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At least 19 records

Validation & Verification of Electrical Components B2 Test Facility

The research focus of this project is to assist in the closure of Measurement, Monitoring and Control System (MMCS) and other electrical requirements in support of the B2 Space Launch System (SLS) Core Stage Green Run Test Project. Alongside this goal I am to understand project management tools to analyze and control activities/tasks associated with those items. The project I am working on will assist electrical engineers in developing and or identifying closure rationale for the MMCS and electrical requirements. Also as serving the role of a training project manager, I am to develop and maintain a method for tracking progress with estimate completion dates specifically identifying those items during this performance window. The methods I used in order to perform the research consisted of worddocuments, excel sheets, and pdf documents needed for review. For example, documents consisted of: a SLS Core Stage Green Run Facility Requirement Document (FRD) identifying the SSC MMCS and electrical requirements, a Stage Controller to SSC Interface Control Document (ICD) identifying the SSC requirements, and the B2 SLS Core Stage Green Run Test project System Requirements Document (SRD) which identifies the MMCS and electrical requirements. The files were sent to me by both mentors, Mr. Barry Robinson and Ms. Dawn Davis. Overall, the review process for the word documents and excel spreadsheets proved to be successful. The data for the electrical components were accurate and were consistent with the original recorded data. However, the consistency with the pdf documents did not follow up all the way. Attention to this mistake was made and further revisions were done in order for the data to agree with each other. Furthermore, an itinerary was designed using Microsoft Outlook in order to track progress with estimated completion dates. This project contributes to NASA/Center Missions and Goals through the Waterfall Model. The Waterfall Model is a linear system used for engineering design. In the Waterfall Model, the fourth step is Verification and Validation. This involves installation, testing, and debugging of the B2 SLS Core Stage electrical components. For the SLS Core Stage Green Run Test Project, each requirement contained in this approved requirements set will have at least one Verification Item (VI) assigned to it. During the design phase, VIs will mostly consist of Analysis or Inspection types. Design phase VIs and closure information will be documented in Dynamics Data Management System (DDMS) in the form of analysis reports and design documentation.

Bastian, Tyler

Information quality-control model

Model serves as graphic tool for estimating complete product objectives from limited input information, and is applied to cost estimations, product-quality evaluations, and effectiveness measurements for manpower resources allocation. Six product quality levels are defined.

Vincent, D. A.

Cross-bispectrum computation and variance estimation

A method for the estimation of cross-bispectra of discrete real time series is developed. The asymptotic variance properties of the bispectrum are reviewed, and a method for the direct estimation of bispectral variance is given. The symmetry properties are described which minimize the computations necessary to obtain a complete estimate of the cross-bispectrum in the right-half-plane. A procedure is given for computing the cross-bispectrum by subdividing the domain into rectangular averaging regions which help reduce the variance of the estimates and allow easy application of the symmetry relationships to minimize the computational effort. As an example of the procedure, the cross-bispectrum of a numerically generated, exponentially distributed time series is computed and compared with theory.

Lii, K. S.

Modelling the atmospheric boundary layer for remotely sensed estimates of daily evaporation

An energy and moisture balance model of the soil surface was used to estimate daily evaporation from wheat and barley fields in West Germany. The model was calibrated using remotely sensed surface temperature estimates. Complete atmospheric boundary layer models are difficult to use because of the number of parameters involved and a simplified model was used here. The resultant evaporation estimates were compared to eddy correlation evaporation estimates and good agreement was found.

Gurney, R. J.

