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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Developing mass spectrometric techniques for boundary layer measurement in hypersonic high enthalpy test facilities

Thermodynamic flow properties of gases in the boundary layer or the flowfield have been mainly deduced from pressures and temperatures measured on a model. However, further progress with respect to an understanding of these properties requires a more complete characterization of the layer including determination of the gas composition and chemistry. Most attempts to measure boundary layer chemistry involve the employment of a mass spectrometer and an associated gas sampling system. The three major limiting factors which must be addressed for species measurement in aerothermodynamic investigations on models at reentry stream velocities, are gas sampling effects, instrument limitations, and problems with data acquisition. The present investigation is concerned with a concentrated effort to quantitatively identify and correct for instrument and sampling system effects, and to develop a miniaturized high performance mass spectrometer for on-model real-time analysis of the boundary layer and its associated atmosphere.

Wood, G. M., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Implementation of Remote Acquisition and Storage System

The existing system for gathering and processing acoustical test data had several shortcomings and limitations in the areas of microphone array size, sampling rate, and background noise. A new Remote Acquisition and Storage System (RASS) is being designed for applications not suited for the existing acquisition system. One of the first tasks in the design of the RASS was to redesign the microprocessor card of the existing system to include RS-232 serial ports to accept communications through the radio modem used in the RF link. Cost and parts availability comparisons were made between the newly designed board and commercially available models, and a commercially made model was selected. This model was tested for basic I/0 operations. The prototype of the RF telemetry system was set up and tested. Plans are now being developed for integrating the RF telemetry system with the other RASS subsystems.

Hess, Jason R.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Curating NASA's Future Extraterrestrial Sample Collections: How Do We Achieve Maximum Proficiency?

The Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office (henceforth referred to herein as NASA Curation Office) at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is responsible for curating all of NASA's extraterrestrial samples. Under the governing document, NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 7100.10E "Curation of Extraterrestrial Materials", JSC is charged with "The curation of all extraterrestrial material under NASA control, including future NASA missions." The Directive goes on to define Curation as including "... documentation, preservation, preparation, and distribution of samples for research, education, and public outreach." Here we describe some of the ongoing efforts to ensure that the future activities of the NASA Curation Office are working towards a state of maximum proficiency.

McCubbin, Francis↗
NASA NTRS1980

Data acquisition techniques for exploiting the uniqueness of the time-of-flight mass spectrometer: Application to sampling pulsed gas systems

Mass spectra are produced in most mass spectrometers by sweeping some parameter within the instrument as the sampled gases flow into the ion source. It is evident that any fluctuation in the gas during the sweep (mass scan) of the instrument causes the output spectrum to be skewed in its mass peak intensities. The time of flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) with its fast, repetitive mode of operation produces spectra without skewing or varying instrument parameters and because all ion species are ejected from the ion source simultaneously, the spectra are inherently not skewed despite rapidly changing gas pressure or composition in the source. Methods of exploiting this feature by utilizing fast digital data acquisition systems, such as transient recorders and signal averagers which are commercially available are described. Applications of this technique are presented including TOFMS sampling of vapors produced by both pulsed and continuous laser heating of materials.

Lincoln, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Multi crop area estimation in Idaho using EDITOR

The use of LANDSAT multispectral scanner digital data for multi-crop acreage estimation in the central Snake River Plain of Idaho was examined. Two acquisitions of LANDSAT data covering ground sample units selected from a U.S. Department of Agriculture sampling frame in a four country study site were used to train a maximum likelihood classifier which, subsequently, classified all picture elements in the study site. Acreage estimates for six major crops, by county and for the four counties combined, were generated from the classification using the Battesse-Fuller model for estimation by regression in small areas. Results from the regression analysis were compared to those obtained by direct expansion of the ground data. Using the LANDSAT data significantly decreased the errors associated with the estimates for the three largest acreage crops. The late date of the second LANDSAT acquisition may have contributed to the poor results for three summer crops.

Sheffner, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Warm Pressurant Gas Effects on the Liquid Hydrogen Bubble Point

This paper presents experimental results for the liquid hydrogen bubble point tests using warm pressurant gases conducted at the Cryogenic Components Cell 7 facility at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The purpose of the test series was to determine the effect of elevating the temperature of the pressurant gas on the performance of a liquid acquisition device. Three fine mesh screen samples (325 x 2300, 450 x 2750, 510 x 3600) were tested in liquid hydrogen using cold and warm noncondensible (gaseous helium) and condensable (gaseous hydrogen) pressurization schemes. Gases were conditioned from 0 to 90 K above the liquid temperature. Results clearly indicate a degradation in bubble point pressure using warm gas, with a greater reduction in performance using condensable over noncondensible pressurization. Degradation in the bubble point pressure is inversely proportional to screen porosity, as the coarsest mesh demonstrated the highest degradation. Results here have implication on both pressurization and LAD system design for all future cryogenic propulsion systems. A detailed review of historical heated gas tests is also presented for comparison to current results.

