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At least 1,279 records · Page 71

Solar cosmic ray produced neon in lunar soils and their implication for gas-rich meteorite studies

Characteristic neon isotopic ratios, produced due to solar cosmic ray spallation (SCR) in lunar soils, are useful in deciphering and estimating the relative contributions of SCR and GCR spallation. To delineate these features, etched mineral grains from mature and immature lunar soils (14148 and 61221 respectively) were analyzed using mass spectrometry. The SF-Ne composition deduced in this work agrees with that obtained from earlier etched lunar pyroxene studies. The data points for mature soil 14148 define a line which significantly deviates from the 61221 tie line. This deviation is attributed to the presence of SCR spallation component. In this context, neon isotopic compositions (step-wise heating) in Pantar and Leighton dark portions were studied and compared with that of Fayetteville. The meteorite data points deviate significantly from the tie line joining SF-Ne and GCR (pyroxene) end points. This deviation is attributed to SCR-spallation in gas-rich chondrites.

Nautiyal, C. M.↗

Data appendix: F-number=1.0 EMR with a flexible back electrode

A 12.5 micron Tedlar low f-number electrostatic membrane reflector was tested. The antenna reflector was designed to achieve a spherical reflector surface with a focal length to diameter ratio f(sub n) of one and a potential accuracy of 1.0 over its 4.88 m diameter. The configuration required the cutting and joining of twelve pie-shaped panels to form the reflector surface. Electrostatic forces are used to tension this preformed membrane reflector. The test data is spare-only three sets of measurements were taken due to lack of funds.

Mihora, D. J.↗

Assessment of simulation fidelity using measurements of piloting technique in flight

The U.S. Army and NASA joined together on a project to conduct a systematic investigation and validation of a ground based piloted simulation of the Army/Sikorsky UH-60A helicopter. Flight testing was an integral part of the validation effort. Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) piloting tasks which were investigated included the bob-up, the hover turn, the dash/quickstop, the sidestep, the dolphin, and the slalom. Results from the simulation indicate that the pilot's NOE task performance in the simulator is noticeably and quantifiably degraded when compared with the task performance results generated in flight test. The results of the flight test and ground based simulation experiments support a unique rationale for the assessment of simulation fidelity: flight simulation fidelity should be judged quantitatively by measuring pilot's control strategy and technique as induced by the simulator. A quantitative comparison is offered between the piloting technique observed in a flight simulator and that observed in flight test for the same tasks performed by the same pilots.

Clement, W. F.↗

Aerodynamic-structural study of canard wing, dual wing, and conventional wing systems for general aviation applications

An analytical aerodynamic-structural airplane configuration study was conducted to assess performance gains achievable through advanced design concepts. The mission specification was for 350 mph, range of 1500 st. mi., at altitudes between 30,000 and 40,000 ft. Two payload classes were studied - 1200 lb (6 passengers) and 2400 lb (12 passengers). The configurations analyzed included canard wings, closely coupled dual wings, swept forward - swept rearward wings, joined wings, and conventional wing tail arrangements. The results illustrate substantial performance gains possible with the dual wing configuration. These gains result from weight savings due to predicted structural efficiencies. The need for further studies of structural efficiencies for the various advanced configurations was highlighted.

Selberg, B. P.↗

Post-carboniferous tectonics in the Anadarko Basin, Oklahoma: Evidence from side-looking radar imagery

The Anadarko Basin of western Oklahoma is a WNW-ESE elongated trough filled with of Paleozoic sediments. Most models call for tectonic activity to end in Pennsylvanian times. NASA Shuttle Imaging Radar revealed a distinctive and very straight lineament set extending virtually the entire length of the Anadarko Basin. The lineaments cut across the relatively flat-lying Permian units exposed at the surface. The character of these lineaments is seen most obviously as a tonal variation. Major streams, including the Washita and Little Washita rivers, appear to be controlled by the location of the lineaments. Subsurface data indicate the lineaments may be the updip expression of a buried major fault system, the Mountain View fault. Two principal conclusions arise from this analysis: (1) the complex Mountain View Fault system appears to extend southeast to join the Reagan, Sulphur, and/or Mill Creek faults of the Arbuckle Mountains, and (2) this fault system has been reactivated in Permian or younger times.

