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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

Self-vapor cooled targets for production of I-123 at high current accelerators

The basic elements of the vapor cooled target system are shown. This system can be operated as a heat pipe or as a conventional condenser. The choice of target fluid is based on the specific nuclear reaction chosen to produce Xe-123. The reaction using I-127 was studied and shown to have a significant yield for bombarding energies from 47 to 63 MeV. The Cs-133 reaction is also included. Xenon-123 is applied to I-123 production in a purer form for thyroid studies.

Blue, J. W.↗

Fading characteristics of panchromatic radar backscatter from selected agricultural targets

An experiment was performed to empirically determine the fading characteristics of backscattered radar signals from four agricultural targets at 9 GHz. After a short review of the statistics of Rayleigh fading backscatter, the data processing method and results of the data are analyzed. Comparison with theory shows adequate agreement with the experimental results, provided of course, the targets are modeled in a correct manner.

Bush, T. F.↗

Wind tunnel test of model target thrust reversers for the Pratt and Whitney aircraft JT8D-100 series engines installed on a 727-200 airplane

The results of a low speed wind tunnel test of 0.046 scale model target thrust reversers installed on a 727-200 model airplane are presented. The full airplane model was mounted on a force balance, except for the nacelles and thrust reversers, which were independently mounted and isolated from it. The installation had the capability of simulating the inlet airflows and of supplying the correct proportions of primary and secondary air to the nozzles. The objectives of the test were to assess the compatibility of the thrust reversers target door design with the engine and airplane. The following measurements were made: hot gas ingestion at the nacelle inlets; model lift, drag, and pitching moment; hot gas impingement on the airplane structure; and qualitative assessment of the rudder effectiveness. The major parameters controlling hot gas ingestion were found to be thrust reverser orientation, engine power setting, and the lip height of the bottom thrust reverser doors on the side nacelles. The thrust reversers tended to increase the model lift, decrease the drag, and decrease the pitching moment.

Hambly, D.↗

Deterministic optimal maneuver strategy for multi-target missions

This paper presents an optimal strategy for making impulsive correction to a multi-target trajectory by a single maneuver. The concept of an optimal maneuver time is introduced. The choice of suitable weighting functions is explored to enable one to properly translate the subjective desire of mission success into an objective cost function whose minimization yields the optimal strategy. It is shown that a number of strategies previously formulated are derivable from one general expression. A number of other interesting properties of the optimal strategy are described. Numerical results are presented for a typical two-target mission. It is shown that the strategy formulated is optimal. For some perturbations, there exists an optimal maneuver time different from the time of initiation of the perturbation. That is, the physical properties of the trajectory can be exploited to select the optimal time of making a corrective maneuver.

Dwivedi, N. P.↗

A target for production of radioxenons

A liquid cesium target has been developed which allows the production and separate identification of the neutron deficient isotopes of xenon. The present report describes irradiations utilizing 34 to 41 MeV protons to produce millicurie quantities of Xe-127 and Xe-129m. At higher energies, however, the target could be used without modification to produce xenon isotopes as light as 119.

Blue, J. W.↗

Nominal Profile Refinements Report: Target in 120 Nautical Mile Circular Orbit

The compability of the nominal rendezvous sequence with low target orbits is addressed. It was found that for targets in low earth orbits certain modifications of the nominal sequence are required to achieve a feasible anytime liftoff capability, notably the use of elliptical phasing orbits and the allowance of up to two days for rendezvous under certain phasing conditions.

Source record↗

A two-level trajectory decomposition algorithm featuring optimal intermediate target selection

A decomposition algorithm is presented that optimizes complex missions by partitioning the trajectory into natural segments such as ascent or entry. Each segment defines a full-rank targeting subproblem. These are solved sequentially using the Newton-Raphson algorithm. The master problem, representing the complete mission, is to determine subproblem targets and master-problem controls that optimize the mission objective subject to intersegment constraints. The gradient projection algorithm solves this problem using derivatives obtained analytically from finite-difference subproblem sensitivities. Thus, the mission is optimized by coordinating the solution of tractible subproblems. Computational results for a synchronous equatorial mission are included.

Petersen, F. M.↗

Qualitative differential games with two targets

So-called differential games of kind (qualitative games) were considered involving two or more players each of whom possesses a target toward which he wished to steer the response of a dynamical system that was under the control of all players. Sufficient conditions were derived, which assure termination on a particular player's target. In general, these conditions were constructive in that they permited construction of a winning (terminating) strategy for a player. The theory is illustrated by a pursuit-evasion problem.

Getz, W. M.↗

Targets for producing high purity I-123

Tellurium powder in improved targets is bombarded with a cyclotron beam to produce Xe-123. Flowing gas streams carry the Xe-123 through one cold trap which removes Xe-123 that subsequently decays to I-123. During this bombardment energy is deposited in the target material causing its temperature to rise. Some of the tellurium vaporizes and subsequently condenses on surfaces that are cooler than the vaporization temperature. Provision is made for the repeated bombardment of this condensed tellurium.

Blue, J. W.↗

A two-level trajectory decomposition algorithm featuring optimal intermediate target selection

A decomposition algorithm is presented which optimizes complex missions by partitioning the trajectory into natural segments such as ascent or entry. Each segment defines a full-rank targeting subproblem. These are solved sequentially using the Newton-Raphson algorithm. The master problem, representing the complete mission, is to determine subproblem targets and master-problem controls that optimize the mission objective subject to intersegment constraints. The gradient projection algorithm solves this problem using derivatives obtained analytically from finite-difference subproblem sensitivities. Thus, the mission is optimized by coordinating the solution of tractible subproblems. Computational results for a synchronous equatorial mission are included.

