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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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At least 1,477 records · Page 82
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Quenching Effects on Iron Site Partitioning in the Apollo 17 Orange Glass Composition

Mare petrogenesis and the structure of the lunar interior were studied. Analyses of the spectral signatures of glasses was useful to remote sensing applications in areas of the moon where glass is in significant proportions in the lunar soil. The studies provided information on Fe site occupancies in glasses, which are used to construe oxygen fugacities at the lunar surface. Data were obtained through work on synthetic analogues of lunar glasses. However, recent Mossbauer studies of an Apollo 15 green glass composition have shown that synthetic glasses are extremely sensitive to variations in quenching media. Glass structure and Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) ratios are strongly controlled by quenching conditions, which may mask the effects of the original glass' formation temperature or oxygen partial pressure. Synthetic glasses were often run at low fugacities on Pt wires. The effects of quench media on the Apollo 17 orange glass composition are considered.

Dyar, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The gravity dependence of the H-alpha width in late-type stars

A theoretical gravity-scaling law for the H-alpha absorption width in late-type stars is developed. The derivation is based upon (1) the hydrostatic thickening of stellar chromospheres with decreasing surface gravity, and (2) a dependence of the H-alpha width upon opacity and Doppler width in a region subject to a chromospheric temperature rise. The scaling relation is approximately consistent with the mean gravity dependence deduced from the empirical correlation between H-alpha and Ca II K Wilson-Bappu widths. The calculations suggest that gravity variations in chromospheric-mass column density may, in addition to Doppler velocity enhancements, control the width-luminosity broadening of the H-alpha profile in late-type stars.

Zarro, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Sensitivity studies and a simple ozone perturbation experiment with a truncated two-dimensional model of the stratosphere

The 1-1/2-D model of Holton (1986), which is actually a highly truncated two-dimensional model, describes latitudinal variations of tracer mixing ratios in terms of their projections onto second-order Legendre polynomials. The present study extends the work of Holton by including tracers with photochemical production in the stratosphere (O3 and NOy). It also includes latitudinal variations in the photochemical sources and sinks, improving slightly the calculated global mean profiles for the long-lived tracers studied by Holton and improving substantially the latitudinal behavior of ozone. Sensitivity tests of the dynamical parameters in the model are performed, showing that the response of the model to changes in vertical residual meridional winds and horizontal diffusion coefficients is similar to that of a full two-dimensional model. A simple ozone perturbation experiment shows the model's ability to reproduce large-scale latitudinal variations in total ozone column depletions as well as ozone changes in the chemically controlled upper stratosphere.

Stordal, Frode↗
NASA NTRS1988

Soluble and colorless polyimides

Results are reported in the form of reaction diagrams, graphs, and tables of research being conducted to synthesize and characterize linear aromatic polyimides which are soluble in common organic solvents and optically transparent in the 400-600 nm spectral range. These flexible and high-temperature polymeric films and coatings are needed for specific applications on space components such as antennas, solar cells, and thermal control coating systems. Several series of these polyimide films have been produced by making variations in the polymer molecular structure aimed at reducing the electronic interactions between the polymer chains.

St. Clair, Anne K.↗
NASA NTRS1989

General overview of the solar activity effects on the lower ionosphere

Solar activity influences the ionospheric D region. That influence manifests itself both in the form of various solar induced disturbances and in the form of the D region dependence on solar activity parameters (UV-flux, interplanetary magnetic field, solar wind etc.) in quiet conditions. Relationship between solar activity and meteorological control of the D region behavior is considered in detail and examples of strong variations of aeronomical parameters due to solar or meteorological events are given.

Danilov, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Measuring the effects of distributed database models on transaction availability measures

Data distribution, data replication, and system reliability are key factors in determining the availability measures for transactions in distributed database systems. In order to simplify the evaluation of these measures, database designers and researchers tend to make unrealistic assumptions about these factors. Here, the effect of such assumptions on the computational complexity and accuracy of such evaluations is investigated. A database system is represented with five parameters related to the above factors. Probabilistic analysis is employed to evaluate the availability of read-one and read-write transactions. Both the read-one/write-all and the majority-read/majority-write replication control policies are considered. It is concluded that transaction availability is more sensitive to variations in degrees of replication, less sensitive to data distribution, and insensitive to reliability variations in a heterogeneous system. The computational complexity of the evaluations is found to be mainly determined by the chosen distributed database model, while the accuracy of the results are not so much dependent on the models.

Mukkamala, Ravi↗
NASA NTRS1990

Magnetically controlled circumstellar matter in the helium-strong stars

This paper reports the observation and interpretation of the ultraviolet spectrum variations of nine helium-strong stars: HD 36485, 37017, 37479, 37776, 58260, 60344, 64740, 96446, and 133518. A unified model is developed to account for the observed correlation among three stellar properties: the line profile characteristics of the C IV and Si IV resonance doublets, the variations in the strength of these lines, and the inferred magnetic field geometry. It is proposed that circumstellar plasma is trapped in the stellar magnetosphere near the magnetic equator or is channeled to form jetlike outflows from the magnetic polar regions. These results, together with those of a previous study of the helium-weak sn stars, show that both helium-weak and helium-strong stars can possess magnetospherically trapped plasma, notwithstanding their different photospheric properties. New results for radii and temperatures of the helium-strong stars in Ori OB 1 and for HD 64740 from low-dispersion IUE spectra are also presented.

