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At least 235 records · Page 13

Orbital Space Plane (OSP) Program at Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin has been an active participant in NASA's Space Launch Initiative (SLI) programs over the past several years. SLI, part of NASA's Integrated Space Transportation Plan (ISTP), was restructured in November 2002 to focus the overall theme of safer, more affordable space transportation along two paths the Orbital Space Plane (OSP) and the Next Generation Launch Technology programs. The Orbital Space Plane program has the goal of providing rescue capability from the International Space Station by 2008 or earlier and transfer capability for crew (and contingency cargo) by 2012. The Next Generation Launch Technology program is combining research and development efforts from the 2d Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (2GRLV) program with cutting-edge, advanced space transportation programs (previously designated 31d Generation) into one program aimed at enabling safe, reliable, cost-effective reusable launch systems by the middle of the next decade. Lockheed Martin is one of three prime contractors working to bring Orbital Space Plane system concepts to a system design level of maturity by December 2003. This paper and presentation will update the aerospace community on the progress of the OSP program, from an industry perspective, and provide insights into Lockheed Martin's role in enabling the vision of a safer, more affordable means of taking people to and from space.

Ford, Robert↗

Orbital Space Plane (OSP) Program

Lockheed Martin has been an active participant in NASA's Space Launch Initiative (SLI) programs over the past several years. SLI, part of NASA's Integrated Space Transportation Plan (ISTP), was restructured in November of 2002 to focus the overall theme of safer, more afford-able space transportation along two paths - the Orbital Space Plane Program and the Next Generation Launch Technology programs. The Orbital Space Plane Program has the goal of providing rescue capability from the International Space Station by 2008 and transfer capability for crew (and limited cargo) by 2012. The Next Generation Launch Technology program is combining research and development efforts from the 2nd Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (2GRLV) program with cutting-edge, advanced space transportation programs (previously designated 3rd Generation) into one program aimed at enabling safe, reliable, cost-effective reusable launch systems by the middle of the next decade. Lockheed Martin is one of three prime contractors working to bring Orbital Space Plane system concepts to a system definition level of maturity by December of 2003. This paper and presentation will update the international community on the progress of the' OSP program, from an industry perspective, and provide insights into Lockheed Martin's role in enabling the vision of a safer, more affordable means of taking people to and from space.

McKenzie, Patrick M.↗

Let Dependent Low Dose and Synergistic Inhibition of Human Angiogenesis by Charged Particles: Validation of Micrornas That Drive Inhibition

The microvasculature permeates all tissues at the microscopic level making the whole body a target for Space Radiation. Depending on the trajectory a single heavy ion particle would traverse many micro-vessels as it passes through the body causing a widespread response. Studies on the effects of charged particles on the development of human 3D micro-vessel models show that angiogenesis is inhibited by all ions detectible at a dose of 1.25c Gy. However, there are two distinct mechanisms of inhibition depending on the linear energy transfer (LET). We show here that the inhibition of angiogenesis is demarcated into two groups. The blockage of the early motile stage of micro-vessel development occurs after exposure to light ions (LET 3 KeV/n or lower) whereas the prevention of the later stages of development when the microvessels widen into tubes occurs after exposure to heavy ions (LET 8 KeV/n or higher). Strikingly, the combined effect of each ion has a synergistic effect detectible as low as 0.6 cGy. The low fluence of these doses indicates a bystander effect where the response is transmitted to other cells by the secretion of molecules by targeted cells. Prime candidates are microRNAs (miRNAs) and we have previously identified three angiogenesis-associated miRNA regulators from serum, cardiac tissue, and micro-vessels exposed to a simplified Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) simulation – a mixture of heavy and light ions found in Space. Synthetic molecules (Antagomirs) designed to inhibit the predicted miRNAs were successfully used to reverse the inhibition of angiogenesis by Space Radiation. With the simple application of the antagomirs as a countermeasure we have for the first time shown an amelioration of the complex response(s) of angiogenesis to Space Radiation. This opens a new avenue of possible mitigation strategies based on the regulation and understanding of master regulators. These results not only have impact with Space Radiation research, but also provide clues of possible therapeutics for terrestrial diseases in the clinical setting.

