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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 253 records · Page 14
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NASA NTRS1976

Preliminary results from the Viking orbiter imaging experiment

During its first 30 orbits around Mars, the Viking orbiter took approximately 1000 photographic frames of the surface of Mars with resolutions that ranged from 100 meters to a little more than 1 kilometer. Most were of potential landing sites in Chryse Planitia and Cydonia and near Capri Chasma. Contiguous high-resolution coverage in these areas has led to an increased understanding of surface processes, particularly cratering, fluvial, and mass-wasting phenomena. Most of the surfaces examined appear relatively old, channel features abound, and a variety of features suggestive of permafrost have been identified. The ejecta patterns around large craters imply that fluid flow of ejecta occurred after ballistic deposition. Variable features in the photographed area appear to have changed little since observed 5 years ago from Mariner 9. A variety of atmospheric phenomena were observed, including diffuse morning hazes, both stationary and moving discrete white clouds, and wave clouds covering extensive areas.

Carr, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS): Imagery of near-surface phytoplankton pigment concentrations from the first coastal ocean dynamics experiment (CODE-1), March - July 1981

As part of the first Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment, images of ocean color were collected from late March until late July, 1981, by the Coastal Zone Color Scanner aboard Nimbus-7. Images that had sufficient cloud-free area to be of interest were processed to yield near-surface phytoplankton pigment concentrations. These images were then remapped to a fixed equal-area grid. This report contains photographs of the digital images and a brief description of the processing methods.

Abbott, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The International Planetary Patrol Program - An assessment of the first three years.

Day-to-day and hour-to-hour changes in the large-scale atmospheric and surface features of the planets can now be studied more effectively than previously possible. Since 1969 a network of observatories has obtained almost uninterrupted photographic coverage during all apparitions of Jupiter and Mars, plus some of Venus. Patrol films and catalogs are available to the scientific community. Recent or current analyses include the distribution and motion of clouds on Mars, the development and decay of Martian dust storms, the seasonal, diurnal, and random fluctuations in contrast between adjacent light and dark regions on Mars, the detection of vertical shear in the Jovian atmosphere, the longitudinal oscillation of the Red Spot, the dependence of rotation period on xenographic latitude and on time, the eruption and spread of south equatorial belt disturbances, and the retrograde circulation of the Venus cloud deck.

Baum, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Documentation for the machine-readable version of a deep objective-prism survey for large Magellanic cloud members

This catalog contains 1273 proven or probable Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) members, as found on deep objective-prism plates taken with the Curtis Schmidt telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The stars are generally brighter than about photographic magnitude 14. Approximate spectral types were determined by examination of the 580 A/mm objective-prism spectra; approximate 1975 positions were obtained by measuring relative to the 1975 coordinate grids on the Uppsala-Mount Stromlo Atlas of the LMC (Gascoigne and Westerlund 1961), and approximate photographic magnitudes were determined by averaging image density measures from the plates and image-diameter measures on the 'B' charts. The machine-readable version of the LMC survey catalog is described to enable users to read and process the tape file without problems or guesswork.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Formation of particulates by ion bombardment of cryogenic ice mixtures

An analysis of the particulates which form upon the bombardment of a gaseous mixture reflecting cosmic molecular abundances with H2(+) ions accelerated at 350 keV. The model of Black and Dalgarno (1977) for the Zeta Oph cloud and an observational determination of the interstellar Ar abundances (Simpson et al., 1986) are used to determine the abundances of the gas mixture. The characteristics of the resulting residue are examined, including photographs and absorbance spectra. The possible astrophysical implications of the experiment are discussed.

Wdowiak, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Making clouds in Spacelab

Improvements in the accuracy of weather predictions and possibilities for changing the weather might depend on a better understanding of the microphysical processes which take place within clouds. A study of these processes on the surface of the earth is difficult in connection with gravitational disturbances. An Atmospheric Cloud Physics Laboratory (ACPL), which is currently being developed, is to be carried into space in the Spacelab in the early 1980's. This facility will provide scientists, for the first time, with the opportunity to study cloud physics without the disturbing gravitational effects. In the ACPL facility, a microscopic element can be suspended without support. The processes of freezing, thawing, collision, electric charging, and temperature changes can be observed and photographed as many times and for as long as necessary.

