High temperature properties of sodium, potassium, and cesium progress report no. 14, 1 jan. - 31 mar. 1964
Thermophysical properties of sodium and potassium and their vapors
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Thermophysical properties of sodium and potassium and their vapors
Thermophysical properties of structural materials, ablators, insulations, seals, and adhesives for manned spacecraft
Lunar surface temperatures and thermophysical characteristics measured by Surveyor 3, noting directional effects
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Mechanical and thermophysical properties of terrestrial rocks in simulated lunar environment
Literature survey on thermophysical and mechanical properties of tantalum T-111 alloy
Plasma equilibrium calculations and thermophysical properties of Jupiter
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Thermochemical and thermophysical properties and ablation test data for three charring ablators
Empirical analysis of thermophysical properties of multilayer insulation composite materials for cryogenic storage equipment - Vol. 2
Mars surface soil thermophysical properties, temperature and thermal emission from Mariner spacecraft IR radiometer data, correlating with visual images
Thermal measurements were made in the 10 to 12 micron band of the lunar surface during the total eclipse of December19, 1964. A normalized differential thermal contour map is included, showing the location of the thermal anomalies or hot spots on the disk and the eclipse cooling curves of 400 sites, of which more than 300 were hot spots. The eclipse cooling data is compared to a particulate thermophysical model of the soil.
The thermal aspects of using filamentary composite materials as primary airframe structures on advanced atmospheric entry spacecraft such as the space shuttle vehicle were investigated to identify and evaluate potential design approaches for maintaining composite structures within allowable temperature limits at thermal protection system (TPS) attachments and/or penetrations. The investigation included: (1) definition of thermophysical data for composite material structures; (2) parametric characterization and identification of the influence of the aerodynamic heating and attachment design parameters on composite material temperatures; (3) conceptual design, evaluation, and detailed thermal analyses of temperature limiting design concepts; and (4) the development of experimental data for assessment of the thermal design methodologies and data used for evaluation of the temperature-limiting design concepts. Temperature suppression attachment concepts were examined for relative merit. The simple isolator was identified as the most weight-effective concept and was selected for detail design, thermal analysis, and testing. Tests were performed on TPS standoff attachments to boron/aluminum, boron/polyimide and graphite/epoxy composite structures.
Analytical studies, ground-test data, and flight data before 1967 indicated that degradation of Apollo thermal-control coatings could be expected, possibly to an extent requiring spacecraft design changes to accomplish the worst-case lunar-landing mission. On the Apollo 9 mission, specimens of Apollo thermal-control coatings were retrieved by the astronauts during the extravehicular activity. These specimens were the first to be returned to earth from space unaffected by entry conditions. Subsequent measurements of the thermophysical properties (solar absorptance and hemispherical emittance) of the thermal-control-sample coatings revealed degradation levels well within the design capability of the Apollo spacecraft.
Measurements of the microwave emission from the moon and their interpretation in terms of the thermophysics of that body are reviewed. Variations of the brightness temperatures of the moon during a lunation and during eclipses when combined with infrared and radar measurements yield a precise set of physical parameters for the upper few meters of the lunar soil. These parameters include the density, thermal conductivity, dielectric constant, radio absorption coefficients, and the mean temperature gradiant.
A very low density ablative material, a silicone-phenolic composite, was flight tested on a recoverable spacecraft launched by a Pacemaker vehicle system; and, in addition, it was tested in an arc heated wind tunnel at three conditions which encompassed most of the reentry heating conditions of the flight tests. The material was composed, by weight, of 71 percent phenolic spheres, 22.8 percent silicone resin, 2.2 percent catalyst, and 4 percent silica fibers. The tests were conducted to evaluate the ablator performance in both arc tunnel and flight tests and to determine the predictability of the albator performance by using computed results from an existing one-dimensional numerical analysis. The flight tested ablator experienced only moderate surface recession and retained a smooth surface except for isolated areas where the char was completely removed, probably following reentry and prior to or during recovery. Analytical results show good agreement between arc tunnel and flight test results. The thermophysical properties used in the analysis are tabulated.
A sample system for handling powdered material under vacuum conditions is described. The system features linear motion of up to 0.25 m and the means for complete isolation of the sample and sample system from external apparatus. The system was designed for the measurement of thermophysical properties of lunar material from Apollo missions under thoroughest possible prevention of contamination.