Yen-Ruh Wuu↗

Investigating the Effects of Gamma Radiation on Selected Chemicals for Use in Biosignature Detection Instruments on the Surface of Jupiter's Moon Europa

Jupiter's moon Europa is a prime target for the search for potential signs of life in the solar system. The Europa Lander Science Definition Team Report outlined investigations and measurement requirements on a future Europa Lander and has led us to consider application of powerful techniques such as pyrolysis and derivatization gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and laser desorption mass spectrometry (LD-MS) to elucidate the organic composition of near-surface ice and minerals. Definitive identification of chemical biosignatures using such techniques is strongly enabled by the use of various chemicals, such as perfluorotributylamine (PFTBA) for the MS calibration, α-cyano-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) for matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) and N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMF-DMA), N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) for wet chemistry GC-MS protocols. The jovian radiation environment is known to represent a uniquely challenging risk to mission performance and lifetime, principally due to high radiation levels. To assess the potential ionizing radiation damage to these important chemicals, we tested their effectiveness following gamma radiation exposure doses up to the anticipated Europa Lander rating requirement of 300 krad(Si). The chemicals were sealed in glass ampules under vacuum (<10 mTorr), to reduce trapped oxygen gas, as the oxidation by O2 may be enhanced in the presence of radiation. We report that all five chemicals exposed to total ionizing doses of 0, 150 and 300 krad(Si) maintained their full effectiveness, and no significant degradation was observed.

Radiation↗

On the stereoselective aminoacylation of RNA

Gabbay and Kleinman (1970) have found that stereospecific complex formation (noncovalent) occurs between nucleic acids and a number of derivatives of amino acids. However, until recently, chiral selection in any nonenzymatic RNA-aminoacylation reaction was unknown. Profy and Usher (1984) reported that aminoacylation of the 'internal' 2-prime-ester occurred with a significant amount of stereoselection. Profy and Usher (1984) have also observed that aminoacylation of the 'internal' 2-prime-hydroxyl groups of polyribonucleotides by the imidazolide of N-3,5-dinitrobenzoylalanine occurs with chiral selection. In order to obtain further information regarding the considered phenomena, a systematic investigation was initiated of the factors which contribute to the observed stereoselectivity of the aminoacylation reaction. In the present paper, the effect of a change in the amino acid from alanine to leucine is considered along with an investigation of the D- and L-alanyl internal' 2-prime esters of the dinucleoside monophosphate of 3-prime,5-prime-ApA.

Usher, D. A.↗

The effect of hydrogen on the deformation and fracture of PWA 1480

The effect of internal hydrogen on mechanical properties and fracture behavior is studied in the single-crystal nickel-base superalloy PWA 1480. In particular, plane strain fracture toughness and tensile tests have been performed in hydrogen-free samples and hydrogen-gas phase-charged samples in two different sample orientations. The mechanical properties, as well as the fracture process, were found to be very dependent on orientation. Hydrogen did not affect the yield strength but reduced the uniform tensile elongation more than 75 percent. However, hydrogen reduced the tensile reduction-in-area and the fracture toughness by only 10 percent. Cleavage of the eutectic gamma-prime, as well as the role of hydrogen trapping, will be discussed. These results will be analyzed in terms of the effects that orientation, microstructure, and hydrogen have on the fracture process.

Walston, W. S.↗

Effects of C and Hf concentration on phase relations and microstructure of a wrought powder-metallurgy superalloy

NASA IIB-11, a candidate alloy for advanced temperature turbine engine disks, and four modifications with varying C and Hf concentrations were produced from prealloyed powders. Several notable effects of C and Hf concentration in the alloys were observed. Both the amount of the gamma-prime phase and its solvus temperature increased with decreasing C, but only the gamma-prime solvus was affected by Hf, increasing with increasing Hf. Hf also promoted a cellular gamma-prime precipitation. Hf was, however, about equally distributed between gamma-prime and gamma. Hf and C both affected the carbides formed. Increasing both promoted formation of an MC relative to that of an M6C.

Miner, R. V., Jr.↗

A conceptual design study of the reusable reentry satellite

Experimentation leading to an understanding of life processes under reduced and extremely low gravitational forces will profoundly contribute to the success of future space missions involving humans. In addition to research on gravitational biology, research on the effects of cosmic radiation and the interruption and change of circadian rhythms on life systems is also of prime importance. Research in space, however, is currently viewed by biological scientists as an arena that is essential, yet largely inaccessible to them for their experimentation. To fulfill this need, a project and spacecraft system described as the Reusuable Reentry Satellite or Lifesat has been proposed by NASA.