Shore, Steven N.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Evaluation of the longitudinal stability and control characteristics of a mixed-flow remote-lift STOVL aircraft in transition and hover

An evaluation of the longitudinal stability and control characteristics of a mixed-flow remote-lift (MFRL) STOVL aircraft in the powered-lift portion of the flight envelope is presented. A stabilization and command augmentation system was implemented on the MFRL aircraft to meet the requirements for satisfactory flying qualities. The pitch portion of this control system uses a state-rate feedback implicit model following controller to achieve the desired flying qualities and to suppress the effects of external variations and disturbances in the aircrafts characteristics over the low speed envelope.

Engelland, Shawn A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Gain scheduling - Potential hazards and possible remedies

A common gain scheduling rule-of-thumb is to schedule on a slow variable. In this work, it is shown how current gain scheduling practice is necessarily limited to slow variations in the scheduling variable. These limitations are revealed to be consequences of fundamental control concepts. Furthermore, it is shown how a formulation of the gain scheduling procedure can lead toward ultimately removing these restrictions.

Shamma, Jeff S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Venus thermospheric response to short-term solar variations

The mechanism responsible for cooling the dayside thermosphere of Venus from about 700 K to 300 K (Noll and McElroy, 1972) is examined by analyzing in situ measurements made by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter of the weak response of the thermosphere to short-term solar variations related to 27-day solar rotation. It is shown that, in order to cool the Venus dayside thermosphere to observed levels and to simultaneously explain the weak 27-day variations in the atmosphere, it is necessary to invoke strong CO2 cooling which is controlled principally by collisions of CO2 with atomic oxygen.

Keating, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Shuttle entry aerothermodynamic flight research - The Orbiter Experiments (OEX) Program

Results of the OEX program are summarized with emphasis on the information on entry aerothermodynamic phenomena derived from Space Shuttle operations. The discussion focuses on OEX experiment complement and operational history, freestream environment and vehicle attitude data, aerodynamic force and moment data, aerodynamic surface data, and vehicle configuration data. Attention is also given to orbiter aerodynamic performance, stability and control, high-altitude atmospheric density variability, direct simulation Monte Carlo validation, orbital drag variation, and computational fluid dynamic technique validation.

Throckmorton, David A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Investigation for improving Global Positioning System (GPS) orbits using a discrete sequential estimator and stochastic models of selected physical processes

GEODYNII is a conventional batch least-squares differential corrector computer program with deterministic models of the physical environment. Conventional algorithms were used to process differenced phase and pseudorange data to determine eight-day Global Positioning system (GPS) orbits with several meter accuracy. However, random physical processes drive the errors whose magnitudes prevent improving the GPS orbit accuracy. To improve the orbit accuracy, these random processes should be modeled stochastically. The conventional batch least-squares algorithm cannot accommodate stochastic models, only a stochastic estimation algorithm is suitable, such as a sequential filter/smoother. Also, GEODYNII cannot currently model the correlation among data values. Differenced pseudorange, and especially differenced phase, are precise data types that can be used to improve the GPS orbit precision. To overcome these limitations and improve the accuracy of GPS orbits computed using GEODYNII, we proposed to develop a sequential stochastic filter/smoother processor by using GEODYNII as a type of trajectory preprocessor. Our proposed processor is now completed. It contains a correlated double difference range processing capability, first order Gauss Markov models for the solar radiation pressure scale coefficient and y-bias acceleration, and a random walk model for the tropospheric refraction correction. The development approach was to interface the standard GEODYNII output files (measurement partials and variationals) with software modules containing the stochastic estimator, the stochastic models, and a double differenced phase range processing routine. Thus, no modifications to the original GEODYNII software were required. A schematic of the development is shown. The observational data are edited in the preprocessor and the data are passed to GEODYNII as one of its standard data types. A reference orbit is determined using GEODYNII as a batch least-squares processor and the GEODYNII measurement partial (FTN90) and variational (FTN80, V-matrix) files are generated. These two files along with a control statement file and a satellite identification and mass file are passed to the filter/smoother to estimate time-varying parameter states at each epoch, improved satellite initial elements, and improved estimates of constant parameters.

Goad, Clyde C.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Implementation of heaters on thermally actuated spacecraft mechanisms

This paper presents general insight into the design and implementation of heaters as used in actuating mechanisms for spacecraft. Problems and considerations that were encountered during development of the Deep Space Probe and Science Experiment (DSPSE) solar array release mechanism are discussed. Obstacles included large expected fluctuations in ambient temperature, variations in voltage supply levels outgassing concerns, heater circuit design, materials selection, and power control options. Successful resolution of these issues helped to establish a methodology which can be applied to many of the heater design challenges found in thermally actuated mechanisms.

