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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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NASA NTRS1987

Meteor matter interaction with the Earth's atmosphere and the ionospheric E-region structure

The exploration of the ionospheric E region is a pressing problem, both in the applied and fundamental studies. Results are presented of an investigation: (1) to estimate the meteor ionization contribution to the night time E layer and influx; (2) to study the phenomenon of intensive sporadic layer formation following cessation of meteor stream activity; and (3) to access the role of metallic ions of meteor origin in the diurnal and seasonal variations in the occurrence probabilities of midlatitude E sub s. The contribution was evaluated of meteor matter, Lyman radiation and corpuscular particles to the electron concentration of the night E region. Results are discussed.

Alimov, O.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Prospective lunar, planetary and deep space applications of tethers

Projected flights of an internationally managed Tethered Satellite System from the Space Shuttle in the early 1990s will investigate the behavior, first, of an insulated conducting wire 20 km long as it travels at orbital speeds through the ionosphere and earth magnetic field; subsequently, a nonconducting tether will be used to lower an instrumented 'subsatellite' 100 km downward to investigate upper-atmosphere conditions. Further consideration is presently given to other scientific, electrodynamic, transportational, and artificial gravity-generating applications of the tether concept.

Penzo, Paul A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The Low Frequency Space Array

The Low Frequency Space Array (LFSA) is a conceptual mission to survey the entire sky and to image individual sources at frequencies between 1.5 and 26 MHz, a frequency range over which the earth's ionosphere transmits poorly or not at all. With high resolution, high sensitivity observations, a new window will be opened in the electromagnetic spectrum for astronomical investigation. Also, extending observations down to such low frequencies will bring astronomy to the fundamental limit below which the galaxy becomes optically thick due to free-free absorption. A number of major scientific goals can be pursued with such a mission, including mapping galactic emission and absorption, studies of individual source spectra in a frequency range where a number of important processes may play a role, high resolution imaging of extended sources, localization of the impulsive emission from Jupiter, and a search for coherent emission processes.

Dennison, Brian↗

NASA NTRS1988

Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators (SEPAC)

The purpose of Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators (SEPAC) on the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS 1) mission, is to carry out active and interactive experiments on and in the earth's ionosphere, atmosphere, and magnetosphere. The instruments to be used are an electron beam accelerator (EBA), plasma contactor, and associated instruments the purpose of which is to perform diagnostic, monitoring, and general data taking functions. Four major classes of investigations are to be performed by SEPAC. They are: beam plasma physics, beam-atmosphere interactions, the use of modulated electron beams as transmitting antennas, and the use of electron beams for remote sensing of electric and magnetic fields. The first class consists mainly of onboard plasma physics experiments to measure the effects of phenomena in the vicinity of the shuttle. The last three are concerned with remote effects and are supported by other ATLAS 1 investigations as well as by ground-based observations.

Obayashi, Tatsuzo↗

NASA NTRS1989

Earth-based observations of Faraday rotation in radio bursts from Jupiter

New observations have been made of Faraday rotation in decameter-wavelength radio bursts from the planet Jupiter. Data obtained during six Io-B storms clearly indicate that an appreciable fraction of the observed Faraday rotation occurs in the Jovian magnetosphere. All of the Faraday rotation observed during a single Io-A storm can be accounted for by earth's ionosphere. Measurements of the Faraday effect in Io-B emissions indicate that the source is in Jupiter's northern magnetic hemisphere. Observations of the Faraday effect in Io-C emissions are proposed to determine its location as well.

Phillips, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Recent advances in engineering science; Proceedings of the A. Cemal Eringen Symposium, University of California, Berkeley, June 20-22, 1988

Various papers on recent advances in engineering science are presented. Some individual topics addressed include: advances in adaptive methods in computational fluid mechanics, mixtures of two medicomorphic materials, computer tests of rubber elasticity, shear bands in isotropic micropolar elastic materials, nonlinear surface wave and resonator effects in magnetostrictive crystals, simulation of electrically enhanced fibrous filtration, plasticity theory of granular materials, dynamics of viscoelastic media with internal oscillators, postcritical behavior of a cantilever bar, boundary value problems in nonlocal elasticity, stability of flexible structures with random parameters, electromagnetic tornadoes in earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere, helicity fluctuations and the energy cascade in turbulence, mechanics of interfacial zones in bonded materials, propagation of a normal shock in a varying area duct, analytical mechanics of fracture and fatigue.

