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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 307 records · Page 17
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NASA NTRS1982

Results of 11.7-GHz CTS rain attenuation measurements at Waltham, Massachusetts

Satellite-to-earth rain attenuation at 11.7 GHz was measured at Waltham, Massachusetts (42.4 deg N, 71.3 deg W; elevation angle 25 deg), utilizing the Communications Technology Satellite beacon signal. This paper summarizes 29 months of measurements by presenting attenuation and rain rate distributions, fade duration distributions, fading rate distributions, and statistical relationships between attenuation and rain rate. For a two-year statistical base, rain attenuation exceeded 9.7 dB for 0.01 percent of the time and 2.0 dB for 0.1 percent of the time.

Nackoney, O. G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Centimeter and millimeter wave attenuation and brightness temperature due to atmospheric oxygen and water vapor

Calculations are presented for atmospheric absorption and radiation emission for several atmospheric conditions and elevation angles. The calculations are for frequencies in the 1 to 340 GHz frequency range. The calculations are compared to those from other models. Agreement is found to within 15% for absorption coefficient (7.5 g/m/cubed water vapor at 290 K) and approximately the same for total zenithal attenuation. The attenuation and gaseous emission noise curves defined by the International Radio Consultative Committee are found to have minor inconsistencies.

Smith, E. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Understanding and utilization of Thematic Mapper and other remotely sensed data for vegetation monitoring

The TM Tasseled Cap transformation, which provides both a 50% reduction in data volume with little or no loss of important information and spectral features with direct physical association, is presented and discussed. Using both simulated and actual TM data, some important characteristics of vegetation and soils in this feature space are described, as are the effects of solar elevation angle and atmospheric haze. A preliminary spectral haze diagnostic feature, based on only simulated data, is also examined. The characteristics of the TM thermal band are discussed, as is a demonstration of the use of TM data in energy balance studies. Some characteristics of AVHRR data are described, as are the sensitivities to scene content of several LANDSAT-MSS preprocessing techniques.

Crist, E. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Tropospheric Delay Effects in Radio Interferometry

A new tropospheric mapping function is derived which is more accurate than previous mapping functions above elevations of 4 degrees. The error due to the given analytic approximation is estimated to be less than 0.02% for elevation angles larger than 6 degrees, (less than 0.4 cm at 6 degrees, and approximately 0.004% or 0.03 cm at 20 degrees). The mathematical expansion used in the derivation is valid for any laterally homogeneous atmospheric model of refractivity. The new mapping function, computer generated ray tracing tables and other mapping functions are compared. The results can be used in correcting for tropospheric delays of radio signals.

Lanyi, G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Subreflector Focusing Techniques Applied to New DSS-15 and DSS-45 34-meter Antennas

An improved technique to determine the subreflector translations required to properly focus a Cassegrainian antenna, under gravity loading, at a full range of elevation angles, is presented. This technique is applied to the 34-m antenna configuration installed at stations DSS-15 (Goldstone, California) and DSS-45 (Australia). The subreflector lateral and axial translations, to be stored into the antenna-control systems, are computed and tabulated. The relationships that govern the main parameters are also presented for future subreflector focusing analysis under wind and thermal loadings.

Hughes, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

DSN 34-meter Antenna Optics Analysis for Wideband SETI Investigations

A DSN 34-meter symmetric Cassegrain antenna configuration is examined for wideband use over the frequency range of 1 to 10 GHz, rather than only at the narrow-band operational design frequencies of 2.295 GHz (S-band) and 8.448 GHz (X-band). Aperture efficiency and surface efficiency are calculated as the components determining the gain of the antenna. Noise temperature contributions arise from the ground, atmosphere, and quadripod scattering. These components are calculated as a function of frequency elevation angle to determine a G/T (gain/system noise temperature) figure-of-merit for a nominal 34-meter antenna configuration. A computational method was developed which will enable design of a multi-horn antenna feed system to optimally cover the 1 to 10 GHz frequency range.

