FINE GUIDANCE SENSOR FOR HIGH PRECISION CONTROL OF THE OAO
Fine guidance sensor of the cassegrain telescope of the orbiting astronomical observatory /oao/
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Fine guidance sensor of the cassegrain telescope of the orbiting astronomical observatory /oao/
Evaluation of corrosion resistant silver alloys for use in lead wires for slip-ring assemblies of Saturn guidance and control systems
Test facilities for attitude control using analog and computerized simulations
New apparatus allows accurate simultaneous measurement of thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and thermopower for technically important materials, such as new or uncommon alloys. A list of materials investigated is presented. Sources for obtaining data on these materials, as well as the source giving a description of the apparatus, are cited.
Calculating exponential integral using Chebyshev series expansion of associated functions
Rocket telescope spectrometer precision pointing achieved by servocontrolling secondary mirror, discussing use for planetary atmospheres far UV spectrum studies
Thermal interface between edge of planetary disk and space for providing attitude reference during orbiting of planet
Technique detects voids greater than or equal to 0.1016 cm in braze depths of 0.254 cm, detecting voids of smaller dimensions is possible. Internal design ensures control of beam's water path length to within 0.635 cm, this length is critical to system's accuracy.
The upper atmosphere model draws heavily on the behavior of the earth's upper atmosphere which exhibits cyclic as well as irregular variations in density profile, temperature, pressure, and composition in unison with solar activities as deduced from the more recent land-based and satellite observations. The lift and drag model is designed specifically for inertially stabilized vehicles of the Mariner class, with possible extension to gravity gradient stabilized vehicles of the GEOS class. The model considers operation in the free molecular flow regimes with large Knudsen numbers. The vehicle is considered a composite structure with basic components having well-defined shapes, each with its own surface characteristics in terms of temperature, reflectivity, and accommodation of free stream molecules. The model takes into account both the calculation of precise aerodynamic force coefficients in terms of expansion of modified Bessel functions in speed ratios and angle of attack, and approximate force coefficients when the speed ratios approach infinity. Other considerations include specular and diffused reflectivity, shielding, and shadow effects.
The development of improved computer algorithms is considered for calculating earth satellite orbital trajectories by optimum selection of the analytical method that minimizes the number of perturbative acceleration computations for a given accuracy. A variation of parameter algorithm considering the equation of motion for a satellite proved superior for the geosynchronous orbit.
Fixed and mobile laser ranging stations have been developed to track satellites equipped with retro-reflector arrays. These have operated consistently at data rates of once per second with range precision better than 50 cm, using Q-switched ruby lasers with pulse durations of 20 to 40 nanoseconds. Improvements are being incorporated to improve the precision to 10 cm, and to permit ranging to more distant satellites. These include improved reflector array designs, processing and analysis of the received reflection pulses, and use of sub-nanosecond pulse duration lasers.
A sun detector developed for the Mariner Jupiter/Saturn mission is described. Redundant photopotentiometers for both pitch and yaw axes, positioned below slit apertures, provide spacecraft stabilization and biased operation over plus or minus 20-deg fields of view. The biased (off-sun) operation is required for pointing the 366-cm-diameter (spacecraft-fixed) radio antenna toward earth. Configuration and fabrication processes are presented, along with a summary of development history. Particular attention is given to the properties of cadmium sulfide as these affect adaptation to this application.
The definition of the geoid in view of different height systems is discussed. A definition is suggested which makes it possible to take into account the influence of the unknown corrections to the various height systems on the solution of Stokes' problem. A solution to Stokes' problem with an accuracy of 10 cm is derived which allows the inclusion of the results of satellite geodesy. In addition equations are developed for the determination of spherical harmonies using altimeter measurements. The influence of the ellipticity of the reference surface is considered.
The Hawaii Institute of Geophysics has implemented a comprehensive geodetic-geophysical support program to monitor local and regional crustal deformation on the island of Maui. Presented are the actual laser-measured line lengths and new coordinate computations of the line terminals, and the internal consistency of the measured line lengths is discussed. Several spacial chord lengths have been reduced to a Mercator plane, and conditioned adjustments on that plane have been made.
Preliminary results of an infrared survey of the equatorial sky zone (declinations 10 S to 10 N) with U.S. Air Force satellite sensors show that positions of previously unknown infrared sources are measured with an rms accuracy of 4 arc seconds, which is six times better than the best previous infrared survey. The search area per source for further study is thus 36 times smaller, so that identification of the infrared sources with optical objects in catalogs and sky photographs is facilitated, as is reacquisition of the sources with ground-based infrared telescopes. The survey extends the content of near-infrared source catalogs to lower flux densities and adds information at a wavelength not observable from the ground. Objects found in the survey include cool giants and supergiants, long-period and semi-regular variable stars, and sources identified with faint red stars visible on the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey.
The influence of the atmosphere on nadir directed signal associated with satellite altimeters are examined. Frequencies at 6, 13.5, and 35 GHz are selected so as to provide a parameter study. Uncertainties are summarized in both existing and proposed techniques which establish ionospheric and tropospheric height corrections. The error summary thus gives values describing the best you can do in height resolution (as dictated by atmospheric parameters) for a satellite borne altimeter system. The results presented reflect data gleaned from the literature, at large, as well as from the existing body of published literature associated with the Seasat A Altimeter Experiment. Specifically considered are: (1) the effects of precipitation on altimeter signals, (2) range errors due to refractive index variations in both the clear atmosphere (convective and nonconvective) and clouds, and (3) range errors introduced by the ionosphere. A preliminary analysis is pursued establishing the feasibility of incorporating rain rate range gates in a future satellite-borne altimeter system.
Advances in technology directed toward minimizing the temporal changes in frequency of crystal resonators are described. Specific emphasis is placed on reducing their susceptibility to temperature, acceleration, and other environmental effects.
Recent measurements and discoveries in gamma ray bursts and transients are reviewed including observations of the red shifted annihilation line in two kinds of slow transients (in 'classical' gamma ray bursts and in the unique 1979 March 5th event); of red shifted nuclear lines in a slow transient and in one gamma ray burst; and of the positions of precise source locations of gamma ray bursts and of the March 5th event, within the supernova remnant N49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud.