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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 NTRS1975

The X-ray morphology of the Perseus cluster of galaxies

Results are reported for a sounding-rocket measurement of the spatial distribution of the X-ray flux from the Perseus cluster of galaxies in the range from 0.5 to 4.5 keV. Two scans (N-S and E-W) were made along the line of galaxies extending from NGC 1275 to IC 310. A flux maximum is observed which is coincident with the location of NGC 1275, but the X-ray distribution is shown to exclude just a point source. More broadening is detected in the E-W direction, and a comparison with other X-ray and optical data indicates a complex structure for the cluster. A three-component model is proposed in which the total X-ray luminosity of the cluster may be a combination of contributions from a central point source (NGC 1275), a condensed disk-like region oriented edge-on along the line of galaxies, and a more symmetric region extending out to at least 1 deg.

Wolff, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Auroral electrons and the optical emissions of nitrogen

Simultaneous rocket measurements of the auroral electron flux and the optical emissions of N2 give a consistent picture of electron impact excitation in an aurora. The electron data show that the incident auroral electrons are nearly monoenergetic with energy about 25 keV. The overall shape of the observed low-energy electron spectrum is in good agreement with other recent observations and also with recent theoretical models, although there is some disagreement with the models in the value of the power law slope above 20 eV. A discussion of the secondary electron spectrum obtained near apogee shows that a single power law cannot accurately describe the secondary electron spectrum in the energy range from 3 to 85 eV. About 40% of the N2(+) 1NG (0,0) band emission at 3914 A is excited by electrons with energy below 85 eV.

Feldman, P. D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Soft X-ray search of centre of Cygnus Loop

Equipment on the Copernicus satellite has been used to search for evidence of a compact object in the center of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant. Rocket measurements reported by Rappaport et al. (1973) indicate that a central object exists. However, the study conducted with the aid of the satellite was negative. This negative result could indicate that the X-ray source was simply not in its high-intensity mode at the time of observation, or could arise because the source is at some other location in the Loop.

Snyder, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The far-ultraviolet /1180-1950 A/ emission spectrum of Arcturus

The far-ultraviolet (1180-1950 A) emission spectrum of the K2 IIIp star, Arcturus, has been obtained with a rocket-borne multichannel spectrometer. The use of multiple detectors gave an increase in effective observing time and permitted an improvement in spectral resolution over two previous rocket measurements. H I at 1216-A and O I at 1304 A are the only identified emissions, and the observed H I 1216-A flux is low compared with previous observations. A third unidentified feature was observed at 1511 A. The absence of many lines found in emission from the sun is striking. The absence of certain features implies that the coronal temperature must be either below 50,000 K or above 350,000 K.

Mckinney, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The aeronomy of odd nitrogen in the thermosphere. II - Twilight emissions

A model developed for the aeronomy of odd nitrogen in the thermosphere is used to analyze rocket measurements of N(4S) and NO densities. Data from Atmosphere Explorer were used to develop a consistent reaction kinetics model for odd nitrogen chemistry. It is concluded that most NO(+) dissociative recombination events must produce N(2D), that N(2D) is quenched by O at a rate of 1 trillionth cu cm per sec, and that the atmospheric O2 quenching rate of N(2D) is consistent with the laboratory rate. The major quenching agent of N(2D) between 140 and 220 km is atomic oxygen, and this reaction is the major source of N(4S). Peak N(4S) densities of about (20-60) million per cu cm at 140-150 km are predicted, with the variability being indicative of the model sensitivity to a factor of 2 change in the O/O2 ratio in the thermosphere.

Strobel, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Three-dimensional random earth atmospheres for Monte Carlo trajectory analyses

A set of four computer tapes containing random three dimensional Earth atmospheres is available for Monte Carlo trajectory analyses. The tapes contain sufficient atmospheric tables to allow replications of any trajectory below an altitude of 99 km. The atmospheres were provided by an empirical model designed to generate random atmospheres whose distributions match those in a data base of sounding rocket measurements. A readily implementable means of linking the tapes to any existing trajectory simulation computer program is described involving the addition of three subroutines which are listed in an appendix.