Liquid Hydrogen↗
NASA NTRS1977

Instrumentation of sampling aircraft for measurement of launch vehicle effluents

An aircraft was selected and instrumented to measure effluents emitted from large solid propellant rockets during launch activities. The considerations involved in aircraft selection, sampling probes, and instrumentation are discussed with respect to obtaining valid airborne measurements. Discussions of the data acquisition system used, the instrument power system, and operational sampling procedures are included. Representative measurements obtained from an actual rocket launch monitoring activity are also presented.

Wornom, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The analysis of ocean optical data

A new oceanographic instrument to measure underwater optical, biological and physical properties simultaneously has been built and used extensively at sea. The Bio-Optical Profiling System (BOPS) was designed for the rapid acquisition of data to accommodate shipboard 'synoptic' sampling strategies, often in conjunction with concurrent aircraft and satellite sensors. The data rates and associated quantity of data from the BOPS are some orders of magnitude larger than those traditionally encountered in optical oceanography. The rapid acquisition of optical data in a wide range of environmental conditions requires new methodologies in ocean optical data analysis.

Smith, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Sampling tool concepts for Enceladus Lander in-situ analysis

A potential future in-situ lander mission to the surface of Enceladus could be the lowest cost mission to determine if life exists beyond Earth since material from the subsurface ocean, where the presence of hydrothermal activity has been strongly suggested by the Cassini mission, is available on its surface after being ejected by plumes and then settling on the surface. In addition, the low radiation environment of Enceladus would not significantly alter the chemical makeup of samples recently deposited on the surface. A study was conducted to explore various sampling devices that could be used by an in-situ lander mission to provide 1cc to 5cc volume samples to instruments. In addition to temperature and vacuum environmental conditions, the low surface gravity of Enceladus (1% of Earth gravity) represents a new challenge for surface sampling that is not met by sampling systems developed for microgravity (e.g., comets and asteroids) or higher gravity (e.g., Europa 13%g, Moon 16%g, or Mars 38%g) environments. It is desired to acquire surface plume material that has accumulated in the top 1cm to ensure acquisition of the least processed material. Several sampling devices were developed or adapted and then tested in simulated conditions that resemble the Enceladus surface properties. These devices and test results are presented in this paper.

Genta, Giancarlo↗
NASA NTRS1976

Water monitor system: Phase 1 test report

Automatic water monitor system was tested with the objectives of assuring high-quality effluent standards and accelerating the practice of reclamation and reuse of water. The NASA water monitor system is described. Various components of the system, including the necessary sensors, the sample collection system, and the data acquisition and display system, are discussed. The test facility and the analysis methods are described. Test results are reviewed, and recommendations for water monitor system design improvement are presented.

Taylor, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

INFORM: An interactive data collection and display program with debugging capability

A computer program was developed to aid ASSEMBLY language programmers of mini and micro computers in solving the man machine communications problems that exist when scaled integers are involved. In addition to producing displays of quasi-steady state values, INFORM provides an interactive mode for debugging programs, making program patches, and modifying the displays. Auxiliary routines SAMPLE and DATAO add dynamic data acquisition and high speed dynamic display capability to the program. Programming information and flow charts to aid in implementing INFORM on various machines together with descriptions of all supportive software are provided. Program modifications to satisfy the individual user's needs are considered.

Cwynar, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Acquisition of a High Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope for the Analysis of Returned Samples

This grant furnished funds to purchase a state-of-the-art scanning electron microscope (SEM) to support our analytical facilities for extraterrestrial samples. After evaluating several instruments, we purchased a JEOL 6500F thermal field emission SEM with the following analytical accessories: EDAX energy-dispersive x-ray analysis system with fully automated control of instrument and sample stage; EDAX LEXS wavelength-dispersive x-ray spectrometer for high sensitivity light-element analysis; EDAX/TSL electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) system with software for phase identification and crystal orientation mapping; Robinson backscatter electron detector; and an in situ micro-manipulator (Kleindiek). The total price was $550,000 (with $150,000 of the purchase supported by Carnegie institution matching funds). The microscope was delivered in October 2002, and most of the analytical accessories were installed by January 2003. With the exception of the wavelength spectrometer (which has been undergoing design changes) everything is working well and the SEM is in routine use in our laboratory.