An ab initio benchmark study of the H + CO --> HCO reaction

The H + CO --> HCO reaction has been characterized with correlation consistent basis sets at five levels of theory in order to benchmark the sensitivities of the barrier height and reaction ergicity to the one-electron and n-electron expansions of the electronic wave function. Single and multireference methods are compared and contrasted. The coupled cluster method RCCSD(T) was found to be in very good agreement with Davidson-corrected internally-contracted multireference configuration interaction (MRCI+Q). Second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) was also employed. The estimated complete basis set (CBS) limits for the barrier height (in kcal/mol) for the five methods, including harmonic zero-point energy corrections, are MP2, 4.66; RCCSD, 4.78; RCCSD(T), 4.15; MRCI, 5.10; and MRCI+Q, 4.07. Similarly, the estimated CBS limits for the ergicity of the reaction are: MP2, -17.99; RCCSD, -13.34; RCCSD(T), -13.79; MRCI, -11.46; and MRCI+Q, -13.70. Additional basis set explorations for the RCCSD(T) method demonstrate that aug-cc-pVTZ sets, even with some functions removed, are sufficient to reproduce the CBS limits to within 0.1-0.3 kcal/mol.

NASA Discipline Exobiology

A Framework for Estimating Global River Discharge From the Surface Water and Ocean Topography Satellite Mission

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will vastly expand measurements of global rivers, providing critical new data sets for both gaged and ungaged basins. SWOT discharge products (available approximately 1 year after launch) will provide discharge for all river that reaches wider than 100 m. In this paper, we describe how SWOT discharge produced and archived by the US and French space agencies will be computed from measurements of river water surface elevation, width, and slope and ancillary data, along with expected discharge accuracy. We present for the first time a complete estimate of the SWOT discharge uncertainty budget, with separate terms for random (standard error) and systematic (bias) uncertainty components in river discharge time series. We expect that discharge uncertainty will be less than 30% for two-thirds of global reaches and will be dominated by bias. Separate river discharge estimates will combine both SWOT and in situ data; these “gage-constrained” discharge estimates can be expected to have lower systematic uncertainty. Temporal variations in river discharge time series will be dominated by random error and are expected to be estimated within 15% for nearly all reaches, allowing accurate inference of event flow dynamics globally, including in ungaged basins. We believe this level of accuracy lays the groundwork for SWOT to enable breakthroughs in global hydrologic science.

Michael Durand

On Lidar Sounding of the Atmosphere to Estimate Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Aerosol Inhomogeneities

1. A possible application of intensity fluctuations of a pulse light signal reflected by atmospheric aerosols is analyzed by the correlation method to evaluate static (medium sizes, shape) and dynamic (speed and direction of movement, lifetime) characteristics of aerosol inhomogeneities. The aerosol inhomogeneities are assumed to be expanded, pressed, disintegrated and originated constantly in accordance with random laws, the set of inhomogeneities as a whole traveling together with air masses and having predominant movement in wind direction. It is shown that the characteristics of aerosol inhomogeneities considered can be expressed by the coefficients of the correlation function expansion of the reflected signal fluctuation intensity in Tailor series. 2/ Correlation systems for evaluating static and dynamic characteristics of driving objects can be divided into two types according to the kind and quantity of used information: the systems with coordinates of the information removal "points" to be fixed in space, and the systems with a parallel simultaneous information removal at discrete moments of time. The systems for determination of wind direction considered in are the examples of the first type system. However, the operating information removal for two points is insufficient to estimate completely static and dynamic characteristics of inhomogenities, their quantity ought to be increased up to three of them for two-dimensional problem and up to four of them for three-dimensional problem as it is usually done in the ionospheric studies. The second type systems are used for the investigation of a medium shape and speed of the clouds according to photographs made from satellites. These systems are also used for solution of navigation problems. The use of optical quantum generators with a scanning beam is seen to increase greatly the working information removal in comparison with the first type systems. Nevertheless, scanning rate is not sufficient sometimes in order· to consider a general picture of aerosol inhomogeneities to be stationary. In this connection the use of the systems of second type treatment becomes a matter of essential difficulty. 3. Aerosol inhomogeneities simulation has been carried out on the basis of the digital computer experiments with the aim of estimating static and dynamic characteristics of inhomogeneities by an optical beam in the atmosphere at different scanning procedures. The dependence of determination accuracy of these characteristics on the type of chosen laws of aerosol particle distribution in the atmosphere, the parameters of inhomogeneities geometry, their speed and the law of scanning have been obtained.

Zuev, V. E.

