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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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Improving the Automatic Inversion of Digital ISIS-2 Ionogram Reflection Traces into Topside Vertical Electron-Density Profiles

The topside-sounders on the four satellites of the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program were designed as analog systems. The resulting ionograms were displayed on 35-mm film for analysis by visual inspection. Each of these satellites, launched between 1962 and 1971, produced data for 10 to 20 years. A number of the original telemetry tapes from this large data set have been converted directly into digital records. Software, known as the TOPside Ionogram Scalar with True-height (TOPIST) algorithm has been produced that enables the automatic inversion of ISIS-2 ionogram reflection traces into topside vertical electron-density profiles Ne(h). More than million digital Alouette/ISIS topside ionograms have been produced and over 300,000 are from ISIS 2. Many of these ISIS-2 ionograms correspond to a passive mode of operation for the detection of natural radio emissions and thus do not contain ionospheric reflection traces. TOPIST, however, is not able to produce Ne(h) profiles from all of the ISIS-2 ionograms with reflection traces because some of them did not contain frequency information. This information was missing due to difficulties encountered during the analog-to-digital conversion process in the detection of the ionogram frame-sync pulse and/or the frequency markers. Of the many digital topside ionograms that TOPIST was able to process, over 200 were found where direct comparisons could be made with Ne(h) profiles that were produced by manual scaling in the early days of the ISIS program. While many of these comparisons indicated excellent agreement (<10% average difference over the entire profile) there were also many cases with large differences (more than a factor of two). Here we will report on two approaches to improve the automatic inversion process: (1) improve the quality of the digital ionogram database by remedying the missing frequency-information problem when possible, and (2) using the above-mentioned comparisons as teaching examples of how to improve the original TOPIST software.

Benson, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Electronically Controlled Resistor Bank

Resistance quickly varied in small steps over wide range. Device with no moving parts provides variable electrical resistance. Used with analog or digital circuity to provide electronic selection of large number of resistance values for testing, simulation, control, or other purposes. Nearest electromechanical equivalent of all-electronic device is potentiometer driven by servomotor.

Ross, Walter L.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Modular, Intelligent Power Systems for Space Exploration

NASA's new Space Exploration Initiative demands that vehicles, habitats, and rovers achieve unprecedented levels of reliability, safety, effectiveness, and affordability. Modular and intelligent electrical power systems are critical to achieving those goals. Modular electrical power systems naturally increase reliability and safety through built-in fault tolerance. These modular systems also enable standardization across a multitude of systems, thereby greatly increasing affordability of the programs. Various technologies being developed to support this new paradigm for space power systems will be presented. Examples include the use of digital control in power electronics to enable better performance and advanced modularity functions such as distributed, master-less control and series input power conversion. Also, digital control and robust communication enables new levels of power system control, stability, fault detection, and health management. Summary results from recent development efforts are presented along with expected future technology development needs required to support NASA's ambitious space exploration goals.

Button, Robert↗
NASA NTRS1982

Highly versatile computer-controlled television detector system

A description is presented of a television detector system which has been designed to accommodate a wide range of applications. It is currently being developed for use in X-ray diffraction, X-ray astrophysics, and electron microscopy, but it is also well suited for astronomical observations. The image can be integrated in a large, high-speed memory system, in the memory of a computer system, or the target of the TV tube or CCD array. The detector system consists of a continuously scanned, intensified SIT vidicon with scan and processing electronics which generate a digital image that is integrated in the detector memory. Attention is given to details regarding the camera system, scan control and image processing electronics, the memory system, and aspects of detector performance.

Kalata, K.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Intelligent dc-dc Converter Technology Developed and Tested

The NASA Glenn Research Center and the Cleveland State University have developed a digitally controlled dc-dc converter to research the benefits of flexible, digital control on power electronics and systems. Initial research and testing has shown that conventional dc-dc converters can benefit from improved performance by using digital-signal processors and nonlinear control algorithms.