Swenson, Byron L.↗

Effect of Zn additions on precipitation during aging of alloy 8090

Precipitation events have been observed by TEM under two different aging conditions in three 'stretched' alloys, whose compositions are encompassed by the 8090 composition window but contain Zn additions of up to 1.07 wt pct. DSC was also used to obtain deeper insight of the precipitation-event effects obtainable through Zn content variation; it was thereby revealed that Zn is incorporated into the delta-prime phase, perhaps stabilizing it. Coarse, Zn-containing precipitates can form on the boundaries and within the interiors of the grains, when the Zn content reaches the presently investigated maximum of 1.07 wt pct.

Kilmer, R. J.↗

A non-linear mathematical model for dynamic analysis of spur gears including shaft and bearing dynamics

A six-degree-of-freedom nonlinear semi-definite model with time varying mesh stiffness has been developed for the dynamic analysis of spur gears. The model includes a spur gear pair, two shafts, two inertias representing load and prime mover, and bearings. As the shaft and bearing dynamics have also been considered in the model, the effect of lateral-torsional vibration coupling on the dynamics of gears can be studied. In the nonlinear model developed several factors such as time varying mesh stiffness and damping, separation of teeth, backlash, single- and double-sided impacts, various gear errors and profile modifications have been considered. The dynamic response to internal excitation has been calculated by using the 'static transmission error method' developed. The software prepared (DYTEM) employs the digital simulation technique for the solution, and is capable of calculating dynamic tooth and mesh forces, dynamic factors for pinion and gear, dynamic transmission error, dynamic bearing forces and torsions of shafts. Numerical examples are given in order to demonstrate the effect of shaft and bearing dynamics on gear dynamics.

Ozguven, H. Nevzat↗

Flow-induced gelation of living (micellar) polymers

The effect of shear velocity gradients on the size (L) of rodlike micelles in dilute and semidilute solution is considered. A kinetic equation is introduced for the time-dependent concentration of aggregates of length L, consisting of 'bimolecular' combination processes L + L-prime yield (L + L-prime) and unimolecular fragmentations L yield L + (L - L-prime). The former are described by a generalization (from spheres to rods) of the Smoluchowski mechanism for shear-induced coalesence of emulsions, and the latter by incorporating the tension-deformation effects due to flow. Steady-state solutions to the kinetic equation are obtained, with the corresponding mean micellar size evaluated as a function of the Peclet number P (i.e., the dimensionless ratio of the flow rate and the rotational diffusion coefficient). For sufficiently dilute solutions, only a weak dependence of the micellar size on P is found. In the semidilute regime, however, an apparent divergence in the micellar size at P of about 1 suggests a flow-induced first-order gelation phenomenon.

Bruinsma, Robijn↗

Linear and nonlinear mechanical properties of a series of epoxy resins

The linear viscoelastic properties have been measured for a series of bisphenol-A-based epoxy resins cured with the diamine DDS. The linear viscoelastic master curves were constructed via time-temperature superposition of frequency dependent G-prime and G-double-prime isotherms. The G-double-prime master curves exhibited two sub-Tg transitions. Superposition of isotherms in the glass-to-rubber transition (i.e., alpha) and the beta transition at -60 C was achieved by simple horizontal shifts in the log frequency axis; however, in the region between alpha and beta, superposition could not be effected by simple horizontal shifts along the log frequency axis. The different temperature dependency of the alpha and beta relaxation mechanisms causes a complex response of G-double-prime in the so called alpha-prime region. A novel numerical procedure has been developed to extract the complete relaxation spectra and its temperature dependence from the G-prime and G-double-prime isothermal data in the alpha-prime region.