Simulation results for the Viterbi decoding algorithm

Concepts involved in determining the performance of coded digital communications systems are introduced. The basic concepts of convolutional encoding and decoding are summarized, and hardware implementations of sequential and maximum likelihood decoders are described briefly. Results of parametric studies of the Viterbi decoding algorithm are summarized. Bit error probability is chosen as the measure of performance and is calculated, by using digital computer simulations, for various encoder and decoder parameters. Results are presented for code rates of one-half and one-third, for constraint lengths of 4 to 8, for both hard-decision and soft-decision bit detectors, and for several important systematic and nonsystematic codes. The effect of decoder block length on bit error rate also is considered, so that a more complete estimate of the relationship between performance and decoder complexity can be made.

Batson, B. H.

Ecology and thermal inactivation of microbes in and on interplanetary space vehicle components

The experiments conducted to determine the heat resistance of Bacillus megaterium ATCC 6458 at 90 and 100 C were completed. Estimates from replicate experiments at eight percent relative humidities (less than 0.001 to 100% RH) for each temperature were computed. A Bacillus cereus strain with high heat resistance was cultured and the resistance determined in phosphate buffer (D sub 121.1 = 2.16 min and z = 8.7 C). The profile of the dry heat resistance of B. megaterium is summarized and the most resistant condition to the three spores (Bacillus subtilis var. niger, ATCC 29669, and Bacillus stearothermophilus, strain 1518) is compared.

Reyes, A. L.

Radar investigation of asteroids

Software to support all stages of asteroid radar observation and data analysis is developed. First-order analysis of all data in hand is complete. Estimates of radar cross sections, circular polarization ratios, and limb-to-limb echo spectral bandwidths for asteroids 7 Iris, 16 Psyche, 97 Klotho, 1862 Apollo, and 1915 Quetzalcoatl are reported. Radar observations of two previously unobserved asteroids were conducted. An Aten asteroid, 2100 Ra-Shalom, with the smallest known semimajor axis (0.83) was detected. Preliminary data reduction indicates a circular polarization ratio comparable to those of Apollo, Quetzalcoatl, and Toro.

Ostro, S. J.

Gamma-Ray Fuel Gauges for Airplanes

Accurate system overcomes problems of capacitance gauges. Feasibility study conducted on use of attenuation of gamma rays to measure quantities of fuel in tanks. Studies with weak Am241 59.5-keV radiation source indicate it is possible to monitor continuously fuel quantity in tanks to accuracy of better than 1 percent. Measurements also indicate easily measurable differences in physical properties and resultant attenuation characteristics of JP-4, JP-5, and Jet A fuels. Am241-based densitometers currently in use aboard some aircraft . Estimated complete system, including microprocessor and associated display devices, assembled at cost of less than $10,000 per fuel tank.

Singh, Jag J.

Automotive Stirling engine development program: A success

The original 5-yr Automotive Stirling Engine Development Program has been extended to 10 years due to reduced annual funding levels. With an estimated completion date of April 1988, the technical achievements and the prospectives of meeting the original program objectives are reviewed. Various other applications of this developed Stirling engine technology are also discussed.

Tabata, W. K.

Automotive Stirling engine development program - A success

The original 5-year Automotive Stirling Engine Development Program has been extended to 10 years due to reduced annual funding levels. With an estimated completion date of April 1988, the technical achievements and the prospectives of meeting the original program objectives are reviewed. Various other applications of this developed Stirling engine technology are also discussed.

Tabata, William K.