Duncan, C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Meteorological context for fall experiments including distributions of water vapor, ozone, and carbon monoxide

Meteorological contexts for the NASA GTE/CITE 1 fall 1983 flight series are presented and discussed. The large-scale wind, cold cloud, and moisture patterns are illustrated by composite diagrams based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 700-, 500-, and 250-mbar analyses and the GOES-West broadband and 6.7-micron (water vapor) infrared photographs. Detailed flight path diagrams are included for seven maritime flights and one continental flight in the free troposphere and boundary layer. For three flights from Hickam Field, in Honolulu, HI, to the Intertropical Convergence Zone, vertical profiles of temperature, dew/frost point departures, wind velocity, and ozone, and carbon monoxide mixing ratios are also presented and discussed. Excellent agreement is demonstrated between the in situ and remote measurements. In particular, the predictive and diagnostic value of the 6.7-micron water vapor photographs is demonstrated.

Danielsen, Edwin F.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Galileo mission to Jupiter and its moons

Since 1995, the Galileo mission, despite all the technical troubles, has provided a detailed view of the Jovian system, revealed only fleetingly in the Pioneer and Voyager flybys of the 1970s. The atmospheric probe penetrated the clouds and conducted the first in situ sampling of an outer planet's atmosphere, transmitting data for an hour before it was lost in the gaseous depths. The orbiter, which is still going strong, has photographed and analyzed the planet, its rings, and its diverse moons. Some of the results obtained so far are reviewed.

Jupiter↗
NASA NTRS1971

A search for life on earth at 100 meter resolution.

Study of several thousand photos indicating that about 0.01 of Gemini and Apollo photographs of the earth at 100 m resolution reveal signs of life - rectangular arrays due to human agricultural and urban territoriality, roads, canals, jet contrails, and industrial pollution. Potential false positives - e.g., dunes, sand bars, jetstream clouds - abound. A curve is derived for the detectivity of contemporary life on earth, in a plot of ground resolution versus global coverage. A comparable biology on Mars would not have been detected by all observations of Mars through Mariner 7.

Sagan, C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Preliminary science results of Voyager 1 Saturn encounter

Preliminary science results of the Voyager 1 encounter of the planet Saturn are reported. On August 22, 1980, the spacecraft was 109 million km (68 million mi) from Saturn. Closest approach to Saturn took place on November 12, at 3:46 p.m. (PDT), when the spacecraft passed 126,000 km (78,000 mi) from the cloud tops. Measurements of the atmosphere, wind speed, radiation, six surrounding rings, and the planet's old and newly found satellites were recorded. The encounter ended December 15, 1980. The spacecraft took more than 17,500 photographs of Saturn and its satellites.

Bane, D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Evaluate ERTS imagery for mapping and detection of changes of snowcover on land and on glaciers

The author has identified the following significant results. The area of snow cover on land was determined from ERTS-1 imagery. Snow cover in specific drainage basins was measured with the Stanford Research Institute console by electronically superimposing basin outlines on imagery, with video density slicing to measure areas. Snow covered area and snowline altitudes were also determined by enlarging ERTS-1 imagery 1:250,000 and using a transparent map overlay. Under very favorable conditions, snowline altitude was determined to an accuracy of about 60 m. Ability to map snow cover or to determine snowline altitude depends primarily on cloud cover and vegetation and secondarily on slope, terrain roughness, sun angle, radiometric fidelity, and amount of spectral information available. Glacier accumulation area ratios were determined from ERTS-1 imagery. Also, subtle flow structures, undetected on aerial photographs, were visible. Surging glaciers were identified, and the changes resulting from the surge of a large glacier were measured as were changes in tidal glacier termini.

Meier, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1958

Correlations Among Ice Measurements, Impingement Rates Icing Conditions, and Drag Coefficients for Unswept NACA 65A004 Airfoil

An empirical relation has been obtained by which the change in drag coefficient caused by ice formations on an unswept NACA 65AO04 airfoil section can be determined from the following icing and operating conditions: icing time, airspeed, air total temperature, liquid-water content, cloud droplet impingement efficiencies, airfoil chord length, and angles of attack. The correlation was obtained by use of measured ice heights and ice angles. These measurements were obtained from a variety of ice formations, which were carefully photographed, cross-sectioned, and weighed. Ice weights increased at a constant rate with icing time in a rime icing condition and at progressively increasing rates in glaze icing conditions. Initial rates of ice collection agreed reasonably well with values predicted from droplet impingement data. Experimental droplet impingement rates obtained on this airfoil section agreed with previous theoretical calculations for angles of attack of 40 or less. Disagreement at higher angles of attack was attributed to flow separation from the upper surface of the experimental airfoil model.

