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Tackett, C. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Tackett, C. D..

7 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Magellan - A balloon-borne collection technique for large cosmic dust particles

The paper describes a balloon-borne system for collecting large (50 to a few hundred micrometers in the major dimension) solid particles falling through the atmosphere at an altitude of about 30 km which are postulated to be fragments of larger cosmic particles or bodies which disintegrate on entering the atmosphere. The major component of the system is the collection surface - a funnel, 7.2 m in diameter, fabricated from mylar, 12 microns thick, and lightly coated with aluminum. Also described is the sample collector, which collects the particles gathered in the apex of the cone. Two successful flights of short duration using zero-pressure balloons have been achieved. Some examples of particles collected are shown. Mg, Al, Si, S, K, Ca, Ti, and Fe have been detected in these particles by energy dispersive X-ray analysis.

Wlochowicz, R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Near-earth cosmic dust results from S-149

Three space exposures (34, 46 and 33 days) of thin films and polished metal plates with a total area of 0.12 sq m per exposure were carried out during Skylab via the S-149 experiment. Study of the materials recovered indicates that the S-149 experiment contains important information concerning cosmic dust in the near-earth vicinity. Craters and penetration holes have been found ranging from 135 micron diameter to less than 0.5 micron. A cosmic dust flux curve in the mass range from 10 to the minus 16th to 10 to the minus 7th grams is presented. Evidence is given concerning the directional characteristics of the particles and their breakup in near-earth space is presented.

Hemenway, C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Field refurbishment of recoverable sounding rocket payloads.

Sounding rocket payload field refurbishment has been shown to be an effective means for obtaining additional scientific data with substantial time and monetary savings. In a recent campaign three successful missions were flown using two payloads. Field refurbished hardware from two previously flown and recovered payloads were field integrated to form a third payload. Although this operational method may result in compromises in the refurbished system, it allows for quick turn around when the mission requires it. This paper describes the recent success of this approach with the Dudley Observatory Nike-Apache micrometeorite collection experiments launched from Kiruna, Sweden, in October 1972.

Needleman, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Preliminary results from the noctilucent sampling from Kiruna in 1970.

On Aug. 8, 1970 at 0148 and 0354 local time, two Pandora sounding rocket payloads were launched from the ESRO range in Kiruna, Sweden, during a noctilucent cloud display. Large numbers of particles were collected, many of which appear to be micrometeorites coated with a low density material. Typical electron micrographs are shown, and numerical densities as a function of altitude are given. Particle composition information has been obtained by use of dispersive X-ray analysis equipment attached to our Philips EM 300 electron microscope.

Hallgren, D. S.↗