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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 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Potential aerospace applications of high temperature superconductors

The recent discovery of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) with superconducting transition temperature, T(sub c), above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen has opened the door for using these materials in new and practical applications. These materials have zero resistance to electric current, have the capability of carrying large currents and as such have the potential to be used in high magnetic field applications. One of the space applications that can use superconductors is electromagnetic launch of payloads to low-earth-orbit. An electromagnetic gun-type launcher can be used in small payload systems that are launched at very high velocity, while sled-type magnetically levitated launcher can be used to launch larger payloads at smaller velocities. Both types of launchers are being studied by NASA and the aerospace industry. The use of superconductors will be essential in any of these types of launchers in order to produce the large magnetic fields required to obtain large thrust forces. Low Temperature Superconductor (LTS) technology is mature enough and can be easily integrated in such systems. As for the HTS, many leading companies are currently producing HTS coils and magnets that potentially can be mass-produced for these launchers. It seems that designing and building a small-scale electromagnetic launcher is the next logical step toward seriously considering this method for launching payloads into low-earth-orbit. A second potential application is the use of HTS to build sensitive portable devices for the use in Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE). Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID's) are the most sensitive instruments for measuring changes in magnetic flux. By using HTS in SQUID's, one will be able to design a portable unit that uses liquid nitrogen or a cryocooler pump to explore the use of gradiometers or magnetometers to detect deep cracks or corrosion in structures. A third use is the replacement of Infra-Red (IR) sensor leads on Earth Orbit Systems (EOS) with HTS leads. IR detectors on these EOS missions are cooled to a 4.2K to improve their signal to noise ratio. They are connected to data acquisitions systems using manganin wires (low thermal conductors) to reduce the heat load on the cryogen. Replacing these wires with HTS leads will increase the lifetime of these missions by about 50 percent. This is a promising application that is ready for actual implementation on such systems. The analysis also show that an the number of IR detectors increase in larger EOS systems, substantial increase in the lifetime of each mission will be realized by using HTS leads instead of the manganin ones.

Selim, Raouf↗
NASA NTRS1988

Wind measurements by electromagnetic probes

The emerging technology of electromagnetic probing of the atmosphere to measure winds used in a space vehicle ascent winds load calculations is presented. The frequency range, altitude, and resolution for the following probes are presented: lidars, microwave radars, and clear-air Doppler radars (popularly known as wind profilers). The electromagnetic probing of the atmosphere by clear-air radars and lasers is the new technology to supplement balloon-borne wind sensors used to determine ascent wind loads of space vehicles. The electromagnetic probes measure the wind velocity using the Doppler effect. This is the radar technology used in MSFC's Radar Wind Profiler, and is similar to the technology used in conventional Doppler systems except that the frequency is generally lower, antenna is bigger, and dwell time much longer. Designed for unattended and automated instrumentation in providing measurements of the wind in the troposphere, the profiler employs Doppler radar technology and is currently being put in operation at NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Susko, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1989

Research and test facilities for development of technologies and experiments with commercial applications

One of NASA'S agency-wide goals is the commercial development of space. To further this goal NASA is implementing a policy whereby U.S. firms are encouraged to utilize NASA facilities to develop and test concepts having commercial potential. Goddard, in keeping with this policy, will make the facilities and capabilities described in this document available to private entities at a reduced cost and on a noninterference basis with internal NASA programs. Some of these facilities include: (1) the Vibration Test Facility; (2) the Battery Test Facility; (3) the Large Area Pulsed Solar Simulator Facility; (4) the High Voltage Testing Facility; (5) the Magnetic Field Component Test Facility; (6) the Spacecraft Magnetic Test Facility; (7) the High Capacity Centrifuge Facility; (8) the Acoustic Test Facility; (9) the Electromagnetic Interference Test Facility; (10) the Space Simulation Test Facility; (11) the Static/Dynamic Balance Facility; (12) the High Speed Centrifuge Facility; (13) the Optical Thin Film Deposition Facility; (14) the Gold Plating Facility; (15) the Paint Formulation and Application Laboratory; (16) the Propulsion Research Laboratory; (17) the Wallops Range Facility; (18) the Optical Instrument Assembly and Test Facility; (19) the Massively Parallel Processor Facility; (20) the X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Auger Microscopy/Spectroscopy Laboratory; (21) the Parts Analysis Laboratory; (22) the Radiation Test Facility; (23) the Ainsworth Vacuum Balance Facility; (24) the Metallography Laboratory; (25) the Scanning Electron Microscope Laboratory; (26) the Organic Analysis Laboratory; (27) the Outgassing Test Facility; and (28) the Fatigue, Fracture Mechanics and Mechanical Testing Laboratory.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1993

The Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS)

AVIRIS is a facility consisting of a flight system, a ground data system, a calibration facility, and a full-time operations team. The facility was developed by JPL under funding from NASA. NASA also provides funding for operations and maintenance. The flight system is a whisk-broom imager that acquires data in 224 narrow, contiguous spectral bands covering the solar reflected portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is flown aboard the NASA high altitude ER-2 research aircraft. The ground data system is a facility dedicated to the processing and distribution of data acquired by AVIRIS. It operates year round at JPL. The calibration facility consists of a calibration laboratory at JPL and a suite of field instruments and procedures for performing inflight calibration of AVIRIS. A small team of engineers, technicians, and scientists supports a yearly operations schedule that includes 6 months of flight operations, 6 months of routine ground maintenance of the flight system, and year-round data processing and distribution. Details of the AVIRIS system, its performance history, and future plans are described.

Vane, Gregg↗
DOE OSTI2024

Utilizing 3D Mechanical Earth Models for Calibration and Validation in a Large-Scale Carbon Capture and Storage Project in North Dakota

Conference paper presented at 17th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT-17), Calgary, Alberta, Canada, October 20–24, 2024. Three-dimensional (3D) mechanical earth models (MEMs) are pivotal in assessing geological sites for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) storage and mitigating potential risks associated with storage and injection. The Energy & Environmental Research Center is exploring innovative carbon storage monitoring techniques at a CO 2 storage site near Beulah, North Dakota. These methods aim to provide lower-impact, faster feedback for commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The research includes monitoring CO 2 injection using various approaches: 1) an automated, integrated modular monitoring station; 2) time-lapse electromagnetic (EM) field surveys; 3) drone-based surveillance; 4) time-lapse seismic techniques; and 5) advanced wellbore monitoring.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2025

A new active base of photomultiplier R4125 designed for the PbWO4 calorimeter

This paper presents the design, performance, and results of the radiation tests of an active base for Hamamatsu R4125 photomultiplier tube. The active base was designed at Jefferson Lab and comprises of a high voltage divider and an on-board amplifier. The photomultiplier with the active base is used to detect light from lead tungstate scintillating crystals of the forward electromagnetic calorimeter of the GlueX detector. The active base amplifier allows to operate the tube at lower high voltage and thus to limit the photomultiplier anode current to a few micro ampereres at the maximum counter rate of 1 MHz counter, while retaining the dynamic range of output signals. The performance of calorimeter modules instrumented with the active base was studied using detector prototypes positioned into the beam of photons. The key performance parameters such as the linearity, high-rate capability, and the energy resolution verified that the active base design meets the detector specifications

Somov, Alexander [Thomas Jefferson National Accele↗
NASA NTRS2011

Aircraft Lightning Electromagnetic Environment Measurement

This paper outlines a NASA project plan for demonstrating a prototype lightning strike measurement system that is suitable for installation onto research aircraft that already operate in thunderstorms. This work builds upon past data from the NASA F106, FAA CV-580, and Transall C-180 flight projects, SAE ARP5412, and the European ILDAS Program. The primary focus is to capture airframe current waveforms during attachment, but may also consider pre and post-attachment current, electric field, and radiated field phenomena. New sensor technologies are being developed for this system, including a fiber-optic Faraday polarization sensor that measures lightning current waveforms from DC to over several Megahertz, and has dynamic range covering hundreds-of-volts to tens-of-thousands-of-volts. A study of the electromagnetic emission spectrum of lightning (including radio wave, microwave, optical, X-Rays and Gamma-Rays), and a compilation of aircraft transfer-function data (including composite aircraft) are included, to aid in the development of other new lightning environment sensors, their placement on-board research aircraft, and triggering of the onboard instrumentation system. The instrumentation system will leverage recent advances in high-speed, high dynamic range, deep memory data acquisition equipment, and fiber-optic interconnect.

Ely, Jay J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Further evidence for lightning on Venus

Impulsive electrical signals at all frequencies recorded by the plasma wave instrument on Pioneer Venus are found to cluster around periapsis. The signals are strongest at 100 Hz and have a secondary peak at 5.4 kHz. These characteristics are consistent with generation by lightning in the Venus atmosphere and the direct propagation of whistler mode signals below the electron gyro frequency and the partial transmission of electromagnetic waves in the presence of electron density inhomogeneities above the electron gyro frequency. The scattering by electron density inhomogeneities may also weaken any correlation with surface topographical features. Thus, the source of these signals may either be intercloud lightning at high altitudes or lightning in volcanic plumes near the ground, despite the large scatter in inferred source locations.

