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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRS1979

Mathematical model investigation of long-term transport of ocean-dumped sewage sludge related to remote sensing

An existing, three-dimensional, Eulerian-Lagrangian finite-difference model was modified and used to examine the transport processes of dumped sewage sludge in the New York Bight. Both in situ and laboratory data were utilized in an attempt to approximate model inputs such as mean current speed, horizontal diffusion coefficients, particle size distributions, and specific gravities. The results presented are a quantitative description of the fate of a negatively buoyant sewage sludge plume resulting from continuous and instantaneous barge releases. Concentrations of the sludge near the surface were compared qualitatively with those remotely sensed. Laboratory study was performed to investigate the behavior of sewage sludge dumping in various ambient density conditions.

Kuo, C. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Secondary emission effects on spacecraft charging: Energy distribution considerations

The conditions under which multiple valued solutions occur by computing the floating potential of an isolated eclipses surface on a geosynchronous orbit spacecraft were examined. Different approximations for the electron spectra during a geomagnetic substorm were used. The result indicates that if the incident electron flux has a Maxwellian energy distribution, the ratio of the secondary emitted current to the incident electron current is independent of the spacecraft potential. In this case a single value solution to the current equation occurs.

Sanders, N. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The NASA Space Power Technology Program

This paper discusses the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Space Power Technology Program which is aimed at providing the needed technology for NASA's future missions. The technology program is subdivided into five areas: (1) photovoltaic energy conversion; (2) chemical energy conversion and storage; (3) thermal to electric conversion; (4) power system management and distribution, and (5) advanced energetics. Recent accomplishments, current status, and future directions are presented for each area.

Mullin, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Saturn's magnetosphere, rings, and inner satellites

The discovery of the Saturn magnetosphere and its characterization by Pioneer 11 are reported, and findings on the planet's rings and satellites obtained by energetic charged particle measurements within the inner magnetosphere are presented. Bow shock crossings identified by the Pioneer plasma analyzer and magnetometer at distances of 24.1, 23.1 and 20.0 Saturn radii indicate the presence of a magnetosphere with physical dimensions and charged particle populations intermediate between those of the earth and Jupiter, with a scale more similar to that of the earth. Particle angular distributions on the inbound leg of the trajectory are consistent with a dipole magnetic field approximately perpendicular to the planet's equator, while on the outbound leg the distributions indicate the presence of an equatorial current sheet. Charged particle absorption features are detected at the orbits of Dione and Mimas, encompassing the orbits of Tethys and Enceladus, and at 2.534 and 2.343 Saturn radii indicating the presence of satellites of diameters greater than 170 km. Charged particle measurements also confirm the Pioneer division in the rings between 2.292 and 2.336 Saturn radii, a suspected satellite at 2.82 Saturn radii, the presence of the F ring between 2.336 and 2.371 Saturn radii and the outer radius of the A ring at 2.292 Saturn radii.

Van Allen, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

One-dimensional models of quasi-neutral parallel electric fields

Parallel electric fields can exist in the magnetic mirror geometry of auroral field lines if they conform to the quasineutral equilibrium solutions. Results on quasi-neutral equilibria and on double layer discontinuities were reviewed and the effects on such equilibria due to non-unique solutions, potential barriers and field aligned current flows using as inputs monoenergetic isotropic distribution functions were examined.

Stern, D. P.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Avionics test bed development plan

A development plan for a proposed avionics test bed facility for the early investigation and evaluation of new concepts for the control of large space structures, orbiter attached flex body experiments, and orbiter enhancements is presented. A distributed data processing facility that utilizes the current laboratory resources for the test bed development is outlined. Future studies required for implementation, the management system for project control, and the baseline system configuration are defined. A background analysis of the specific hardware system for the preliminary baseline avionics test bed system is included.

Harris, L. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Data reduction and analysis of ISEE magnetometer experiment

The ISEE-1 and -2 magnetometer data was reduced. The up and downstream turbulence associated with interplanetary shocks were studied, including methods of determining shock normals, and the similarities and differences in laminar and quasi-laminar shock structure. The associated up and downstream turbulence was emphasized. The distributions of flux transfer events, field aligned currents in the near tail, and substorm dynamics in the magnetotail were also investigated.

Russell, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Galileo spacecraft power distribution and autonomous fault recovery

There is a trend in current spacecraft design to achieve greater fault tolerance through the implemenation of on-board software dedicated to detecting and isolating failures. A combination of hardware and software is utilized in the Galileo power system for autonomous fault recovery. Galileo is a dual-spun spacecraft designed to carry a number of scientific instruments into a series of orbits around the planet Jupiter. In addition to its self-contained scientific payload, it will also carry a probe system which will be separated from the spacecraft some 150 days prior to Jupiter encounter. The Galileo spacecraft is scheduled to be launched in 1985. Attention is given to the power system, the fault protection requirements, and the power fault recovery implementation.