Koh, Severino L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Electric and magnetic field measurements inside a high-velocity neutral beam undergoing ionization

Vector electric field measurements were made inside two ionizing, high-velocity streams of barium atoms in the earth's ionosphere, and a variety of electrical phenomena across the frequency spectrum are reported. A very large quasi-dc electric field was detected antiparallel to the beam velocity at a roughly 45 deg angle with the magnetic field B0. A very large component of E is found parallel to B0. The fluctuating electric fields are also quite large, of the same order of magnitude as the quasi-dc pulse. The wave energy maximizes at frequencies below the barium lower hybrid frequency and includes strong signatures of the oxygen cyclotron frequency. Measurements made on a subpayload separated across B0 by several hundred meters and along B0 by several km do not show the large pulse. Very large amplitude magnetic field fluctuations were observed in both bursts.

Kelley, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Lunar low-frequency radio array

A simple, inexpensive experiment is proposed for the early lunar mission to make high angular resolution observations in one of the last unexplored parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. An array of nineteen simple crossed-dipole antennas will make images at frequencies below the earth's ionospheric cut-off - from about 100 kHz to 10 MHz. It would serve as a precursor to a major low-frequency telescope which would eventually be built on the back of the moon, away from terrestrial interference.

Kuiper, T. B. H.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Experimenter's data package for the descending layers rocket

In response to a proposal from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), NASA Headquarters has approved a sounding rocket mission designed to study the physics of intermediate layers in the Earth's ionosphere at middle latitudes. The experiment will be carried out by a team of scientists and engineers from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, SAIC, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Millstone Hill radar observatory. The mission will involve the launch of an instrumented sounding rocket from the Wallops Island rocket range in the summer of 1994, with the objective of penetrating a descending ionized layer in the E-region between altitudes of 115 and 140 km. Instrumentation aboard the rocket will measure the ion and neutral composition of the layer, its plasma density, driving wind and electric field forces, the thermal ion distribution function, and electron temperature. Depending on payload weight constraints and subject to availability, a particle detector to measure energetic ion and/or electron fluxes near the layer may also be included. This document was prepared as a reference for the NASA payload development and experiment teams, for distribution at the Project Initiation Conference (PIC). The design specifications discussed herein are therefore of a preliminary nature; the intent is to promote open discussions between experimenters and NASA engineers that will lead to a final design capable of achieving the experiment objectives.

Earle, Greg↗

NASA NTRS1993

Global surface temperatures and the atmospheric electrical circuit

To monitor future global temperature trends, it would be extremely useful if parameters nonlinearly related to surface temperature could be found, thereby amplifying any warming signal that may exist. Evidence that global thunderstorm activity is nonlinearly related to diurnal, seasonal and interannual temperature variations is presented. Since global thunderstorm activity is also well correlated with the earth's ionospheric potential, it appears that variations of ionospheric potential, that can be measured at a single location, may be able to supply valuable information regarding global surface temperature fluctuations. The observations presented enable a prediction that a 1 percent increase in global surface temperatures may result in a 20 percent increase in ionospheric potential.

Price, Colin↗

NASA NTRS1996

Spacecraft Doppler Tracking as a Xylophone Detector

We discuss spacecraft Doppler tracking in which Doppler data recorded on the ground are linearly combined with Doppler measurements made on board a spacecraft. By using the four-link radio system first proposed by Vessot and Levine, we derive a new method for removing from the combined data the frequency fluctuations due to the Earth troposphere, ionosphere, and mechanical vibrations of the antenna on the ground. Our method provides also for reducing by several orders of magnitude, at selected Fourier components, the frequency fluctuations due to other noise sources, such as the clock on board the spacecraft or the antenna and buffeting of the probe by non-gravitational forces. In this respect spacecraft Doppler tracking can be regarded as a xylophone detector. Estimates of the sensitivities achievable by this xylophone are presented for two tests of Einstein's theory of relativity: searches for gravitational waves and measurements of the gravitational red shift. This experimental technique could be extended to other tests of the theory of relativity, and to radio science experiments that rely on high-precision Doppler measurements.

Tinto, Massimo↗

NASA NTRS1997

A Xylophone Detector of Gravitational Radiation

We discuss spacecraft Doppler tracking searches for gravitational waves in which Doppler data recorded on the ground are linearly combined with Doppler measurements made on board a spacecraft. By using the four-link radio system first proposed by Vessot and Levine, we describe a new method for removing from the combined data the frequency fluctuations due to the Earth troposphere, ionosphere, and mechanical vibrations of the antenna on the ground. This technique provides also a way for reducing by several orders of magnitude, at selected Fourier components, the frequency fluctuations due to other noise sources, such as the clock on board the spacecraft or the antenna and buffeting of the probe by nongravitational forces. In this respect spacecraft Doppler tracking can be regarded as a xylophone detector of gravitational radiation. In the assumption of calibrating the frequency fluctuations induced by the interplanetary plasma, a strain sensitivity equal to 4.7 x 10(exp -18) at 10(exp -3) Hz is estimated. This experimental technique could be extended to other tests of the theory of relativity, and to radio science experiments that rely on high-precision Doppler measurements.