Button, Robert M.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Architecture for a 1-GHz Digital RADAR

An architecture for a Direct RF-digitization Type Digital Mode RADAR was developed at GSFC in 2008. Two variations of a basic architecture were developed for use on RADAR imaging missions using aircraft and spacecraft. Both systems can operate with a pulse repetition rate up to 10 MHz with 8 received RF samples per pulse repetition interval, or at up to 19 kHz with 4K received RF samples per pulse repetition interval. The first design describes a computer architecture for a Continuous Mode RADAR transceiver with a real-time signal processing and display architecture. The architecture can operate at a high pulse repetition rate without interruption for an infinite amount of time. The second design describes a smaller and less costly burst mode RADAR that can transceive high pulse repetition rate RF signals without interruption for up to 37 seconds. The burst-mode RADAR was designed to operate on an off-line signal processing paradigm. The temporal distribution of RF samples acquired and reported to the RADAR processor remains uniform and free of distortion in both proposed architectures. The majority of the RADAR's electronics is implemented in digital CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor), and analog circuits are restricted to signal amplification operations and analog to digital conversion. An implementation of the proposed systems will create a 1-GHz, Direct RF-digitization Type, L-Band Digital RADAR--the highest band achievable for Nyquist Rate, Direct RF-digitization Systems that do not implement an electronic IF downsample stage (after the receiver signal amplification stage), using commercially available off-the-shelf integrated circuits.

Mallik, Udayan↗
NASA NTRS2002

Electron Density Profiles of the Topside Ionosphere

The existing uncertainties about the electron density profiles in the topside ionosphere, i.e., in the height region from h,F2 to - 2000 km, require the search for new data sources. The ISIS and Alouette topside sounder satellites from the sixties to the eighties recorded millions of ionograms but most were not analyzed in terms of electron density profiles. In recent years an effort started to digitize the analog recordings to prepare the ionograms for computerized analysis. As of November 2001 about 350000 ionograms have been digitized from the original 7-track analog tapes. These data are available in binary and CDF format from the anonymous ftp site of the National Space Science Data Center. A search site and browse capabilities on CDAWeb assist the scientific usage of these data. All information and access links can be found at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space/isis/isis- status.htm1. This paper describes the ISIS data restoration effort and shows how the digital ionograms are automatically processed into electron density profiles from satellite orbit altitude (1400 km for ISIS-2) down to the F peak. Because of the large volume of data an automated processing algorithm is imperative. The TOPside Ionogram Scaler with True height algorithm TOPIST software developed for this task is successfully scaling - 70% of the ionograms. An < > is available to manually scale the more difficult ionograms. The automated processing of the digitized ISIS ionograms is now underway, producing a much-needed database of topside electron density profiles for ionospheric modeling covering more than one solar cycle.

Huang, Xue-Qin↗
NASA NTRS2001

New Data on the Topside Electron Density Distribution

The existing uncertainties about the electron density profiles in the topside ionosphere, i.e., in the height region from hmF2 to approx. 2000 km, require the search for new data sources. The ISIS and Alouette topside sounder satellites from the sixties to the eighties recorded millions of ionograms and most were not analyzed in terms of electron density profiles. In recent years an effort started to digitize the analog recordings to prepare the ionograms for computerized analysis. As of November 2001 about 350,000 ionograms have been digitized from the original 7-track analog tapes. These data are available in binary and CDF format from the anonymous ftp site of the National Space Science Data Center. A search site and browse capabilities on CDAWeb assist the scientific usage of these data. All information and access links can be found at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space/isis/isis-status.html. This paper describes the ISIS data restoration effort and shows how the digital ionograms are automatically processed into electron density profiles from satellite orbit altitude (1400 km for ISIS-2) down to the F peak. Because of the large volume of data an automated processing algorithm is imperative. The automatic topside ionogram scaler with true height algorithm TOPIST software developed for this task is successfully scaling approx.70 % of the ionograms. An 'editing process' is available to manually scale the more difficult ionograms. The automated processing of the digitized ISIS ionograms is now underway, producing a much-needed database of topside electron density profiles for ionospheric modeling covering more than one solar cycle. The ISIS data restoration efforts are supported through NASA's Applied Systems and Information Research Program.