Discovery of candidate cataclysmic variables in the post-core-collapse globular cluster NGC 6397

A photometric search for objects with H alpha emission in the globular cluster NGC 6397 has been carried out with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Planetary Camera. Images were obtained through the F675W (similar to Johnson R) and F656N (H alpha) filters, and photometry carried out on approximately 900 stars detected in the central approximately 38 x 35 arcseconds of the cluster. Limiting magnitudes of R approximately 21 and 19.5 were reached in the F675W and F656N images, respectively. Three H alpha-bright stars are found which have apparent magnitudes in the range R = 17.8-19.5. The corresponding absolute magnitudes (M(sub R) = 5.6-7.3) and inferred H alpha emission-line strengths (EW(H alpha) greater than or approximately equal to 15-26 A) make these objects good candidates to be cataclysmic variables (CVs) in this nearby, post-collapse cluster. All three H alpha-bright objects are found to be UV-bright in a photometric comparison of the F675W images with archival HST Faint Object Camera (FOC) images of the cluster center through the F220W and F346M filters. Such UV excesses further support the identification of these objects as candidates to be CVs in the cluster. The H alpha-bright stars are within the error circles of three X-ray sources previously found with the ROSAT High Resoltion Imager (HRI) and are likley to be the dominant source of the X-ray emission. The implied X-Ray to optical flux ratios (f(sub x)/f(sub v) approximately 0.8-4.2) are consistent with CVs known elsewhere in the Galaxy. Two additional stars with possible H alpha emission are also discussed, along the stars identified on the basis of UV emisssion. Preliminary completeness estimates suggest that these observations should be sensitive to approximately one-third to two-thirds of most varieties of CVs in the cluster, and that therefore greater than or approximately 5-10 CVs are likely to be present in the observed section of NGC 6397. Scaling these numbers to the cluster as a whole would increase these numbers by up to a factor of 2. A total CV population on the order of 5-20 is in reasonable with previous estimates made on the basis of X-ray observations, and with theoretical predictions scaled to this cluster.

Cool, Adrienne M.

A Correlated Ab Initio Study of Linear Carbon-Chain Radicals C(sub n)H (n=2-7)

Linear carbon-chain radicals C(sub n) H for n = 2-7 have been studied with correlation consistent valence and core-valence basis sets and the coupled cluster method RCCSD(T). Equilibrium structures, rotational constants, and dipole moments are reported and compared with available experimental data. The ground state of the even-n series changes from 2Sigma(+) to 2Pi as the chain is extended. For C4H, the 2Sigma(+) state was found to lie only 72 cm(exp -1) below the 2Pi state in the estimated complete basis set limit for valence correlation. The C2H(-) and C3H(-) anions have also been characterized.

Woon, David E.

The EUV Helium Spectrum in the Quiet Sun: A By-Product of Coronal Emission?

In this paper we test one of the mechanisms proposed to explain the intensities and other observed properties of the solar helium spectrum, and in particular of its Extreme-Ultraviolet (EUV) resonance lines. The so-called Photoionisation-Recombination (P-R) mechanism involves photoionisation of helium atoms and ions by EUV coronal radiation, followed by recombination cascades. We present calibrated measurements of EUV flux obtained with the two CDS spectrometers on board SOHO, in quiescent solar regions. We were able to obtain an essentially complete estimate of the total photoionizing flux in the wavelength range below 504 A (the photoionisation threshold for He(I)), as well as simultaneous measurements with the same instruments of the intensities of the strongest EUV helium lines: He(II) lambda304, He(I) lambda584, and He(I) lambda537. We find that there are not enough EUV photons to account for the observed helium line intensities. More specifically, we conclude that He(II) intensities cannot be explained by the P-R mechanism. Our results, however, leave open the possibility that the He(I) spectrum could be formed by the P-R mechanism, with the He(II) lambda304 line as a significant photoionizating source.

Andretta, Vincenzo

A correlated ab initio study of the A2 pi <-- X2 sigma+ transition in MgCCH

The A2 pi <-- X2 sigma+ transition in MgCCH was studied with correlation consistent basis sets and single- and multireference correlation methods. The A2 pi excited state was characterized in detail; the x2 sigma+ ground state has been described elsewhere recently. The estimated complete basis set (CBS) limits for valence correlation, including zero-point energy corrections, are 22668, 23191, and 22795 for the RCCSD(T), MRCI, and MRCI + Q methods, respectively. A core-valence correction of +162 cm-1 shifts the RCCSD(T) value to 22830 cm-1, in good agreement with the experimental result of 22807 cm-1.

Non-NASA Center