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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 343 records · Page 19

Unexpected/expected results from the Langley 20-Inch Supersonic Wind Tunnel during initial checkout

NASA Langley's 20-Inch Supersonic Wind Tunnel is currently undergoing shakedown tests. The facility operates over the supersonic Mach number range of 1.4 to 5.0 with Reynolds number per foot variation of approximately 500,000 to 20 million. Checkout runs have been conducted at Mach numbers of 1.4, 2.8, and 5.0 over the entire operational mass flow and total pressure envelope. Data were recorded for total temperature characteristics, Rigimesh pressure drop characteristics, and for the switching exhaust system. Data recorded and observations made during checkout are discussed.

Dillon, James L.↗

Open Source Application of Fusing Aerosol Products from GEO and LEO Satellites

Retrieving aerosol optical depths (AODs) from sun-synchronous polar orbiting (aka low earth orbit, LEO) satellites, such as MODISs, and VIIRSs, OMI, TROPOMI, etc, has become well-established as a tool for extracting information on particulate matter (PM) and related processes in the atmosphere. However, with recently launched geostationary satellites (GEO), such as GOES-16/17/18, and Himawari-8/9, and Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) they provide a much higher temporal resolution (order of 10 minutes), typically an image once or more per hour during daylight compared to LEO once per day. By combining these observations, we may be able to characterize the diurnal cycle of global AOD at the local, regional and global scale. While the science community is still exploring the new data from GEO observations, we have been thinking about how to properly combine/merge/fuse those data considering differences in their spatial and temporal resolutions. However, this poses a “Big Data” challenge. The big data challenge is not just about data storage, but also about data discoverability, and accessibility, and even more, about data migration/mirroring in the cloud-computing environment. This paper is merely showing some of the efforts and approaches we have attempted in fusing six satellites’ Level 2 aerosol data (three are from GEO (GOES-16/17 and Himawari-8), and the other three are from LEO (TERRA/MODIS, AQUA/MODIS, SNPP-VIIRS) from Dark Target (DT) aerosol retrieval algorithm. Having the on-demand capability of fusing remote sensing products onto the desired temporal and spatial domain enables researchers and application practitioners to better manipulate and work with satellite and sensor data. It is our hopeWe hope that by making such an open-source package, and the accompanying functionality, the scientific community will be granted easier access to aerosol data processing resources. The MEaSUREs Program (Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments) expands our understanding of the Earth's current system through atmospheric and surface measurements. In an effort to aid the scientific research component and improve open source methods, this project developed Python code for fusing six satellite Level 2 aerosol data (three are from geostationary satellites (GEO), and the other three are from low earth orbital satellites (LEO)) from Dark Target Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm.

Jennifer Wei↗

Discovering Atypical Flights in Sequences of Discrete Flight Parameters

This paper describes the results of a novel research and development effort conducted at the NASA Ames Research Center for discovering anomalies in discrete parameter sequences recorded from flight data. Many of the discrete parameters that are recorded during the flight of a commercial airliner correspond to binary switches inside the cockpit. The inputs to our system are records from thousands of flights for a given class of aircraft and destination. The system delivers a list of potentially anomalous flights as well as reasons why the flight was tagged as anomalous. This output can be analyzed by safety experts to determine whether or not the anomalies are indicative of a problem that could be addressed with a human factors intervention. The final goal of the system is to help safety experts discover significant human factors issues such as pilot mode confusion, i.e., a flight in which a pilot has lost situational awareness as reflected in atypicality of the sequence of switches that he or she throws during descent compared to a population of similar flights. We view this work as an extension of Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) where the goal is to understand and evaluate the combined health of a class of aircraft ar a given destination.

Budalakoti, Suratna↗

A tethering system for direct measurement of cardiovascular function in the caged baboon

A device suitable for the continuous measurement of physiological activity in large, conscious monkeys has permitted the direct recording of systemic arterial blood pressure and heart rate in caged baboons. The device comprises a lightweight fiberglass backpack, retained in place on the baboon by a thoracic elastic band and shoulder straps, and a flexible stainless steel tether connecting the pack to an electrocannular slip-ring in the top center of the baboon's cage. A chronically indwelling arterial catheter inserted retrograde into the abdominal aorta via the internal iliac artery and connected to a small pressure transducer on the pack provides direct measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. Body fluids can be sampled or drugs administered via an indwelling catheter in the inferior vena cava. Electrical and fluid connections between the fiberglass pack and recording and infusion equipment located outside the cage pass through the flexible tether and remain protected from the subject. The reliability of the tethering system has been demonstrated in physiological, pharmacological, and behavioral experiments with baboons.

