the number of head movements made by each animal during flight. This activity is critical to the production of neural adaptation and increased gain.