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At least 127 records · Page 7

Stellar population of NGC 1850 in the LMC

Observations of the globular cluster NGC 1850 taken with the HST Wide Field Camera are used to constrain the stellar population of this member of the Large Magellanic Cloud. Three exposures were obtained for each band at exposure times of 10, 100, and 1100 seconds, and the longest exposure was halved to minimize the effects of cosmic noise and the saturation of bright objects. A total of about 12,000 stars with magnitudes of 14-24 and masses of 0.8-13 solar mass are measured, and the age of NGC 1850 is given at approximately 25 million years.

Gilmozzi, Roberto↗

The effect of prolonged exposure to 750 C air on the tribological performance of PM212

The effect of prolonged exposure to 750 C air on the tribological performance and dimensional stability of PM212, a high temperature, self-lubricating composite, is studied. PM212, by weight, contains 70 percent metal-bonded Cr3C2, 15 percent BaF2/CaF2 eutectic, and 15 percent silver. Rub blocks were fabricated from PM212 by cold isostatic pressing followed by sintering. Prior to tribo-testing, the rub blocks were exposed to 750 C air for periods ranging from 100 to 1000 hours. Then, the rub blocks were slid against nickel-based superalloy disks in a double-rub-block tribometer in air under a 66 N load at temperatures from 25 to 750 C with a sliding velocity of 0.36 m/s. Unexposed rub blocks were tested for baseline comparison. Friction coefficients ranged from 0.24 to 0.37 for the unexposed rub blocks and from 0.32 to 0.56 for the exposed ones. Wear for both the composite blocks and superalloy disks was typically in the moderate to low range of 10(exp -5) to 10(exp -6) mm(exp 3)/N-m. Friction and wear data were similar for the rub blocks exposed for 100, 500, and 1000 hours. Prolonged exposure to 750 C air increased friction and wear of the PM212 rub blocks at room temperature, but their triboperformance remained unaffected at higher temperatures, probably due to the formation of lubricious metal oxides. Dimensional stability of the composite was studied by exposing specimens of varying thicknesses for 500 hours in air at 750 C. Block thicknesses were found to increase with increased exposure time until steady state was reached after 100 hours of exposure, probably due to oxidation.

Bemis, Kirk↗

Looking for Interacting Binaries in Old Open Clusters

We requested a 12 ks observation of the old open cluster NGC7142 with the aim to investigate the population of interacting binaries, and compare the properties with those of interacting binaries in other old open clusters. Unfortunately, the observation suffered from long periods of background flaring, and as a result the effective exposure time was shortened to only approximately 25% of the planned exposure. The sensitivity to detect sources in the cluster was therefore much reduced, hampering a useful comparison with other clusters observed with Chandra and XMM. We detect 5 sources (all less than 300 counts) in the full field of view of the detectors; based on the large separations from the cluster center, we expect that at least 3-4 are not associated with the cluster. A brief paper that reports the results is in preparation.

Grindley, Jonathan↗

Effects of long-time elevated temperature exposures on hot-isostatically-pressed power-metallurgy Udimet 700 alloys with reduced cobalt contents

Because almost the entire U.S. consumption of cobalt depends on imports, this metal has been designated "strategic'. The role and effectiveness of cobalt is being evaluated in commercial nickel-base superalloys. Udiment 700 type alloys in which the cobalt content was reduced from the normal 17% down to 12.7%, 8.5%, 4.3%, and 0% were prepared by standard powder metallurgy techniques and hot isostatically pressed into billets. Mechanical testing and microstructural investigations were performed. The mechanical properties of alloys with reduced cobalt contents which were heat-treated identically were equal or better than those of the standard alloy, except that creep rates tended to increase as cobalt was reduced. The effects of long time exposures at 760 C on mechanical properties and at 760 C and 845 C on microstructures were determined. Decreased tensile properties and shorter rupture lives with increased creep rates were observed in alloy modifications. The exposures caused gamma prime particle coarsening and formation of sigma phase in the alloys with higher cobalt contents. Exposure at 845 C also reduced the amount of MC carbides.

