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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

Modified Apollo cryogenic oxygen tank design

Assessment of the Apollo 13 mission indicated that some design changes to be incorporated into Apollo cryogenic oxygen storage tanks. These changes broadly fit into three categories. They were: (1) deletion of the fluid equilibration motors and redesign of heater assembly, (2) material changes for internal tank wiring and density sensor, and (3) the addition of a heater assembly temperature sensor. Development of a cryogenic oxygen tank incorporating these changes is presented.

Vanleuven, K.↗

The Jimsonde - A high resolution temperature sensor.

The Jimsonde, a high-resolution lightweight temperature sensor developed for use with the FPS-16 Radar/Jimsphere wind system, and its related systems are discussed; and an error analysis that shows the sonde to have an rms error of 0.41 C at sea level and 0.56 C at 18 km is presented. Five flight tests, a sequence of four tests and one individual test, of the Jimsonde were made. For comparative purposes, radiosonde temperature data are presented along with the Jimsonde data.

Camp, D. W.↗

Real time optical figure sensor

Mirrors produced for various optical systems require precise surface finishing. Sensor, developed for measuring mirror surface, is compensated for interferences from temperature and air disturbances and is capable of measuring mirrors with diameters of up to 2 meters.

Robertson, H. J.↗

Body/bone-marrow differential-temperature sensor

Differential-temperature sensor developed to compare bone-marrow and body temperature in leukemia patients uses single stable amplifier to monitor temperature difference recorded by thermocouples. Errors are reduced by referencing temperatures to each other, not to separate calibration points.

Anselmo, V. J.↗

Photo sensor array technology development

The development of an improved capability photo sensor array imager for use in a Viking '75 type facsimile camera is presented. This imager consists of silicon photodiodes and lead sulfide detectors to cover a spectral range from 0.4 to 2.7 microns. An optical design specifying filter configurations and convergence angles is described. Three electronics design approaches: AC-chopped light, DC-dual detector, and DC-single detector, are investigated. Experimental and calculated results are compared whenever possible using breadboard testing and tolerance analysis techniques. Results show that any design used must be forgiving of the relative instability of lead sulfide detectors. A final design using lead sulfide detectors and associated electronics is implemented by fabrication of a hybrid prototype device. Test results of this device show a good agreement with calculated values.

Rossman, M. W.↗

Improved split-film vector anomometer

Split-film vector anemometer accurately measures magnitude and direction of fluid flow velocity in three-dimensional space using only one of three split films in three-prong split-film system. With procedure, one sensor develops all data previously required by three.

Scheiman, J.↗

Polar Environmental Monitoring

The present and projected benefits of the polar regions were reviewed and then translated into information needs in order to support the array of polar activities anticipated. These needs included measurement sensitivities for polar environmental data (ice/snow, atmosphere, and ocean data for integrated support) and the processing and delivery requirements which determine the effectiveness of environmental services. An assessment was made of how well electromagnetic signals can be converted into polar environmental information. The array of sensor developments in process or proposed were also evaluated as to the spectral diversity, aperture sizes, and swathing capabilities available to provide these measurements from spacecraft, aircraft, or in situ platforms. Global coverage and local coverage densification options were studied in terms of alternative spacecraft trajectories and aircraft flight paths.

Nagler, R. G.↗

Thin film temperature sensor

Thin film surface temperature sensors were developed. The sensors were made of platinum-platinum/10 percent rhodium thermocouples with associated thin film-to-lead wire connections and sputtered on aluminum oxide coated simulated turbine blades for testing. Tests included exposure to vibration, low velocity hydrocarbon hot gas flow to 1250 K, and furnace calibrations. Thermal electromotive force was typically two percent below standard type S thermocouples. Mean time to failure was 42 hours at a hot gas flow temperature of 1250 K and an average of 15 cycles to room temperature. Failures were mainly due to separation of the platinum thin film from the aluminum oxide surface. Several techniques to improve the adhesion of the platinum are discussed.