Detwiler, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The Comet Halley dust and gas environment

Quantitative descriptions of environments near the nucleus of comet P/Halley have been developed to support spacecraft and mission design for the flyby encounters in March, 1986. To summarize these models as they exist just before the encounters, the relevant data from prior Halley apparitions and from recent cometary research are reviewed. Orbital elements, visual magnitudes, and parameter values and analysis for the nucleus, gas and dust are combined to predict Halley's position, production rates, gas and dust distributions, and electromagnetic radiation field for the current perihelion passage. The predicted numerical results have been useful for estimating likely spacecraft effects, such as impact damage and attitude perturbations. Sample applications are cited, including design of a dust shield for spacecraft structure, and threshold and dynamic range selection for flight experiments. It is expected that the comet's activity may be more irregular than these smoothly varying models predict, and that comparison with the flyby data will be instructive.

Divine, N.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Particle acceleration and wave emissions associated with the formation of auroral cavities and enhancements

A unified model is presented which interrelates the various processes involved in auroral particle acceleration and the associated wave emissions, and it is shown how energy is coupled from the magnetosphere into the ionosphere. The phenomena in the magnetotail which can provide the source of free energy for the perpendicular electrostatic shocks are identified along with the associated potential structures in the nightside auroral region. The characteristics of the particle acceleration produced by the shock are described, including efficiency and energy transport between magnetospheric and ionospheric plasmas, the properties of the particle distributions throughout the shock region and return current regions, and the associated wave emissions. The source of free energy for the generation of ion conics is identified, as are the signatures for the formation of plasma cavities and/or enhancements.

Winglee, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Oceanic upper mixed layer depth determination by the use of satellite data

A method has been developed to determine the oceanic daily mean mixed layer depth from satellite observations and a mixed layer thermal inertia (MLTI) model. The algorithms were developed to use remotely-sensed values of sea surface temperature, albedo, and surface wind speeds to calculate the thermal inertia and to predict changes in subsurface diurnal mixed layer depth. The MLTI model, based on a mixed layer model of the upper ocean, has been used to simulate the diurnal mixing process and thermal inertia distribution in the Sargasso Sea around 34 deg N, 70 deg W. Sea surface temperature and albedo have been obtained from the NOAA7-AVHRR images. Surface wind speeds have been derived from the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) aboard Nimbus 7. Image processing was performed for images gathered between June and July 1982. The daily mean mixed layer depths predicted by the MLTI model agree well with data gathered at the LOTUS mooring located in the Sargasso Sea. This suggests that vertical mixing is the dominant physical process that controls the thermal inertia distribution in the midocean, far from major current systems, and that remote sensing is a promising tool to study such upper ocean processes.

Yan, Xiao-Hai↗

NASA NTRS1990

Surface and airborne evidence for plumes and winds on Triton

Aeolian features on Triton that were imaged during the Voyager Mission have been grouped. The term 'aeolian feature' is broadly defined as features produced by or blown by the wind, including surface and airborne materials. Observations of the latitudinal distributions of the features probably associated with current activity (known plumes, crescent streaks, fixed terminator clouds, and limb haze with overshoot) all occur from latitude -37 deg to latitude -62 deg. Likely indicators of previous activity (dark surface streaks) occur from latitude -5 deg to -70 deg, but are most abundant from -15 deg to -45 deg, generally north of currently active features. Those indicators which give information on wind direction and speed have been measured. Wind direction is a function of altitude. The predominant direction of the surface wind streaks is found to be between 40 deg and 80 deg measured clockwise from north. The average orientation of streaks in the northeast quadrant is 59 deg. Winds at 1- to 3-kilometer altitude are eastward, while those at more than 8 kilometers blow west.

Hansen, C. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Phytoplankton pigment patterns and wind forcing off central California

Mesoscale variability in phytoplankton pigment distributions of central California during the spring-summer upwelling season are studied via a 4-yr time series of high-resolution coastal zone color scanner imagery. Empirical orthogonal functions are used to decompose the time series of spatial images into its dominant modes of variability. The coupling between wind forcing of the upper ocean and phytoplankton distribution on mesoscales is investigated. Wind forcing, in particular the curl of the wind stress, was found to play an important role in the distribution of phytoplankton pigment in the California Current. The spring transition varies in timing and intensity from year to year but appears to be a recurrent feature associated with the rapid onset of the upwelling-favorable winds. Although the underlying dynamics may be dominated by processes other than forcing by wind stress curl, it appears that curl may force the variability of the filaments and hence the pigment patterns.

Abbott, Mark R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Electron acceleration by Alfven waves in the magnetosphere

The self-consistent electron kinetics of Alfven waves on the electron inertial scale is studied using a 2D hybrid-kinetic description. The ions follow a fluid description for Alfven waves at frequencies below the ion cyclotron frequency. The parallel electron dynamics is treated kinetically using particle-in-cell techniques. In this model, the electron plasma mode is eliminated, and only the physics of the Alfven waves is retained. At sufficiently large amplitudes, it is found that oblique Alfven waves break due to finite electron inertia in a cold plasma. The consequence of wave breaking is the formation of an electron beam which can be unstable to the beam-plasma instability. The electrons supporting the parallel current thermalize into a non-Maxwellian distribution with an energetic tail up to several keV, assuming a reasonable magnetospheric Alfven speed. In hot plasma simulations, electron trapping is the principal mechanism of electron acceleration. It is proposed that wave breaking or electron trapping of oblique Alfven waves at 1 R(E) can result in electron acceleration and may explain some observed auroral phenomena.