Gray, Vernon H.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The earth resources experiment package on Skylab and proposed resource investigations.

In late 1973, NASA plans to launch a three-man experimental space station, the Skylab Workshop. Technical specifications regarding the instrumental facilities of the space station are presented, giving attention to the multispectral photographic facility, the IR spectrometer, the multispectral scanner, the L-band radiometer, and the S-193 sensor. The S-193 sensor will provide data applicable to studying varying ocean surfaces, wave conditions, sea and lake ice, ocean clouds, weather prediction, and soil types. All data from the sensors will be recorded on film and analog magnetic tape for return at the end of each manned period of Skylab.

Park, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1970

A search for life on earth at 100 meter resolution

A study of several thousand photos indicated approximately 1% of Gemini and Apollo photographs of the earth at 100 m resolution revealed signs of life; rectangular arrays due to human agricultural and urban territoriality, roads, canals, jet contrails, and industrial pollution. Potential false positives such as dunes, sand bars, and jet stream clouds abound. A curve was derived for the detectivity of contemporary life on earth, in a plot of ground resolution versus global coverage. A comparable biology on Mars would not have been detected by all observations of Mars through Mariner 7. Forthcoming Mars orbiter and lander imaging experiments hold significant promise of detecting life on Mars of contemporary terrestrial extent and advancement, should such life exist.

Sagan, C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Requirements for laser radar detection of a barium ion cloud at five earth radii.

The requirements for a tuned laser radar capable of detecting and ranging a high altitude barium ion cloud release are discussed. A high energy pulsed dye laser tuned to the 455.4 nm Ba II resonance line is considered as the transmitter. Photon counting detection is employed and the resultant signal is integrated over a number of successive laser firings. The solar induced radiance of the cloud is the major background noise source. Detection and ranging may be achieved with signal-to-noise ratios of the order of unity using currently available equipment. This technique has the potential of improved resolution as compared to photographic measurements previously made.

Mumola, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Communications of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory: Communications nos. 173-183, volume 9, part 5

Short discussions are presented on: (1) multicolor photography of Jupiter; (2) narrow band photography of Jupiter and Saturn; (3) photographic observations of the occulation of Beta Scorpii by Jupiter; (4) development of the June 1971 South Equatorial Belt Disturbance on Jupiter; (5) rotation period for subsurface source in the NNTeB of Jupiter; (6) correlation between color of Jovian clouds and their 5 micron temperatures; (7) and observations of Jupiter's North North Temperature Belt Current B.

Kuiper, G. P.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Earth observations during Space Shuttle flight STS-29 - Discovery's voyage to the earth

The environmental, geologic, meteorologic, and oceanographic phenomena documented by earth photography during the Space Shuttle STS-29 mission are reviewed. A map of the nadir point positions of earth-viewing photographs from the mission is given and color photographs of various regions are presented. The mission photographs include atmospheric dust and smoke over parts of Africa and Asia, Sahelian water sites, center pivot irrigation fields in the Middle East, urban smog over Mexico City, isolated burning in the Bolivian Amazon, and various ocean features and cloud formations.

Lulla, Kamlesh↗
NASA NTRS1991

Fuzzy set methods for object recognition in space applications

Progress on the following tasks is reported: (1) fuzzy set-based decision making methodologies; (2) feature calculation; (3) clustering for curve and surface fitting; and (4) acquisition of images. The general structure for networks based on fuzzy set connectives which are being used for information fusion and decision making in space applications is described. The structure and training techniques for such networks consisting of generalized means and gamma-operators are described. The use of other hybrid operators in multicriteria decision making is currently being examined. Numerous classical features on image regions such as gray level statistics, edge and curve primitives, texture measures from cooccurrance matrix, and size and shape parameters were implemented. Several fractal geometric features which may have a considerable impact on characterizing cluttered background, such as clouds, dense star patterns, or some planetary surfaces, were used. A new approach to a fuzzy C-shell algorithm is addressed. NASA personnel are in the process of acquiring suitable simulation data and hopefully videotaped actual shuttle imagery. Photographs have been digitized to use in the algorithms. Also, a model of the shuttle was assembled and a mechanism to orient this model in 3-D to digitize for experiments on pose estimation is being constructed.

Keller, James M.↗