Hart, F. H.↗

Optical and electrical properties of ion beam textured Kapton and Teflon

Results are given for ion beam texturing of polyimide (Kapton) and fluorinated ethylene propylene (Teflon) by means of a 30-cm diam electron bombardment argon ion source. Ion beam-textured Kapton and Teflon surfaces are evaluated for various beam energies, current densities, and exposure times. The optical properties and sheet resistance are measured after each exposure. Provided in the paper are optical spectral data, resistivity measurements, calculated absorptance and emittance measurements, and surface structure SEM micrographs for various exposures to argon ions. It is found that Kapton becomes conducting and Teflon nonconducting when ion beam-textured. Textured Kapton exhibits large changes in the transmittance and solar absorptance, but only slight changes in reflectance. Surface texturing of Teflon may allow better adherence of subsequent sputtered metallic films for a high absorptance value. The results are valuable in spacecraft charging applications.

Mirtich, M. J.↗

Nuclide production in (very) small meteorites

One of the most interesting open questions in the study of cosmic-ray effects in meteorites is the expected behavior of objects which are very small compared to the mean interaction length of primary galactic cosmic ray (GCR) particles. A reasonable limit might be a pre-atmospheric radius of 5 gram/cm(2), or 1.5 cm for chondrites. These are interesting for at least three reasons: (1) this is a limiting case for large objects, and can help us make better models; (2) this size is intermediate between usual meteorites and irradiated grams (spherules); and (3) these are the most likely objects to show solar cosmic ray (SCR) effects. Reedy (1984) has recently proposed a model for production by GCR of radioactive and stable nuclides in spherical meteorites. Very small objects are expected to deviate from this model in the direction of fewer secondary particles (larger spectral shape parameter), at all depths. The net effect will be significantly lower production of such low-energy products as Mn-53 and Al-26. The SCR production of these and other nuclides will be lower, too, because meteorite orbits extend typically out into the asteroid belt, and the mean SCR flux must fall off approximately as r(-2) with distance from the Sun. Kepler's laws insure that for such orbits most of the exposure time is spent near aphelion. None the less the equivalent mean exposure distance, R(exp), is slightly less than the semimajor axis A because of the weighting by R(-2). For the three meteorite orbits we have, R(exp) has a narrow range, from about 1.6 to 2.1 a.u. This is probably true for the great majority of meteorites.

Arnold, J. R.↗

Camera artifacts in IUE low-dispersion spectra

Sky-background images obtained by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) were analyzed to study artificial spectral features (camera artifacts) in low-dispersion spectra. The artifacts mimic emission features and have been present in long-exposure spectra since the launch of the IUE satellite. The camera artifacts are strong in spectra characterized by long exposure times because they scale in time-integrated flux with the background level, which increases during the exposure due to camera phosphorescence. The artifacts cannot be detected in spectra obtained from short, direct exposures of flat-field lamps or standard stars. Plots of average sky-background spectra for the three operational IUE cameras (SWP, LWP, and LWR) are given to aid scientists in the identification of artifacts in their spectra.

Crenshaw, D. Michael↗

Research on sleep, circadian rhythms and aging - Applications to manned spaceflight

Disorders of sleep and circadian rhythmicity are characteristic of both advancing age and manned spaceflight. Sleep fragmentation, reduced nocturnal sleep tendency and sleep efficiency, reduced daytime alertness, and increased daytime napping are common to both of these conditions. Recent research on the pathophysiology and treatment of disrupted sleep in older people has led to a better understanding of how the human circadian pacemaker regulates the timing of the daily sleep-wake cycle and how it responds to the periodic changes in the light-dark cycle to which we are ordinarily exposed. These findings have led to new treatments for some of the sleep disorders common to older individuals, using carefully timed exposure to bright light and darkness to manipulate the phase and/or amplitude of the circadian timing system. These insights and treatment approaches have direct applications in the design of countermeasures allowing astronauts to overcome some of the challenges which manned spaceflight poses for the human circadian timing system. We have conducted an operational feasibility study on the use of scheduled exposure to bright light and darkness prior to launch in order to facilitate adaptation of the circadian system of a NASA Space Shuttle crew to the altered sleep-wake schedule required for their mission. The results of this study illustrate how an understanding of the properties of the human circadian timing system and the consequences of circadian disruption can be applied to manned spaceflight.

Czeisler, Charles A.↗

Light-induced suppression of endogenous circadian amplitude in humans

A recent demonstration that the phase of the human circadian pacemaker could be inverted using an unconventional three-cycle stimulus has led to an investigation of whether critically timed exposure to a more moderate stimulus could drive that oscillator toward its singularity, a phaseless position at which the amplitude of circadian oscillation is zero. It is reported here that exposure of humans to fewer cycles of bright light, centered around the time at which the human circadian pacemaker is most sensitive to light-induced phase shifts, can markedly attenuate endogenous cicadian amplitude. In some cases this results in an apparent loss of rhythmicity, as expected to occur in the region of singularity.

