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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 271 records · Page 15

Vacuum effects on spacecraft materials

Apparatus and techniques for investigating spacecraft materials mechanical and thermal properties, using vacuum effect to simulate space environment

Comparin, R. A.↗

Analysis of low resolution mass spectra

Computer program determines gas constituents from measurements of mass/peak-height spectrum from residual gas analyzer. Applications of program include residual gas analysis for work in space environmental simulators, space environment contamination, and air pollution monitoring.

Babst, R. W.↗

Effects of ultraviolet radiation on lattice imperfections in pyrolytic boron nitride.

Pyrolitic boron nitride was exposed to 310 equivalent sun hours of ultraviolet radiation in a space environment simulator with the objective to evaluate its applicability as a pigment for a thermal control coating and to identify radiation damage using X-ray diffraction techniques. Lattice parameter comparisons show a definite increase in lattice imperfections in the crystal structure resulting from the ultraviolet irradiation. This sensitivity to radiation damage makes pyrolitic boron nitride unsuitable as a pigment for thermal control coating.

Buckley, J. D.↗

Effect of thruster pulse length on thruster-exhaust damage of S13G white thermal control coatings

Rocket exhaust products which strike thermal control surfaces cause changes in solar absorptance (Alpha Sub s) and thermal emittance (Epsilon) of these surfaces. A study was made of the effect of rocket pulse duration on exhaust damage to S13G white coatings. Two pulse lengths were used - 14 msec and 50 msec. An MMH/N204 bipropellant 5-lb thrust rocket was fired into a simulated space environment with a vacuum of 0.00001 torr, a liquid helium temperature enclosure, and solar radiation. The changes in solar absorptance and thermal emittance of S13G white coatings due to rocket exhaust were made in-situ for total firing times of 58 seconds with 14 msec pulses and 223.7 sec with 50 msec pulses. The solar absorptance of S13G increased 25 percent due to 223.7 sec of exposure to 50 msec pulses and the thermal emittance was unaffected. The ratio of Alpha Sub s/Epsilon therefore increased by 25 percent. The short 14 msec pulse exhaust exposure caused between 40 and 70 percent increase in solar absorptance and a decrease of between 13 and 18 percent in thermal emittance. The corresponding increase in Alpha Sub s/Epsilon ratio was between 80 and 100 percent. Ultraviolet radiation was present in the short pulse test and may have contributed to the large damage of that test.

Sommers, R. D.↗

The Automated Primate Research Laboratory (APRL)

A description is given of a self-contained automated primate research laboratory to study the effects of weightlessness on subhuman primates. Physiological parameters such as hemodynamics, respiration, blood constituents, waste, and diet and nutrition are analyzed for abnormalities in the simulated space environment. The Southeast Asian pig-tailed monkey (Macaca nemistrina) was selected for the experiments owing to its relative intelligence and learning capacity. The objective of the program is to demonstrate the feasibility of a man-tended primate space flight experiment.

Pace, N.↗

Underwater space suit pressure control regulator

A device is reported for regulating the pneumatic pressure in a ventilated space suit relative to the pressure imposed on the suit when being worn by a person underwater to simulate space environment for testing and experimentation. A box unit located on the chest area of the suit comprises connections for suit air supply and return lines and carries a regulator valve that stabilizes the air pressure differential between the inside and outside of the suit. The valve and suit pressure is controlled by the suit occupant and the valve includes a mechanism for quickly dumping the suit pressure in case of emergency. Pressure monitoring and relief devices are also included in the box unit.

Aldrich, B. R.↗

Blood volume and red cell life span (M113), part C

Prechamber, in-chamber, and postchamber blood samples taken from Skylab simulation crewmembers did not indicate significant shortening of the red cell life span during the mission. This does not suggest that the space simulation environment could not be associated with red cell enzyme changes. It does show that any changes in enzymes were not sufficiently great to significantly shorten red cell survival. There was no evidence of bone marrow erythropoetic suppression nor was there any evidence of increased red cell destruction.

Johnson, P. C., Jr.↗

Description of the meteoroid detection experiment flown on the Pioneer 10 and 11 Jupiter flyby missions

The meteoroid detection experiment has the objective of measuring the population of 10 to the minus 9th power and 10 to the minus 8th power grams mass particles in interplanetary space with emphasis on making these measurements in the Asteroid Belt. The instrument design, which uses the pressurized-cell-penetration detection technique, and the tests involved in obtaining a flight-qualified instrument are described. The successful demonstration of flight-quality penetration detectors to function properly under long-term simulated space environments is also described.

Oneal, R. L.↗

Space shuttle orbiter mechanical refrigeration system

A radiator/condenser was designed which is efficient in both condensation (refrigeration) and liquid phase (radiator) operating modes, including switchover from the refrigeration mode to the radiator mode and vice versa. A method for predicting the pressure drop of a condensing two-phase flow in zero-gravity was developed along with a method for predicting the flow regime which would prevail along the condensation path. The hybrid refrigeration system was assembled with the two radiator/condenser panels installed in a space environment simulator. The system was tested under both atmospheric and vacuum conditions. Results of the tests are presented.

Williams, J. L.↗

Development of a self contained heat rejection module, phase 2 and 3

This is the final report for Phases II and III of the Development of a Self Contained Heat Rejection Module Program conducted under NASA contract NAS9-14408. The objective of this program was to perform detail design and construct a prototype test article Self Contained Heat Rejection Module (SHRM). Also to install this test article in the NASA/JSC Space Environment Simulation Laboratory Chamber A and conduct thermal vacuum demonstration and performance testing. The end product of this contract was the prototype hardware, the test article and the test results.

M L Fleming↗

Long life testing of spare Mariner Venus '67 hardware

The faultless performance of the Mariner Venus '67 Power Conditioning Electronics (PCE) throughout six years of continuous operation in a simulated space environment is reported. Weekly functional tests supplemented by daily monitoring verified that the PCE equipment can perform to its intended functions for at least six years without apparent performance degradation. Performance throughout the test period was very stable, there are no circuit or redundancy improvements to be considered. When the equipment was examined after the test was completed, there was no evidence of any physical damage nor any difficulty in disconnecting the wiring connectors.

Silverman, S. W.↗