Significant experiences of the NASA Plum Brook reactor facility
NASA Plum Brook Reactor Facility experimental program
Barkley, H. B., Jr.↗
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Data for first NASA Atmospheric Variability Experiment (AVE 1). Part 2: Graphical presentation of data
For abstract, see N74-15350.
Scoggins, J. R.↗
Closed cycle MHD power generation experiments in the NASA Lewis Facility
Many modifications were made in the MHD facility. These include a redesign of the MHD duct interior, addition of mixing bars, increased electrical isolation of all the high temperature components from each other and from ground, and experimentation with various cesium seed vaporization and injection techniques. With the exception of the cesium system which needs further improvement the above modifications were quite successful and resulted in improvements in generator performance. The facility was run for a total of 400 hours in the past year, with 70 hours of this operation at temperatures of 2000 K or more with hot generator walls. With the exception of replacing one cracked brick in the MHD channel no repairs were required in the high temperature loop components for the duration of these tests. Uniform Faraday and Hall voltage profiles were obtained and the Faraday open circuit voltage varied from 90 to 100 percent of the ideal uBh. The magnitudes of the measured parameters are: Faraday open circuit voltage approximately 70 V, total Faraday current approximately 20 A, Hall voltage approximately 250 V, power output approximately 300 W, and power density .036 W/cu cm.
Sovie, R. J.↗
Closed cycle MHD power generation experiments in the NASA Lewis facility
Discussion of the performance improvements achieved through some modifications made in the closed cycle MHD facility. These modifications include a redesign of the MHD duct interior, addition of mixing bars, increased electrical isolation, and experimentation with various cesium seed vaporization and injection techniques. Uniform Faraday and Hall voltage profiles were obtained, and the Faraday open circuit voltage varied from 90 to 100% of the ideal uBh.
Sovie, R. J.↗
Terminal-area flight experience with the NASA Terminal Configured Vehicle
Increases in the volume of air traffic around major terminals, as well as the advent of MLS and other sophisticated ATC techniques, have prompted the development of aircraft specifically optimized for flight in terminal areas. A modified Boeing 737, developed by NASA, is presented as an illustration of a Terminal Configured Vehicle (TCV). Among the TCV systems discussed are the electronic attitude direction indicator (EADI) and the electronic horizontal situation indicator (EHSI), both of which are advanced display systems capable of positioning the runway center line from a variety of glide slope paths, and with reference to time, i.e., the on-board computer can predict where the aircraft will be at a given number of seconds from the time of the analysis. Thus, 4-D navigation (time path) can be selected as a control mode, together with vertical and horizontal path modes.
Morello, S. A.↗
The NASA Life Sciences experiment program for Shuttle/Spacelab
The Life Sciences experiment program for the Shuttle/Spacelab has basically two scientific objectives. The first objective is related to an understanding and interpretation of the medical data from Skylab. The second objective is concerned with a utilization of the space environment, notably the very low g field, as an experimental variable in a broad range of fundamental studies. The program considered will use the pressurized module, almost exclusively, and will aim toward the greatest investigator participation in flight that is possible. Facilities must be provided to support such requirements as tissue biopses, blood, urine and tissue collections, and microbial and plant manipulations.
Winter, D.↗
Aerosol and nucleation research in support of NASA cloud physics experiments in space
Tasks performed in the development of an ice nucleus generator which, within the facility concept of the ACPL, would provide a test aerosol suitable for a large number and variety of potential experiments are described. The impact of Atmospheric Cloud Physics Laboratory scientific functional requirements on ice nuclei generation and characterization subsystems was established. Potential aerosol generating systems were evaluated with special emphasis on reliability, repeatability and general suitability for application in Spacelab. Possible contamination problems associated with aerosol generation techniques were examined. The ice nucleating abilities of candidate test aerosols were examined and the possible impact of impurities on the nucleating abilities of those aerosols were assessed as well as the relative merits of various methods of aerosol size and number density measurements.
Vali, G.↗
NASA-selects 25 experiments for Laser Geodynamics satellite
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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Predictions of induced background radiations at gamma/X-ray experiment envelopes in NASA spacecraft
This work seeks to predict secondary radiation levels induced in spacecraft structures by space protons. The radiations analyzed are secondary neutrons from spallation and evaporation reactions and gamma and beta rays from the decay of induced radioactivity, as sources of interfering background to spaceborne measurements of galactic and planetary gamma rays below 10 MeV. The spacecraft considered are the Multi-Mission Spacecraft (MMS) and the Space Shuttle, modeled as spherical shells. The proton environment is that of the South Atlantic Anomaly, as well as cosmic ray protons. The induced radioactivity is analyzed in terms of its interference with various gamma-ray lines of astrophysical interest, as well as its contribution to several spectral regions of the gamma-ray continuum. The buildup of the line and continuum radioactivity background is predicted for a period of nearly 9 months in orbit (approximately 4100 orbits). In addition, background contributions from cosmic ray electron bremsstrahlung and earth gamma-ray albedo are estimated.
Fischbein, W. L.↗
Dispersion of flammable vapor clouds resulting from large spills of liquid hydrogen
The purpose of this paper is to report the preliminary findings of hydrogen vapor cloud dispersion experiments conducted by NASA. The experiments were performed to obtain basic information regarding the physical phenomena governing the dispersion of flammable clouds formed as the result of spills of large quantities of liquid hydrogen. The experiments consisted of ground spills of up to 5.7 cubic meters (1500 gal) of liquid hydrogen, with spill durations of approximately 35 seconds. Instrumented towers, located downwind of the spill site, gather data on the temperature, hydrogen concentration, and turbulence levels as the hydrogen vapor cloud drifted downwind. Visual phenomena were recorded by motion picture and still cameras. Preliminary results of the experiments indicate that, for rapid spills, thermal and momentum induced turbulences cause the cloud to disperse to safe concentration levels and become positively buoyant long before mixing due to normal atmospheric turbulence becomes a major factor.