Curliss, D. B.↗

Scaling effects of defects in fiber-reinforced composites

Material defects may be introduced willingly or unwillingly during material manufacturing and structural component fabrication stages. Their presence in the material plays a dominant role in determining the material's strength and the associate failure mechanisms. In the sense that the size and the number of defects may increase with the volume of the material, the effect of dimensional scaling may manifest itself in the dependence of material strength on volume. Or, alternatively, there may exist a scaling effect of material defects. In fiber-reinforced composites, manufacturing or fabrication defects may come in several forms: matrix voids, matrix microcracks, fiber misalignment, broken fibers, or interface disbonds, just to mention a few. These are interacting and competing defects in the sense that one type of defect may become dominant under one stress condition and another type of defect may become dominant under a different stress condition. This happens because the fiber reinforcement network, together with the distribution of defects, constitutes the prime microstructure of the composite, and there exist continued interactions between the evolving microstructure and the distribution of defects. In the process, the scaling effects of defects are complicated by this interaction. In this presentation, the scaling effects of defects in fiber-reinforced composites will be briefly discussed with the introduction of the concept of effective defects. It is then shown with the aid of some actual experimental and analysis results that the scaling effects are very much present, but they are regulated by the characteristic dimension of the composite microstructure due to the aforementioned microstructure-defect interaction effect.

Wang, A. S. D.↗

Priming antibody responses to the fusion peptide in rhesus macaques

Immunodominance of antibodies targeting non-neutralizing epitopes and the high level of somatic hypermutation within germinal centers (GCs) required for most HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) are major impediments to the development of an effective HIV vaccine. Rational protein vaccine design and non-conventional immunization strategies are potential avenues to overcome these hurdles. Here, we report using implantable osmotic pumps to continuously deliver a series of epitope-targeted immunogens to rhesus macaques over the course of six months to prime and elicit antibody responses against the conserved fusion peptide (FP). GC responses and antibody specificities were tracked longitudinally using lymph node fine-needle aspirates and electron microscopy polyclonal epitope mapping (EMPEM), respectively, to show antibody responses to the FP/N611 glycan hole region were primed, although exhibited limited neutralization breadth. Application of cryoEMPEM delineated key residues for on-target and off-target responses that can drive the next round of structure-based vaccine design.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Operation Fishbowl

Fishbowl’s primary objective was to generate data on electromagnetic pulses (EMP), the creation and behavior of auroras, and the impact of a high altitude nuclear burst on radio communications. Previous high altitude tests (Teak, Orange, and Yucca) were not instrumented to provide such data, which was deemed critical to countering any Soviet high altitude bursts. The first test of Fishbowl, Starfish Prime, exploded on July 9th with a yield of 1.4 megatons. Standing on Christmas Island, Austin McGuire witnessed the effects of the event.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

Spatial acquisition of optical sources in the presence of intense interference

The problem of spatially acquiring an optical beacon in the presence of intense optical interference is considered. It is demonstrated that conventional acquisition procedures cannot establish acceptable levels of acquisition probability when competing with strong optical interference without requiring unreasonable amounts of prime power. As a possible solution, it is shown that a more sophisticated acquisition scheme can virtually eliminate the effects of optical interference while requiring only a modest increase in system complexity.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗

An ab initio calculation of the zero-field splitting parameters of the 3A-double prime state of formaldehyde

The spin dipole-dipole and spin-orbit contributions to the zero-field splitting of the 3A-double prime state of formaldehyde have been evaluated at the excited state experimental geometry. Ab initio CI wave functions were generated from a Dunning double zeta plus polarization bases set using 3A-double prime rhf orbitals. Twelve states of each symmetry were used to evaluate the second-order spin-orbit effect. The resulting values of D and E were 0.19 and 0.03 kayser with the principal magnetic axes rotated 36 deg from the CO bond. The values of alpha and beta relative to the inertial axes were calculated to be 0.03 and 0.01 kayser compared to the experimental values of 0.05 plus or minus 0.01 and 0.02 plus or minus 0.02 kayser.

Davidson, E. R.↗

Advanced pointing systems for space astronomy

It is noted that the requirements on image stability are increasing, often at the same time that instrument external disturbances are increasing. A prime example of this is the pointing of large diameter optics from the Shuttle bay. To achieve cost-effective advanced pointing systems in the face of these problems, a system approach must be followed, one that encompasses a realistic assessment of requirements, the best possible detector technology, and a broad look at space vehicles and pointing systems that are available. By way of example, a rocket instrument for making measurements of the interstellar gas that uses a standard pointing system to achieve a spectral resolution of 2 x 10 to the 5th is described. It is noted that the use of a free-flying instrument avoids the high-frequency components that degrade the instrument resolution.

Delamere, W. A.↗