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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 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Preliminary evaluation of the contaminant induced environment for the space shuttle orbiter

A preliminary evaluation of the on-orbit induced environment from identified major sources of contamination for the STS shuttle orbiter is presented. A contamination computer mathematical model is discussed that was used to develop the description and predictions of the induced environment along with the extent and physical makeup of the molecular induced environment from these sources. The predicted induced molecular environment from each source is evaluated against current Space Shuttle Program on-orbit contamination control criteria. The flash evaporator vents and the VCS 25-lb thrust engines are shown to significantly exceed applicable contamination control criteria and were the subject of extensive evaluation. Preliminary conclusions concerning the contaminant potential of these sources along with recommendations for various measures of contamination control regarding the shuttle orbiter design and operational activities are made.

Bareiss, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Surface friction of rock in terrestrial and simulated lunar environments

The conventional probe-on-the rotating-disk concept was used to determine the surface friction in mineral probe/specimen interfaces. Nine rocks or minerals and two stainless steels were tested in both new (NT) and same track (ST) tests under three different pressure environments-atmospheric, UHV, and dry nitrogen. Each environment was further subdivided into two testing conditions, that is, ambient and elevated (135 C) temperatures. In NT tests, friction was the lowest in an atmospheric pressure condition for all rock types and increased to the largest in UHV ambient condition except for pyroxene and stainless steel. Friction values measured in dry nitrogen ambient condition lie between the two extremes. Heating tends to increase friction in atmospheric and dry nitrogen environment but decreases in UHV environment with the exception of stainless steel, basalt, and pyroxene. In ST tests, friction was the lowest in the first run and increased in subsequent runs except for stainless steel where the reverse was true. The increases leveled off after a few runs ranging from the second to the seventh depending on rock types.

Roepke, W. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A literature review and inventory of the effects of environment on the fatigue behavior of metals

The current state of knowledge of the effects of gas environments (at atmospheric pressure and below) on the fatigue behavior of metals is reviewed. Among the topics considered are the mechanisms proposed to explain the differences observed in the fatigue behavior of vacuum- and air-tested specimens, the effects of environment on the surface topography of fatigue cycled specimens, the effect of environment on the various phases of the fatigue phenomenon, the effect of prolonged exposure to vacuum on fatigue life, the variation of fatigue life with decreasing gas pressure, and gas evolution during fatigue cycling. Analysis of the findings of this review indicates that hydrogen embrittlement is primarily responsible for decreased fatigue resistance in humid environments, and that dislocations move more easily during tests in vacuum than during test in air. It was found that fatigue cracks generally initiated and propagated more rapidly in air than in vacuum. Prolonged exposure to vacuum does not adversely affect fatigue resistance. The variation of fatigue life with decreasing gas pressure is sometimes stepped and sometimes continuous.

Hudson, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

An evaluation of grease type ball bearing lubricants operating in various environments /Status report no. 2/

Because many future spacecraft or space stations will require mechanisms to operate for long periods of time in environments which are inimical to most bearing lubricants, a series of tests has been started to evaluate 25 grease type lubricants in R-4 size bearings in five different environments for a 1 year period. Four repetitions of each test are made to provide statistical samples. These tests will be used to select from two to five lubricants for 5 year tests in the same environments. At the present time, approximately 30 test sets have been completed and 25 sets are underway. To date, best results in all environments have been obtained with a high viscosity index perfluoropolyether grease.

Demorest, K. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Effects of service environments on aluminum-brazed titanium (ABTi)

Aluminum brazed titanium (ABTi) structures were evaluated during prolonged exposure to extreme environments: elevated temperature exposure to airline service fluids, hydraulic fluid, and seawater, followed by laboratory corrosion tests. Solid-face and perforated face honeycomb sandwich panel specimens, stressed panel assemblies, and faying surface brazed joints were tested. The corrosion resistance of ABTi is satisfactory for commercial airline service. Unprotected ABTi proved inherently resistant to attack by all of the extreme service aircraft environments except: seawater at 700 K (800 F) and above, dripping phosphate ester hydraulic fluid at 505 K (450 F), and a marine environment at ambient temperature. The natural oxides and deposits present on titanium surfaces in airline service provide protection against hot salt corrosion pitting. Coatings are required to protect titanium dripping phosphate ester fluid at elevated temperatures and to protect exposed acoustic honeycomb parts against corrosion in a marine environment.

Cotton, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

An evaluation of grease type ball bearing lubricants operating in various environments

Because many future spacecraft or space stations will require mechanisms to operate for long periods of time in environments which are adverse to most bearing lubricants, a series of tests is continuing to evaluate 29 grease type lubricants in R-4 size bearings in five different environments for a 1 year period. Four repetitions of each test are made to provide statistical samples. These tests have also been used to select four lubricants for 5 year tests in selected environments with five repetitions of each test for statistical samples. At the present time, 65 test sets have been completed and 23 test sets are underway. Two (5 year) tests have already been started in (1) continuous operation and (2) start-stop operation, with both in vacuum at ambient temperatures. To date, in the 1 year tests, the best results in all environments have been obtained with a high viscosity index perfluoroalkylpolyether grease.