Slobin, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The COSPAS/SARSAT demonstration and evaluation. Results of the first year in the United States

The COSPAS/SARSAT location accuracy, coverage, location probability, 406 MHz message transmission, and image rejection were tested using a commercially available beacon (EPIRB) with modulated, coherent, 121.5 and 243.0 MHz distress signals emitted at a minimum of 75 mW, a 406 MHz EPIRB with electronics designed to meet the international specification for experimental beacons, and a beacon with the same electronics as the other 406 MHz EPIRB, incorporating a floating antenna design. The COSPAS/SARSAT system contributed to 15 out of 33 rescue missions, in which 35 of the 85 lives were rescued. In 10% of the cases the COSPAS/SARSAT system provided the only means of notification, and in 18% it was the first means. Tests show that 121.5 MHz accuracy is adequate, but 406 MHz must improve. The 121.5 MHz location probability is 82%, but ambiguity resolution is inferior to 406 MHz. Performance of both 406 MHz beacons at low elevation angles and in high wave heights is good.

Gilbert, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

View-limiting shrouds for insolation radiometers

Insolation radiometers (normal incidence pyrheliometers) are used to measure the solar radiation incident on solar concentrators for calibrating thermal power generation measurements. The measured insolation value is dependent on the atmospheric transparency, solar elevation angle, circumsolar radiation, and radiometer field of view. The radiant energy entering the thermal receiver is dependent on the same factors. The insolation value and the receiver input will be proportional if the concentrator and the radiometer have similar fields of view. This report describes one practical method for matching the field of view of a radiometer to that of a solar concentrator. The concentrator field of view can be calculated by optical ray tracing methods and the field of view of a radiometer with a simple shroud can be calculated by using geometric equations. The parameters for the shroud can be adjusted to provide an acceptable match between the respective fields of view. Concentrator fields of view have been calculated for a family of paraboloidal concentrators and receiver apertures. The corresponding shroud parameters have also been determined.

Dennison, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Observations of frontal zone structures with a VHF Doppler radar and radiosondes, part 1.2A

The SOUSY-VHF-Radar is a pulsed coherent radar operating at 53.5 MHz and located near Bad Lauterbert, West Germany. Since 1977, the facility, operated by the Max-Planck-Institut fur Aeronomie, has been used to make a series of frontal passage observations in the spring and fall. Experiments in winter have been difficult because part of the transmitting and receiving array is usually covered by snow during that part of the year. Wavelengths around 6 m are known to be sensitive to the vertical temperature structure of the atmosphere (GREEN and GAGE, 1980; RASTOGI and ROTTGER, 1982). Thus, it has been possible to use radars operating at frequencies near 500 MHz to locate the tropopause. Comparisons between radar data and radiosonde data have shown that there is a large gradient in the radar reflectivity at the height where the radiosonde tropopause occurs. An experiment carried out by ROTTGER (1979) on March 15 to 16, 1977, showed that the radar's sensitivity to the vertical temperature structure could also be used to locate the position of fronts. The SOUSY-VHF-Radar consists of a transmitting array, also used for receiving in some configurations, that can be scanned in the off-vertical direction but not at sufficiently low elevation angles to study the horizontal extent of structures.

Larsen, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Elimination of range-aliased echoes in the VHF radars

Very high frequency radars designed to measure tropospheric wind profiles usually detect scattering to a maximum height of about 20 km. If the antenna elevation angle is 45 degrees or more above the horizon, the maximum range of interest is less than 30 km. A VHF pulsed Doppler radar wind Profiler can, therefore, be operated at high pulse repetition rates. The maximum bandwidth allowed is about 0.5 MHz so a radar with uncoded pulses can operate with a duty cycle of 1 to 10%, depending on the desired height resolution. It is possible to operate a tropospheric wind profiler that utilizes all the average power available from the transmitter without the complexity of coded pulses. However, the VHF radar can detect echoes from the mesosphere on occasion and, with high pulse repetition rates, these echoes occur at the same apparent range as the tropospheric echoes. These mesospheric echoes may be stronger than the tropospheric signals. The range-aliased mesospheric echoes can be greatly attenuated or effectively eliminated.

