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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 235 records · Page 13
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NASA NTRS1987

A near-earth optical communications terminal with a corevolving planetary sun shield

The umbra of a planet may serve as a sun shield for a space based optical communications terminal or for a space based astronomical observatory. An orbit that keeps the terminal or observatory within the umbra is desirable. There is a corevolution point behind every planet. A small body stabilized at the planet corevolution point will revolve about the sun at the same angular velocity as the planet, always keeping the planet between itself and the sun. This corevolution point is within the umbra of Mars but beyond the end of the umbra for Mercury, Venus, and earth. The Mars corevolution point is an ideal location for an astronomical observatory. There Mars obstruct less than 0.00024 percent of the sky at any time, and it shades the observatory completely from the sun. At the earth corevolution point, between 51 and 84 percent of the solar disk area is blocked, as is up to 92 percent of the sunlight. This provides a reduction from 3 dB to 11 dB in sunlight that could interfere with optical communications if scattered directly into the detectors. The variations is caused by revolution of the earth about the earth-moon barycenter.

Kerr, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Space station solar concentrator materials research

The Space Station will represent the first time that a solar dynamic power system will be used to generate electrical power in space. In a system such as this, sunlight is collected and focused by a solar concentrator onto the receiver of a heat engine which converts the energy into electricity. The concentrator must be capable of collecting and focusing as much of the incident sunlight as possible, and it must also withstand the atomic oxygen bombardment which occurs in low Earth orbit (LEO). This has led to the development of a system of thin film coatings applied to the concentrator facet surface in a chamber designed especially for this purpose. The system of thin film coatings employed gives both the necessary degree of reflectance and the required protection from the LEO atomic oxygen environment.

Gulino, Daniel A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Earth anisotropic reflection and the orbit of LAGEOS

Radiation pressure due to sunlight anisotropically reflected from the oceans apparently cannot explain the fluctuations in the anomalous along-track deceleration of the LAGEOS satellite. It fails by about a factor of 2 to account for the major peaks in the acceleration. This result is based on an extreme model: a cloudless earth whose northern hemisphere consists of continent, and whose southern hemisphere consists of ocean. The continent is assumed to reflect sunlight according to Lambert's law, while the ocean reflects anisotropically according to a simple analytical law which mimics Nimbus 7 observations. The inclusion of clouds into the model would reduce the acceleration to perhaps an order of magnitude below those observed. Some other explanation for the fluctuations, which have magnitude about 2 x 10 to the -12th m/sec sq, must be sought.

Rubincam, David Parry↗
NASA NTRS1989

Heated Rack For Weathering Tests

Outdoor photothermal aging reactor (OPTAR) simple device exposing polymer specimens to both heat and natural sunlight. Intended to provide accelerated aging data for service life of polymers used in outdoor environments. In principle, OPTAR accelerates (but does not initiate) degradation of polymers resulting from sunlight and other weathering effect (eg. rain, wind, ozone). Aging of tested material accelerated, but under almost-natural conditions.

Cuddihy, Edward F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

System characterization of a magnetically suspended flywheel

The purpose of flywheel energy storage is to provide a means to save energy during times when the satellite is in sunlight, and then return the energy during the time when the satellite is in darkness. Typically, an energy storage device operates cyclically, where for satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) the typical period is 60 minutes of sunlight followed by 30 minutes of darkness. If a lifetime of 17 years is required the energy storage system must be capable of sustaining approximately 100,000 cycles. The recent developments at the University of Maryland and how these progressions apply to a 500 Watt-hour magnetically suspended flywheel stack energy storage system are covered. The work includes hardware testing results from a stack flywheel energy storage system, improvements in the area of non-contacting displacement transducers, and performance enhancements of magnetic bearings. The experimental results show that a stack flywheel energy storage system is a feasible technology.

