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Industrial hygene and environmental health aspects of ground operation at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory were investigated. Major areas of concern are: (1) toxic substances, (2) noise pollution, (3) electromagnetic radiation; and (4) biohazards and sanitation. Each of these categories are also studied in a closed environment, such as encountered aboard of a spacecraft.
A large astronomical telescope, termed the Space Telescope, is expected to be placed in orbit in the early 1980's. It will be operated as an international observatory that will enable astronomers to detect electromagnetic radiation over a much broader spectrum than is possible from ground observatories. The image quality (not degraded by atmospheric effects) will be limited only by the quality of the optics and by aperture diffraction. This opportunity to approach diffraction-limited imagery on an astronomical telescope of this size (2.4-m aperture) sets unusually stringent tolerances on the optical quality. The budgeting and control of these qualities throughout the design, fabrication, assembly, and operation of the Space Telescope is described. A feedback control system which will maintain the telescope at peak performance in the orbital environment is examined.
The solar-terrestrial environment is a dynamic, tightly coupled system in which variable solar energy is transmitted through electromagnetic radiation and the solar wind to the earth's magnetosphere and atmosphere. The constantly changing solar input and the continuous redistribution of energy near the earth combine to determine the characteristics of our global environment. An understanding and subsequent management of this environment will require a coordinated set of observations of solar processes and the accompanying magnetospheric and atmospheric responses. A major element in this observational plan should be a Solar-Terrestrial Observatory module of a manned Space Station in which instruments and experimental techniques developed during short-duration Spacelab flights will be applied to extended missions in both low-altitude and geosynchronous orbits.
A survey highlighting the central issues of the SETI program (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), including its rationale, scope, search problems, and goals is presented. Electromagnetic radiation is suggested as the most likely means via which knowledge of extraterrestrial intelligence will be obtained, and the variables governing these signals are discussed, including: signal frequency and polarization, state, possible coordinates, and signal duration. The modern history of SETI and NASA's involvement is briefly reviewed, and the search strategies used by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Ames Research Center are discussed and compared. Some of the potential scientific and cultural impacts of the SETI program are mentioned, noting advancements in technological, biological, and chemical research.
Long distance transmission of power in space by means of laser beams is an attractive concept because of the very narrow beam divergence. Such a system requires efficient means to both generate the laser beam and to convert the light energy in the beam into useful electric output at the receiver. A plasma-type device known as a Thermo-Electronic Laser Energy Converter (TELEC) has been studied as a method of converting a 10.6 micron CO2 laser beam into electric power. In the TELEC process, electromagnetic radiation is absorbed directly in the plasma electrons producing a high electron temperature. The energetic electrons diffuse out of the plasma striking two electrodes with different areas. Since more electrons are collected by the larger electrode there is a net transport of current, and an EMF is generated in the external circuit. The smaller electrode functions as an electron emitter to provide continuity of the current. Waste heat is rejected from the large electrode. A design for a TELEC system with an input 1 MW laser beam was developed as part of the study. The calculated performance of the system showed an overall efficiency of about 42%.
In the gaseous-fuel reactor concept, the fissile material is contained in a moderator-reflector cavity and exists in the form of a flowing gas or plasma separated from the cavity walls by means of fluid mechanical forces. Temperatures in excess of structural limitations are possible for low-specific-mass power and high-specific-impulse propulsion in space. Experiments have been conducted with a canister filled with enriched UF6 inserted into a beryllium-reflected cavity. A theoretically predicted critical mass of 6 kg was measured. The UF6 was also circulated through this cavity, demonstrating stable reactor operation with the fuel in motion. Because the flowing gaseous fuel can be continuously processed, the radioactive waste in this type of reactor can be kept small. Another potential of fissioning gases is the possibility of converting the kinetic energy of fission fragments directly into coherent electromagnetic radiation, the nuclear pumping of lasers. Numerous nuclear laser experiments indicate the possibility of transmitting power in space directly from fission energy. The estimated specific mass of a multimegawatt gaseous-fuel reactor power system is from 1 to 5 kg/kW while the companion laser-power receiver station would be much lower in specific mass.
The mission of space flight Soyuz-22 was to develop new and improved methods and means for finding tthe Earth's natural resources from outer space to aid the economy. With the help of the new multispectral space camera, MKF-6, the cosmonauts were able to photograph selected areas of U.S.S.R. and the German Democratic Republic in 4 visible and 2 infrared regions of the spectrum. The MKF-6 can simultaneously photograph areas in 6 spectral regions and register both the natural electromagnetic radiation of surface objects and the solar radiation reflected by them.
Three superimposed epoch analyses of the vorticity area index (VAI) at 500 mbar are described. The analyses used the following definitions of the zero days: (1) the central meridian passage (CMP) of very active solar plages; (2) the occurrence of peak values of the 10.7 cm solar radio flux; and (3) the CMP of active solar plages also accompanied at CMP by sharp rises in 10.7 cm solar radio noise. All three superimposed epoch analyses show a sustained rise in VAI several days before the zero day; the rise continues through the zero day and is followed by a sustained minimum in VAI several days after the zero day. The results suggest that the location of the very active plages play an important role in determining their meteorological influence. It is possible that the initial rise in VAI is caused by enhanced electromagnetic radiation associated with the solar activity, and that the decrease some days later is the result of the geomagnetic storm particle emission that generally follows the zero date.
Magnetospheric substorms are one of the basic problems in the physics of near earth space. They appear as magnetic and ionospheric perturbations, disturbances in radio communication, polar auroras and electromagnetic radiation in different frequency ranges. These phenomena were studied from single satellites. However, it is impossible to study these phenomena adequately without simultaneous measurements from at least two different positions with identical instruments. A suitable program can be developed based on the Interkosmos work using new achievements in electronics.
