Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “MISSILES”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 361 records · Page 20

Aerodynamics of an Axisymmetric Missile Concept Having Cruciform Strakes and In-Line Tail Fins From Mach 0.60 to 4.63, Supplement

An experimental study has been performed to develop a large force and moment aerodynamic data set on a slender axisymmetric missile configuration having cruciform strakes and in-line control tail fins. The data include six-component balance measurements of the configuration aerodynamics and three-component measurements on all four tail fins. The test variables include angle of attack, roll angle, Mach number, model buildup, strake length, nose size, and tail fin deflection angles to provide pitch, yaw, and roll control. Test Mach numbers ranged from 0.60 to 4.63. The entire data set is presented on a CD-ROM that is attached to this paper. The CD-ROM also includes extensive plots of both the six-component configuration data and the three-component tail fin data. Selected samples of these plots are presented in this paper to illustrate the features of the data and to investigate the effects of the test variables.

Jerry M Allen↗

An Evaluation of the Roll-Rate Stabilization System of the Sidewinder Missile at Mach Numbers from 0.9 to 2.3

A linear stability analysis and flight-test investigation has been performed on a rolleron-type roll-rate stabilization system for a canard-type missile configuration through a Mach number range from 0.9 to 2.3. This type damper provides roll damping by the action of gyro-actuated uncoupled wing-tip ailerons. A dynamic roll instability predicted by the analysis was confirmed by flight testing and was subsequently eliminated by the introduction of control-surface damping about the rolleron hinge line. The control-surface damping was provided by an orifice-type damper contained within the control surface. Steady-state rolling velocities were at all times less than 1 radian per second between the Mach numbers of 0.9 to 2.3 on the configurations tested. No adverse longitudinal effects were experienced in flight because of the tendency of the free-floating rollerons to couple into the pitching motion at the low angles of attack and disturbance levels investigated herein after the introduction of control-surface damping.

Nason, Martin L.↗

Investigation in the Ames Supersonic Free-Flight Wind Tunnel of the Static Longitudinal Stability of the Hermes A-3B Missile at a Mach Number of 5.0

Models of the Hermes A-3B missile were tested in the Ames supersonic free-flight wind tunnel to determine the static-longitudinal-stability characteristics at a Mach number of 5.0 and a Reynolds number based on body length of 10 million. The results indicated that the model center of pressure was 45.3 percent of the body length aft of the nose and the lift-curve slope based on body frontal area was 0.064 per degree. Estimates indicated that the effect on these characteristics of aeroelastic twisting of the model fins was small but important if a precise location of center of pressure is required. A comparison of the test results with predictions based on available theory showed that the theory was useful only for rough estimates, The drag coefficient at zero lift, based on body frontal area, was found to be 0.155.

Denardo, Billy Pat↗

Ultra-high Temperature Emittance Measurements for Space and Missile Applications

Advanced modeling and design efforts for many aerospace components require high temperature emittance data. Applications requiring emittance data include propulsion systems, radiators, aeroshells, heatshields/thermal protection systems, and leading edge surfaces. The objective of this work is to provide emittance data at ultra-high temperatures. MSFC has a new instrument for the measurement of emittance at ultra-high temperatures, the Ultra-High Temperature Emissometer System (Ultra-HITEMS). AZ Technology Inc. developed the instrument, designed to provide emittance measurements over the temperature range 700-3500K. The Ultra-HITEMS instrument measures the emittance of samples, heated by lasers, in vacuum, using a blackbody source and a Fourier Transform Spectrometer. Detectors in a Nicolet 6700 FT-IR spectrometer measure emittance over the spectral range of 0.4-25 microns. Emitted energy from the specimen and output from a Mikron M390S blackbody source at the same temperature with matched collection geometry are measured. Integrating emittance over the spectral range yields the total emittance. The ratio provides a direct measure of total hemispherical emittance. Samples are heated using lasers. Optical pyrometry provides temperature data. Optical filters prevent interference from the heating lasers. Data for Inconel 718 show excellent agreement with results from literature and ASTM 835. Measurements taken from levitated spherical specimens provide total hemispherical emittance data; measurements taken from flat specimens mounted in the chamber provide near-normal emittance data. Data from selected characterization studies will be presented. The Ultra-HITEMS technique could advance space and missile technologies by advancing the knowledge base and the technology readiness level for ultra-high temperature materials.