Kirk, James A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Search for Martian fossil communities: Science strategies, sediment sites, and sample handling

The strategy for locating and sampling possible fossilized Martian organisms benefits from our experience with fossil microbial ecosystems on Earth. Evidence of early life is typically preserved as stromatolites in carbonates and cherts, and as microfossils in cherts, carbonates and shales. Stromatolites, which are laminated flat or domal structures built by microbial communities, are very likely the oldest and most widespread relics of early life. These communities flourished in supratidal to subtidal coastal benthic environments, wherever sunlight was available and where incoming sediments were insufficient to bury the communities before they became established. A logical site for such communities on Mars might be those areas in an ancient lake bed which were furthest from sediment input, but were still sufficiently shallow to have received sunlight. Therefore, although some sites within Valles Marineris might have contained ponded water, the possibly abundant sediment inputs might have overwhelmed stromatolite-like communities. Localized depressions which acted as catchment basins for ancient branched valley systems might be superior sites. Perhaps such depressions received drainage which, because of the relatively modest water discharges implied for these streams, was relatively low in transported sediment. Multiple streams converging on a single basin might have been able to maintain a shallow water environment for extended periods of time.

Desmarais, David J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Global environmental effects of impact-generated aerosols: Results from a general circulation model

Cooling and darkening at Earth's surface are expected to result from the interception of sunlight by the high altitude worldwide dust cloud generated by impact of a large asteroid or comet, according to the one-dimensional radioactive-convective atmospheric model (RCM) of Pollack et al. An analogous three-dimensional general circulation model (GCM) simulation obtains the same basic result as the RCM but there are important differences in detail. In the GCM simulation the heat capacity of the oceans, not included in the RCM, substantially mitigates land surface cooling. On the other hand, the GCM's low heat capacity surface allows surface temperatures to drop much more rapidly than reported by Pollack et al. These two differences between RCM and GCM simulations were noted previously in studies of nuclear winter; GCM results for comet/asteroid winter, however, are much more severe than for nuclear winter because the assumed aerosol amount is large enough to intercept all sunlight falling on Earth. In the simulation the global average of land surface temperature drops to the freezing point in just 4.5 days, one-tenth the time required in the Pollack et al. simulation. In addition to the standard case of Pollack et al., which represents the collision of a 10-km diameter asteroid with Earth, additional scenarios are considered ranging from the statistically more frequent impacts of smaller asteroids to the collision of Halley's comet with Earth. In the latter case the kinetic energy of impact is extremely large due to the head-on collision resulting from Halley's retrograde orbit.

Covey, C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Global environmental effects of impact-generated aerosols: Results from a general circulation model, revision 1

Interception of sunlight by the high altitude worldwide dust cloud generated by impact of a large asteroid or comet would lead to substantial land surface cooling, according to our three-dimensional atmospheric general circulation model (GCM). This result is qualitatively similar to conclusions drawn from an earlier study that employed a one-dimensional atmospheric model, but in the GCM simulation the heat capacity of the oceans substantially mitigates land surface cooling, an effect that one-dimensional models cannot quantify. On the other hand, the low heat capacity of the GCM's land surface allows temperatures to drop more rapidly in the initial stage of cooling than in the one-dimensional model study. These two differences between three-dimensional and one-dimensional model simulations were noted previously in studies of nuclear winter; GCM-simulated climatic changes in the Alvarez-inspired scenario of asteroid/comet winter, however, are more severe than in nuclear winter because the assumed aerosol amount is large enough to intercept all sunlight falling on earth. Impacts of smaller objects could also lead to dramatic, though less severe, climatic changes, according to our GCM. Our conclusion is that it is difficult to imagine an asteroid or comet impact leading to anything approaching complete global freezing, but quite reasonable to assume that impacts at the Alvarez level, or even smaller, dramatically alter the climate in at least a patchy sense.

Covey, Curt↗
NASA NTRS1989

Ozone minimum occurs in Antarctica in the springtime

Observations on the formation of the Antarctic ozone hole in the upper atmosphere are summarized, and the mechanism responsible for the ozone depletion in the spring is examined. It is shown that the sequence of events begins with the absorption of H2O, N2O5, HCl, and ClONO2 on the cloud ice particles in the winter and chemical reactions among absorbed chemicals which release (HNO3)s, Cl2, HOCl, and ClNO2. With the return of sunlight in the spring, the clouds evaporate, and the Cl2, HOCl, and ClONO2 molecules are destroyed by sunlight to form Cl atoms. These attack ozone, producing a reduction of ozone that accounts for the bulk of the ozone decrease observed by the ground-based ozone monitors. Data on the ozone concentration for the period between 1957 through 1987 indicate that the southern ozone hole has been intensifying since 1975 as the amount of man-made chlorine increases.