Hui, C.-H.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Space Station module Power Management And Distribution (PMAD) system

This project consists of several tasks which are unified toward experimentally demonstrating the operation of a highly autonomous, user-supportive power management and distribution system for Space Station Freedom (SSF) habitation/laboratory modules. This goal will be extended to a demonstration of autonomous, cooperative power system operation for the whole SSF power system through a joint effort with NASA's Lewis Research Center, using their Autonomous Power System. Short term goals for the space station module power management and distribution include having an operational breadboard reflecting current plans for SSF, improving performance of the system communications, and improving the organization and mutability of the artificial intelligence (AI) systems. In the middle term, intermediate levels of autonomy will be added, user interfaces will be modified, and enhanced modeling capabilities will be integrated in the system. Long term goals involve conversion of all software into Ada, vigorous verification and validation efforts and, finally, seeing an impact of this research on the operation of SSF. Conversion of the system to a DC Star configuration is now in progress, and should be completed by the end of October, 1989. This configuration reflects the latest SSF module architecture. Hardware is now being procured which will improve system communications significantly. The Knowledge-Based Management System (KBMS) is initially developed and the rules from FRAMES have been implemented in the KBMS. Rules in the other two AI systems are also being grouped modularly, making them more tractable, and easier to eventually move into the KBMS. Adding an intermediate level of autonomy will require development of a planning utility, which will also be built using the KBMS. These changes will require having the user interface for the whole system available from one interface. An Enhanced Model will be developed, which will allow exercise of the system through the interface without requiring all of the power hardware to be operational. The functionality of the AI systems will continue to be advanced, including incipient failure detection. Ada conversion will begin with the lowest level processor (LLP) code. Then selected pieces of the higher level functionality will be recorded in Ada and, where possible, moved to the LLP level. Validation and verification will be done on the Ada code, and will complete sometimes after completion of the Ada conversion.

Walls, Bryan↗

NASA NTRS1993

High energy density aluminum-oxygen cell

An alternative to a secondary battery as the power source for vehicle propulsion is a fuel cell. An example of this is the metal-air fuel cell using metals such as aluminum, zinc, or iron. Aluminum is a particularly attractive candidate, having high energy and power densities, being environmentally acceptable, and having a large, established industrial base for production and distribution. An aluminum-oxygen system is currently under development for a UUV test vehicle, and recent work has focussed upon low corrosion aluminum alloys and an electrolyte management system for processing the by-products of the energy-producing reactions. This paper summarizes the progress made in both areas. Anode materials capable of providing high utilization factors over current densities ranging from S to 150 mA/sq cm have been identified. These materials are essential to realizing an acceptable mission life for the UUV. With respect to the electrolyte management system, a filter/precipitator unit has been successfully operated for over 250 hours in a large scale, half-cell system.

Rudd, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Observation of mass loading in the Io plasma torus

Ground-based high-resolution spectra of emission from the Io plasma torus obtained during 53 nights of observation over a seven month period are used to measure the torus rotation speed and discern regions of the torus that are slowed by mass loading of newly ionized materials. The amount of torus slowing implies that between 2000 and 3000 kg/sec are being ionized by the torus. The slowing is spread azimuthally throughout the orbit of Io, suggesting that neutral materials emanating from Io are distributed around Jupiter much more uniformly than currently believed.

Brown, Michael E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Modeling of topographic effects on Antarctic sea ice using multivariate adaptive regression splines

The role of seafloor topography in the spatial variations of the southern ocean sea ice cover as observed (every other day) by the Nimbus 7 scanning multichannel microwave radiometer satellite in the years 1980, 1983, and 1984 is studied. Bottom bathymetry can affect sea ice surface characteristics because of the basically barotropic circulation of the ocean south of the Antarctic Circumpolar current. The main statistical tool used to quantify this effect is a local nonparametric regression model of sea ice concentration as a function of the depth and its first two derivatives in both meridional and zonal directions. First, we model the relationship of bathymetry to sea ice concentration in two sudy areas, one over the Maud Rise and the other over the Ross Sea shelf region. The multiple correlation coefficient is found to average 44% in the Maud Rise study area and 62% in the Ross Sea study area over the years 1980, 1983, and 1984. Second, a strategy of dividing the entire Antarctic region into an overlapping mosaic of small areas, or windows is considered. Keeping the windows small reduces the correlation of bathymetry with other factors such as wind, sea temperature, and distance to the continent. We find that although the form of the model varies from window to window due to the changing role of other relevant environmental variables, we are left with a spatially consistent ordering of the relative importance of the topographic predictors. For a set of three representative days in the Austral winter of 1980, the analysis shows that an average of 54% of the spatial variation in sea ice concentration over the entire ice cover can be attributed to topographic variables. The results thus support the hypothesis that there is a sea ice to bottom bathymetry link. However this should not undermine the considerable influence of wind, current, and temperature which affect the ice distribution directly and are partly responsible for the observed bathymetric effects.

De Veaux, Richard D.↗