Huang, Xue-Qin↗
NASA NTRS2001

Low Temperature Testing of a Radiation Hardened CMOS 8-Bit Flash Analog-to-Digital (A/D) Converter

Power processing electronic systems, data acquiring probes, and signal conditioning circuits are required to operate reliably under harsh environments in many of NASA:s missions. The environment of the space mission as well as the operational requirements of some of the electronic systems, such as infrared-based satellite or telescopic observation stations where cryogenics are involved, dictate the utilization of electronics that can operate efficiently and reliably at low temperatures. In this work, radiation-hard CMOS 8-bit flash A/D converters were characterized in terms of voltage conversion and offset in the temperature range of +25 to -190 C. Static and dynamic supply currents, ladder resistance, and gain and offset errors were also obtained in the temperature range of +125 to -190 C. The effect of thermal cycling on these properties for a total of ten cycles between +80 and - 150 C was also determined. The experimental procedure along with the data obtained are reported and discussed in this paper.

Gerber, Scott S.↗
NASA NTRS1966

Progress of analog-hybrid computation

Review of fast analog/hybrid computer systems, integrated operational amplifiers, electronic mode-control switches, digital attenuators, and packaging techniques

ELECTRONIC SWITCH↗
NASA NTRS1992

A summary of XB-70 sonic boom signature data

A compilation is provided of measured sonic boom signature data derived from 39 supersonic flights (43 passes) of the XB-70 airplane over the Mach number range of 1.11 to 2.92 and an altitude range of 30500 to 70300 ft. These tables represent a convenient hard copy version of available electronic files which include over 300 digitized sonic boom signatures with their corresponding spectra. Also included in the electronic files is information regarding ground track position, aircraft operating conditions, and surface and upper air weather observations for each of the 43 supersonic passes. In addition to the sonic boom signature data, a description is also provided of the XB-70 data base that was placed on electronic files along with a description of the method used to scan and digitize the analog/oscillograph sonic boom signature time histories. Such information is intended to enhance the value and utilization of the electronic files.

Maglieri, Domenic J.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Limitation of Liquid Crystal on Silicon Spatial Light Modular for Holographic Three-dimensional Displays

In a 3-D display system based on an opto-electronic reconstruction of a digitally recorded hologram, the field of view of such a system is limited by the spatial resolution of the liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) spatial light modular (SLM) used to perform the opto-electronic reconstruction. In this article, the special resolution limitation of LCOS SLM associated with the fringe field effect and interpixel coupling is determined by the liquid crystal detector simulation and the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulation. The diffraction efficiency loss associated with the imperfection in the phase profile is studied with an example of opto-electronic reconstruction of an amplitude object. A high spatial resolution LCOS SLM with a wide reconstruction angle is proposed.

Wang, Xinghua↗
NASA NTRS1994

A new high-speed IR camera system

A multi-organizational team at the Goddard Space Flight Center is developing a new far infrared (FIR) camera system which furthers the state of the art for this type of instrument by the incorporating recent advances in several technological disciplines. All aspects of the camera system are optimized for operation at the high data rates required for astronomical observations in the far infrared. The instrument is built around a Blocked Impurity Band (BIB) detector array which exhibits responsivity over a broad wavelength band and which is capable of operating at 1000 frames/sec, and consists of a focal plane dewar, a compact camera head electronics package, and a Digital Signal Processor (DSP)-based data system residing in a standard 486 personal computer. In this paper we discuss the overall system architecture, the focal plane dewar, and advanced features and design considerations for the electronics. This system, or one derived from it, may prove useful for many commercial and/or industrial infrared imaging or spectroscopic applications, including thermal machine vision for robotic manufacturing, photographic observation of short-duration thermal events such as combustion or chemical reactions, and high-resolution surveillance imaging.