Jewett, Megan↗

Performance of MoS2 Coated Gears Exposed to Humid Air During Storage - (Study Number Two)

This work is a follow-on to a prior study on the effect of exposure to humid air on the durability of a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) dry film lubricant on spur gears operated in vacuum, motivated by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) mission. In this study, MoS2 dry-lubricating films (DFLs) matching JWST specification were applied to test gears. The gear specimens were subjected to a brief run-in period in vacuum prior to their exposure to humid air, mimicking the sequence of mechanism checkout testing, exposure to air during integration, and then storage prior to launch. Test gear exposure times to humid air ranged from 1 hour to 326 days. After exposure, gear durability tests were conducted as an indication of film lifetime. MoS2 DFLs that were exposed to humid air (57% RH) exhibited reduced film durability relative to DFLs that were not exposed. On average, the exposed specimens demonstrated 75% shorter film life. The severity of the reduction in film durability did not correlate with the duration of exposure, i.e., long exposures to humid air were not more impactful to film durability than were short exposures.

MoS2↗

Shiftwork in space - Bright light as a chronobiologic countermeasure

The potential of timed exposures to bright light as a countermeasure to the changes in the work/rest schedules during space missions was investigated. In the experiments, four human subjects were exposed to two sessions of eleven days of simulated weightlessness (6-deg head-down-tilt bedrest) with 6-hr extensions of the scheduled wake time on days 3 and 4 (a 12-hr phase delay). In a blind crossover design, subjects were exposed to bright light (greater than 3500 lux) for 5 hrs on each of the two shift days and on the following day, at times expected to accelerate adaptation to the phase delay (experimental group), or have no phase shifting effect (control group). Results indicate that bright light may accelerate the rate of adaptation to work/rest schedule delays under simulated weightlessness conditions. However, such effect was found to be largely independent of the timing of the light exposure.

Gander, Philippa H.↗

Mechanical properties of Skylab thermal shield materials after prolonged ultraviolet irradiation

In response to an emergency request, the mechanical properties of two complex laminate materials, used as thermal shields on the Skylab spacecraft, were investigated. Concern over the prolonged use of these materials in the space environment prompted this investigation. Shields made of both of these materials, popularly called the parasol and the sail types, were taken to the Skylab spacecraft by the original Skylab astronauts. Both were used to restore thermal control after the original control surfaces were damaged during launch. During the tests the tensile properties were measured at anticipated service temperature and after prolonged exposure to increasing degrees of ultraviolet radiation at intensities approaching two solar constants. Some samples received exposures equivalent to 2,350 hours. The performance and degradation of the two materials are presented in terms of orientation, vacuum, and degree of irradiation. In general, the 75-micron (3-mil) parasol laminate showed a decrease in tensile properties as a function of exposure time, while the 200-micron (8-mil) sail laminate was little affected by exposure to the ultraviolet radiation.

Haehner, C. L.↗

GRO/EGRET data analysis software: An integrated system of custom and commercial software using standard interfaces

The Energetic Gamma Ray Telescope Experiment (EGRET) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory has been in orbit for more than a year and is being used to map the full sky for gamma rays in a wide energy range from 30 to 20,000 MeV. Already these measurements have resulted in a wide range of exciting new information on quasars, pulsars, galactic sources, and diffuse gamma ray emission. The central part of the analysis is done with sky maps that typically cover an 80 x 80 degree section of the sky for an exposure time of several days. Specific software developed for this program generates the counts, exposure, and intensity maps. The analysis is done on a network of UNIX based workstations and takes full advantage of a custom-built user interface called X-dialog. The maps that are generated are stored in the FITS format for a collection of energies. These, along with similar diffuse emission background maps generated from a model calculation, serve as input to a maximum likelihood program that produces maps of likelihood with optional contours that are used to evaluate regions for sources. Likelihood also evaluates the background corrected intensity at each location for each energy interval from which spectra can be generated. Being in a standard FITS format permits all of the maps to be easily accessed by the full complement of tools available in several commercial astronomical analysis systems. In the EGRET case, IDL is used to produce graphics plots in two and three dimensions and to quickly implement any special evaluation that might be desired. Other custom-built software, such as the spectral and pulsar analyses, take advantage of the XView toolkit for display and Postscript output for the color hard copy. This poster paper outlines the data flow and provides examples of the user interfaces and output products. It stresses the advantages that are derived from the integration of the specific instrument-unique software and powerful commercial tools for graphics and statistical evaluation. This approach has several proven advantages including flexibility, a minimum of development effort, ease of use, and portability.