Witcofski, R. D.↗
NASA Dryden's experience in parameter estimation and its uses in flight test
An explanation of the parameter estimation method used at the Dryden Flight Research Facility is presented, and an overview is provided of experience related to the employment of this method, taking into account the utilization of this experience in flight tests. According to a definition of the aircraft parameter estimation problem, the system investigated is asumed to be modeled by a set of dynamic equations containing unknown parameters. To determine the values of the unknown parameters, the system is excited by a suitable input, and the input and actual system response are measured. The values of the unknown parameters are then inferred, based on the requirement that the model response to the given input match the actual system response. Examples of parameter estimation in flight test are discussed, giving attention to the F-14 fighter, the HiMAT (high maneuverable aircraft technology) vehicle, and the Space Shuttle.
Iliff, K. W.↗
Lightning strike experience in the NASA F-106B storm hazards program
A heavily instrumented F-106B aircraft was flown in thunderstorms to gather data for characterizing lightning at aircraft operating altitudes. Conventional weather finding techniques are supplemented with UHF lightning mapping radar to select the most active storm cells and the most likely altitude for obtaining direct lightning strikes to the airplane. One hundred seventy-six strikes were obtained in a 3 year period, mostly at an altitude of above 25,000 feet.
Norman L Crabill↗
Experimental and analytical analyses of the mechanisms governing the dispersion of flammable clouds formed by liquid hydrogen spills
This paper presents the initial findings of hydrogen vapor cloud dispersion experiments conducted by NASA. The experiments were performed to obtain basic information regarding the physical phenomena governing the dispersion of flammable clouds formed as the result of spills of large quantities of liquid hydrogen. The experiments consisted of ground spills of up to 5.7 cu m of liquid hydrogen with spill durations of approx. 35 s. Instrumented towers, located downwind of the spill site, gathered data on the temperature, hydrogen concentration and turbulence levels as the hydrogen vapor cloud drifted downwind. Preliminary results of the experiments indicate that, for rapid spills, thermal and momentum-induced turbulences cause the cloud to disperse to safe concentration levels and become positively buoyant long before mixing due to normal atmospheric turbulence becomes a major factor. An adiabatic mixing model has been developed to deduce hydrogen-air mixture ratios for temperature measurements obtained within the cloud formed by liquid hydrogen spills.
Witcofski, R. D.↗
Vapor-screen flow-visualization experiments in the NASA Langley 0.3-m transonic cryogenic tunnel
The vortical flow on the leeward side of a delta-wing model has been visualized at several different tunnel conditions in the NASA Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel using a vapor-screen flow-visualization technique. Vapor-screen photographs of the subject flow field are presented and interpreted relative to phenomenological implications. Results indicate that the use of nitrogen fog in conjunction with the vapor-screen technique is feasibile.
Selby, G. V.↗
Impact cratering in reduced-gravity environments: Early experiments on the NASA KC-135 aircraft
Impact experimentation on the NASA KC-135 Reduced-Gravity Aircraft was shown to be possible, practical, and of considerable potential use in examining the role of gravity on various impact phenomena. With a minimal facility, crater dimensional and growth-times were measured, and have demonstrated both agreement and disagreement with predictions. A larger facility with vacuum capability and a high-velocity gun would permit a much wider range of experimentation.
Cintala, Mark J.↗
Working group written presentation: Atomic oxygen
Earlier Shuttle flight experiments have shown NASA and SDIO spacecraft designed for operation in low-Earth orbit (LEO) must take into consideration the highly oxidative characteristics of the ambient flight environment. Materials most adversely affected by atomic oxygen interactions include organic films, advanced (carbon-based) composites, thermal control coatings, organic-based paints, optical coatings, and thermal control blankets commonly used in spacecraft applications. Earlier results of NASA flight experiments have shown prolonged exposure of sensitive spacecraft materials to the LEO environment will result in degraded systems performance or, more importantly, lead to requirements for excessive on-orbit maintenance, with both conditions contributing significantly to increased mission costs and reduced mission objectives. Flight data obtained from previous Space Shuttle missions and results of the Solar Max recovery mission are limited in terms of atomic oxygen exposure and accuracy of fluence estimates. The results of laboratory studies to investigate the long-term (15 to 30 yrs) effects of AO exposure on spacecraft surfaces are only recently available, and qualitative correlations of laboratory results with flight results have been obtained for only a limited number of materials. The working group recommended the most promising ground-based laboratories now under development be made operational as soon as possible to study the full-life effects of atomic oxygen exposure on spacecraft systems.
Leger, Lubert J.↗
An overview of the NASA Global Tropospheric Experiment
A summary of the results from the field expeditions conducted within the framework of the Global Tropospheric Experiment (GTE) is presented. The missions reviewed include the Chemical Instrumentation Test and Evaluation missions and the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment missions. Future GTE missions are also briefly reviewed.
Hoell, James M., Jr.↗
Control of large flexible structures - An experiment on the NASA Mini-Mast facility
The output variance constraint controller design procedure is integrated with model reduction by modal cost analysis. A procedure is given for tuning MIMO controller designs to find the maximal rms performance of the actual system. Controller designs based on a finite-element model of the system are compared with controller designs based on an identified model (obtained using the Q-Markov Cover algorithm). The identified model and the finite-element model led to similar closed-loop performance, when tested in the Mini-Mast facility at NASA Langley.
Hsieh, Chen↗