Campbell, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Ultrasoft X-rays from the southern galactic hemisphere

Results are reported for sounding-rocket measurements of the X-ray background at ultrasoft energies (90 to 280 eV) in selected regions of the southern galactic hemisphere. The spectrum of the background is found to be extremely soft, being characterized by a kinetic temperature of less than 100 eV in thermal models. A lower limit of about 0.2 per cu pc is set on the space density of stellar sources in a discrete-source model for the background. The results show that the observed background radiation in the southern galactic hemisphere is about 50% less intense than that sampled at corresponding northern latitudes, the intensity at energies less than 150 eV varies along the scan path and is strongest south of -60 deg, there is no evidence for the existence of any ultrasoft pointlike sources, and the background is probably diffuse in origin. A temperature of about 600,000 K and an electron density of the order of 0.007 per cu cm are derived from a simple model where the radiation originates in a hot interstellar plasma interspersed with cold gas along the line of sight.

Levine, A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Mesospheric heating due to intense tropospheric convection

A series of rocket measurements made twice daily at Wallops Island, Va., revealed a rapid heating of the mesosphere on the order of 10 K on days when thunderstorms or squall lines were in the area. This heating is explained as the result of frictional dissipation of vertically propagating internal gravity waves generated by intense tropospheric convection. Ray-tracing theory is used to determine the spectrum of gravity wave groups that actually reach mesospheric heights. This knowledge is used in an equation describing the spectral energy density of a penetrative convective element to calculate the fraction of the total energy initially available to excite those waves that do reach the level of heating. This value, converted into a vertical velocity, is used as the lower boundary condition for a multilayer model used to determine the detailed structure of the vertically propagating waves. The amount of frictional dissipation produced by the waves is calculated from the solutions of the frictionless model by use of a vertically varying eddy viscosity coefficient. The heating produced by the dissipation is then calculated from the thermodynamic equation.

Taylor, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Collisionless effects on the spectrum of secondary auroral electrons at low altitudes

A common feature of all rocket measurements of the differential flux of primary and secondary electrons under auroral activity is that between 30 and 85 eV, where the measurements overlap in energy, the electron flux data can be fitted by a certain power law. In the present paper, it is shown that the existence of plasma waves even in a region where they are nonresonant with the ambient particles can significantly modify the observed flux power law.

Papadopoulos, K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

High resolution atmospheric transmission calculations down to 28.7 km in the 200-243-nm spectral range

Decrease in stratospheric ozone absorption and increase in oxygen absorption with decreasing wavelength combine to produce a window of maximum atmospheric transmission near 210 nm. Since solar radiation in this spectral region dissociates molecular oxygen, the deep atmospheric penetration at this wavelength is of particular aeronomical interest. High resolution calculations of the transmittance down to 28.65 km were made for the 200-243-nm spectral range in this window region, in support of a stratospheric balloon flight from Fort Churchill in July 1974. The calculations were made by dividing the atmosphere into layers which were chosen so that each could be assumed homogeneous; optical depths were calculated separately for each of these layers and then summed to obtain the over-all transmittance of the atmosphere. Absorption by molecular oxygen (line and continuum) and by ozone was included, as well as extinction through Rayleigh scattering by air molecules. The calculated transmittances were combined with high altitude (above 100-km) rocket measurements of the sun-center spectrum and center-to-limb variations to give residual high resolution solar spectral flux for several altitudes and solar zenith angles.

Cann, M. W. P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Beyond the atmosphere: Early years of space science

From the rocket measurements of the upper atmosphere and Sun that began in 1946, space science gradually emerged as a new field of scientific activity. The course of the United State space program is viewed in an historical context. Major emphasis is on NASA and its programs. The funding, staffing, organization, and priorities of the space program were reviewed.

Newell, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Spatial imaging of hydrogen Lyman-alpha emission from Jupiter

A sounding rocket measurement of the H I L-alpha emission from Jupiter made on Dec. 1, 1978 shows limb darkening and an average disk brightness of 13 kR. This brightness is significantly higher than in previous measurements, and was confirmed by an IUE observation on Dec. 10, 1978. Comparison with a plane-parallel hydrogen layer model indicates that there is enhanced emission from the equatorial regions, reaching a peak near 80 deg longitude.

