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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 361 records · Page 20
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NASA NTRS1971

Information content of simulated space photographs as a function of various levels of image resolution.

The results of research are reported on the information content in simulated space photographs derivable as a function of various levels of image resolution. Whenever certain resource features could not be consistently identified on simulated low-resolution imagery, attempts were made to define the required level of image resolution that would allow a skilled interpreter to discriminate one feature from another. The results of this research, conducted within a chaparral-hardwood-grassland environment in California, indicate that simulated ERTS data contain sufficient information to allow an interpreter to discriminate between woody vegetation, grassland, and water bodies. However, if more detailed information is desired, the imagery must have a ground resolution of at least 50 ft, showing shape, size, texture, and shadow characteristics within each vegetation type. Spaceborne data, therefore, often will have to be supplemented by higher resolution aircraft imagery, depending on the types of resource information being sought.

Lauer, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Mariner 9 photographs of small-scale volcanic structures on Mars

Surface features on the flanks of Martian shield volcanoes photographed by Mariner 9 are identified as lava flow channels, rift zones, and partly collapsed lava tubes by comparisons with similar structures on the flanks of Mauna Loa shield volcano, Hawaii. From these identifications, the composition of the Martian lava flows is interpreted to be basaltic, with viscosities ranging from those of fluid pahoehoe to more viscous aa.

Greeley, R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mariner 9 photographs of small volcanic structures on Mars

Surface features on the flanks of martian shield volcanoes photographed by Mariner 9 are identified as lava flow channels, rift zones, and partly collapsed lava tubes by comparisons with similar structures on the flanks of Mauna Loa shield volcano, Hawaii. From these identification, the composition of the martian lava flows in interpreted to be basaltic, with viscosities ranging from those of fluid pahoehoe to more viscous aa.

Greeley, R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Land use mapping and modelling for the Phoenix Quadrangle

The author has identified the following significant results. The land use of the Phoenix Quadrangle in Arizona had been mapped previously from aerial photographs and recorded in a computer data bank. During the ERTS-1 experiment, changes in land use were detected using only the ERTS-1 images. The I2S color additive viewer was used as the principal image enhancement tool, operated in a multispectral mode. Hard copy color composite images of the best multiband combinations from ERTS-1 were made by photographic and diazo processes. The I2S viewer was also used to enhance changes between successive images by quick flip techniques or by registering with different color filters. More recently, a Bausch and Lomb zoom transferscope has been used for the same purpose. Improved interpretation of land use change resulted, and a map of changes within the Phoenix Quadrangle was compiled. The first level of a proposed standard land use classification system was sucessfully used. ERTS-1 underflight photography was used to check the accuracy of the ERTS-1 image interpretation. It was found that the total areas of change detected in the photos were comparable with the total areas of change detected in the ERTS-1 images.

Place, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Measurement of the Critical Distance Parameter Against Icing Conditions on a NACA 0012 Swept Wing Tip

This work presents the results of three experiments, one conducted in the Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) at NASA Glenn Research Center and two in the Goodrich Icing Wind Tunnel (IWT). The experiments were designed to measure the critical distance parameter on a NACA 0012 Swept Wing Tip at sweep angles of 45deg, 30deg, and 15deg. A time sequence imaging technique (TSIT) was used to obtain real time close-up imaging data during the first 2 min of the ice accretion formation. The time sequence photographic data was used to measure the critical distance at each icing condition and to study how it develops in real time. The effect on the critical distance of liquid water content, drop size, total temperature, and velocity was studied. The results were interpreted using a simple energy balance on a roughness element

Vargas, Mario↗
NASA NTRS1975

Evaluation of the suitability of Skylab data for the purpose of petroleum exploration

The author has identified the following significant results. Comparisons of the various photographic bands of Skylab imagery indicate that, overall, standard color (particularly S190B) is the most valuable for geological purposes. Detailed examination of all bands indicates that as with ERTS imagery each band contains useful information that is unique to it. The results of geological interpretations based on ERTS and Skylab imagery are strikingly similar. It appears that more information can be extracted from a single Skylab overpass than a single ERTS overpass, but that with repeated passes the lower resolution ERTS imagery may yield information comparable to that contained in S190B imagery. Comparison of Skylab photography to high altitude aircraft photography suggests that there are distinct advantages to using Skylab imagery for regional geologic interpretations. This is primarily because of the synoptic view provided by the space acquired imagery allows and encourages integration of regional geologic features.

Collins, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1966

Experiment S-5: Synoptic Terrain Photography

The Synoptic Terrain Photography Experiment (S-5) was successfully conducted during the Gemini V mission, the second of the Gemini flights on which it was carried. This report summarizes briefly the methods and results of the experiment. Interpretation of the many excellent pictures obtained is in progress, and a full report is not possible at this time; instead, representative pictures will be presented and described. The purpose of the experiment was to obtain a large number of high-quality color photographs of selected land areas from geologic and geographic study. Southern Mexico, eastern Africa, and Australia were given high priority, but it was stressed that good pictures of any cloud-free land area would be useful. The same camera (Hasselblad 500 C) and film (Ektachrome MS) used on the Gemini III and IV missions were carried on the Gemini V flight.