Busch, John D.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Clouds in ECMWF's 30 KM Resolution Global Atmospheric Forecast Model (TL639)

Global models of the general circulation of the atmosphere resolve a wide range of length scales, and in particular cloud structures extend from planetary scales to the smallest scales resolvable, now down to 30 km in state-of-the-art models. Even the highest resolution models do not resolve small-scale cloud phenomena seen, for example, in Landsat and other high-resolution satellite images of clouds. Unresolved small-scale disturbances often grow into larger ones through non-linear processes that transfer energy upscale. Understanding upscale cascades is of crucial importance in predicting current weather, and in parameterizing cloud-radiative processes that control long term climate. Several movie animations provide examples of the temporal and spatial variation of cloud fields produced in 4-day runs of the forecast model at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) in Reading, England, at particular times and locations of simultaneous measurement field campaigns. model resolution is approximately 30 km horizontally (triangular truncation TL639) with 31 vertical levels from surface to stratosphere. Timestep of the model is about 10 minutes, but animation frames are 3 hours apart, at timesteps when the radiation is computed. The animations were prepared from an archive of several 4-day runs at the highest available model resolution, and archived at ECMWF. Cloud, wind and temperature fields in an approximately 1000 km X 1000 km box were retrieved from the archive, then approximately 60 Mb Vis5d files were prepared with the help of Graeme Kelly of ECMWF, and were compressed into MPEG files each less than 3 Mb. We discuss the interaction of clouds and radiation in the model, and compare the variability of cloud liquid as a function of scale to that seen in cloud observations made in intensive field campaigns. Comparison of high-resolution global runs to cloud-resolving models, and to lower resolution climate models is leading to better understanding of the upscale cascade and suggesting new cloud-radiation parameterizations for climate models.

Cahalan, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Seasonal-to-Interannual Precipitation Variability and Predictability in a Coupled Land-Atmosphere System

In an earlier GCM study, we showed that interactive land surface processes generally contribute more to continental precipitation variance than do variable sea surface temperatures (SSTs). A new study extends this result through an analysis of 16-member ensembles of multi-decade GCM simulations. We can now show that in many regions, although land processes determine the amplitude of the interannual precipitation anomalies, variable SSTs nevertheless control their timing. The GCM data can be processed into indices that describe geographical variations in (1) the potential for seasonal-to-interannual prediction, and (2) the extent to which the predictability relies on the proper representation of land-atmosphere feedback.

Koster, Randal D.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Chemical Composition of Martian Soil and Rocks: Complex Mixing and Sedimentary Transport

Chemical compositions of Martian soil and rocks indicate complex mixing relationships. Mixing of rock and soil clearly takes place and explains some of the chemical variation because sulfur, chlorine, magnesium, and perhaps iron are positively correlated due to their control from a secondary 'sedimentary' mineralogy (e.g., Mg- and possibly Fe-sulfate; Fe-oxides) that is present within the soils. Certain deviations from simple soil-rock mixing are consistent with mineralogical fractionation of detrital iron and titanium oxides during sedimentary transport.

McLennan, Scott M.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Dynamic Modeling of ALS Systems

The purpose of dynamic modeling and simulation of Advanced Life Support (ALS) systems is to help design them. Static steady state systems analysis provides basic information and is necessary to guide dynamic modeling, but static analysis is not sufficient to design and compare systems. ALS systems must respond to external input variations and internal off-nominal behavior. Buffer sizing, resupply scheduling, failure response, and control system design are aspects of dynamic system design. We develop two dynamic mass flow models and use them in simulations to evaluate systems issues, optimize designs, and make system design trades. One model is of nitrogen leakage in the space station, the other is of a waste processor failure in a regenerative life support system. Most systems analyses are concerned with optimizing the cost/benefit of a system at its nominal steady-state operating point. ALS analysis must go beyond the static steady state to include dynamic system design. All life support systems exhibit behavior that varies over time. ALS systems must respond to equipment operating cycles, repair schedules, and occasional off-nominal behavior or malfunctions. Biological components, such as bioreactors, composters, and food plant growth chambers, usually have operating cycles or other complex time behavior. Buffer sizes, material stocks, and resupply rates determine dynamic system behavior and directly affect system mass and cost. Dynamic simulation is needed to avoid the extremes of costly over-design of buffers and material reserves or system failure due to insufficient buffers and lack of stored material.

Jones, Harry↗
NASA NTRS2002

Lunar lava tube radiation safety analysis

For many years it has been suggested that lava tubes on the Moon could provide an ideal location for a manned lunar base, by providing shelter from various natural hazards, such as cosmic radiation, meteorites, micrometeoroids, and impact crater ejecta, and also providing a natural environmental control, with a nearly constant temperature, unlike that of the lunar surface showing extreme variation in its diurnal cycle. An analysis of radiation safety issues on lunar lava tubes has been performed by considering radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and Solar Particle Events (SPE) interacting with the lunar surface, modeled as a regolith layer and rock. The chemical composition has been chosen as typical of the lunar regions where the largest number of lava tube candidates are found. Particles have been transported all through the regolith and the rock, and received particles flux and doses have been calculated. The radiation safety of lunar lava tubes environments has been demonstrated.

Non-programmatic↗