Basic physical characteristics of Jupiter, its gravitational field, atmosphere, electromagnetic radiation, magnetosphere, meteorite situation and satellites are presented in tables, graphs and figures. Means of observation of the atmosphere and three models of the atmosphere are presented and analyzed.
A sounding rocket flight to image a point X-ray source and to determine the detector background characteristics in a space environment is evaluated. The verification of the HRI detector design in a flight environment is described. The environmental factors, including ambient neutral and charged particle densities, the electromagnetic radiation field, and the vibration and acceleration induced at launch, that affect the operations of the HRI are discussed.
The thermoelectronic laser energy converter (TELEC), was studied as a method of converting a 10.6 mm CO2 laser beam into electric power. The calculated characteristics of a TELEC seem to be well matched to the requirements of a spacecraft laser energy conversion system. The TELEC is a high power density plasma device which absorbs an intense laser beam by inverse bremsstrahlung with the plasma electrons. In the TELEC process, electromagnetic radiation is absorbed directly in the plasma electrons producing a high electron temperature. The energetic electrons diffuse out of the plasma striking two electrodes which are in contact with the plasma at the boundaries. These two electrodes have different areas: the larger one is designated as the collector, the smaller one is designated as the emitter. The smaller electrode functions as an electron emitter to provide continuity of the current. Waste heat is rejected from the collector electrode. An experiment was carried out with a high power laser using a cesium vapor TELEC cell with 30 cm active length. Laser supported plasma was produced in the TELEC device during a number of laser runs over a period of several days. Electric power from the TELEC was observed with currents in the range of several amperes and output potentials of less than 1 volt. The magnitudes of these electric outputs were smaller than anticipated but consistent with the power levels of the laser during this experiment.
Lightning channels are considered as resonant wave guides in which only standing resonant wave modes can be excited. Two types of discharging currents develop. Type 1 is an aperiodic wave; type 2 is a damped oscillation. The electromagnetic radiation field of both types of currents is calculated and compared with the observation.
The design, development, application, and capabilities of a variable frequency microwave radiometer are described. This radiometer demonstrated the versatility, accuracy, and stability required to provide contributions to the geophysical understanding of ocean and ice processes. A closed-loop feedback method was used, whereby noise pulses were added to the received electromagnetic radiation to achieve a null balance in a Dicke switched radiometer. Stability was achieved through the use of a constant temperature enclosure around the low loss microwave front end. The Dicke reference temperature was maintained to an absolute accuracy of 0.1 K using a closed-loop proportional temperature controller. A microprocessor based digital controller operates the radiometer and records the data on computer compatible tapes. This radiometer exhibits an absolute accuracy of better than 0.5 K when the sensitivity is 0.1 K. The sensitivity varies between 0.0125 K and 1.25 K depending upon the bandwidth and integration time selected by the digital controller. Remote sensing experiments were conducted from an aircraft platform and the first radiometeric mapping of an ocean polar front; exploratory experiments to measure the thickness of lake ice; first discrimination between first year and multiyear ice below 10 GHz; and the first known measurements of frequency sensitive characteristics of sea ice.
Based on the belief that actual flight hardware development of large space systems will necessitate a formalized method of integrating the various engineering discipline analyses, an efficient highly user oriented software system capable of performing interdisciplinary design analyses with tolerable solution turnaround time is planned Specific analysis capability goals were set forth with initial emphasis given to sequential and quasi-static thermal/structural analysis and fully coupled structural/control system analysis. Subsequently, the IAC would be expanded to include a fully coupled thermal/structural/control system, electromagnetic radiation, and optical performance analyses.
An optical system for use in a multispectral scanner of the type used in video imaging devices is disclosed. Electromagnetic radiation reflected by a rotating scan mirror is focused by a concave primary telescope mirror and collimated by a second concave mirror. The collimated beam is split by a dichroic filter which transmits radiant energy in the infrared spectrum and reflects visible and near infrared energy. The long wavelength beam is filtered and focused on an infrared detector positioned in a cryogenic environment. The short wavelength beam is dispersed by a pair of prisms, then projected on an array of detectors also mounted in a cryogenic environment and oriented at an angle relative to the optical path of the dispersed short wavelength beam.
The scientific background and objectives, proposed instruments, spacecraft constraints, operations plans and present status and schedule of the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO), a shuttle-launched free-flyer satellite currently planned by NASA, are reviewed. Objectives for the satellite study of the highest energy electromagnetic radiation in the cosmos discussed include the investigation of the evolution of compact objects, nucleosynthesis, gamma-ray objects whose nature is not yet known, the gamma-ray properties of the Galaxy and other galaxies, cosmological effects and intense gamma-ray bursts. The five instruments considered in the definition study which span six decades in energy are presented and proposed experiments are outlined. Although a spacecraft has not yet been selected, several feasible alternatives have been identified, and a launch in the mid-1980s is planned.
An approximate method is proposed for evaluating the interaction of randomly oriented, nonspherical particles with the total intensity component of electromagnetic radiation. When the particle size parameter, x, the ratio of particle circumference to wavelength, is less than some upper bound x(o) (about 5), Mie theory is used. For x greater than x(o), the interaction is divided into three components: diffraction, external reflection, and transmission. Physical optics theory is used to obtain the first of these components; geometrical optics theory is applied to the second; and a simple parameterization is employed for the third. The predictions of this theory are found to be in very good agreement with laboratory measurements for a wide variety of particle shapes, sizes, and refractive indexes. Limitations of the theory are also noted.