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XB-70 aerodynamic, geometric, mass, and symmetric structural mode data
XB-70-1 mass, structural, and aerodynamic data were updated to reflect as closely as possible the characteristics of the airplane at three specific flight conditions which were actually flown; a nominal Mach number of 0.90 at an altitude of 25,000 feet (two cases) and a nominal Mach number of 1.6 at an altitude of 40,000 feet (one case). In-flight response characteristics at a number of points on the vehicle were obtained by exciting a pair of shaker vanes on the nose of the airplane. Data were recorded with the basic stability augmentation system (SAS) operating both alone and together with the identical location of accelerometer and force (ILAF) structural mode control system. Detailed total vehicle weight, mass characteristics, structural frequencies, generalized masses, all aerodynamic data used in the present analyses, and a description of the actual mode shapes are tabulated and presented.
Low nutation-rate dampers
Mission requirements plus spacecraft weight and power constraints often reduce the excitation frequency of a nutation damper below 1 cpm. Since attitude stability is determined by damper performance, maximum effectiveness at low rates is demanded. Presented are design considerations that low-frequency dampers require, along with descriptions of two low-frequency systems: the Direct Measurement Explorer 1 and the Small Astronomy Satellite A (SAS-A).
Gamma ray satellite to be launched from Africa
The announcement is presented of the launch of NASA's Small Astronomy Satellite B (SAS-B) on 2 Nov. 1972, to study gamma rays. The launch is to be from the Italian-operated San Marco Equatorial Range in the Indian Ocean for ease in acquiring an equatorial orbit. The spacecraft systems described include: stabilization and control, communication, and spark chamber gamma ray telescope. The results of Uhuru (Explorer 42) are also presented.
Spin stability of dual-spin spacecrafts.
The spin-axis attitude stability in torque-free environment of dual-spin spacecrafts with energy losses in both bodies is studied by analytical means. A new mathematical model, which assumes the high speed rotor to be symmetrical, is introduced and analyzed. The linearized variational system of equations for the model with periodic coefficients is transformed to a kinematically similar autonomous system (according to Floquet and Liapunov) which can be analyzed routinely using established procedure. As an example, this technique is used on a recent mathematical model of the SAS-A spacecraft to establish steady state stability over a wide range of speeds.
Use of the flight simulator in the design of a STOL research aircraft.
Piloted simulator tests on the NASA-Ames Flight Simulator for Advanced Aircraft motion base played a major role in guiding the design of the Modified C-8A 'Buffalo' augmentor wing jet flap STOL research airplane. Design results are presented for the flight control systems, lateral-directional SAS, hydraulic systems, and engine and thrust vector controls. Emphasis is given to lateral control characteristics on STOL landing approach, engine-out control and recovery techniques in the powered-lift regime, and operational flight procedures which affected airplane design.
Gravitational field modes GEM 3 and 4
A refinement in the satellite geopotential solution for a Goddard Earth Model (GEM 3) was obtained. The solution includes the addition of two low inclination satellites, SAS at 3 deg and PEOLE at 15 deg, and is based upon 27 close earth satellites containing some 400,000 observations of electronic, laser, and optical data. In addition, a new combination satellite/gravimetry solution (GEM 4) was derived. The new model includes 61 center of mass tracking station locations with data from GRARR, Laser, MOTS, Baker-Nunn, and NWL Tranet Doppler tracking sites. Improvement was obtained for the zonal coefficients of the new models and is shown by tests on the long period perturbations of the orbits. Individual zonal coefficients agree very closely among different models that contain low inclination satellites. Tests of models with surface gravity data show that the GEM 3 satellite model has significantly better agreement with the gravimetry data than the GEM 1 satellite model, and that it also has better agreement with the gravimetry data than the 1969 SAO Standard Earth 2 model.
The development of an augmentor wing jet STOL research aircraft (modified C-8A). Volume 2: Analysis of contractor's flight test
The initial flight test phase of the modified C-8A airplane was conducted. The primary objective of the testing was to establish the basic airworthiness of the research vehicle. This included verification of the structural design and evaluation of the aircraft's systems. Only a minimum amount of performance testing was scheduled; this has been used to provide a preliminary indication of the airplane's performance and flight characteristics for future flight planning. The testing included flutter and loads investigations up to the maximum design speed. The operational characteristics of all systems were assessed including hydraulics, environmental control system, air ducts, the vectoring conical nozzles, and the stability augmentation system (SAS). Approaches to stall were made at three primary flap settings: up, 30 deg and 65 deg, but full stalls were not scheduled. Minimum control speeds and maneuver margins were checked. All takeoffs and landings were conventional, and STOL performance was not scheduled during this phase of the evaluation.
Star sensor/mapper for the Small Astronomy Satellites.
As a requirement for the Small Astronomy Satellite-B (SAS-B), a star sensor was designed to provide satellite positional data to an accuracy of 3 arc minutes for satellite spin rates of 1/12 rpm and 1 rpm. The star sensor is required to detect stars having a +4 visual magnitude during the sunlit portion of the orbit. The spacecraft orientation can be anything achievable in its near equatorial 500-km orbit. The design of the star sensor resulted in an instrument which weighs 6.5 lbs., consumes 0.4 W and operates at spin rates ranging from 1/12 rpm to 3 rpm. The instrument design incorporates optical features providing excellent uniformity of response across the 5 by 10 deg field of view.