Petersen, F. M.↗

The development of a multi-target compiler-writing system for flight software development

A wide variety of systems designed to assist the user in the task of writing compilers has been developed. A survey of these systems reveals that none is entirely appropriate to the purposes of the MUST project, which involves the compilation of one or at most a small set of higher-order languages to a wide variety of target machines offering little or no software support. This requirement dictates that any compiler writing system employed must provide maximal support in the areas of semantics specification and code generation, the areas in which existing compiler writing systems as well as theoretical underpinnings are weakest. This paper describes an ongoing research and development effort to create a compiler writing system which will overcome these difficulties, thus providing a software system which makes possible the fast, trouble-free creation of reliable compilers for a wide variety of target computers.

Feyock, S.↗

Orbit targeting specialist function: Level C formulation requirements

A definition of the level C requirements for onboard maneuver targeting software is provided. Included are revisions of the level C software requirements delineated in JSC IN 78-FM-27, Proximity Operations Software; Level C Requirements, dated May 1978. The software supports the terminal phase midcourse (TPM) maneuver, braking and close-in operations as well as supporting computation of the rendezvous corrective combination maneuver (NCC), and the terminal phase initiation (TPI). Specific formulation is contained here for the orbit targeting specialist function including the processing logic, linkage, and data base definitions for all modules. The crew interface with the software is through the keyboard and the ORBIT-TGT display.

Dupont, A.↗

Interior morphology of fresh Martian craters - The effects of target characteristics

The interior morphology of 183 fresh Martian craters observed on Viking imagery was studied. Freshness was determined by rim sharpness and continuity according to the scheme used to classify lunar and Mercurian craters. Results indicate that central-peak and wall degradation features are more common than previously thought. Central peaks are observed in craters as small as 2 km in diameter and in nearly all fresh craters with diameters greater than 10 km. Scallops or terraces are found to occur in all craters with diameters greater than 20 km, and wall slumping seems common in craters from 5 to 10 km in diameter. The ratio of crater diameter to crater floor diameter is significantly larger than for lunar craters. Central peaks and pits are more frequent in craters formed in cratered terrain than in those formed on plains; wall failure occurs at smaller diameters in plains craters. It is suggested that these peculiarities of crater interior morphologies may be due to a subsurface volatile layer. The influence of target variations on the interior morphologies observed in fresh craters was studied. Preliminary results indicate well-defined effects due to target differences.

Wood, C. A.↗

OPS MCC level B/C formulation requirements: Area targets and space volumes processor

The level B/C mathematical specifications for the area targets and space volume processor (ATSVP) as well as the characteristics of the system are provided. The mathematical equation necessary to determine whether the spacecraft lies within the area target or space volume is presented. A semianalytical technique for predicting the acquisition of signal (AOS) and loss of signal (LOS) time periods is discussed. A functional overview of the ATSVP which includes an outline of the process required to determine precise AOS and LOS times are given.

Bishop, M. J., Jr.↗

MCC level C formulation requirements. Entry guidance and entry autopilot, optional TAEM targeting

The level C software formulations requirements for the entry guidance and the simplified autopilot to be used by the Mission Control Center (MCC) entry processor are presented. The modifications required to functionally simulate optional Terminal Area Energy Management (TAEM) targeting capability (OTT) are incorporated. Implementation of this logic in the MCC must be coordinated with flight software OTT implementation and MCC TAEM guidance OTT. The entry guidance logic is based on the orbiter avionics entry guidance software. Descriptions of the entry guidance detailed formulation requirements, the detailed autopilot formulation requirements, and the targeting routine are given. Also included are a definition of coordinate systems, a list of parameter definitions for the software formulations, and a set of formulation flow charts.

Harpold, J. C.↗

Martian fluidized crater morphology - Variations with crater size, latitude, altitude, and target material

The paper investigates the influence of crater latitude, target material, and elevation on the morphology of the ejecta facies and crater interiors as a function of crater diameter. It is shown that only pancake craters exhibit latitudinal variation in their distribution. It is also shown that several crater types are associated with specific target materials: radial textured craters are found primarily on Tharsis and Elysium lavas, and pancake craters are found on fractured terrain, old lavas, and channel materials. Craters formed on recent lavas more frequently possess secondary craters, central peaks, and terraces than primary craters found on other geological units. The maximum radial extent of fluidized ejecta is demonstrated to be a function of crater altitude and latitude.

Mouginis-Mark, P.↗

An interplanetary targeting and orbit insertion maneuver design technique

The paper describes a tradeoff in selecting a planetary encounter aimpoint and a spacecraft propulsive maneuver strategy in the Pioneer Venus Orbiter Mission. The method uses parametric data spanning a region of acceptable targeting aimpoints in the delivery space and the geometric considerations. Real-time maneuver adjustments accounted for known attitude control errors, orbit determination updates, and late changes in a targeting specification.

Hintz, G. R.↗

Some effects of Field Of View (FOV) and target size on lateral tracking at hover

An exploratory flight-simulator experiment examined the gross effects of several factors potentially important to the design of a visual display system for aiding VTOL pilots in the difficult task of landing on a small sea-control ship. Field of view (FOV) and target size were the primary variables examined for a lateral tracking task in a full motion 5 degree-of-freedom hover simulation. The mean absolute value of tracking error was used to measure tracking performance, and cross spectral transfer function analysis was performed to determine the pilot's ability to generate good open-loop transfer function characteristics as a function of the experimental variables. It was found that FOV and target size can have a large effect on the pilot's ability to generate open-loop gain, and on his tracking performance.

Breul, H. T.↗