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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 1,657 records · Page 92

Coronary flow and left ventricular function during environmental stress.

A canine model was used to study the effects of different environmental stresses on the heart and coronary circulation. The heart was surgically instrumented to measure coronary blood flow, left ventricular pressure, and other cardiovascular variables. Coronary flow was recorded by telemetry. Physiologic data were processed and analyzed by analog and digital computers. By these methods the physiologic response to altitude hypoxia, carbon monoxide, hypercapnia, acceleration, exercise, and the interaction of altitude hypoxia and carbon monoxide were described. The effects of some of these stresses on the heart and coronary circulation are discussed.

Erickson, H. H.↗

Chemical composition of Luna 20 rocks and soil and Apollo 16 soils.

Review of the abundances of 24 major, minor, and trace elements measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis in Luna 20 metaigneous rocks, breccia, and soil, and in Apollo 16 soils. The similarities and differences observed are discussed. The bulk compositions of Luna 20 and Apollo 16 rocks and soils show close similarity between the two highland sites. Interelement correlations observed previously for maria are also found in highland samples. Luna 20 and Apollo 16 soils are low in alkalis. Both soils show an apparent Cd-Zn rich component similar to that observed at the mare sites and high Tl abundances relative to mare sites.

Laul, J. C.↗

The cloud bright spot.

A cloud effect, called 'cloud bright spot,' is presented in terms of field measurements, theory, and significance to remote sensing. Field measurements of global solar radiation show that clouds can cause ground bright spots having a 30% higher incident solar radiation flux than surrounding areas. The possible cause and recommendations concerning ground truth measurements and instrumentation are also presented.

Hulstrom, R. L.↗

Remote sensing of chlorophyll and temperature in marine and fresh waters.

An airborne differential radiometer was demonstrated to be a sensitive, real-time detector of surface chlorophyll content in water bodies. The instrument continuously measures the difference in radiance between two wavelength bands, one centered near the maximum of the blue chlorophyll a absorption region and the other at a reference wavelength outside this region. Flights were made over fresh water lakes, marine waters, and an estuary, and the results were compared with 'ground truth' measurements of chlorophyll concentration. A correlation between output signal of the differential radiometer and the chlorophyll concentration was obtained. Examples of flight data are illustrated. Simultaneous airborne measurements of chlorophyll content and water temperature revealed that variations in chlorophyll are often associated with changes in temperature. Thus, simultaneous sensing of chlorophyll and temperature provides useful information for studies of marine food production, water pollution, and physical processes such as upwelling.

Arvesen, J. C.↗

Rapid method for determining nitrogen in tantalum and niobium alloys

Adaptation of commercial instrument which measures nitrogen and oxygen in steel gave results in less than four minutes. Sample is heated in helium atmosphere in single-use graphite crucible. Platinum flux facilitates melting of sample. Released gases are separated chromatographically and measured in thermal-conductivity cell.

Merkle, E. J.↗

Study of the marine environment of the northern Gulf of California

The author has identified the following significant results. Results of studies of the oceanography of the northern Gulf of California (Mexico) are reported. A remote, instrumented buoy measuring and telemetering oceanographic data by ERTS-1 satellite was designed, constructed, deployed, and tested. Regular cruises by a research ship on a pattern of 47 oceanographic stations collected data which are analyzed and referenced to analysis of ERTS-1 satellite imagery. A thermal dynamic model of current patterns in the northern Gulf of California is proposed. Findings are examined in relation to the model.

Hendrickson, J. R.↗

A Ge/Li/ spectrometer for gamma ray astronomy

A space-borne instrument to measure the spectral and temporal characteristics of astronomical gamma rays in the .05 to 10 Mev energy range is described. The spectrometer consists of four 60 cc Ge(Li) detectors with an energy resolution of 2.5 Kev (FWHM) at 1.33 Mev. The Ge(Li) detectors are actively shielded with CsI(Na) for angular collimation and background reduction. Cooling of the Ge(Li) detectors to 88 K for orbital lifetimes of up to two years is provided by a two-stage solid subliming refrigerator.

Hicks, D. B.↗

Twilight airglow. II - N2/+/ emission at 3914 A

One of the experiments aboard a rocket flight carrying instruments to measure the dawn airglow, the ion and electron densities, and the photoelectron spectrum is reported. For a solar zenith angle of 90 deg the emission at 3914 A from N2(+) peaks at about 260 km. The integrated intensity from model calculations suggests that resonance scattering of 3914-A solar photons off N2(+) produces 90% of the emission, whereas simultaneous photoionization excitation of N2(+) produces less than 10% of the emission. Photoelectron impact excitation is found to contribute about 1%.