Rogers, Jan↗

Determining the Probability of Violating Upper-Level Wind Constraints for the Launch of Minuteman III Ballistic Missiles at Vandenberg Air Force Base

The 30th Operational Support Squadron Weather Flight (30 OSSWF) provides comprehensive weather services to the space program at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. One of their responsibilities is to monitor upper-level winds to ensure safe launch operations of the Minuteman Ill ballistic missile. The 30 OSSWF tasked the Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) to analyze VAFB sounding data with the goal of determining the probability of violating (PoV) their upper-level thresholds for wind speed and shear constraints specific to this launch vehicle, and to develop a tool that will calculate the PoV of each constraint on the day of launch. In order to calculate the probability of exceeding each constraint, the AMU collected and analyzed historical data from VAFB. The historical sounding data were retrieved from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Earth System Research Laboratory archive for the years 1994-2011 and then stratified into four sub-seasons: January-March, April-June, July-September, and October-December. The AMU determined the theoretical distributions that best fit the maximum wind speed and maximum wind shear datasets and applied this information when calculating the averages and standard deviations needed for the historical and real-time PoV calculations. In addition, the AMU included forecast sounding data from the Rapid Refresh model. This information provides further insight for the launch weather officers (LWOs) when determining if a wind constraint violation will occur over the next few hours on the day of launch. The AMU developed an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) in Microsoft Excel using Visual Basic for Applications. The GUI displays the critical sounding data easily and quickly for LWOs on day of launch. This tool will replace the existing one used by the 30 OSSWF, assist the LWOs in determining the probability of exceeding specific wind threshold values, and help to improve the overall upper winds forecast for the launch customer. This presentation will describe how the AMU calculated the historical and real-time PoV values for the specific upper-level wind launch constraints and outline the development of the interactive GUI display.

Shafer, Jaclyn A.↗

Determining the Probability of Violating Upper-Level Wind Constraints for the Launch of Minuteman Ill Ballistic Missiles At Vandenberg Air Force Base

The 30th Operational Support Squadron Weather Flight (30 OSSWF) provides comprehensive weather services to the space program at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. One of their responsibilities is to monitor upper-level winds to ensure safe launch operations of the Minuteman Ill ballistic missile. The 30 OSSWF requested the Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) analyze VAFB sounding data to determine the probability of violating (PoV) upper-level thresholds for wind speed and shear constraints specific to this launch vehicle, and to develop a graphical user interface (GUI) that will calculate the PoV of each constraint on the day of launch. The AMU suggested also including forecast sounding data from the Rapid Refresh (RAP) model. This would provide further insight for the launch weather officers (LWOs) when determining if a wind constraint violation will occur over the next few hours, and help to improve the overall upper winds forecast on launch day.

Shafer, Jaclyn A.↗

Government Quality Management Systems: Case Study from the Hawaii Missile Alert

The unfortunate Hawaii False Ballistic Missile Alert event on January 13, 2018 provides many examples of how a Quality Management System (QMS, e.g. ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems-Requirements) can be applied to government operations, and illustrates the need for existing quality standards to provide more clarity in their applicability to services. The event provides a valuable case study for those who ask the question: how do QMS systems and standards apply to government services? The following information is taken from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (EMA) investigation report.

Shepherd, Christena C.↗

Research on Liquid Dynamics in Missile Fuel Tanks

This report presents the results of work completed during the period of 1 July 1961 through 30 September 1961 on the studies of vibrations of flexible tanks containing a liquid with a free surface. The coupling between free surface motion and tank bending is dis- cussed in some detail and preliminary experimental results are given which tend to collaborate the theoretical analysis. Experimental results for the effect of an internal fluid on the breathing frequencies of a circular cylindrical shell are also given. apparently new type of free surface sloshing motion induced by high frequency breathing vibrations is reported.

MISSILE↗

SOME TYPICAL SHELL STABILITY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE DESIGN OF BALLISTIC MISSILES

Investigations carried out at STL on three current problems involving instability of thin shells in applications to aerospace vehicles are discussed. The first concerns the experimental determination of the buckling behavior of longitudinally stiffened pressurized cylinders; the second, the analytic prediction and experimental confirmation of the buckling behavior of multi-layer cylinders and the third involves the behavior of cylinders under combined axial load and lateral pressure. In each case the background of the application is reviewed, followed by a short description of the work. It is indicated that the longitudinally stiffened cylinder shows considerable promise in taking maximum advantage of the strengthening effect of internal pressure, that the use of an external low modulus layer as an insulator can have a significant effect on the buckling capability of a shell, and that the assumption of a linear interaction for pressure and axial load is unnecessarily conservative.

SHELL STABILITY↗