Lowman, Paul D., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The 1971 corn blight watch experiment data processing, analysis, and interpretation

The principle data acquisition centers are listed for the corn blight experiment. A data storage and retrieval system was established. The purpose of the system was to: (1) store data in organized library; (2) maintain a record of all data stored and reduced for future access; (3) report the data in simplest form to users; and (4) record data reduction results from photographic and multispectral scanner sensors. The procedures designed for handling the large amounts of data are also reviewed.

Phillips, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The satellites of Uranus

Observations and the probable natures of the five known satellites of Uranus are reviewed. Photographic, photoelectric and CCD photometry of the satellites since 1961, although in agreement within experimental error, is not as mutually consistent as may be expected, and broadband JHK photometry falls in a portion of the J-H, H-K color diagram difficult to interpret. Spectrophotometry in the range 0.3-1.1 microns taken on two separate occasions is inconsistent, with only the relatively neutral reflectances of Titania and Oberon regarded as well established. Near-infrared spectrophotometry has revealed the presence of water ice or frost on the satellite surfaces, possibly in a very pure state, with spectra most similar to Ganymede. Estimations of the properties of the satellites from their surface geometric albedos, assumed mean densities and dynamics yield radii in the range 160-520 km, albedos on the order of 0.5 and densities of about 1.3 g/cu cm, similar to the icy Saturn satellites. The satellites are also believed to have formed after the event that caused the planet to tilt to its present obliquity.

Cruikshank, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Solar system history as recorded in the Saturnian ring structure

Holberg's analysis of the Voyager Saturn photographs in reflected and transparent light, and occultation data of stars seen through the rings are discussed. A hyperfine structure, with 10,000 ringlets can be explained by the Baxter-Thompson negative diffusion. This gives the ringlets a stability which makes it possible to interpret them as fossils, which originated at cosmogonic times. It is shown that the bulk structure can be explained by the combined cosmogonic shadows of the satellites Mimas, Janus and the Shepherd satellites. This structure originated at the transition from the plasma phase to the planetesimal phase. The shadows are not simple void regions but exhibit a characteristic signature. Parts of the fine structure, explained by Holberg as resonances with satellites, are interpreted as cosmogonic shadow effects. However, there are a number of ringlets which can neither be explained by cosmogonic nor by resonance effects. Analysis of ring data can reconstruct the plasma-planetesimal transition with an accuracy of a few percent.

Alfven, H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Solar system history as recorded in the Saturnian ring structure

Holberg's analysis of the Voyager Saturn photographs in reflected and transparent light, and occultation data of stars seen through the rings are discussed. A hyperfine structure with 10,000 ringlets can be explained by the Baxter-Thompson negative diffusion. This gives the ringlets a stability which makes it possible to interpret them as fossils which originated at cosmogonic times. It is shown that the bulk structure can be explained by the combined cosmogonic shadows of the satellites Mimas and Janus and the Shepherd satellites. This structure originated at the transition from the plasma phase to the planetesimal phase. The shadows are not simple void regions but exhibit a characteristic signature. Parts of the fine structure, explained by Holberg as resonances with satellites, are interpreted as cosmogonic shadow effects. However, there are a number of ringlets which can neither be explained by cosmogonic nor by resonance effects. Analysis of ring data can reconstruct the plasma-planetesimal transition with an accuracy of a few percent. Previously announced in STAR as N84-12013

Alfven, H.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Mapping continental-scale biomass burning and smoke palls from the space shuttle

Space shuttle photographs have been used to map the areal extent of Amazonian smoke palls associated with biomass burning. Areas covered with smoke have increased from approximately 300,000 sq km to continental-size smoke palls of approximately 3,000,000 sq km. The smoke palls interpreted from the STS-48 data indicate that this phenomenon is persistent. Astronaut observations of such dynamic and vital environmental phenomena indicate the possibility of intergrating the earth observation capabilities of all space platforms in future modeling of the earth's dynamic processes.

Lulla, Kamlesh↗
NASA NTRS1972

Analysis of multispectral images simulating ERTS observations

Simulation studies of selected aircraft and spacecraft acquired images were initiated in response to anticipated desires of the user community for simulated imagery prior to launch of ERTS-A. Principal modes of simulation included: (1) areas of coverage comparable to ERTS; (2) spatial resolutions within these images similar to ERTS; (3) spectral responses analogous to that expected from each channel on both the return beam vidicon and multispectral scanner, leading to production of photographic images that should appear similar to those representing each band in the two sensors; and (4) runthroughs of several analytical techniques, such as color density slicing, color additive viewing, and computer-generated reflectance and surface temperature maps, by which ERTS data can be analyzed, interpreted, and applied. The two areas involved in the simulation study were Wyoming and the Chesapeake Bay region.