Byrd, L. D.↗

Life sciences Spacelab Mission Development test 3 (SMD 3) data management report

Development of a permanent data system for SMD tests was studied that would simulate all elements of the shuttle onboard, telemetry, and ground data systems that are involved with spacelab operations. The onboard data system (ODS) and the ground data system (GDS) were utilized. The air-to-ground link was simulated by a hardwired computer-to-computer interface. A patch board system was used on board to select experiment inputs, and the downlink configuration from the ODS was changed by a crew keyboard entry to support each experiment. The ODS provided a CRT display of experiment parameters to enable the crew to monitor experiment performance. An onboard analog system, with recording capability, was installed to handle high rate data and to provide a backup to the digital system. The GDS accomplished engineering unit conversion and limit sensing, and provided realtime parameter display on CRT's in the science monitoring area and the test control area.

Moseley, E. C.↗

Holographic microscopy studies of emulsions

A holographic microscopy system that records and observes the dynamic properties of separation of dispersed immiscible fluids is described. The holographic construction system and reconstruction system that were used to obtain particle size and distribution information from the holograms are discussed. The holographic microscopy system is used to observed the phase separating processes in immiscible fluids that were isothermally cooled into the two phase region. Nucleation, growth rates, coalescence, and particle motion are successfully demonstrated with this system. Thus a holographic particle sizing system with a resolution of 2 micrometers and a field of view of 100 cu cm was developed that provides the capability of testing the theories of separating immiscible fluids for particle number densities in the range of 10 to 10 to the 7th power particles.

Witherow, W. K.↗

Satellite and ground radiotracking of elk

Radiotracking and monitoring of free-living animals in natural environments is providing an effective new technique for acquiring information on biological processes, including animal orientation and navigation. To test the practicability of extending the technique by using satellite systems for tracking animals, a female elk was instrumented with an electronic collar. It contained both the Interrogation Recording Location System (IRLS) transponder and a Craighead-Varney ground-tracking transmitter. The elk was successfully tracked and monitored by satellite during month of April 1970. This was the first time an animal had been tracked by satellite on the surface of the earth.

Craighead, F. C., Jr.↗

Sector-scanning echocardiography

The mechanical sector scanner is described in detail, and its clinical application is discussed. Cross sectional images of the heart are obtained in real time using this system. The sector scanner has three major components: (a) hand held scanner, (b) video display, and (c) video recorder. The system provides diagnostic information in a wide spectrum of cardiac diseases, and it quantitates the severity of mitral stenosis by measurement of the mitral valve orifice area in diagnosing infants, children and adults with cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Henry, W. L.↗

Multiband radiometer for field research

A multiband radiometer for field research with 8 bands between 0.4 and 12.5 micrometers is described. The data acquisition system will record the results from the radiometer, a precision radiation thermometer, and ancillary sources. The radiometer and data handling systems will be adaptable to helicopter, truck, to tripod platforms; the system will also be suitable for portable hand-held operation. The general characteristics of this system are that it will be (1) inexpensive to acquire, maintain, and operate, (2) simple to calibrate, (3) complete with data handling hardware and software, and (4) well-documented for use by researchers.

Robinson, B. F.↗

Ultrasonic scanning system for in-place inspection of brazed-tube joints

System detects defects of .051 cm in diameter and larger. System incorporates scanning head assembly including boot enclosed transducer, slip ring assembly, drive mechanism, and servotransmitter. Ultrasonic flaw detector, prototype recorder, and special recorder complete system.

