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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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At least 217 records · Page 12

76535 - An old lunar rock

Measurements of Rb-Sr systematics, K-Ar gas retention ages, and the isotopic compositions of He, Ne, and Ar have been performed for lunar troctolite 76535. Other investigators have presented evidence that this important rock formed as a cumulate at depth, which would make it an important link in the early chronology of the moon. Rb-Sr data do not define an isochron. Total Ar-40/K ages of whole rock and plagioclase range from 4.40-4.54 b.y. The trapped Ne and Ar in 76535 cannot be uniquely characterized as either 'planetary derived' or solar wind derived, but appear to have characteristics of both. The data suggest that 76535 formed 4.3-4.6 b.y. ago, and the accumulation process and/or subsequent annealing may have incorporated excess noble gases. Separation of radiogenic parents and daughters with incomplete isotopic equilibration may also have occurred during cooling or during a subsequent 'event'.

Bogard, D. D.↗

Alkyl substituted cyclic ethers in 2,300 M yr old Transvaal algal stromatolite

Two cyclic ethers have been identified for the first time from insoluble polymer-like kerogen in a Precambrian rock by ozonolysis, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The ethers are 2-n-propyl-3-methyltetrahydrofuran and 2-n-propyltetrahydropyran. These compounds could prove to be the oldest indigenous biochemical fossils. The sample was obtained 750 m stratigraphically above the base of the Transvaal Sequence from an outcrop approximately 315 km north-east of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Zumberge, J. E.↗

Clusius-Dickel Separations (CDS): A new look at an old technique

The history, applications, and theoretical basis of the CDS technique are reviewed. The advantage to be realized by conduction of CDSs in low-g, space environments are deduced. The results are reported of investigations aimed at further improving CDS efficiencies by altering convective flow patterns. The question of whether multicellular flow or turbulence can introduce a new separation mechanism which would boost separation efficiencies at least an order of magnitude is considered. Results are presented and discussed.

Grodzka, P. G.↗

Spectroscopic studies of very old hot stars. III - Atmospheric properties of seven planetary nuclei

The atmospheric properties of seven planetary nuclei which have O or Of-type spectra were determined by use of the Zanstra method and by analysis of the visual line spectra. One finding is that the O-type spectral sequence may extend to effective temperatures of 90,000 kelvins or more, if the results of the Zanstra method are to be believed. However, there are some indications of internal inconsistency in the Zanstra method and some outstanding discrepancies between the effective temperatures indicated by the Zanstra method and those indicated from analysis of the visual line spectra. Two ways to resolve these discrepancies are to postulate an excess of extreme-UV stellar flux or to postulate a hot binary companion for some central stars. In either case the validity of the Harmon-Seaton evolutionary sequence for central stars becomes questionable.

Heap, S. R.↗

An old integration scheme for compressible flows revisited, refurbished and put to work

A scheme for integrating the Euler equations of compressible flow in any hyperbolic case is presented. The scheme relies on the concept of characteristics but is strictly a finite difference scheme. Improvements in accuracy and physical consistence due to the scheme are discussed and results of its application to complex flows are shown.

Moretti, G.↗

The world of tomorrow: Aerospace activities for 8- to 10-year olds. A guide for leaders of children's groups and teachers of the lower grades

During January 1977, NASA helped the Cub Scout Division of the Boy Scouts of America in the conduct of its The World of Tomorrow monthly theme. In this period, 249 Cub Scout packs participated in a nationwide aerospace activities project, a pilot project in which den leaders and Cubmasters conducted local programs for their Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts. The products of these local programs are presented with the written accounts submitted by adult leaders and written compositions, pictures, and photographs of models submitted by the youngsters.

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New results from old data - Lunar photometric anomalies in Wildey and Pohn's 1962 observations

The anomalies in V magnitude in photometric data on lunar features obtained by Wildey and Pohn (1964) are analyzed in the three colors of their UBV observations. The data have been averaged with respect to phase and graphed, and deviations from the average have been tabulated for each color. Sigma equal to or exceeding 3 for V, B-V, and U-B measures are shown on table. These variations are found to be similar to the much larger body of observations of lunar transient phenomena (LTP). The data for 25 features with 25 observations each show that in terms of individual measures the frequency of anomalies is approximately 3%, similar to frequencies obtained in other analyses of LTP data.

Cameron, W. S.↗

Mechanical suppression: Modern technology applied to an old art

Various suppressor configurations were analyzed and evaluated in an effort to reduce combustion instability and improved ballistic reproducibility of the MK 12 motor. A static firing test series of eight field return boosters featured two baseline motor firings with the existing suppressor in each motor, followed by two tests each of two different prototype suppressor designs. Results were analyzed and used to generate the design for the final two firings. Acoustic pressure pulsers were utilized to measure the damping effectiveness of the final design. The reduction in motor vibration and acoustic pressure levels between the baseline tests and the final two improved lightweight tests was significant. The average acceleration level of the motors equipped with flightweight rods was reduced to only 5% of the level in the unmodified motors; the average acoustic pressure level was reduced to 20%; maximum values were reduced to 6% for acceleration and 23% for pressure.

