SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “change point”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1972

The effects of various cure cycles upon the viability of Bacillus subtillis var. niger spores within solid propellant.

Saturethane solid propellant was used in all tests. The spore inoculum was evenly distributed in the propellant. Samples weighing approximately 5 g were aseptically removed, placed into curing ovens, and exposed to cure temperatures. Initial tests were conducted at 82 and 93 C. Analysis of the obtained data indicated that the survivor curves were not linear. Exposure of the inoculated propellant samples to 93 C reduced the initial population to less than 0.01% in about 20 hours. At 82 C, approximately 168 hours were required for a similar reduction. Tests involving curing temperatures of 105 and 115 C were also conducted. It is pointed out that changes in the mechanism of spore inactivation due to chemical and physical changes in the propellant could account for the nonlinear survivor curves obtained.

Brewer, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1973

California coast nearshore processes study

The author has identified the following significant results. This report contains the techniques used for enhancing and analyzing nearshore processes from ERTS-1 and aircraft data. Four California nearshore sites are used as test cells including the San Francisco area, Monterey Bay, Santa Barbara Channel, and Los Angeles area. Techniques used for analyzing the test cells included direct photographic processing, computer compatible tape gain change enhancement, discrete point density analysis and plotting, and densitometer enhancement. Using these methods, it is possible to measure the seaward extent of the suspended sediment transport and to differentiate sediment levels within the individual sediment lobes. The movement of riverine discharged suspensates and coastal sediments by currents was an intricate part of the sediment transport analysis. The larger estuaries in the test cell areas were also studied for flushing characteristics.

Pirie, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Acoustic properties of organic acid mixtures in water

The variation of the rate of propagation of ultrasounds in organic acid mixtures in water points to structural changes caused by interactions that take place under conditions of thermal agitation, at different acid concentrations. At the same time, a difference is found in the changes in velocity as a function of the length of the carbon chain of the acids in the mixture as a result of their effect on the groups of water molecules associated by hydrogen bonds.

Macavei, I.↗

NASA NTRS1974

A practical obstacle detection system for the Mars Rover

Discussion of an obstacle detection system which uses a laser range finder as the principal sensing device. The laser scans the scene ahead and stores the range data for the terrain in a matrix form. This matrix can be thought of as a 'range image'. This range varies from point to point, but sharp changes are caused by the presence of obstacles. Some existing algorithms and one developed by the authors were used to obtain the outlines of obstacles from the 'range image'. All these algorithms end with a thresholding operation. A theoretical analysis shows how a proper value of the threshold may be chosen, given the type of irregularity of the terrain to be detected. The analysis also shows how large the statistics of measurement noise can be allowed without leading to false alarms.

Reed, M.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Red cell metabolism studies on Skylab

On the basis of these background data, metabolic studies were performed on humans involved in space flight. These studies included the Skylab experiences. The primary purpose of the investigations was to study red cells for: (1) evidences of lipid peroxidation, or (2) changes at various points in the glycolytic pathway. The Skylab missions were an opportunity to study blood samples before, during, and after flight and to compare results with simultaneous controls. No direct evidence that lipid peroxidation had occurred in the red blood cells was apparent in the studies.

Mengel, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Equilibrium properties of chemically reacting gases

The equilibrium energy, enthalpy, entropy, specific heat at constant volume and constant pressure, and the equation of state of the gas are all derived for chemically reacting gas mixtures in terms of the compressibility, the mol fractions, the thermodynamic properties of the pure gas components, and the change in zero point energy due to reaction. Results are illustrated for a simple diatomic dissociation reaction and nitrogen is used as an example. Next, a gas mixture resulting from combined diatomic dissociation and atomic ionization reactions is treated and, again, nitrogen is used as an example. A short discussion is given of the additional complexities involved when precise solutions for high-temperature air are desired, including effects caused by NO produced in shuffle reactions and by other trace species formed from CO2, H2O and Ar found in normal air.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1976

Laminar flow at a three-dimensional stagnation point with large rates of injection

Exact calculations of the titled flow are presented and compared to the predictions of an asymptotic analysis for large rates of injection. The inner layer of the boundary layer is found to involve outflow in both orthogonal directions whether the external flow along the y axis is inward or outward. As a result, the flow at a nearly two-dimensional stagnation point involves drastic changes as a weak outflow changes to a weak inflow. It is also found that the velocity profiles in the two directions in the inner layer are quite different.

Libby, P. A.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Compensated control loops for a 30-cm ion thruster

The vaporizer dynamic control characteristics of a 30-cm diameter mercury ion thruster were determined by operating the thruster in an open loop steady state mode and then introducing a small sinusoidal signal on the main, cathode, or neutralizer vaporizer current and observing the response of the beam current, discharge voltage, and neutralizer keeper voltage, respectively. This was done over a range of frequencies and operating conditions. From these data, Bode plots for gain and phase were made and mathematical models were obtained. The Bode plots and mathematical models were analyzed for stability and appropriate compensation networks determined. The compensated control loops were incorporated into a power processor and operated with a thruster. The time responses of the compensated loops to changes in set points and recovery from arc conditions are presented.