Strauch, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A comparison of 8.415-, 32.0- and 565646-GHz deep space telemetry links

An economic and performance comparison is made of spacecraft telecommunication links at 8.415, 32.0, and 565646 GHz (0.53-micron wavelength) for the return of 3.43 x 10 to the 11th power bits from a Saturn Orbiter/Titan Probe mission in year 2000. Technical performance and costs for both ends of the links are included. Spacecraft antenna or telescope efficiencies, pointing losses, ground-based or Earth-orbiting relay terminals efficiencies, noise temperatures, recurring and nonrecurring engineering, and maintenance and operations costs are modeled. Weather effects, dc-to-RF or laser power conversion efficiencies, gravity and other environment distortions gain reductions, and the cost of pointing and tracking are analyzed. The effort is focused primarily on the microwave frequency links. There are large uncertainties in the cost results, but conclusions indicate that for a mid-1990's launch, the Ka-band system is as cost effective as X-band. The Ka-band system has a data rate advantage as compared to the X-band system for the same dc power input to the spacecraft. The magnitude of the advantage is a complex function of the weather at the DSN stations and the elevation angle of the ground antenna. A simple numerical comparison of the advantage is difficult and curves are provided. The optical frequency link is more costly based on the launch-to-orbit costs for the orbiting terminal. A more detailed study of the optical system is recommended to quantify astrometric tracking benefits and improve the accuracy of the cost estimate.

Dickinson, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The speed of wave-wave interactions in the atmosphere

Resonant wave-wave interactions are considered. Studies of the interaction coefficient show that rapid transfer of wave action can take place in the disjoined parts of the spectrum for three processes, namely: elastic scattering, parametric subharmonic instability and induced diffusion. Of the three processes, the vertical shear plays a role in two. The vertical shear of a moderate scale interacts through elastic scattering to make the spectrum vertically symmetric. On the other hand, the vertical shear of a large scale interacts through induced diffusion and is responsible for diffusion in k sub z space. When interacting with a vertical shear, it is known that the vertical shear acts as a catalyst and is not involved in energy transfer. Consequently, in both elastic scattering and induced diffusion, the vertical shear does not gain or lose energy. Through parametric subharmonic instability the more energetic large-scale waves are feeding energy into moderate and small scale waves of an elevation angle of 60 deg or larger.

Yeh, K. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Fade margin calculation for channels impaired by Rician fading

Excess path loss due to multipath severely restricts the performance of power limited mobile networks such as those using satellite-aided links. To reduce multipath related losses, the higher elevation angle of the spacecraft can be exploited by utilizing mobile antennas which reduce the strength of the multipath reflections in favor of the line-of-sight signal. The presence of a strong and stable path in a fading link will change the envelope statistics of the received waveform from Rayleigh to a more favorable Rician distribution. It is determined that the excess path loss, or fade margin, of a Rician channel when coherent detection of binary phase shift keying (BPSK) or quaternary phase shift keying (QPSK) signals is considered. The results are presented parametrically such that they can be applied to a wide range of propagation characteristics from heavy fading to nonfading situations. Furthermore, similar results are also given for the case where only limited coverage is provided.

Davarian, F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Response of the middle atmosphere to Sco X-1

On the night of Mar. 9, 1983 (UT) at Punta Lobos Launch Site, Peru (12.5 deg S, 76.8 deg W, magnetic dip -0.7 deg), a sequence of sounding rockets was flown to study the electrical structure of the equatorial middle atmosphere and to evaluate perturbations on this environment induced by the X-ray star Sco X-1. The rocket series was anchored by two Nike Orion payloads (31.032 and 31.033) which were launched at 0327 and 0857 UT, near Sco X-1 star-rise and after it had attained an elevation angle of 70 deg E. An enhanced flux of X-rays was observed on the second Nike Orion flight (31.033). This increase is directly attributed to Sco X-1, both from the spectral properties of the measured X-ray distribution and by spatial information acquired from a spinning X-ray detector during the upleg portion of the 31.033 flight. Simultaneously, a growth in ion conductivity and density was seen to occur in the lower mesosphere between 60 and 80 km on the second flight, specifically in the region of maximum energy deposition by the Sco X-1 X-rays. The results imply the presence of a significant number of ionized heavy constituents within the lower mesosphere, with masses possibly in the submacroscopoic range.