Crockford, W. H.↗

Deepening perspective: A new look at the old world

The development space satellites is examined with particular reference to their contributions to scientific research. The accomplishments in the fields of geodesy and the magnetosphere are reviewed in some detail.

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Optically pumped laser lines of Na2 pumped by Kr/+/ /6471 A/ and HeNe /6328 A/ lasers - Identification of old lines and prediction of possible new lines

The laser emission lines of a sodium dimer laser pumped by Kr(+) and HeNe lasers at wavelengths of 6471 and 6328 A, respectively, are identified. The Na2 fluorescence was excited in a crossed heat pipe oven at a sodium pressure of about 1 torr, and recorded spectra were compared with transition probability calculations. For the 6471-A pump, three series excited by absorption through the transitions v-prime = 13, J-prime = 35 - v-double prime = 4, J-double prime = 34; v-prime = 13, J-prime = 83 - v-double-prime = 2, J-double prime = 84 and v-prime = 20, J-prime = 98 - v-double prime = 6, J-double prime = 99 are observed in the region 6100-8350 A. At 6328 A, series excited through the transitions v-prime = 14, J-prime = 45 - v-double prime = 2, J-double prime = 46; v-prime = 16, J-prime = 17 - v-double prime = 4, J-double prime = 18; v-prime = 22, J-prime = 86 - v-double prime = 6, J-double prime = 85 and v-prime = 25, J-prime = 87 - v-double prime = 8, J-double prime = 86. Most of the previously observed optically pumped lines are found to correspond to the three level laser system. Additional wavelengths expected to undergo lasing under slightly improved conditions are also identified.

Verma, K. K.↗

Current studies of CH3D: Ye olde line drive

The CH3D molecule is an intermediate methane which has immediate importance in the study of the chemical composition of the outer planets. The deuterium present in the atmospheres of the giant planets is thought to be representative of the protosolar composition, a quantity of high interest to cosmogonists and to cosmologists. The values of D/H range from about .0002 in the interstellar medium to .00016 in sea water here on Earth. The CH3D molecule was examined as a probe of the D/H ratio.

Lutz, B. L.↗

New versions of old flow visualization systems

A small, modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer placed in series with a much larger schlieren optical system spanning the test section is examined. In one arm of the interferometer, light from the schlieren is focused through a pinhole and recollimating lens to produce a reference beam which interferes with the remaining object beam from the other arm. The object and reference beams are separated only over a small interval following the test section, and differential vibrations are greatly reduced. Color schlieren has technical, as well as aesthetic, advantages over black-and-white schlieren. Since each color is associated with a specific amount of refraction, quantitative evaluation of certain refractive-index fields becomes possible using very simple equations derived from ray trace theory. Rainbow schlieren of an acetylene flame, and the evaluated refractive index distribution are shown. Root-mean-square refractive index fluctuations in homogeneous, isotropic turbulence were determined using the rainbow schlieren, since these fluctuations determine the root-mean-square refraction, which is indicated by the overall color of the image.

Howes, W. L.↗

Eruption age of an approximately 100,000-year-old basalt from Ar-40/Ar-39 analysis of partially degassed xenoliths

Eleven samples from five partially degassed Mesozoic granitic xenoliths and two late Pleistocene host basalt samples from Sawmill Canyon in Sierra Nevada, California, have been analyzed using stepwise Ar-40/Ar-39 dating techniques. The petrography and analytic techniques are described and the results are presented. Isotopic compositions of Ar released from the xenoliths in several extraction steps at temperatures below about 900 C were colinear in Ar-36/Ar-40 versus Ar-39/Ar-40 diagrams and defined isochrons, giving a mean age of degassing of 119,000 + or - 7000 yr. Ar-40 extracted at higher temperatures included ancient radiogenic Ar-40 that never diffused from the xenoliths during immersion in the magma. This Ar-40 caused an increase in the apparent age for the high-temperature extractions. The high precision of the eruption age determined by this method is comparable to that obtained elsewhere by conventional K/Ar dating of sanidine.

Gillespie, A. R.↗

Dating Archean zircon by ion microprobe: New light on an old problem

Ion microprobe analysis of zircons from three sites (Watersmeet Dome in northern Michigan, Mount Sones in eastern Antarctica, and Mount Narryer in western Australia) is discussed. Implications of the results to Archean geochronology and early Earth crust composition are addressed.

Williams, I. S.↗