Tinto, Massimo↗

NASA NTRS1999

Electric Field Double Probe Measurements on Satellites with Very Low Perigees

Measurements of DC and AC electric Fields at low altitudes (less than 150 km) in the Earth's ionosphere address a wide array of important scientific questions including Joule Heating, the closure of field aligned currents, and the deviation of E x B electron velocities from ion velocity vectors influenced by collisions. Double probes represent a well-proven technique for gathering high quality DC and AC electric field measurements for which the design of the boom system is of critical importance for the success of the experiment. In general, ionospheric DC electric field instruments that achieve accuracies of 0.1 mV/m or better, place sensors at large distances from the spacecraft body in order to extend well beyond the spacecraft wake and sheath and to achieve the large signal-to-noise ratios for DC and long wavelength measurements. Additional sets of sensors inboard of the primary, outermost sensors provide useful additional information, both for diagnostics of the plasma contact potentials, which particularly enhance the DC electric field measurements on non-spinning spacecraft, and for wavelength and phase velocity measurements that use the spaced receiver or "Interferometer" technique. Accurate attitude knowledge enables V x B contributions to be subtracted from the measured potentials, and permits the measured components to be rotated into meaningful geophysical reference frames. This presentation discusses the expected performance of electric field double probe experiments and their boom mechanisms on both spinning and non-spinning satellite platforms with very low perigees. Careful selection of probe surface materials, such as titanium nitride, for the low perigee environment, as well as thermal considerations are also discussed.

Pfaff, R. F., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS2000

A Comprehensive Model of the Near-Earth Magnetic Field

The near-Earth magnetic field is due to sources in Earth's core, ionosphere, magnetosphere, lithosphere, and from coupling currents between ionosphere and magnetosphere and between hemispheres. Traditionally, the main field (low degree internal field) and magnetospheric field have been modeled simultaneously, and fields from other sources modeled separately. Such a scheme, however, can introduce spurious features. A new model, designated CMP3 (Comprehensive Model: Phase 3), has been derived from quiet-time Magsat and POGO satellite measurements and observatory hourly and annual means measurements as part of an effort to coestimate fields from all of these sources. This model represents a significant advancement in the treatment of the aforementioned field sources over previous attempts, and includes an accounting for main field influences on the magnetosphere, main field and solar activity influences on the ionosphere, seasonal influences on the coupling currents, a priori characterization of ionospheric and magnetospheric influence on Earth-induced fields, and an explicit parameterization and estimation of the lithospheric field. The result of this effort is a model whose fits to the data are generally superior to previous models and whose parameter states for the various constituent sources are very reasonable.

Sabaka, Terence J.↗

NASA NTRS2001

In Situ Measurements of Meteoric Ions

Extraterrestrial material is the source of metal ions in the Earth's atmosphere, Each year approx. 10(exp 8) kg of material is intercepted by the Earth. The origin of this material is predominantly solar orbiting interplanetary debris from comets or asteroids that crosses the Earth's orbit. It contains a very small amount of interstellar material. On occasion the Earth passes through enhanced amounts of debris associated with the orbit of a decaying comet. This leads to enhanced meteor shower displays for up to several days. The number flux of shower material is typically several times the average sporadic background influx of material. Meteoric material is some of the earliest material formed in the solar system. By studying the relative elemental abundances of atmospheric metal ions, information can be gained on the chemical composition of cometary debris and the chemical makeup of the early solar system. Using in situ sampling with rocket-borne ion mass spectrometers; there have been approximately 50 flights that made measurements of the metal ion abundances at attitudes between 80 and 130 km. It is this altitude range where incoming meteoric particles am ablated, the larger ones giving rise to visible meteor. displays. In several rocket measurements isotopic ratios of different atomic ion mass components and metal molecular ion concentrations have been determined and used to identify unambiguously the measured species and to investigate the processes controlling the metal ion distributions The composition of the Earth's ionosphere was first sampled by an ion mass spectrometer flown an a rocket in 1956. In 1958 a rocket-borne ion spectrometer identified, fbr the first time, a layer of metal ions near 95 km. These data were interpreted as evidence of an extraterrestrial rather than a terrestrial source. Istomin predicted: "It seems probable that with some improvement in the method that analysis of the ion composition in the E-region may be used for determining the chemical composition of those meteors which do not reach the ground. Particularly, we hope to get information about the composition difference between particles of different meteor showers and also sporadic and shower meteoroids". These visions categorized the aims of many subsequent rocket-borne ion mass spectrometer experiments in the lower ionosphere, Although the use such measurements to deduce the composition of different classes of meteoroids has not been successful, the past four decades of rocket observations have provided po%erful sets of data for advancing our understanding of meteor ablation, meteoric composition, metal neutral and ion chemistry as well as ionospheric dynamics.