Laubenthal, N. A.↗

Correlation of creep rate with microstructural changes during high temperature creep

Creep tests were conducted on Haynes 188 cobalt-base alloy and alpha titanium. The tests on Haynes 188 were conducted at 1600 F and 1800 F for stresses from 3 to 20 ksi, and the as-received, mill-annealed results were compared to specimens given 5%, 10%, and 15% room temperature prestrains and then annealed one hour at 1800 F. The tests on alpha titanium were performed at 7,250 and 10,000 psi at 500 C. One creep test was done at 527 C and 10,000 psi to provide information on kinetics. Results for annealed titanium were compared to specimens given 10% and 20% room temperature prestrains followed by 100 hours recovery at 550 C. Electron microscopy was used to relate dislocation and precipitate structure to the creep behavior of the two materials. The results on Haynes 188 alloy reveal that the time to reach 0.5% creep strain at 1600 F increases with increasing prestrain for exposure times less than 1,000 hours, the increase at 15% prestrain being more than a factor of ten.

Young, C. T.↗

Hubble Space Telescope: Fine guidance sensors instrument handbook. Version 2.1

The Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS) are a system of photomultiplier tubes and white light amplitude interferometers (Koester's prism) which are used for the fine guidance of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The purpose of the handbook is to provide information to a potential user of the FGS so that he may explore the feasibility of performing various observations. A brief overview is given of how the FGS works, along with an explanation of the instrument in some detail. The procedure for estimating exposure times is explained. The observing modes are described. Some details needed to specify the exposures and observation requirements on the proposal forms are explained. Data reduction procedures are outlined.

Taff, Larry↗

Osteoblastic phenotype of rat marrow stromal cells cultured in the presence of dexamethasone, beta-glycerolphosphate, and L-ascorbic acid

We investigated the effects of the time course of addition of osteogenic supplements dexamethasone, beta-glycerolphosphate, and L-ascorbic acid to rat marrow stromal cells, and the exposure time on the proliferation and differentiation of the cells. It was the goal of these experiments to determine the time point for supplement addition to optimize marrow stromal cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation. To determine this, two studies were performed; one study was based on the age of the cells from harvest, and the other study was based on the duration of exposure to supplemented medium. Cells were seen to proliferate rapidly at early time points in the presence and absence of osteogenic supplements as determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation into the DNA of replicating cells. These results were supported by cell counts ascertained through total DNA analysis. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin production at 21 days were highest for both experimental designs when the cells were exposed to supplemented medium immediately upon harvest. The ALP levels at 21 days were six times greater for cells maintained in supplements throughout than for control cells cultured in the absence of supplements for both studies, reaching an absolute value of 75 x 10(-7) micromole/min/cell. Osteocalcin production reached 20 x 10(-6) ng/cell at 21 days in both studies for cells maintained in supplemented medium throughout the study, whereas the control cells produced an insignificant amount of osteocalcin. These results suggest that the addition of osteogenic supplements to marrow-derived cells early in the culture period did not inhibit proliferation and greatly enhanced the osteoblastic phenotype of cells in a rat model.

Non-NASA Center↗

Results of time-resolved radiation exposure measurements made during U.S. shuttle missions with a tissue equivalent proportional counter

Time resolved exposure measurements inside the crew compartment have been made during recent shuttle missions with the USAF Radiation Monitoring Equipment-III (RME-III), a portable four-channel tissue equivalent proportional counter. Results from the first six missions are presented and discussed. The missions had orbital inclinations ranging from 28 degrees to 57 degrees, and altitudes from 200-600km. Dose equivalent rates ranged from 40-5300 micro Sv/dy. The RME-III measurements are in good agreement with other dosimetry measurements made aboard the vehicle. Measurements indicate that medium- and high- Linear Energy Transfer (LET) particles contribute less than 2% of the particle fluence for all missions, but up to 50% of the dose equivalent, depending on the spacecraft's altitude and orbital inclination. Isa-dose rate contours have been developed from measurements made during the ST-28 mission. The drift rate of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) is estimated to be 0.49 degrees W/yr and 0.12 degrees N/yr. The calculated trapped proton and Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) dose for the STS-28 mission were significantly lower than the measured values.

Golightly, M. J.↗