Thirtieth anniversary of the House-Museum of K. E. Tsiolkovskiy
Museum for history of jet technology and astronautics in USSR
Korochentsev, I. S.↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “USSR”
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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US - Soviet agreement
Agreements between US and USSR on spacecraft design and systems compatibility
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US - Soviet agreement
Agreement between NASA and Academy of Sciences of USSR for data exchange
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Haystack Observatory
Radio astronomy programs comprise three very-long-baseline interferometer projects, ten spectral line investigations, one continuum mapping in the 0.8 cm region, and one monitoring of variable sources. A low-noise mixer was used in mapping observations of 3C273 at 31 GHz and in detecting of a new methyl alcohol line at 36,169 MHz in Sgr B2. The new Mark 2 VLBI recording terminal was used in galactic H2O source observations using Haystack and the Crimean Observatory, USSR. One feature in W29 appears to have a diameter of 0.3 millisec of arc and a brightness temperature of 1.4 x 10 to the 15th power K. Geodetic baseline measurements via VLBI between Green Bank and Haystack are mutually consistent within a few meters. Radar investigations of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and the Moon have continued. The favorable opposition of Mars and improvements in the radar permit measurements on a number of topographic features with unprecedented accuracy, including scarps and crater walls. The floor of Mare Serenitatis slopes upward towards the northeast and is also the location of a strong gravitational anomaly.
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Toward remotely controlled planetary rovers.
Studies of unmanned planetary rovers have emphasized a Mars mission. Relatively simple rovers, weighing about 50 kg and tethered to the lander, may precede semiautonomous roving vehicles. It is conceivable that the USSR will deploy a rover on Mars before Viking lands. The feasibility of the roving vehicle as an explorational tool hinges on its ability to operate for extended periods of time relatively independent of earth, to withstand the harshness of the Martian environment, and to travel hundreds of kilometers independent of the spacecraft that delivers it.
Moore, J. W.↗
Space flight operations for world development.
Mission objectives, hardware development efforts, and aspects of international cooperation are covered in an outline of space flight programs planned by the United States for the forthcoming decade. Scientific experiments envisioned for the Apollo 17 mission and for the Skylab program are discussed along with the current status of the joint Apollo/Soyuz test project specified by the U.S.-USSR space agreement of May 1972. The Space Shuttle, Space Tug, and Sortie Laboratory projects are outlined with emphasis on the use of experience and hardware gained in earlier phases of this space program.
Myers, D. D.↗
Engineering models of the Venus atmosphere.
Engineering models of the Venus atmosphere are presented for use in spacecraft design and mission planning. The models are developed from (1) data measured by the U.S. Mariner 5 and USSR Venera spacecraft, (2) earth-based measurements, and (3) theory which best satisfies the observations. The models include a most probable model and models for extremes of molecular mass and solar activity. In addition to the basic engineering models, other atmospheric characteristics and parameters affecting the models are discussed including planetary radius, atmospheric composition and clouds.
Noll, R. B.↗
Machine intelligence for autonomous manipulation.
Survey of the present technological development status of machine intelligence for autonomous manipulation in the U.S., Japan, USSR, and England. The extent of task-performance autonomy is examined that machine intelligence gives the manipulator by eliminating the need for a human operator to close continuously the control loop, or to rewrite control programs for each different task. Surveyed research projects show that the development of some advanced automation systems for manipulator control are within the state of the art. Yet, many more realistic breadboard systems and experimental work are needed before further progress can be made in the design of advanced automation systems for manipulator control suitable for new major practical applications. Specific research areas of promise are pointed out.
Bejczy, A. K.↗
Is there another major constituent in the atmosphere of Mars?
In view of the possible finding of several tens percent of inert gas in the atmosphere of Mars by an instrument on the descent module of the USSR's Mars 6 spacecraft, the likelihood of the correctness of this result was examined. The basis for the well-known fact that the most likely candidate is radiogenic argon is described. It is shown that, for the two important methods of investigating the atmosphere, earth-based CO2 is infrared absorption spectroscopy and S-band occultation, within the estimated 1 standard deviation uncertainties of these methods about 20% argon can be accommodated. Within the estimated 3 standard deviation uncertainties, more than 35% is possible. It is also stated that even with 35% argon the maximum value of heat transfer rate on the Viking 75 entry vehicle does not exceed the design value.
Wood, G. P.↗
Magnetic fields of Mars and Venus - Solar wind interactions
Recent USSR studies of the magnetic field and solar wind flow in the vicinity of Mars and Venus confirm earlier U.S. reports of a bow shock wave developed as the solar wind interacts with these planets. Mars 2 and 3 magnetometer experiments report the existence of an intrinsic planetary magnetic field, sufficiently strong to form a magnetopause, deflecting the solar wind around the planet and its ionosphere. This is in contrast to the case for Venus, where it is assumed to be the ionosphere and processes therein which are responsible for the solar wind deflection. An empirical relationship appears to exist between planetary dipole magnetic moments and their angular momentum for the Moon, Mars, Venus, Earth, and Jupiter. Implications for the magnetic fields of Mercury and Saturn are discussed.