Haralson, H. S.↗

Characteristics of RF Lightning Emission at 2 Ghz and 250 Mhz

Radio frequency emissions in the S-band and VHF range from lightning discharges are recorded by a facility developed at MSFC as part of a feasibility study of a satellite-based lightning mapping system. The recording facility receives RF emissions in both vertical and horizontal polarization and stores the data on magnetic tape. Output from any one antenna may also be selected for high speed digitization and disk storage. Improvement in both hardware and software have enhanced significantly the accuracy of data characterization and the speed of data collection. Emission records at VHF have higher signal strength than the S-band as expected. The records of cloud-to-ground discharges obtained so far give a 7-33 V/M peak equivalent signal strength (1 KHz at 10 kilometer) in the S-band range. The CG discharge structure is recognizable in most of the data collected. Considerable RF activity is present throughout the VHF records. The S-band data shows signals associated with limited portions of discharge history. The records obtained are from lightning activities within a 10 mile range.

Jalali, F.↗

Restore-L Satellite Servicing Internship Final Report

An experiment was conducted to determine whether a sample of shorter flexible metal hoses could sustain tensile loads of up to 200 lbf and continue to meet the minimum mission requirements. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if tension loads during the processing of the hoses compromise performance. With this information, it will be decided whether the flight flex-hose manufacturer should proceed with the testing of the full-scale flex-hoses. To reduce the time and funding required for this test, a test fixture was designed and assembled in the Engineering Development & Operations (EDO) test facility. In this test fixture, two Engineering Development Unit (EDU) flex-hoses were loaded with free floating weights up to 350 lbf. A load of 200 lbf equates to the maximum expected loading with a margin of safety, thus all data recorded after 200 lbf was purely for reference. Measurements were taken using a tape measure and a custom datum measurement system to record the loaded and unloaded length of each flex-hose at various loads. Any permanent stretching beyond a 1/8th of an inch was indicative of inelastic yielding. The loading of each flex-hose was done with an initial weight 80 lbf and was increased to 100 lbf. Additional loading up to 350 lbf was done by 50 lbf increments thereafter. During the performance of the test, slippage occurred in the mounting of the flex-hoses in the test fixture. The first slippage occurred during the testing of the first flex-hose due to the collar of the flex-hose slipping within the collet of the top Kellem. As a result, the first flex-hose test was terminated early to modify the fixture. Due to the flex-hose not inelastically yielding, the test was repeated on the first flex hose. This test resulted in another instance of slippage in the upper collar of the Kellem due to tape interfering with the securing of a collet around the collar of the flex-hose. The test was then continued with one more slippage of the flex-hose within the collet of the bottom Kellem. Preventive measures were taken for future slippage, and the second hose remained secure during testing.Once the tests were concluded, the elongation of each hose was analyzed for inelastic yielding. Both flex-hoses stretched a measurable and repeatable amount under loading, however, this stretching was recovered once each hose was unloaded. As a result, both EDU flex-hoses did not experience any inelastic yielding during the tension testing. Once received, one additional flex-hose will be tested for yielding, but at the time of this paper, the recommendation is to proceed with testing of the full-scale flex-hoses at the flex-hose manufacturer.

Dziekan, Joseph↗

Electromagnetic measurement of lightning strikes to aircraft

Recent in-flight direct-strike lightning research, using an NASA F-1068 aircraft, is reviewed. The instrumentation system which records the rates of change of electric and magnetic flow density at several locations on the aircraft and rate of change of strike current to the boom is described. The measurement parameters are: rate of change of electric flux density over a range of 50 amperes per square meter, rate of change of magnetic flux density over a range of 20,000 tesla per second, and rate of change of strike current over a range of 100 kilo-amperes per microsecond. The isolated and shielded instrumentation system employs high-sample-rate digital transient recorders with augmented memory capacity and a wideband analog recorder for data acquisition and recording. The data obtained during the 1980 flight test program are presented and the data significance is discussed.

Pitts, F. L.↗

Quality-Controlled Wind Data from the Kennedy Space Center 915 Megahertz Doppler Radar Wind Profiler Network