Robson, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Compensated control loops for a 30-cm ion thruster

Robson, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Conceptual development of the Laser Beam Manifold (LBM)

The laser beam manifold, a device for transforming a single, narrow, collimated beam of light into several beams of desired intensity ratios is described. The device consists of a single optical substrate with a metallic coating on both optical surfaces. By changing the entry point, the number of outgoing beams can be varied.

Campbell, W.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A propulsion system for the Mars rover vehicle

The vehicle control electronics for the Mars rover vehicle is described. A functional description of the electronics and its place in the entire system is given. The hardware involved is described from a user's point of view. Changes and additions to the software are included.

Bogdan, D. C.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Power availability at terrestrial receptor sites for laser-power transmission from the satellite power system

A statistical model was developed for relating the temporal transmission parameters of a laser beam from a solar power satellite to observable meteorological data to determine the influence of weather on power reception at the earth-based receiver. Sites within 100 miles of existing high voltage transmission lines were examined and the model was developed for clear-sky and clouded conditions. The cases of total transmission through clouds at certain wavelengths, no transmission, and partial transmission were calculated for the cloud portion of the model. The study covered cirriform, stratiform, cumiliform, and mixed type clouds and the possibility of boring holes through the clouds with the beam. Utilization of weapons-quality beams for hole boring, was found to yield power availability increases of 9-33%, although no beneficial effects could be predicted in regions of persistent cloud cover. An efficiency of 80% was determined as possible if several receptor sites were available within 200-300 miles of each other, thereby allowing changes of reception point in cases of unacceptable meteorological conditions.

Beverly, R. E., III↗

NASA NTRS1984

The Atmospheric Extinction Problem

Atmospheric extinction, which is one of the main causes of errors in photometry is investigated. The incorrect determination of the extinction coefficient, and its variability, leads to an erroneous measurement. An erroneous extinction coefficient can arise from a number of causes including: (1) instrumental instabilities; (2) too few data points; (3) temporal changes in the atmosphere; and (4) differing airmasses due to components with different scale heights. While it is true that differential measuring techniques can achieve a precision approaching 0.1 percent, at higher levels of precision all of the above causes will be significant sources of error. The conditions that must be met in order to properly determine and correct for atmospheric extinction are discussed.

Angione, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The 3600 hp split-torque helicopter transmission

Final design details of a helicopter transmission that is powered by GE twin T 700 engines each rated at 1800 hp are presented. It is demonstrated that in comparison with conventional helicopter transmission arrangements the split torque design offers: weight reduction of 15%; reduction in drive train losses of 9%; and improved reliability resulting from redundant drive paths between the two engines and the main shaft. The transmission fits within the NASA LeRC 3000 hp Test Stand and accepts the existing positions for engine inputs, main shaft, connecting drive shafts, and the cradle attachment points. One necessary change to the test stand involved gear trains of different ratio in the tail drive gearbox. Progressive uprating of engine input power from 3600 to 4500 hp twin engine rating is allowed for in the design. In this way the test transmission will provide a base for several years of analytical, research, and component development effort targeted at improving the performance and reliability of helicopter transmission.

White, G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Structural/control interaction (payload pointing and micro-g)

A 203rd order simulation model was developed to evaluate the space station customer accommodation payload pointing and micro-g requirements. The simulation shows the pointing errors on the telescope are significantly smaller than at the base of the telescope. The pointing results could change when the parametric studies are performed. The results show the micro-g requirement is met with an active isolation system.

Larson, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Galactic survey of interstellar abundances and selective extinction with IUE and IRAS

High resolution IUE spectra were used to derive ultraviolet extinction curves in the interstellar medium. Results confirm those of other surveys. The amount of gas, the dust temperature, and infrared cirrus emission do not alter the overall shape of the UV curve, but they do change the zero point. Cloud (grain) history may affect the overall slope of the UV extinction curve. The UV bump strength is related to the amount of far ultraviolet curvature. The bump strength appears to depend on the depletion of Mn and Zn but not on Si or Fe. The bump wavelength varies with the linear background of extinction.

Vansteenberg, Michael E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A programmable video image remapper

NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) has created the specifications for a new kind of image processing machine, a video-rate coordinate remapper. Previous image-processing machines for machine vision typically have done point operations without changing the geometry of the image. The JSC Programmable Remapper offers complete flexibility in changing the coordinates of an input image at video rates. Presented here are the main capabilities and some of the applications of such a device.

Fisher, Timothy E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Effects of structural offset, axial shortening, and gravitational torque on the slewing of a flexible spacecraft

The large-angle maneuvering of a Shuttle-beam-reflector spacecraft in the plane of a circular earth orbit is examined by considering the effects of the structural offset connection, the axial shortening, and the gravitational torque on the slewing motion. The offset effect is analyzed by changing the attachment point of the reflector to the beam. As the attachment point is moved away from the mass center of the reflector, the responses of the nonlinear system deviate from those of the linearized system. The axial geometric shortening effect induced by the deformation of the beam contributes to the system equations through second order terms in the modal amplitudes and rates. The gravitational torque effect is relatively small.

Li, Feiyue↗