Clarke, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Far-ultraviolet spectra and flux distributions of some Orion stars

Far-ultraviolet (950-1800 A) spectra with about 2 A resolution were obtained of a number of stars in Orion during a sounding-rocket flight 1975 December 6. These spectra have been reduced to absolute flux distributions with the aid of preflight calibrations. The derived fluxes are in good agreement with model-atmosphere predictions and previous observations down to about 1200 A. In the 1200-1080 A range, the present results are in good agreement with model predictions but fall above the rocket measurements of Brune, Mount and Feldman. Below 1080 A, our measurements fall below the model predictions, reaching a deviation of a factor of 2 near 1010 A and a factor of 4 near 950 A. The present results are compared with those of Brune et al. via Copernicus U2 observations in this spectral range, and possible sources of discrepancies between the various observations and model-atmosphere predictions are discussed. Other aspects of the spectra, particularly with regard to spectral classification, are briefly discussed.

Carruthers, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Vertical transport and photochemistry in the terrestrial mesosphere and lower thermosphere /50-120 km/

A study is conducted of the coupled effects of kinetics, solar cycle flux variations, and vertical transport on the distribution of long-lived hydrogen-carbon-oxygen compounds in the terrestrial mesosphere and lower thermosphere, using a one-dimensional aeronomy model. The calculations account for the important chemical reactions and use rocket measurements of the solar flux at solar minimum and maximum. Photodissociation rates appropriate for the mesosphere are determined with a spherical shell atmosphere formalism. Detailed corrections for the O2 Schumann-Runge bands and the temperature dependence of the CO2 cross sections are used. An eddy diffusion profile is derived which is in agreement with the Aladdin 74 mass spectral measurements of atomic O, O2, CO2, and Ar in the lower thermosphere and observations of the O3 minimum at about 80 km.

Allen, M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Relationships between the Birkeland currents, ionospheric currents, and electric fields

Currents and electric fields in the ionosphere are calculated using a global model of the electron density including conjugate coupling along field lines. Incoherent scatter and rocket measurements of high-latitude electron densities are used to derive realistic variations of the polar conductivities as a function of magnetic activity. The Birkeland currents are specified in terms of three indices, and the relationship between these parameters and the auroral electrojets indices is examined along with the polar cap potential and the electric field at lower latitudes. A mathematical model of the currents, electric fields, and energy inputs produced by field aligned currents is developed, which is consistent with and specifiable in terms of measured geophysical indices.

Bleuler, E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Controlled stimulation of magnetospheric electrons by radio waves Experimental model for lightning effects

Magnetospheric electrons precipitated by ground-based coded very low frequency radio transmissions have been detected by rocket measurement of bremsstrahlung X-rays, caused by impact of the electrons with the upper atmosphere. The direct correlations obtained between the very low frequency signals and the X-rays demonstrate the limits of sensitivity required and indicate that this remote sensing technique would be useful for future study of very low frequency effects induced by single lightning strokes.

Goldberg, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Photographic observations of earth's airglow from space

A photographic-dispersion image of the earth limb airglow obtained during STS-5 using an S-20-photocathode image intensifier and a 300-line/mm holographic grating on the 55-mm f/1.4 objective lens of a standard 35-mm camera is presented and analyzed. The camera/intensifier spectral response and image wavelength are calibrated using a secondary standard continuum source and a mercury-lamp-illuminated slit, respectively. Features identified in the low-resolution spectrally dispersed image include the 7600-A 02 airglow (estimated intensity 200-300 kR), the 5577-A atomic-oxygen emission (4-6 kR), and the 7300-A Meinel-band OH continuum. The intensity of the O2 feature is in agreement with that found in oblique-rocket measurements by Megill et al. (1970).

Mende, S. B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Oscillator strengths for OII ions

Oscillator strengths between various doublet states of OII ions are calculated in which extensive multi-configuration wave functions are used. The lower levels for the transitions are of the 2p(3) D(2)o and 2p(3) 2po states, and the upper levels are 2p(4), 3s, and 3d states. The results, which are estimated to have errors of less than 10% for individual transitions, agree quite well with the beam foil experiments, as well as with the calculations by use of the non-closed shell many electron theory (NCMET). The agreement with the rocket measurements is also good except for the 538/581 A pair, in which the 538 A line is believed to be blend with the other stronger quartet line. However, a comparison with the recent branching ratio measurement indicates that discrepances between the present calculation and th experiment do exist for certain transistions.

Ho, Y. K.↗