Grebowsky, Joseph M.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Miniature Free-Flying Magnetometer Utilizing System-On-A-Chip Technology

Four Free-Flying Magnetometers (FFMs), developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the Enstrophy mission, were successfully deployed from the payload of a sounding rocket launched from Poker Flats, Alaska on February 11, 1999. The FFMs functioned successfully by synchronously measuring the vector magnetic field at 4 points separate from the payload and at relative distances up to 3 km, and communicated their data, in bursts, to the ground. This is the first time synchronized in-situ multipoint measurements of the Earth's magnetic field utilizing miniature spin-stabilized "sensorcraft" have been performed. The data they provided have enabled, for the first time, the direct measure of field-aligned current density and are enabling new science by determining the fine-scale structure of the currents in the Earth's ionosphere involved in the production of aurora. These proof-of-concept "hockey puck" (80 mm diameter, 38 mm height, 250 gram mass) FFMs were built using off-the-shelf commercial, industrial, and military grade surface-mount electronic components. Radiation-hard electronics was not required for the Enstrophy mission's short sub-orbital flight. The successful design, implementation, and flight demonstration of this 1st generation FFM design has provided a solid base for further development of a 2nd generation FFM design for planetary science applications. A reliable ultra-miniature radiation-hard 2nd-generation FFM utilizing System-On-A-Chip (SOAC) technologies is proposed. This design would be targeted for long-term planetary missions to investigate magnetospheric field configurations in regions having small-scale structure and to separate spatial and temporal variations. A fleet of short-lived (expendable) FFMs would be deployed into a targeted region to gather multiprobe vector magnetic field data. The FFMs would be ejected from a parent spacecraft at a speed of a few m/sec and would cover spatial volumes of order tens of kilometers for times of order one hour. The parent spacecraft would carry a sufficient number of FFMs for multiple deployments. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Eyre, F. B.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Science@NASA: Direct to People!

Science@NASA is a science communication effort sponsored by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. It is the result of a four year research project between Marshall, the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and the internet communications company, Bishop Web Works. The goals of Science@NASA are to inform, inspire, and involve people in the excitement of NASA science by bringing that science directly to them. We stress not only the reporting of the facts of a particular topic, but also the context and importance of the research. Science@NASA involves several levels of activity from academic communications research to production of content for 6 websites, in an integrated process involving all phases of production. A Science Communications Roundtable Process is in place that includes scientists, managers, writers, editors, and Web technical experts. The close connection between the scientists and the writers/editors assures a high level of scientific accuracy in the finished products. The websites each have unique characters and are aimed at different audience segments: 1. http://science.nasa.gov. (SNG) Carries stories featuring various aspects of NASA science activity. The site carries 2 or 3 new stories each week in written and audio formats for science-attentive adults. 2. http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov. Features stories from SNG that are recast for a high school level audience. J-Track and J-Pass applets for tracking satellites are our most popular product. 3. http://kids. msfc.nasa.gov. This is the Nursemaids site and is aimed at a middle school audience. The NASAKids Club is a new feature at the site. 4. http://www.thursdaysclassroom.com . This site features lesson plans and classroom activities for educators centered around one of the science stories carried on SNG. 5. http://www.spaceweather.com. This site gives the status of solar activity and its interactions with the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere.

Koczor, Ronald J.↗

NASA NTRS2002

NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center's Contributions to Space Plasma Physics

Since the mid-l970's, the Space Plasma Physics Group at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has contributed critical instrumentation to numerous satellite and sounding rocket missions exploring the plasmas of near-Earth space. This talk will review major discoveries in Earth's ionosphere, plasmasphere, and magnetosphere directly attributable to the researchers of the Space Plasma Physics Group and the significance of these discoveries to the field of plasma physics.

Adrian, M. L.↗