The distribution of cosmic rays in the galaxy and their dynamics as deduced from recent gamma-ray observations
Recent data from SAS-2 on the galactic gamma ray line flux as a function of longitude reveal a broad maximum in the gamma ray intensity in the region absolute value of l approximately smaller than 30 deg. These data imply that the low energy galactic cosmic ray flux varies with galactocentric distance and is about an order of magnitude higher than the local value in a toroidal region between 4 and 5 kpc from the galactic center. This enhancement can be plausibly accounted for by first order Fermi acceleration, compression and trapping of cosmic rays consistent with present ideas of galactic dynamics and galactic structure theory. Calculations indicate that cosmic rays in the 4 to 5 kpc region are trapped and accelerated over a mean time of the order of a few million years or about 2 to 4 times the assumed trapping time in the solar region of the galaxy.
High energy gamma ray astronomy
The SAS-2 gamma ray experiment and its detection of celestial gamma rays are described. Data also cover intensity of high energy gamma rays, gamma ray distribution, gamma ray origin, and diffuse radiation.
Gamma radiation from the Crab nebula above 35 MeV
Electromagnetic radiation from the Crab nebula were observed, showing that the Crab is unique among strong X-ray sources in that major component in the low energy range (1 to 10 KeV) shows little or no temporal variation. Observations of the Crab above 35 MeV were made with the high energy gamma ray telescope flown on SAS-2. The detector and technique are described in detail.
Post-flight differential correction analysis using Vinti's spheroidal method for the small astronomy satellite orbit
The results of an intensive analysis of a differential orbit improvement method utilizing observational data for a 550-kilometer altitude, near-circular, near-equatorial satellite orbit are presented. Observations of the Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-1) are in the form of direction cosines as measured at two ground interferometer tracking stations near the Equator during the first 22 orbital revolutions (approximately 37 hours) after launch of the spacecraft. Numerical results, in both tabular and graphical form, are displayed for numerous iterated fittings of various observational arcs by differential correction of the orbital elements. Parameters varied in these comparative cases include the time duration of the observational data block, the number of pairs of direction cosine data and the number of tracking station passes included in the solution, the distribution of such passes between the two available tracking stations, and the acceptance criterion for the observational residuals in the least squares fitting procedure. It was found that three observational pairs of direction cosine data, the minimum number possible for a uniquely determined solution in theory, are sufficient to promote covergence to an accurate solution, if properly selected.
High energy gamma ray results from the second small astronomy satellite
A high energy (35 MeV) gamma ray telescope employing a thirty-two level magnetic core spark chamber system was flown on SAS 2. The high energy galactic gamma radiation is observed to dominate over the general diffuse radiation along the entire galactic plane, and when examined in detail, the longitudinal and latitudinal distribution seem generally correlated with galactic structural features, particularly with arm segments. The general high energy gamma radiation from the galactic plane, explained on the basis of its angular distribution and magnitude, probably results primarily from cosmic ray interactions with interstellar matter.
Possible evidence for structured acceleration of cosmic rays on a galactic scale from recent gamma-ray observations
Recent data from SAS-2 on the galactic gamma-ray line flux as a function of longitude reveal a broad maximum in the region below 30 deg. These data, as unfolded here, imply that the low-energy (1-10 GeV) galactic cosmic-ray flux varies with the radial distance from the galactic center and is about an order of magnitude higher than the local value in a toroidal region for radial distances between 4 and 5 kpc. We further show that this enhancement can be plausibly accounted for by Fermi acceleration and compression caused by a hydrodynamic shock driven by the expanding gas in the 3-kpc arm and invoked in some versions of galactic structure theory.
The distribution of cosmic rays in the Galaxy and their dynamics as deduced from recent gamma-ray observations
Recent data from SAS-2 on the galactic gamma-ray line flux as a function of longitude reveal a broad maximum in the gamma-ray intensity in the longitude region less than or equal to 30 deg. These data, when unfolded, imply that the low-energy (1 to 10 GeV) galactic cosmic-ray flux varies with galactocentric distance and is about an order of magnitude higher than the local value in a toroidal region between 4 and 5 kpc from the galactic center. It is further shown that this enhancement can be plausibly accounted for by first-order Fermi acceleration, compression, and trapping of cosmic rays consistent with present ideas of galactic dynamics and galactic structure theory. Calculations indicate that cosmic rays in the 4- to 5-kpc region are trapped and accelerated over a mean time of the order of a few million years or about 2 to 4 times the assumed trapping time in the solar region of the Galaxy.
Spacecraft control section for the improved Small Astronomy Satellite /SAS-C/
The upgraded spacecraft control section for the Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-C) incorporates a remarkable amount of flexibility for a small satellite. Able to point its thrust axis to any direction in space, it can also spin or slow its outer body rotation to zero for star-locked pointing of side viewing experiments. A programmable telemetry system and delayed command system enhance the inherent capability of a spacecraft designed to be used for a variety of experiments, each of which can be built independently and attached just prior to final acceptance testing and launch. The design of this new spacecraft, whose first launch is scheduled for 1975, is provided in sufficient detail to permit the reader to ascertain its suitability for specific experiments.
High energy galactic gamma radiation from cosmic rays concentrated in spiral arms
A model for the emission of high energy ( 100 MeV) gamma rays from the galactic disk was developed and compared to recent SAS-2 observations. In the calculation, it is assumed that (1) the high energy galactic gamma rays result primarily from the interaction of cosmic rays with galactic matter; (2) on the basis of theoretical and experimental arguments the cosmic ray density is proportional to the matter density on the scale of galactic arms; and (3) the matter in the galaxy, atomic and molecular, is distributed in a spiral pattern consistent with density wave theory and the experimental data on the matter distribution.