Mcmurtrey, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Possible role of remote sensing for increasing public awareness of the Chesapeake Bay environment

Application of remote sensing techniques to the study of the Chesapeake Bay and the availability of the resulting information are discussed in terms of public awareness of the Chesapeake Bay, its total environment, and the need to protect that environment and to preserve the Bay. Recommendations given include: (1) continue the study of remote sensing technology and its use in the Chesapeake Bay region; (2) emphasize the importance of LANDSAT imagery to the evolution of remote sensing technological developments and the awareness of the environment and its changes; (3) increase dissemination of information of the environmental applications of remote sensing technology to the public; (4) design surveys of the Chesapeake Bay environment and its manmade changes; and (5) establish a coordinating regional institution to develop a management plan for the Chesapeake Bay.

Wilkerson, T. D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Response of terrestrial microorganisms to a simulated Martian environment

Soil samples from Cape Canaveral were subjected to a simulated Martian environment and assayed periodically over 45 days to determine the effect of various environmental parameters on bacterial populations. The simulated environment was based on the most recent available data, prior to the Viking spacecraft, describing Martian conditions and consisted of a pressure of 7 millibars, an atmosphere of 99.9% CO2 and 0.1% O2, a freeze-thaw cycle of -65 C for 16 h and 24 C for 8 h, and variable moisture and nutrients. Reduced pressure had a significant effect, reducing growth under these conditions. Slight variations in gaseous composition of the simulated atmosphere had negligible effect on growth. The freeze-thaw cycle did not inhibit growth, but did result in a slower rate of decline after growth had occurred. Dry samples exhibited no change during the 45-day experiment, indicating that the simulated Martian environment was not toxic to bacterial populations. Psychrotrophic organisms responded more favorably to this environment than mesophiles, although both types exhibited increases of approximately 3 logs in 7 to 14 days when moisture and nutrients were available.

Foster, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Assessment of shuttle payloads gaseous environment contamination and its control

A prediction is given of the in-orbit gaseous environment and the contamination it could produce on cryogenic and room temperature surfaces of payloads in the shuttle bay. The time varying environment was obtained by the superposition of the calculated shuttle environment for a discrete time and payload induced environments measured in large space chambers. Representative contaminant surface accretions were calculated for flights 1 week and 1 month long for payloads having the largest source of outgassing and an orbit of 200 km. A number of calculations were based on the magnitude of the sources, the molecular natures, the decay rate with time, the sticking coefficients, the view factors, and the temperatures of the surfaces being contaminated. Significant results are reported.

Scialdone, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Dust in cosmic plasma environments

Cosmic dust is invariably immersed in a plasma and a radiative environment. Consequently, it is charged to some electrostatic potential which depends on the properties of the environment as well as the nature of the dust. This charging affects the physical and dynamical properties of the dust. In this paper the basic aspects of this dust-plasma interaction in several cosmic environments - including planetary magnetospheres, the heliosphere and the interstellar medium - are discussed. The physical and dynamical consequences of the interaction, as well as the pertinent observational evidence, are reviewed. Finally, the importance of the surface charge during the condensation process in plasma environments is stressed.

Mendis, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Disequilibrium condensation environments in space - A frontier in thermodynamics

The thermal-disequilibrium aspect of the problem of dust-particle formation from a gas phase in an open space environment is discussed in an effort to draw attention to the space condensation environment as an interesting arena for application and extension of the ideas and formalisms of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. It is shown that quasi-steady states with a disequilibrium between the gas-phase kinetic temperature and the condensed-phase internal temperature appear to be the norm of condensation environments in space. Consideration of the case of condensation onto a bulk condensed phase indicates that these quasi-steady states may constitute Prigogine dissipative structures. It is suggested that a proper study of the process of condensation in a space environment should include any effects arising from thermal disequilibrium.

De, B. R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

STS-1 Nominal Cycle 3 March/April Launch, Ascent Base Convective Heating Environments

Ascent base convective heating environments were determined for the nominal ascent trajectory for the STS-1 Cycle 3 March/April launch period. Both first and second stage environments are defined for all base heating DFI locations and design body points of interest. An identical format to the STS-1 dispersed trajectory environment was followed throughout. As expected, STS-1 nominal environments are generally less severe than those determined for the high loft and low loft dispersed trajectory conditions. The reduction in cold wall heating with the nominal trajectory varies for each base location analyzed, but, in general, was approximately twenty percent.