Nittler, Larry R.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Indigenous and Contaminant Microbes in Ultradeep Mines

Rock, air and service water samples were collected for microbial analyses from 3.2 kilometers depth in a working Au mine in the Witwatersrand basin, South Africa. The approx. 1 meter wide mined zone was comprised of a carbonaceous, quartz, sulfide, uraninite and Au bearing layer, called the Carbon Leader, sandwiched by quartzite and conglomerates. The microbial community in the service water was dominated by mesophilic aerobic and anaerobic, alpha, beta and gamma-Proteobacteria with a total biomass concentration approx. l0(exp 4) cells/ ml, whereas, that of the mine air was dominated by members of the Chlorobi and Bacteroidetes groups and a fungal component. The microorganisms in the Carbon Leader were predominantly mesophilic, aerobic heterotrophic, nitrate reducing and methylotrophic, beta and gamma - Proteobacteria that were more closely related to service water microorganisms rather than air microbes. Rhodamine WT dye and fluorescent microspheres employed as contaminant tracers, however, indicated that service water contamination of most of the rock samples was less that 0.01% during acquisition. The microbial contaminants most likely originated from the service water, infiltrated the low permeability rock through and accumulated within mining-induced fractures where they survived for several days prior to being mined. Combined PLFA and terminal restriction fragment length profile (T-RFLP) analyses suggest that the maximum concentration of indigenous microorganisms in the Carbon Leader was less than lo(exp 2) cells/ g. PLFA, S-35 autoradiography and enrichments suggest that the adjacent quartzite was less contaminated and contained -10(exp 3) cells/gram of a thermophilic, sulfate reducing bacteria, SRB, some of who are delta Proteobacteria. Pore water and rock geochemical analyses suggest that these SRB's may have been sustained by sulfate diffusing from the adjacent U-rich, Carbon Leader where it was formed by radiolysis of sulfide.

Onstott, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Astromaterials Curation Online Resources for Principal Investigators

The Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation office at NASA Johnson Space Center curates all of NASA's extraterrestrial samples, the most extensive set of astromaterials samples available to the research community worldwide. The office allocates ~1500 individual samples to researchers and students each year and has served the planetary research community for 45+ years. The Astromaterials Curation office provides access to its sample data repository and digital resources to support the research needs of sample investigators and to aid in the selection and request of samples for scientific study. These resources can be found on the Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation website at https://curator.jsc.nasa.gov. To better serve our users, we have engaged in several activities to enhance the data available for astromaterials samples, to improve the accessibility and performance of the website, and to address user feedback. We havealso put plans in place for continuing improvements to our existing data products.

Todd, Nancy S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An assessment of LANDSAT data acquisition history on identification and area estimation of corn and soybeans

Multitemporally registered LANDSAT MSS data from four acquisitions during the 1978 growing season were used in classification of eight sample segments in Iowa and Indiana. The results illustrate that use of LANDSAT acquisition when corn has tasseled is critical, as this is the optimum time for separation of corn and soybeans. An early season acquisition when the summer crops appear as bare soil can be beneficial in reducing the confusion between these two crops and other cover types. A subset of one visible and one infrared band from each date was found to produce results not significantly different from the use of all bands. Selection of a subset of these bands may also be feasible for multitemporal analysis.

Hixson, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Curating NASA's Extraterrestrial Samples - Past, Present, and Future

Curation of extraterrestrial samples is the critical interface between sample return missions and the international research community. The Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is responsible for curating NASA's extraterrestrial samples. Under the governing document, NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 7100.10E "Curation of Extraterrestrial Materials," JSC is charged with ". . . curation of all extraterrestrial material under NASA control, including future NASA missions." The Directive goes on to define Curation as including documentation, preservation, preparation, and distribution of samples for research, education, and public outreach.

Allen, Carlton↗
NASA NTRS2011

Curating NASA's Extraterrestrial Samples - Past, Present, and Future

Curation of extraterrestrial samples is the critical interface between sample return missions and the international research community. The Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is responsible for curating NASA s extraterrestrial samples. Under the governing document, NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 7100.10E "Curation of Extraterrestrial Materials", JSC is charged with ". . . curation of all extraterrestrial material under NASA control, including future NASA missions." The Directive goes on to define Curation as including "documentation, preservation, preparation, and distribution of samples for research, education, and public outreach."

Allen, Carlton↗
NASA NTRS1975

The integration of manual and automatic image analysis techniques with supporting ground data in a multistage sampling framework for timber resource inventories: Three examples

An approach to information acquisition is discussed in the context of meeting user-specified needs in a cost-effective, timely manner through the use of remote sensing data, ground data, and multistage sampling techniques. The roles of both LANDSAT imagery and Skylab photography are discussed as first stages of three separate multistage timber inventory systems and results are given for each system. Emphasis is placed on accuracy and meeting user needs.

Gialdini, M.↗