Nielsen, K. C.↗

Fluvial Drainage Basins and Valley Networks: Eastern Margaritifer Sinus, Mars

The fluvial drainage of the eastern Margaritifer Sinus (MC-19NE, SE) and northeastern Argyre (MC-26NE) Quadrangles is dominated by two major longitudinal valley networks, the Parana/Loire system on the east, and the Samara Himera system to the west. It is believed that both of these drainages are through-going to the northwest and debouch into Margaritifer Chaos (general location: 12S, 22.5W). The Parana/Loire drainage is bounded on the east in part by an ancient multi-ringed impact basin. The Parana multi-digitate network drains northwest into a depositional basin, and impact basin floor, characterized by positive relief chaos. It is believed that Loire Vallis heads in the basin; thus Parana and Loire Valles may be treated as one system. Samara Valles heads in the northeastern Argyre Quadrangle and extends as a major truck valley to the northwest. Samara Valles cuts through the hills forming one of the concentric rings of the Ladon impact basin and joins the Himera drainage to trend in a more northerly direction to Margaritifer Chaos. The downstream portion of Himera is considered to be part of the Samara

Boothroyd, J. C.↗

Viking Lander Mosaics of Mars

The Viking Lander 1 and 2 cameras acquired many high-resolution pictures of the Chryse Planitia and Utopia Planitia landing sites. Based on computer-processed data of a selected number of these pictures, eight high-resolution mosaics were published by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of the Atlas of Mars, Miscellaneous Investigation Series. The mosaics are composites of the best picture elements (pixels) of all the Lander pictures used. Each complete mosaic extends 342.5 deg in azimuth, from approximately 5 deg above the horizon to 60 deg below, and incorporates approximately 15 million pixels. Each mosaic is shown in a set of five sheets. One sheet contains the full panorama from one camera taken in either morning or evening. The other four sheets show sectors of the panorama at an enlarged scale; when joined together they make a panorama approximately 2' X 9'.

Morris, E. C.↗

Dust emission of Comet Halley at large heliocentric distances

Comet Halley is currently approaching the inner solar system. Four spacecrafts (NASA's spacecraft, two Russian Vega probes and the Japanese MS-T5 spacecraft) have already been launched to encounter the comet in March 1986. Two additional Halley probes (the European Giotto spacecraft and another Japanese Planet-A probe) will be launched in mid-85 to join the armada. Observations of dust emissions from Halley's Comet are discussed. The evaporation of cometary ices causes the emission of particulates from the nucleus. These observations will be used to determine the fly-by strategy of the Giotto spacecraft by taking into account the distribution of dust in the vicinity of the nucleus and the associated hazard for the space mission.

Gruen, E.↗

A Survey of Composite Grid Generation for General Three-dimensional Sections

The generation and use of composite grids for general three-dimensional physical boundary configurations is discussed, and the availability of several codes or procedures is noted. With the composite framework, the physical region is segmented into sub-regions, each bounded by six curved sides, and a grid is generated in each sub-region. These grids may be joined at the interfaces between the sub-regions with various degrees of continuity. This structure allows codes to be constructed to operate on rectangular blocks in computational space, so that existing solution procedures can be readily incorporated in the construction of codes for general configurations. Numerical grid generation is an integral part of the numerical solution of partial differential equations and is one of the pacing items in the development of codes for general configurations. The numerically generated grid frees the computational simulation from restriction to certain boundary shapes and allows general codes to be written in which the boundary shape is specified simply by input. The numerically generated grid allows all computation to be done on a fixed square grid in the computational space, which is always rectangular by construction.

Thompson, J. F.↗

Optical fiber coupling method and apparatus

Systems are described for coupling a pair of optical fibers to pass light between them, which enables a coupler to be easily made, and with simple equipment, while closely controlling the characteristics of the coupler. One method includes mounting a pair of optical fibers on a block having a large hole therein, so the fibers extend across the hole while lying adjacent and parallel to one another. The fibers are immersed in an etchant to reduce the thickness of cladding around the fiber core. The fibers are joined together by applying a liquid polymer so the polymer-air interface moves along the length of the fibers to bring the fibers together in a zipper-like manner, and to progressively lay a thin coating of the polymer on the fibers.

Goss, W. C.↗

The Ponape ST radar

In May, 1984, a 50-MHz ST radar was installed on the island of Ponape in the western equatorial Pacific (7 deg N, 158 deg E) by the Aeronomy Laboratory of NOAA. The radar consists of a 100 m x 100 m array with a single, vertically directed, beam and is initially transmitting micro sec. (2.25 km) pulses. The radar is operating continuously, with Doppler spectra being recorded at approximately 1 1/2 minute intervals and sent to Boulder for later analysis. One of the principal goals of the radar is to measure vertical motions in the troposphere and lower stratosphere at a location which is within the intertropical convergence zone during part of the year. First results, during generally fair weather conditions, show detectable echoes up to about 21 km with the tropopause at 17-18 km. Once daily balloon soundings are available locally from a NOAA Weather Service Office on the island, it is planned that this radar will be joined in the coming year by two others with oblique as well as vertical beams on two yet-to-be-selected equatorial islands as part of the TOGA (Tropical Oceans Global Atmosphere) program.