Ness, N. F.↗
Electric propulsion - Past history and future prospects
Studies of feasibility and flight mechanics of electric propulsion systems began around 1946. Conceptual systems design started in 1954, experimental development in 1958; flight tests in 1964 and 1970 proved the functioning of electric thrusters in space. Further development of ion thruster systems has concentrated on bombardment ionization in the U.S., and on radiofrequency, bombardment, and surface-contact ionization in West Germany, Great Britain, France, and the USSR. Electrothermal, plasma, and colloid thruster development has been pursued in many countries. Electric thrusters were used successfully during past years for satellite attitude control, and for prime propulsion of the Soviet spacecraft Yantar. Further applications for attitude and position control of satellites are planned.
Stuhlinger, E.↗
Engineering models of the Mars atmosphere
Engineering models of the Mars atmosphere are presented for use in spacecraft design and mission planning. The models are developed from (1) data measured by the U.S. Mariner 4, 6, 7, and 9 and USSR Mars 2 and 3 spacecraft, (2) earth-based measurements, and (3) theory which best satisfies the observations. The models include a nominal model for a clear atmosphere, a model for a dusty atmosphere, and models that encompass reasonable extremes of exospheric temperature. In addition to the basic engineering models, other atmospheric characteristics affecting the models are discussed including clouds, ionosphere and atmospheric dynamics.
Noll, R. B.↗
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
In May 1972, President Nixon and Chairman Kosygin signed an agreement which included the approval of the Apollo/Soyuz Test Project. The primary technical objective of the program is to test the requirements and solutions for the compatibility of systems for docking future manned spacecraft of the U.S. and the USSR. The program includes the flight test of a compatible rendezvous system and of a compatible docking system. Details concerning the equipment to be used are discussed along with the operational schedule. Attention is also given to a number of experiments which are to be conducted in space.
Slayton, D. K.↗
The Synchronous Meteorological Satellite /SMS/ system
The Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS) system is described which is being utilized in a program to obtain day and night information on the earth's weather by means of earth imaging, retransmission of imaged data, meteorological data collection and relay, and space environment monitoring. The components and functions of the ground system are discussed together with the basic satellite payloads. The launch and orbit of SMS-A are reviewed, and the functions of the visible IR spin-scan radiometer are described in detail. Other systems and units discussed include the data collection system, solar environment monitor, weather-facsimile unit, and central data distribution system. It is noted that SMS-A was used to support the Global Atlantic Tropical Experiment and that the SMS system will be complemented by geostationary environmental satellites from ESRO, Japan, and the USSR.
Fordyce, D. V.↗
Compatibility of meteorological rocketsonde data as indicated by international comparison tests
Results of two experiments involving intercomparisons of rocketsonde measurements of temperature and wind data in the 25 to 80 km altitude region in the CIMO (Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observations) program during September 1973 are reported. Rocketsonde systems used by France, the USSR, the UK, the U.S., and Japan in the two parts of the program (one series of tests at Wallops Island, Va., the other in French Guiana) are described. Wind data were derived from radar tracking of retardation devices and payloads in descent. Day and night temperature differences were examined. The intercomparisons revealed excellent compatibility of the rocketsonde data up to 60 km in wind observations. Some outstanding problems are pointed out.
Finger, F. G.↗
The IMS satellite programme - Scientific objectives
The International Magnetospheric Study (IMS) will make use of a number of satellites launched by the ESA, Japan, the USA, and the USSR. The instrumentation carried by these satellites is considered, taking into account GEOS, ISEE-A, ISEE-B, ISEE-C, EXOS-A, EXOS-B, and ISS. The morphology of the magnetosphere is examined and questions regarding the origin of substorms are investigated. IMS objectives are discussed, giving attention to the macroscopic behavior of the magnetosphere, microscopic processes, approaches to be used for monitoring the state of the magnetosphere, and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling.
Russell, C. T.↗
The United Nations contribution towards an international agreement on remote sensing
The recommendations of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations committee for the Peaceful Uses of Space concerning satellite remote sensing are considered. Detailed studies of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of this committee are discussed with emphasis on three draft proposals submitted to it on remote sensing by (1) France and the USSR, (2) Latin American countries, and (3) the United States.
Menter, M.↗
An estimate of field size distributions for selected sites in the major grain producing countries
The field size distributions for the major grain producing countries of the World were estimated. LANDSAT-1 and 2 images were evaluated for two areas each in the United States, People's Republic of China, and the USSR. One scene each was evaluated for France, Canada, and India. Grid sampling was done for representative sub-samples of each image, measuring the long and short axes of each field; area was then calculated. Each of the resulting data sets was computer analyzed for their frequency distributions. Nearly all frequency distributions were highly peaked and skewed (shifted) towards small values, approaching that of either a Poisson or log-normal distribution. The data were normalized by a log transformation, creating a Gaussian distribution which has moments readily interpretable and useful for estimating the total population of fields. Resultant predictors of the field size estimates are discussed.
Podwysocki, M. H.↗