Goldberg, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Digital image transformation and rectification of spacecraft and radar images

The application of digital processing techniques to spacecraft television pictures and radar images is discussed. The use of digital rectification to produce contour maps from spacecraft pictures is described; images with azimuth and elevation angles are converted into point-perspective frame pictures. The digital correction of the slant angle of radar images to ground scale is examined. The development of orthophoto and stereoscopic shaded relief maps from digital terrain and digital image data is analyzed. Digital image transformations and rectifications are utilized on Viking Orbiter and Lander pictures of Mars.

Wu, S. S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Tropospheric calibration in radio interferometry

A new tropospheric mapping function is derived which is more accurate than previous mapping functions above elevations of 4 deg. The error due to the given analytic aproximation is estimated to be less than 0.2 percent for elevation angles larger than 6 deg (less than 0.4 cm at 6 deg). The mathematical expansion used in the derivation is valid for any laterally homogeneous atmospheric model of refractivity. The new mapping function, computer-generated ray tracing tables, and other mapping functions are compared.

Lanyi, G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

An exact solution for orbit view-periods from a station on a tri-axial ellipsoidal planet

This paper presents the concise exact solution for predicting view-periods to be observed from a masked or unmasked tracking station on a tri-axial ellipsoidal surface. The new exact approach expresses the azimuth and elevation angles of a spacecraft in terms of the station-centered geodetic topocentric coordinates in an elegantly concise manner. A simple and efficient algorithm is developed to avoid costly repetitive computations in searching for neighborhoods near the rise and set times of each satellite orbit for each station. Only one search for each orbit is necessary for each station. Sample results indicate that the use of an assumed spherical earth instead of an 'actual' tri-axial ellipsoidal earth could introduce an error up to a few minutes in a view-period prediction for circular orbits of low or medium altitude. For an elliptical orbit of high eccentricity and long period, the maximum error could be even larger. The analytic treatment and the efficient algorithm are designed for geocentric orbits, but they should be applicable to interplanetary trajectories by an appropriate coordinates transformation at each view-period calculation. This analysis can be accomplished only by not using the classical orbital elements.

Tang, C. C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Preliminary estimates of radiosonde thermistor errors

It has been long realized that radiosonde temperature measurements are subject to errors, not the least of which is the effect of long- and short-wave radiation. Methods of adjusting the daytime temperatures to a nighttime equivalent temperature were developed a number of years ago, and are used by some analysis centers. Other than providing consistent observations for analysis this procedure does not provide a true correction. The literature discusses the problem of radiosonde temperature errors but it is not apparent what effort, if any, has been taken to quantify these errors. In order to quantify this radiation error, radiosondes containing multiple thermistors with different coatings were flown at Goddard Space Flight Center/Wallops Flight Facility. The coatings employed had different spectral characteristics and, therefore, different absorption and emissivity properties. Discrimination of the recorded temperatures enabled day and night correction values to be determined for the US standard white-coated rod thermistor. The correction magnitudes are given and a comparison of US measured temperatures before and after correction are compared with temperatures measured with the Vaisala radiosonde. The US and Vaisala radiosonde data are from the recently completed WMO International Radiosonde Intercomparison held at Wallops. The corrections are in the proper direction, day and night, and reduce day-night temperature differences to less than 0,5°C between surface and 30 hPa. The present uncorrected temperatures used with the Viz radiosonde have day-night differences that exceed 1°C at levels below 90 hPa. Additional measurements are planned to confirm these preliminary results and determine the solar elevation angle effect on the corrections. The technique used to obtain the corrections may also be used to recover a true 'absolute' value and might be considered a valuable contribution to the meteorological community for use as a reference instrument.

Temperature measurement↗