Short, N. M.↗
NASA NTRS2007

A New Method for Evaluating the Carbon Isotope Characteristics of Carbonate Formed Under Cryogenic Conditions Analogous to Mars

The two upcoming robotic missions to Mars, Phoenix and MSL, will both have the capability of measuring the carbon isotopic composition of CO2 in the martian atmosphere, as well as possible CO2 trapped in carbonate minerals in the Martian soil. Results from orbital and landed missions now clearly indicate that no large scale deposits of carbonate materials exist at the surface. However, some results from orbital remote sensing have been interpreted to indicate that carbonate minerals are present as fine particles interspersed at low concentrations (approx. 2%) in the martian dust. One likely mechanism for the production of these carbonates is during the freezing of transient water near the surface. Large deposits of near surface ice and photographic evidence for flowing water on the surface suggest that transient melting and refreezing of H2O is an active process on Mars. Any exposure of these fluids to the CO2 rich atmosphere should al-low the production of HCO3- solutions. Carbonates are likely precipitates from these solutions during freezing as extensive CO2 degassing, driven by the fluid s decreasing volume, drives CO2 out. This rapid CO2 degassing increases the pH of the solution and drives carbonate precipitation. It has been shown in previous studies that this rapid CO2 degassing also results in a kinetic isotopic fractionation where the CO2 gas has a much lighter isotopic composition causing a large isotope enrichment of C-13 in the precipitated carbonate. This kinetic isotope enrichment may be very common in the current martian environment, and may be a very important factor in understanding the very high deltaC-13 values of carbonates found in the martian meteorites. However, while previous studies have succeeded in generally quantifying the magnitude of this effect, detailed studies of the consistency of this effect, and the freezing rates needed to produce it are needed to understand any carbon isotope analyses from carbonate minerals in the martian soil or dust. This study demonstrates an innovative new method for measuring the isotopic composition of gas evolved from the freezing of carbonate solutions in real time, which allows for a much clearer view of the chemical processes involved. This method now sets the stage for detailed analysis of the chemical and isotopic mechanisms that produce cryogenic carbonates.

Niles, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Study of the atmospheric conditions affecting infrared astronomical measurements at White Mountain, California

Measurements are described of atmospheric conditions affecting astronomical observations at White Mountain, California. Measurements were made at more than 1400 times spaced over more than 170 days at the Summit Laboratory and a small number of days at the Barcroft Laboratory. The recorded quantities were ten micron sky noise and precipitable water vapor, plus wet and dry bulb temperatures, wind speed and direction, brightness of the sky near the sun, fisheye lens photographs of the sky, description of cloud cover and other observable parameters, color photographs of air pollution astronomical seeing, and occasional determinations of the visible light brightness of the night sky. Measurements of some of these parameters have been made for over twenty years at the Barcroft and Crooked Creek Laboratories, and statistical analyses were made of them. These results and interpretations are given. The bulk of the collected data are statistically analyzed, and disposition of the detailed data is described. Most of the data are available in machine readable form. A detailed discussion of the techniques proposed for operation at White Mountain is given, showing how to cope with the mountain and climatic problems.

Field, G. B.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Analysis of Skylab/Apollo Telescope Mount S-056 observations based on a force-free magnetic field model

Data obtained from the S-056 X-ray experiment on Skylab/ATM have been analyzed based on the assumption that the magnetic fields in the chromosphere and lower corona are force-free. Underlying the analysis is the hypothesis that the observed X-ray filaments coincide with magnetic field lines. The photographic recording of the filaments can then be compared with the projection along the line of sight of the computed magnetic field lines of the model. Ground-based observations of the longitudinal magnetic field component complement the X-ray data and are used in the theoretical interpretation.

Meyer, R. X.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A very rapid turning of the plasma-tail axis of comet Bradfield 19791 on 1980 February 6

Schmidt camera photographs of comet Bradfield 19791 obtained at the Joint Observatory for Cometary Research (JOCR) indicate that a rapid change took place in the comet's plasma tail on 1980 February 6. On that date, a sequence of photographs spanning 27.5 minutes shows a 10 deg shift occurring in the plasma-tail axis between the first and last exposures. The speed of this tail-turning event greatly exceeds that of any other known event and even exceeds turning rates for individual tail streamers. An interpretation based on the windsock theory of plasma tails is that the comet entered a region of rapidly changing solar-wind flow direction. While the search for an associated solar-wind event from near-earth spacecraft observations is a future activity, the present analysis shows that a 50 km/s change in the polar component of the solar-wind velocity, from about 30 km/s northward to about 20 km/s southward, would have produced the 10 deg shift in the tail axis.

Brandt, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Classifying forest and nonforest land on space photographs

Although the research reported is in its preliminary stages, results show that: (1) infrared color film is the best single multiband sensor available; (2) there is a good possibility that forest can be separated from all nonforest land uses by microimage evaluation techniques on IR color film coupled with B/W infrared and panchromatic films; and (3) discrimination of forest and nonforest classes is possible by either of two methods: interpreters with appropriate viewing and mapping instruments, or programmable automatic scanning microdensitometers and automatic data processing.

Aldrich, R. C.↗