Aikin, Arthur C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Fraunhofer filters to reduce solar background for optical communications

A wavelength that lies within a spectral interval of reduced solar emission (a Fraunhofer line) can carry optical communications with reduced interference from direct or reflected background sunlight. Suitable Fraunhofer lines are located within the tuning range of good candidate lasers. The laser should be tunable dynamically to track Doppler shifts in the sunlight incident on any solar system body that may appear in the background as viewed by the receiver. A Fraunhofer filter used with a direct-detection receiver should be tuned to match the Doppler shifts of the source and background. The required tuning calculated here for various situations is also required if, instead, one uses a heterodyne receiver with limited post-detection bandwidth.

Kerr, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Global environmental effects of impact-generated aerosols: Results from a general circulation model

Interception of sunlight by the high altitude worldwide dust cloud generated by impact of a large asteroid or comet would lead to substantial land surface cooling, according to the three-dimensional atmospheric general circulation model (GCM). This result is qualitatively similar to conclusions drawn from an earlier study that employed a one-dimensional atmospheric model, but in the GCM simulation the heat capacity of the oceans, not included in the one-dimensional model, substantially mitigates land surface cooling. On the other hand, the low heat capacity of the GCM's land surface allows temperatures to drop more rapidly in the initial stages of cooling than in the one-dimensional model study. GCM-simulated climatic changes in the scenario of asteroid/comet winter are more severe than in nuclear winter because the assumed aerosol amount is large enough to intercept all sunlight falling on earth. Impacts of smaller objects could also lead to dramatic, though of course less severe, climatic changes, according to the GCM. An asteroid or comet impact would not lead to anything approaching complete global freezing, but quite reasonable to assume that impacts would dramatically alter the climate in at least a patchy sense.

Covey, Curt↗
NASA NTRS1989

A near-earth optical communications terminal with a corevolving planetary sun shield

The umbra of a planet may serve as a sun shield for a space-based optical communications terminal or for a space-based astronomical observatory. An orbit that keeps the terminal or observatory within the umbra is desirable. There is a corevolution point behind every planet. A small body stabilized at the planet corevolution point will revolve about the sun at the same angular velocity as the planet, always keeping the planet between itself and the sun. This corevolution point is within the umbra of Mars but beyond the end of the umbra for Mercury, Venus, and earth. The Mars corevolution point is an ideal location for an astronomical observatory. There, Mars obstruct less than 0.00024 percent of the sky at any time, and it shades the observatory completely from the sun. At the earth corevolution point, between 51 and 84 percent of the solar disk area is blocked, as is up to 92 percent of the sunlight. This provides a reduction from 3 dB to 11 dB in sunlight that could interfere with optical communications if scattered directly into the detectors. The variations is caused by revolution of the earth about the earth-moon barycenter.

Kerr, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Reexamination of data from the asteroid/meteoroid detector

A reexamination of the results of the Pioneer 10 and 11 Asteroid Meteoroid Detector, or Sisyphus, was carried out in the light of a recently derived theory characterizing interplanetary matter and the Zodiacal Light (ZL). Sisyphus measured individual meteoroids from reflected sunlight and ZL between meteoroid events. The results were questioned because meteoroid orbits could not be calculated as intended and the ZL as computed from individual meteoroids did not agree with values determined from the ZL mode and from the other ZL sensor on the spacecraft. It is first shown that, independent of any explanation, the measurements are, with high probability, valid and strongly correlated with the ZL. The model which explains the strange behavior of the Sisyphus instrument also resolves the enigma why the three dust experiments on the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft produced extreme disparate results for the distribution and orbits of meteoric particles and the ZL. The theory based primarily on these measurements requires a population in the inner solar system of cold meteoroid material composed mainly of volatile molecules. These meteoroids in orbits of high eccentricity are called cosmoids. They are impulsively disrupted from solar heating, resulting in order of magnitude increases in optical cross section. The dispersed particles, predominantly micron sized, scatter most of the ZL and supply the polarization. The sublimation time in sunlight for micron sized particles of volatile composition opposes the gravitational flux increase expected in approaching the sun. The other two Pioneer 10/11 dust experiments were: the Imaging Photopolarimeter for the ZL, and the Meteoroid Detection Experiment that measured penetration of 25 micron (Pioneer 10) and 50 micron (Pioneer 11) thick walls of pressurized gas cells.

