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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Surface history of Mercury - Implications for terrestrial planets

A plausible surface history of Mercury is presented which is suggested by Mariner 10 television pictures. Five periods are postulated which are delineated by successive variations in the modification of the surface by external and internal processes: accretion and differentiation, terminal heavy bombardment, formation of the Caloris basin, flooding of that basin and other areas, and light cratering accumulated on the smooth plains. Each period is described in detail; the overall history is compared with the surface histories of Venus, Mars, and the moon; and the implications of this history for earth are discussed. It is tentatively concluded that: Mercury is a differentiated planet most likely composed of a large iron core enclosed by a relatively thin silicate layer; heavy surface bombardment occurred about four billion years ago, which probably affected all the inner planets, and was followed by a period of volcanic activity; no surface modifications caused by tectonic, volcanic, or atmospheric processes took place after the volcanic period.

Murray, B. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Magnetohydrodynamic and gasdynamic aspects of solar-wind flow around terrestrial planets: A critical review

Problems in space physics are discussed whose models, in simplified form, reduce to a supersonic flow scheme with a detached shock wave, namely: (1) solar wind interaction with an intrinsic planetary magnetic field; (2) solar wind interaction with the ionized component of the atmosphere of a comet; and (3) solar wind interaction with the ionosphere of a planet which does not possess its own magnetic field. The numerical study of the above problems is performed with the use of magnetogasdynamic equations for an ideal single fluid model. From the physical veiwpoint, the problems are solved in terms of as simple phenomena as possible; the principal objective is to make recently developed methods of numerical analysis of mixed flows applicable to space physics problems.

Spreiter, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Thermal expansion and thermal stress in the moon and terrestrial planets - Clues to early thermal history

The paper discusses how features of the surface geology of the moon and also Mars and Mercury impose constraints on the volumetric expansion or contraction of a planet and consequently provide a test of thermal history models. The moon has changed very little in volume over the last 3.8 b.y. Thermal models satisfying this constraint involve early heating and perhaps melting of the outer 200 km of the moon and an initially cold interior. Mercury has contracted by about 2 km in radius since emplacement of its present surface, so core formation must predate that surface. A hot initial temperature distribution is implied.

Solomon, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Gravitational N-body problem on the accretion process of terrestrial planets

Numerical integration of the gravitational N-body problem has been carried out for a variety of protoplanetary clusters in the range N = 100 to 200. Particles are assumed to coagulate at collisions irrespective of relative velocity and mass ratio of the particles. It is shown graphically how the dispersed N-bodies accumulate to a single planet through mutual collisions. The velocity distribution and size distribution of bodies are also investigated as functions of time in the accretion process. Accretion rates of planets are found to be dependent strongly on the initial number density distribution, the initial size distribution, and the initial velocity distribution of bodies. Formation of satellites of about 10% in the planet mass is common to most cases in the present study. A substantial mass of bodies also escapes from the cluster. Many satellites and escapers formed during the accretion process of planets may be source materials of heavy bombardment in the early history of planets.

Matsui, T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Impact-induced energy partitioning, melting, and vaporization on terrestrial planets

The reported investigation was conducted in connection with the desirability to obtain information regarding the response of a solidified planetary surface to the primary impact of a meteoroid whose dimensions are small compared to that of the planet. The investigation is an extension of studies conducted by Ahrens and O'Keefe (1977) concerned with a calculation via finite-difference techniques of the entire flow field, the energy partitioning, and the quantity of melt and vapor produced upon impact of an iron object on a gabbroic anorthosite half-space at 15 km/sec. The assumptions used in these calculations are summarized. Calculations based on an equation of state for the low- and high-pressure mineral assemblage of gabbroic anorthosite, initial density 2.94 g/cu cm are considered. An algorithm is formulated for the description of the phase transformation upon shock loading. It is shown that the relative volume of melt and the equivalent volume of shock-induced vapor is proportional to the meteoroid kinetic energy (at high speeds) using the similarity scaling of projectile and target properties as suggested by Dienes and Walsh (1970).

Okeefe, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Climatic change on the terrestrial planets

Observational data related to climatic change on Venus, earth and Mars are reviewed. The channel features on Mars suggest an early to intermediate epoch of warmer and wetter climate, while the layered polar deposits imply more recent periodic variations in climate. A more reducing atmosphere, which would have produced an enhanced greenhouse effect, may have been responsible for warmer periods in the early history of Mars and earth. Detailed calculations relating atmospheric pressure and composition to the temperature state of Mars are presented. The possibility of a runaway greenhouse effect on Venus resulting in the emplacement of volatiles entirely in the atmosphere is also examined. Periodic variations in orbital eccentricity and axial obliquity may have contributed to alternating glacial and interglacial periods on earth. Mechanisms accounting for the laminated terrain of Mars, and the influence of Martian tectonic distortions on the planet's climate also receive attention.

Pollack, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Formation, history and energetics of cores in the terrestrial planets

The size, evolution and energetics of the earth's core and the probable central, metalic cores of Mercury, Venus, the moon and Mars are discussed. The cores of Mercury, Mars and the earth are considered likely to decrease in relative mass and volume with distance from the sun; the moon does not fit this sequence and data from Venus are insufficient. Core formation is concluded to have occurred early (prior to four billion years ago) on the earth and Mercury, while that on the moon would have occurred over a longer interval and the core of Mars would have formed much later. Of the possible energy sources in planetary cores able to maintain a molten state and drive magnetic dynamos, the energy of core formation was probably spent too early in planetary history to provide much present power, and the energy gained from freezing an inner core in the earth and Mercury are considered at best marginally able to match conductive heat loss. Future measurements proposed to improve the quantitative understanding of core properties include a better documentation of the magnetic fields of Venus and Mars and the seismometry of Mars.

Solomon, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Parameterized convection within the moon and the terrestrial planets

For a fluid layer or a self-gravitating fluid sphere uniformly heated from within, the internal temperature can be parameterized in terms of the appropriate Rayleigh number. The heat generation term includes both radioactive heat release and transient heating or cooling. This parameterization has been verified by comparisons with laboratory experiments. Thermal history calculations have been carried out for the earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury, and the moon. The results for the earth and Venus indicate that two scales of convection are occurring, one including the surface plates and the second occurring beneath the surface plates. In all cases the present heat flows are between seven and twelve per cent greater than the values obtained assuming a steady state balance between heat flow and internal heat generation.

Turcotte, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A new predictive model for determining solar wind-terrestrial planet interactions

A computational model has been developed for the determination of the gasdynamic and magnetic field properties of the solar wind flow around a magnetic planet, such as the earth, or a nonmagnetic planet, such as Venus. The procedures are based on an established single-fluid, steady, dissipationless, magnetogasdynamic model and are appropriate for the calculation of axisymmetric, supersonic, super-Alfvenic solar wind flow past a planetary magneto/ionosphere. Sample results are reported for a variety of solar wind and planetary conditions. Some of these are new applications; others are included to show that the new procedures produce the same results as previous procedures when applied to the same conditions. The new methods are completely automated and much more efficient and versatile than those employed heretofore.

Spreiter, J. R.↗