Sharp, W. E.↗

Satellite radar scatterometry

Questions of air-sea interaction are considered along with the theoretical results of an analysis of radar backscatter from the ocean and experimental measurements of radar backscatter. Scatterometer design specifications have been established based on user requirements of accuracy, swath width, resolution cell size, and a 100 km grid spacing of the measurements. The instrument errors associated with the fan beam mode of operation are shown in a graph.

Swift, C. T.↗

Thermal analytic model of 30 cm engineering model mercury ion thruster

A lumped parameter thermal nodal network was developed for a 30 cm Engineering Model Mercury Ion Thruster. The network consists of approximately 100 nodes coded in SINDA format for use on the Univac 1106/1108 computer. This model takes into account internal dissipation, radiation, and conduction as well as environmental heating. A series of tests were performed to simulate a wide range of thermal environments on an operating 30 cm thruster, instrumented to measure the temperature distribution within the thruster. The results of these tests were used to calibrate the analytical model. The analytical model along with comparisons between analytical and experimental results for the various operating conditions are presented.

Oglebay, J. C.↗

Selected technology for the gas industry

A number of papers were presented at a conference concerned with the application of technical topics from aerospace activities for the gas industry. The following subjects were covered: general future of fossil fuels in America, exploration for fossil and nuclear fuels from orbital altitudes, technology for liquefied gas, safety considerations relative to fires, explosions, and detonations, gas turbomachinery technology, fluid properties, fluid flow, and heat transfer, NASA information and documentation systems, instrumentation and measurement, materials and life prediction, reliability and quality assurance, and advanced energy systems (including synthetic fuels, energy storage, solar energy, and wind energy).

Source record↗

Pioneer 10/11 spacecraft and missions to Jupiter

The Pioneer 10/11 spacecraft and scientific instruments are described. The Pioneer 10/11 trajectories are described, mission objectives are discussed, and a summary of scientific findings is presented. Results obtained during the traverse of the Asteroid Belt show that the particle concentration is less than had been expected and does not present an appreciable hazard to spacecraft passing through the Belt. The results from six scientific instruments that measured the particle and field phenomena within the Jupiter radiation belt present a consistent picture which, in general, is an environment more severe than normal previous predictions based on earth observations.

Hall, C. F.↗

Thermal analytical model of a 30 cm mercury ion thruster

A lumped parameter thermal nodal network has been developed for a 30 cm engineering model mercury ion thruster. The network consists of approximately 100 nodes coded in SINDA format for use on the Univac 1106/1108 computer. This model takes into account internal dissipation, radiation, and conduction as well as environmental heating. A series of tests were performed at NASA-Lewis Research Center to simulate a wide range of thermal environments on an operating 30 cm thruster, instrumented to measure the temperature distribution within the thruster. The results of these tests were used to calibrate the analytical model. Presented in this paper are a description of the analytical model along with comparisons between analytical and experimental results for the various operating conditions.

Oglebay, J. C.↗

Radiation in the atmosphere

Questions of radiative transfer in realistic atmospheres are considered along with aspects related to radiative energy budgets and the solar constants, the radiative properties of atmosphere and surfaces, radiation instruments and measurements, and radiative interactions in dynamical systems. A number of special topics are discussed, taking into account remote sensing, air pollution, and the effect of turbulence on the propagation of light through the atmosphere. It is pointed out that numerous recent studies have been conducted of the properties and effects of atmospheric aerosols.

Coulson, K. L.↗

Laboratory-scale uranium RF plasma confinement experiments

An experimental investigation was conducted using 80 kW and 1.2 MW RF induction heater facilities to aid in developing the technology necessary for designing a self-critical fissioning uranium plasma core reactor. Pure uranium hexafluoride (UF6) was injected into argon-confined, steady-state, RF-heated plasmas in different uranium plasma confinement tests to investigate the characteristics of plamas core nuclear reactors. The objectives were: (1) to confine as high a density of uranium vapor as possible within the plasma while simultaneously minimizing the uranium compound wall deposition; (2) to develop and test materials and handling techniques suitable for use with high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous UF6; and (3) to develop complementary diagnostic instrumentation and measurement techniques to characterize the uranium plasma and residue deposited on the test chamber components. In all tests, the plasma was a fluid-mechanically-confined vortex-type contained within a fused-silica cylindrical test chamber. The test chamber peripheral wall was 5.7 cm ID by 10 cm long.

Roman, W. C.↗

Shuttle communication experiments

The article reviews concepts and experiments to be tested on Shuttle/Spacelab for high-data-rate multiple-terminal and multiple-user communications (deep space and space-ground) and navigation, emphasizing synergistic payloads in which instrumentation and measurements are shared by onboard equipment and experiments. The millimeter-wavelength large antenna, the adaptive multibeam antenna, the electromagnetic (mm wavelength range) environment experiment, and bandwidth compressive modulation, an open-envelope TWT, and the microwave multi-application payload concept are described in detail in terms of concept, components, and performance parameters to be tested.

Woodruff, J. J.↗