Soberman, Robert K.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Quantitative analysis of ice films by near-infrared spectroscopy

One of the outstanding problems in the Space Transportation System is the possibility of the ice buildup on the external fuel tank surface while it is mounted on the launch pad. During the T-2 hours (and holding) period, the frost/ice thickness on the external tank is monitored/measured. However, after the resumption of the countdown time, the tank surface can only be monitored remotely. Currently, remote sensing is done with a TV camera coupled to a thermal imaging device. This device is capable of identifying the presence of ice, especially if it is covered with a layer of frost. However, it has difficulty identifying transparent ice, and, it is not capable of determining the thickness of ice in any case. Thus, there is a need for developing a technique for measuring the thickness of frost/ice on the tank surface during this two hour period before launch. The external tank surface is flooded with sunlight (natural or simulated) before launch. It may be possible, therefore, to analyze the diffuse reflection of sunlight from the external tank to determine the presence and thickness of ice. The purpose was to investigate the feasibility of this approach. A near-infrared spectrophotometer was used to record spectra of ice. It was determined that the optimum frequencies for monitoring the ice films were 1.03 and 1.255 microns.

Keiser, Joseph T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Innovative techniques for the production of energetic radicals for lunar materials processing including photogeneration via concentrated solar energy

A technique for photo generation of radicals is discussed that can be used in the recovery of oxygen and metals from extraterrestrial resources. The concept behind this work was to examine methods whereby radicals can be generated and used in the processing of refractory materials. In that regard, the focus is on the use of sunlight. Sunlight provides useful energy for processing in the forms of both thermal and quantum energy. A number of experiments were conducted in the chlorination of metals with and without the aid of UV and near UV light. The results of some of those experiments are discussed.

Osborn, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Organic contamination of LDEF

A brown stain of varying thickness was present on most of the exterior surface of the retrieved Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). Tape lifts of Earth-end LDEF surfaces taken showed that the surface particle cleanliness immediately after retrieval was very good, but faint footprints of the tape strips on the tested surfaces indicated a very faint film was removed by the tape. Solvent wipes of these surfaces showed that the stain was not amenable to standard organic solvent removal. Infrared spectra of optical windows from tray E5 show that the organic film is hydrocarbon in composition, but is not similar to the oil that seeped from tray C12. Very dark and heavy deposits of the stain is present at openings and vents to the interior of LDEF. Heavy brown and blue-green deposits are present in the interior of LDEF where sunlight penetrated through cracks and vent openings. The exterior of LDEF had significant areas painted with a white polyurethane paint for thermal control, and almost all of the interior was painted with a black polyurethane paint. Brown staining is consistent with outgassing of hydrocarbons from these paints by rapid solar UV induced polymerization of the outgassed hydrocarbons when they hit sunlight exposed areas.

Harvey, Gale A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Modeling and simulation of the space platform power system

A comprehensive computer-aided modeling and simulation technique for the space platform power system is described. Large-signal and small-signal modeling is presented for the system components. The component models have been integrated to form the complete power system model. The system model is shown to be a powerful tool in simulating the behavior of the system with variation of illumination level and load. It can be used to study the bus regulation in each mode and to observe mode changes as the solar array is subjected to transitions from sunlight to eclipse and back to sunlight. System simulations show how the bus regulation is maintained by activating the shunt switching unit, the charger, or the discharger, depending on the available illumination level. The system model is suitable for verifying hardware results of for analyzing the performance of a proposed system where hardware testing is not feasible. The EASY5 dynamic analysis program is used as the host software for the modeling and simulation.

Patil, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Spectroscopic planetary detection

One of the most promising methods for the detection of extra-solar planets is the spectroscopic method, where a small Doppler shift (approx. 10 meter/sec) in the spectrum of the parent star reveals the presence of planetary companions. However, solar type stars may show spurious Doppler shifts due to surface activity. If these effects are periodic, as is the solar activity cycle, then they may masquerade as planetary companions. The goal of this study was to determine whether the solar cycle affects the Doppler stability of integrated sunlight. Observations of integrated sunlight were made in the near infrared (approx. 2 micron), using the Kitt Peak McMath Fourier transform spectrometer, with a N2O gas absorption cell for calibration. An accuracy of approx. 5 meter/sec was achieved.

Deming, Drake↗