Travis, Jeffrey W.↗
NASA NTRS2001

New Data Source for Studying and Modelling the Topside Ionosphere

The existing uncertainties about density profiles in the topside ionosphere, i.e., in the height regime from hmF2 to approx. 2000 km, requires the search for new data sources. Millions of ionograms had been recorded by the ISIS and Alouette satellites in the sixties and seventies, that never were analyzed in terms of electron density profiles. In recent years an effort started to digitize the analog recordings to prepare the ionograms for computerized analysis. This paper shows how the digital ionograms are processed and the electron density profiles (from satellite orbit altitude, 1400 km for ISIS-2, down to the F peak) are calculated. The most difficult part of the task is the automatic scaling of the echo traces in the ISIS ionograms. Unlike the ionograms from modern ionosondes, the ISIS ionograms do not identify the wave polarization of the different echo traces, so physical logic must be applied to identify the ordinary ()) and extraordinary (X) traces, and this is not always successful. Characteristic resonance features seen in the topside ionograms occur at the gyro and plasma frequencies. An elaborate scheme was developed to identify these resonance frequencies in order to determine the local plasma and gyrofrequencies. This information helps in the identification of the O and X traces, and it provides the starting density of the electron density profile. The inversion of the echo traces into electron density profiles uses the same modified Chebyshev polynomial fitting technique that is successfully applied in the ground-based Digisonde network. The automatic topside ionogram scaler with true height algorithm TOPIST is successfully scaling approx. 70% of the ionograms. An 'editing process' is available to manually scale the more difficult ionograms. The home page for the ISIS project is at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space/isis/isis-status.html. It provides access to as of January 2001, 3000,000 digitized ISIS ionogram data and to related software. A search page lets users select data location, time, and a host of other search criteria. The automated processing of the ISIS ionograms will begin later this year and the electron density profiles will be made available from the project home page. The ISIS data restoration efforts are supported through NASA's Applied Systems and Information Research Program.

Huang, Xue-Qin↗
NASA NTRS2000

Effects of Digitization and JPEG Compression on Land Cover Classification Using Astronaut-Acquired Orbital Photographs

Studies that utilize astronaut-acquired orbital photographs for visual or digital classification require high-quality data to ensure accuracy. The majority of images available must be digitized from film and electronically transferred to scientific users. This study examined the effect of scanning spatial resolution (1200, 2400 pixels per inch [21.2 and 10.6 microns/pixel]), scanning density range option (Auto, Full) and compression ratio (non-lossy [TIFF], and lossy JPEG 10:1, 46:1, 83:1) on digital classification results of an orbital photograph from the NASA - Johnson Space Center archive. Qualitative results suggested that 1200 ppi was acceptable for visual interpretive uses for major land cover types. Moreover, Auto scanning density range was superior to Full density range. Quantitative assessment of the processing steps indicated that, while 2400 ppi scanning spatial resolution resulted in more classified polygons as well as a substantially greater proportion of polygons < 0.2 ha, overall agreement between 1200 ppi and 2400 ppi was quite high. JPEG compression up to approximately 46:1 also did not appear to have a major impact on quantitative classification characteristics. We conclude that both 1200 and 2400 ppi scanning resolutions are acceptable options for this level of land cover classification, as well as a compression ratio at or below approximately 46:1. Auto range density should always be used during scanning because it acquires more of the information from the film. The particular combination of scanning spatial resolution and compression level will require a case-by-case decision and will depend upon memory capabilities, analytical objectives and the spatial properties of the objects in the image.

Robinson, Julie A.↗
NASA NTRS1964

Electronic systems.

Spacecraft RF electronic systems covering voice communications, telemetry, trajectory measurements and digital command system

SPACECRAFT ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT↗