Singh, R. N.↗
NASA NTRS1992

EnviroNET

EnviroNET is a service/facility that provides users with on-line, dial-up technical information concerning environmental conditions likely to be encountered by instruments and experimental arrangements carried aboard spacecraft. EnviroNET incorporates at present a combination of expository text and numerical tables amounting to about two million characters (bytes), plus FORTRAN programs that model the space environment. The topics covered are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: advantages of EnviroNET; thermal and humidity; vibration and acoustics; electromagnetic interference; loads and low frequency dynamics; microbial and toxic contaminants; molecular contamination; natural environment; orbiter motion; particulate environment; surface interactions; spacecraft anomalies; and interactive graphics facility.

Vansant, Tim↗
NASA NTRS2006

Getting a Kick Out of Numerical Relativity

Operating ground-based gravitational wave detectors and a planned instrument in space are bringing about the new field of gravitational wave astronomy. A prime source for any of these observatories is the merger of a system of two black holes. Brought together by copious losses of gravitational-wave energy, these systems merge in a burst of energy with a peak power exceeding any electromagnetic source. Observations of these sources will generate a wealth of astrophysical information, and may provide an unparalleled probe of strong-field gravitational physics, but a full interpretation of the observations will require detailed predictions from General Relativity. I will discuss recent advances in numerical simulations of binary black hole systems which are generating dramatic progress in understanding binary black hole mergers. Recent achievements include the first simulations of binary black hole systems through several orbits and merger, leading to detailed predictions for the final portion of the gravitational radiation waveforms from equal-mass mergers. For unequal-mass mergers, it has recently become possible to measure the impulsive kick imparted to the final black hole, by the asymmetry of the merger radiation. These first results announce an accelerating wave of progress soon to come from the energetic field of numerical relativity.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1974

Thermal and suprathermal plasma densities in the outer magnetosphere

By using the low-frequency cutoff of electromagnetic noise trapped in the magnetosphere at frequencies above the local plasma frequency, it is now possible to make very accurate electron density measurements in the low density region between the magnetopause and plasmapause. This technique for measuring the total plasma density has been used, together with measurements of the suprathermal proton intensities with the Lepedea instrumentation on the Imp 6 spacecraft, to determine the thermal proton densities in the region between the plasmapause and magnetopause. Usually, the high-energy tail of the thermal proton distribution is sufficient intense to be detected at low energies within the Lepedea energy range. When the high-energy tail of the thermal distribution can be detected, it is possible to determine the temperature of the thermal protons. The temperature in a typical case is found to be 80,000 K. This high temperature for the thermal protons, which are presumably of ionospheric origin, agrees with earlier Ogo 5 measurements reported by Serbu and Maier (1970).

Gurnett, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Crab Flares and Magnetic Reconnection in Pulsar Winds

The striped winds of rotation-powered pulsars are ideal sites for magnetic reconnection. The magnetic fields of the wind near the current sheet outside the light cylinder alternate polarity every pulsar period and eventually encounter a termination shock. Magnetic reconnection in the wind has been proposed as a mechanism for transferring energy from electromagnetic fields to particles upstream of the shock (the "sigma" problem), but it is not clear if, where and how this occurs. Fermi and AGILE have recently observed powerful gamma-ray flares from the Crab nebula, which challenge traditional models of acceleration at the termination shock. New simulations are revealing that magnetic reconnection may be instrumental in understanding the Crab flares and in resolving the "sigma" problem in pulsar wind nebulae.