Grant, H. P.↗

A study of GEOS-3 terrain data with emphasis on radar cross section

Radar cross sections (RCS) of terrain are studied using GEOS 3 radar altimeter data. Maps of RCS for portions of four east coast states (U.S.A.) are presented and used to draw curves of RCS versus inland distance as measured from the land/sea interface. The results show RCS to decay approximately exponentially with inland distance. The GEOS 3 data are also used to develop curves of RCS seasonal variation for the same regions. Observed variations correlate strongly with local potential evaporation. Results also show that farming operations in the state of North Carolina are observable in the RCS data. A restricted method for determining surface roughness features from saturated average return waveforms for some types of terrain is developed. Sensor bias induced by receiver saturation for certain terrain returns is briefly discussed.

Priester, R. W.↗

NASA oceanic processes program: Status report, fiscal year 1980

Goals, philosophy, and objectives of NASA's Oceanic Processes Program are presented as well as detailed information on flight projects, sensor developments, future prospects, individual investigator tasks, and recent publications. A special feature is a group of brief descriptions prepared by leaders in the oceanographic community of how remote sensing might impact various areas of oceanography during the coming decade.

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Research and technology, fiscal year 1983

The responibilities and programs of the Goddard Space Flight Center are ranged from basic research in the space and Earth sciences through the management of numerous flight projects to operational responsibility for the tracking of and data acquisition from NASA's Earth orbiting satellites, Progress in the areas of spacecraft technology, sensor development and data system development, as well as in the basic and applied to research in the space and Earth sciences that they support is highlighted.

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Electrochemical concentration cell ozonesonde accuracy and precision

This paper is concerned with the results of a study designed to evaluate experimentally the accuracy and precision of electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozonesondes as prepared and flown by NASA, as a function of altitude. A combination of dual-instrument soundings and laboratory work using an environmental chamber was employed in the study. The ECC ozonesonde is a small, balloon-borne sensor developed for obtaining vertical profiles of atmospheric ozone. Attention is given to the design of the employed environmental chamber, ozone and temperature profiles used in simulated ozonesonde soundings, absolute and relative ECC ozonesonde precision estimates determined with the environmental chamber and from dual-instrument balloon soundings, and the ECC ozonesonde accuracy.

Barnes, R. A.↗

Application of the Man-computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS) to aerospace meteorology

The Man-computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS) considered in this paper has been in use at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) since 1981. The MSFC McIDAS system is primarily employed as a research tool, taking into account rainfall estimates as deduced from Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) data, remote sensing sensor development (MAMS), Doppler-lidar derived winds, cloud tracked winds, and analysis of lightning ground strike data. With respect to the SMMR data analysis, passive microwave satellite data are displayed on McIDAS as images. Two major research efforts are concerned with the determination of mesoscale winds. These efforts are based on a utilization of a Doppler-lidar system, and GOES multispectral imagery. It is pointed out that future plans include increased usage of the McIDAS system.

Meyer, P. J.↗

The future of earth remote sensing in the US through the Space Station era

This paper reviews the objectives of the Terrestrial Geology Program within NASA. The Geology Program is one of four within the Land Processes Branch of the Office of Space Science and Applications, and complements the Terrestrial Ecosystems, Hydrology and Remote Sensing Science Programs. Examples of science currently being supported by the Geology Program, and new sensor developments are discussed as they lead towards the Space Station Era in the mid-1990's.

Mouginis, P. J.↗

Venus Radar Mapper (VRM) - Multimode radar system design

The paper describes the radar design of the Venus Radar Mapper (VRM), which is intended to acquire global radar imaging and altimetry data of the Venus surface. The radar design requirements are satisfied through the use of an existing Voyager antenna for the SAR function and newly developed sensor and altimeter antenna subsystems. The sensor utilizes a block adaptive quantizer to maximize science data return with minimum transmission of radar data back to earth.

Johnson, William T. K.↗

Boundary layer measurements using hot-film sensors

Measurements in the aerodynamic boundary layer using heat transfer, hot-film sensors are receiving a significant amount of effort at the Langley Research Center. A description of the basic sensor, the signal conditioning employed, and several manifestations of the sensor are given. Results of a flow reversal sensor development are presented, and future work areas are outlined.

Holmes, Harlan K.↗