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration s (NASA) Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has installed a five-instrument 915-Megahertz (MHz) Doppler Radar Wind Profiler (DRWP) system that records atmospheric wind profile properties. The purpose of these profilers is to fill data gaps between the top of the KSC wind tower network and the lowest measurement altitude of the KSC 50-MHz DRWP. The 915-MHz DRWP system has the capability to generate three-dimensional wind data outputs from approximately 150 meters (m) to 6,000 m at roughly 15-minute (min) intervals. NASA s long-term objective is to combine the 915-MHz and 50-MHz DRWP systems to create complete vertical wind profiles up to 18,300 m to be used in trajectory and loads analyses of space vehicles and by forecasters on day-of-launch (DOL). This analysis utilizes automated and manual quality control (QC) processes to remove erroneous and unrealistic wind data returned by the 915-MHz DRWP system. The percentage of data affected by each individual QC check in the period of record (POR) (i.e., January to April 2006) was computed, demonstrating the variability in the amount of data affected by the QC processes. The number of complete wind profiles available at given altitude thresholds for each profiler in the POR was calculated and outputted graphically, followed by an assessment of the number of complete wind profiles available for any profiler in the POR. A case study is also provided to demonstrate the QC process on a day of a known weather event.

Dryden, Rachel L.↗

Measurement and Data Distribution for Microgravity Accelerations on the International Space Station

Two accelerometer systems will be available on the International Space Station to support microgravity payloads with information about the quasi-steady and vibratory acceleration environment of the research facilities. The Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System will record contributions to the quasi-steady microgravity environment, including the influences of aerodynamic drag, vehicle rotation, and venting effects. The Space Acceleration Measurement System-II will measure vibratory disturbances on-board due to vehicle, crew, and equipment disturbances. Due to the dynamic nature of the microgravity environment and its potential to influence sensitive experiments, NASA's Principal Investigator Microgravity Services project has initiated a plan through which the data from these instruments will be distributed to researchers in a timely and meaningful fashion. Beyond the obvious benefit of correlation between accelerations and the scientific phenomena being studied, such information is also useful for hardware developers who can gain qualitative and quantitative feedback about their facility acceleration output to station.

McPherson, Kevin↗

Automatic Blood Pressure Measurements During Exercise

Microprocessor circuits and a computer algorithm for automatically measuring blood pressure during ambulatory monitoring and exercise stress testing have been under development at SRI International. A system that records ECG, Korotkov sound, and arm cuff pressure for off-line calculation of blood pressure has been delivered to NASA, and an LSLE physiological monitoring system that performs the algorithm calculations in real-time is being constructed. The algorithm measures the time between the R-wave peaks and the corresponding Korotkov sound on-set (RK-interval). Since the curve of RK-interval versus cuff pressure during deflation is predictable and slowly varying, windows can be set around the curve to eliminate false Korotkov sound detections that result from noise. The slope of this curve, which will generally decrease during exercise, is the inverse of the systolic slope of the brachial artery pulse. In measurements taken during treadmill stress testing, the changes in slopes of subjects with coronary artery disease were markedly different from the changes in slopes of healthy subjects. Measurements of slope and O2 consumption were also made before and after ten days of bed rest during NASA/Ames Research Center bed rest studies. Typically, the maximum rate of O2 consumption during the post-bed rest test is less than the maximum rate during the pre-bed rest test. The post-bed rest slope changes differ from the pre-bed rest slope changes, and the differences are highly correlated with the drop in the maximum rate of O2 consumption. We speculate that the differences between pre- and post-bed rest slopes are due to a drop in heart contractility.

Weaver, Charles S.↗

Implementation and Validation of 3-D Ice Accretion Measurement Methodology

A research program has been implemented to develop and validate the use of a commercial 3-D laser scanning system to record ice accretion geometry in the NASA Icing Research Tunnel. A main component of the program was the geometric assessment of the 3-D laser scanning system on a 2-D (straight wing) and a 3-D (swept wing) airfoil geometries. This exercise consisted of comparison of scanned ice accretion to castings of the same ice accretion. The scan data were also used to create rapid prototype artificial ice shapes that were scanned and compared to the original ice accretion.The results from geometric comparisons on the straight wing showed that the ice shape models generated through the scanrapid prototype process compared reasonably well with the cast shapes. Similar results were obtained with the geometric comparisons on the swept wing. It was difficult to precisely compare the scans of the cast shapes to the original ice accretion scans because the cast shapes appear to have shrunk during the moldcasting process by as much as 0.10-inch. However the comparison of the local ice-shape features were possible and produced better results. The rapid prototype manufacturing process was shown to reproduce the original ice accretion scan normally within 0.01-inch.

Aerodynamics↗