Bender, R. L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An evaluation of grease type ball bearing lubricants operating in various environments

Because many future spacecraft or space stations will require mechanisms to operate for long periods of time in environments which are adverse to most bearing lubricants, a series of tests is continuing to evaluate 38 grease type lubricants in R-4 size bearings in five different environments for a 1 year period. Four repetitions of each test are made to provide statistical samples. These tests were used to select four lubricants for 5 year tests in selected environments with five repetitions of each test for statistical samples. At the present time, 100 test sets are completed and 22 test sets are underway. Three 5 year tests were started in (1) continuous operation and (2) start-stop operation, with both in vacuum at ambient temperatures, and (3) continuous operation at 93.3 C. In the 1 year tests the best results to date in all environments were obtained with a high viscosity index perfluoroalkylpolyether (PFPE) grease.

Mcmurtrey, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Spacecraft dynamic environments

Zero-gravity conditions in Earth orbit cannot be obtained in the Shuttle Orbiter, however, through careful planning, the dynamic environment and its effects on experiments can be minimized. Futhermore, although the dynamic environment of the Shuttle Orbiter is to a large degree stochastics, it is possible to predict characteristics of this environments so that scientists and technologists can plan their experiments and mission managers can plan missions with a view toward minimizing the effects of spacecraft dynamics on experiments. Characteristics of the dynamic environment that might be predicted include typical and "worst case" values of vehicle acceleration for the anticipated acceleration sources, typical number of acceleration event, duration times of disctete acceleration events, bandwidth of acceleration time history, etc.

Fichtl, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Agreement for NASA/OAST - USAF/AFSC space interdependency on spacecraft environment interaction

A joint AF/NASA comprehensive program on spacecraft environment interactions consists of combined contractual and in house efforts aimed at understanding spacecraft environment ineraction phenomena and relating ground test results to space conditions. Activities include: (1) a concerted effort to identify project related environmental interactions; (2) a materials investigation to measure the basic properties of materials and develop or modify materials as needed; and (3) a ground simulation investigation to evaluate basic plasma interaction phenomena and provide inputs to the analytical modeling investigation. Systems performance is evaluated by both ground tests and analysis. There is an environmental impact investigation to determine the effect of future large spacecraft on the charged particle environment. Space flight investigations are planned to verify the results. The products of this program are test standards and design guidelines which summarize the technology, specify test criteria, and provide techniques to minimize or eliminate system interactions with the charged particle environment.

Pike, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The Shuttle Environment Workshop, executive summary and workshop procedures

One of the main experimental monitors used to determine the environment in the payload bay was the Induced Environment Contamination Monitor. This package of instruments has made environmental measurements during STS flights with a high degree of success. This has shown that the shuttle environment is relatively free of contaminants, except for special instances of increased abundance of methane, water vapor and particulates. Results of these measurements are rapidly becoming more available. In establishing the Shuttle Environment Workshop, the findings were shared with scientific experimenters, users and other individuals who need to know what the Shuttle is like and what experimenters may expect in the payload bay. The Workshop was centered around results obtained from the environmental measurements made on the Shuttle. The program agenda for the workshop is given. The procedures and flow of communications for the workshop are indicated.

Lehmann, J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A simulation study of crew performance in operating an advanced transport aircraft in an automated terminal area environment

A simulation study assessing crew performance operating an advanced transport aircraft in an automated terminal area environment is described. The linking together of the Langley Advanced Transport Operating Systems Aft Flight Deck Simulator with the Terminal Area Air Traffic Model Simulation was required. The realism of an air traffic control (ATC) environment with audio controller instructions for the flight crews and the capability of inserting a live aircraft into the terminal area model to interact with computer generated aircraft was provided. Crew performance using the advanced displays and two separate control systems (automatic and manual) in flying area navigation routes in the automated ATC environment was assessed. Although the crews did not perform as well using the manual control system, their performances were within acceptable operational limits with little increase in workload. The crews favored using the manual control system and felt they were more alert and aware of their environment when using it.

Houck, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

An evaluation of grease-type ball bearing lubricants operation in various environments

Because many future spacecraft or space stations will require mechanisms to operate for long periods of time in environments which are adverse to most bearing lubricants, a series of tests is continuing to evaluate 38 grease type lubricants in R-4 size bearings in five different environments for a 1 year period. Four repetitions of each test are made to provide statistical samples. These tests have also been used to select four lubricants for 5 year tests in selected environments with five repetitions of each test for statistical samples. At the present time, 142 test sets have been completed and 30 test sets are underway. The three 5 year tests in (1) continuous operation and (2) start stop operation, with both in vacuum at ambient temperatures, and (3) continuous vacuum operation at 93.3 C are now completed. To date, in both the 1 year and 5 year tests, the best results in all environments have been obtained with a high viscosity index perfluoroalkylpolyether (PFPE) grease.

Mcmurtrey, E. L.↗