Engineering topics

Carosso, Nancy J. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Carosso, Nancy J. P..

4 records

NASA NTRS1990

Science objectives lead to contamination requirements for the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)

The mission aims and related requirements of the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) are described in order to assess the measure needed for adequate control of optical system contamination. Instrument requirements are set forth so that the Diffuse IR Background Experiment (DIRBE), the Far IR Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS), and the Differential Microwave Radiometers (DMRs) can achieve performance goals. The BRDF requirement for the primary mirror of the DIRBE is a maximum change of 50 percent on clean versus contaminated mirrors. The most critical components of the FIRAS and the DMR are discussed which are the sky horn and the antennae throats, respectively. The contamination-control devices include contamination covers, cleanroom assembly, and retractable cover assembly. The COBE is not found to perform unreliably due to contamination problems which suggests that the contamination program is effective.

Abrams, Eve M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Assessment of external contamination for Space Station scientific payloads

This paper presents the analysis of the nature, the source, and the effect of contamination encountered by payloads external to the Space Station spacecraft. The contaminant modeling study determined the key contaminant sources for the Space Station payloads, together with the location, the duration, the major constituents of the contaminant, and the possibility of contaminant control. The next phase of the contamination modeling study investigates the compatibility of external Space Station payloads while on the transverse boom and the dual keel option. Other predictions include depositions on payload surfaces facing along +X, +Y, and +Z directions. An additional analysis will utilize the above data to predict the spectral brightness of the contaminants along payload lines-of-sight, making it possible for payload users to determine the impact of the contaminant background relative to the natural background.

Primeaux, Gary R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Space Station users contamination requirements

An account is given of the contamination sensitivities and requirements of various planned NASA Space Station users in all science categories, as well as the methods by which the Space Station will accomodate these requirements in the cases of attached payloads, core station-attached payloads, and platform payloads. Attention is given to the Space Station's external contamination environment, the degree of protection from contamination that the Space Station user must provide, the amount of warning users will receive prior to the initiation of potentially contamination-generating activities in the Space Station, and different contamination probabilities for the various parts of the Space Station.

Carosso, Nancy J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Surface scattering characteristics and the measurement of particulate contamination

Surface scattering measurement techniques can be adopted for use in spacecraft contamination control programs. A witness mirror measurement program was developed and implemented for the NASA Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) spacecraft. Scattering measurements were obtained before and after a qualification level vibration test for several COBE prototype instruments. The measurements indicate that a significant amount of particle redistribution occurred during the vibration test. The methodology used and the results obtained from this monitoring program are discussed.

Carosso, Paolo A.↗