Carter, D. A.↗

Diffusion welding of Cassegrainian concentrator cell stack assemblies

Development of a procedure to join the components of the Cassegrainian concentrator photovoltaic cell stack assembly was studied. Diffusion welding was selected as the most promising process, and was concentrated on exclusively. All faying surfaces were coated with silver to promote welding. The first phase of the study consisted of developing the relationship between process parameters and joint strength using silver plated steel samples and an isostatic pressure system. In the second phase, mockups of the cell stack assembly were welded in a hot isostatic press. Excellent joint strength was achieved with parameters of 350 C and 10 ksi, but the delicate GaAs component could not survive the welding cycle without cracking. The tendency towards cracking was found to be affected by both temperature and pressure. Further work will be required in the future to solve this problem.

Gangl, K. J.↗

Verification of the SRB motor case pin retainer band tips

The pin retainer band is a 1-1/4 in. wide by about 1/32 in. thick steel band that is stretched over the pins circumferentially at the joints of the solid rocket booster (SRB) motor case segments. Its purpose is to hold the retaining pins in place during flight. Since the band is thin and is mounted stretched, or under tension, over the pins which are greased in place, it is necessary to protect it thermally. Three typical areas of the band location on the SRB motor case joints were chosen for verifying the cork thermal prection system (TPS) performance on the band: the joint in front of the attach ring, at the aft skirt joint in front of the kick ring and in an unperturbed area at the forward segments of the SRB motor cases. The kick ring area pin retainer band cork TPS passed the test requirements in the region where there are no phenolic splice caps. In the splice cap areas where the band TPS is closed out around the splice with K5NA, additional amounts of K5NA material is required to adequately protect the steel band. TPS requirements were easily met in the one location where the ends of the steel band are joined together after installation and tensioning. The attack ring area pin retainer band TPS did not quite pass the heat load requirements with the .375 in. thick cork TPS as used for the kick ring area band. It is recommended that the cork thickness here be increased to .50 in. The unperturbed area band TPS presented no problems.

Karu, Z. S.↗

Numerical experiments on galaxy clustering in open universes

Numerical studies were performed on the dynamical effects on the evolution of clumps, filaments, voids, and galaxy clusters by various final Omega values. The final Omega values examined ranged from 0.03-1, and attention was given to defining observations of superclusters which would aid in determining an actual value for Omega. The numerical trials consisted of n-body integration programs governed by the total expansion and final Omega value and included comparisons between results for open and closed universes. All runs started from the same initial conditions. The dispersion trajectories of particles and the final galactic cluster forms were found to be equivalent, regardless of the final Omega value. The possibility of deriving a value for Omega from velocity data on galaxies which have not yet joined clusters is discussed.

Miller, R. H.↗

Space Station - Opportunity for international cooperation and utilization

In connection with his announcement regarding the development of a permanently manned Space Station, President Reagan invited the United States' friends and allies to join in the Space Station program. The President's invitation was preceded by more than two years of interaction between NASA and some of its potential partners in Space Station planning activities. Attention is given to international participation in Space Station planning, international cooperation on the Space Station, the guidelines for international cooperation, and the key challenges. Questions regarding quid pro quos are considered along with aspects of technology transfer, commercial use, problems of management, and the next steps concerning the Space Station program.

Pedersen, K. S.↗

Design parameters for flow energizers

One of the most significant uses of flow energizers, which are small highly swept strakes mounted immediately above a lifting surface, is in flow control over regions where a lifting surface is joined to another body, such as a fuselage or nacelle. In the presently reported systematic wind tunnel test study of flow energizers, 14 different geometric configurations using a 75-deg sweep flow energizer were tested on a light twin-engine general aviation aircraft model. It is found that cambered flow energizers perform better than their flat counterparts. All but two of the energizer installations developed lower L/D at cruise angles of attack, lower maximum lift coefficients, and lower stall angles of attack than the baseline model.

Ward, D. T.↗

Turbulent flow around a wing-fuselage type juncture

The flow over a 58-mm-thick uniform-thickness winglike body having a 1.5:1 elliptical leading edge and joined to a large flat plate (representing an aircraft fuselage) is characterized experimentally at freestream velocity 15 m/s, corresponding to Reynolds number 940,000/m, using hot-wire anemometry. The results are presented graphically, and it is found that the horseshoe vortex formed by the separation of the fuselage boundary layer ahead of the wing leading edge is effective in transporting turbulence and modifying the mean-flow characteristics and the turbulent-stress distribution. It is suggested that the slenderness ratio of the leading edge is the dominant factor affecting the strength and location of the vortex.

Kubendran, L. R.↗

Far-infrared photometry of compact extragalactic sources - OJ 287 and BL Lacertae

The 50 and 100 micron emissions of OJ 287 were detected and upper limits for BL Lac were obtained. These first measurements of two BL Lac objects in the far-infrared show them to be similar to the few quasars previously observed in the far-infrared. In particular, there is no evidence for significant dust emission, and the lambda approximately 100 micron flux density fits on a smooth line joining the near-infrared and millimeter continuum fluxes. The implications of the results for models of the sources are discussed briefly.

Harvey, P. M.↗