Harding, Alice K.↗
NASA NTRS2021

L’Ralph Integration and Testing

This paper describes the plans, flows, key facilities, components and equipment necessary to fully integrate, functionally test, qualify and calibrate the L’Ralph instrument on the Lucy observatory. Lucy is currently in the final design and fabrication phase (phase C) of mission development. It is scheduled to launch out of Cape Canaveral, Florida, in October 2021. Lucy will be the first space mission to study the Trojan asteroids associated with Jupiter, that are thought to be remnants of the primordial material that formed the outer planets. Lucy will fly by and carry out remote sensing on six different Trojan asteroids. The mission takes its name from the fossilized human ancestor (called “Lucy” by her discoverers) whose skeleton provided unique insight into humanity's evolution. Likewise, the Lucy mission will revolutionize our knowledge of planetary origins and the formation of the solar system. L’Ralph is one of the instruments on Lucy and it is provided by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). L’Ralph is a combined multi-band visible imager (the Multi-spectral Visible Imaging Camera, MVIC, 0.4-0.85 microns) and wedge-filter infrared spectrometer (Linear Etalon Imaging Spectral Array, LEISA, 1-3.6 microns). LEISA will allow the team to look for the absorption lines that serve as the fingerprints for different silicates, ices and organics that likely will be on the surface of the Trojan asteroids. MVIC will take color images of the Trojan asteroid targets, and help determine how active they are. This paper will focus on the Integration and Test (I&T) activities for L’Ralph while it is at the NASA GSFC. L’Ralph has two assemblies, the telescope detector assembly (TDA) and main electronics box (MEB). The TDA is a single telescope feeding two focal planes, MVIC and LEISA. L’Ralph integration consists of assembly and alignment of the telescope, electronics box integration, thermal systems integration and the final assembly and testing. This I&T phase will be followed by the L’Ralph calibration and characterization, environmental tests which include electromagnetic interference (EMI)/electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), vibration with sine sweep, acoustics, shock, thermal balance, thermal vacuum, mass properties and center of gravity determination. This paper will briefly discuss L’Ralph shipment and delivery to the spacecraft vendor for observatory level I&T as well as some launch preparation activities.

Spaceflight Instruments↗
NASA NTRS1972

Solar observations from Skylab.

A wide variety of problems in solar physics will be attacked with coordinated observations made by the following instruments on Skylab: a white light coronagraph, a spectrograph for the 950-3900 A range, a spectrometer-spectroheliometer for the 300-1300 A range, a spectroheliograph for 150-650 A, X-ray telescopes, and supporting instrumentation. There will be complementary measurements from the ground and from space with 1-sec angular resolution on the sun. A coordinated program of correlative ground-based observations, sounding rocket launches, and observations from other spacecraft is being developed to provide calibration in orbit and simultaneous observations of solar phenomena over a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Oertel, G. K.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Thermal and suprathermal plasma densities in the outer magnetosphere

Using the low-frequency cutoff of electromagnetic noise trapped in the magnetosphere at frequencies above the local plasma frequency, it is now possible to make very accurate, + or - 1%, electron density measurements in the low density region between the magnetopause and plasmapause. This technique for measuring the total plasma density was used, together with measurements of the suprathermal proton intensities with the LEPEDEA instrumentation on the IMP-6 spacecraft, to determine the thermal proton densities in the region between the plasmapause and magnetopause. Although the thermal protons usually account for a significant fraction, approximately 50%, of the total proton density in this region, in some cases, particularly at the larger radial distances the density of the thermal protons sometimes drops to a very small fraction, 5%, of the total density and nearly all of the plasma consists of suprathermal particles.

Gurnett, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS2011

The Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS): Energetic Particle Measurements for the Solar Probe Plus Mission

One of the major goals of NASA's Solar Probe Plus (SPP) mission is to determine the mechanisms that accelerate and transport high-energy particles from the solar atmosphere out into the heliosphere. Processes such as coronal mass ejections and solar flares, which peak roughly every 11 years around solar maximum, release huge quantities of energized matter, magnetic fields and electromagnetic radiation into space. The high-energy particles, known as solar energetic particles or SEPs, present a serious radiation threat to human explorers living and working outside low-Earth orbit and to technological assets such as communications and scientific satellites in space. This talk describes the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS) - Energetic Particle Instrument suite. ISIS measures key properties such as intensities, energy spectra, composition, and angular distributions of the low-energy suprathermal source populations, as well as the more hazardous, higher energy particles ejected from the Sun. By making the first-ever direct measurements of the near-Sun regions where the acceleration takes place, ISIS will provide the critical measurements that, when integrated with other SPP instruments and with solar and interplanetary observations, will lead to a revolutionary new understanding of the Sun and major drivers of solar system space weather.

McComas, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Overview of Global Monitoring of Terrestrial Chlorophyll Fluorescence from Space

Despite the critical importance of photosynthesis for the Earth system, understanding how it is influenced by factors such as climate variability, disturbance history, and water or nutrient availability remains a challenge because of the complex interactions and the lack of GPP measurements at various temporal and spatial scales. Space observations of the sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) electromagnetic signal emitted by plants in the 650-850nm spectral range hold the promise of providing a new view of vegetation photosynthesis on a global basis. Global retrievals of SIF from space have recently been achieved from a number of spaceborne spectrometers originally intended for atmospheric research. Despite not having been designed for land applications, such instruments have turned out to provide the necessary spectral and radiometric sensitivity for SIF retrieval from space. The first global measurements of SIF were achieved in 2011 from spectra acquired by the Japanese GOSAT mission launched in 2009. The retrieval takes advantage of the high spectral resolution provided by GOSATs Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) which allows the evaluation of the in-filling of solar Fraunhofer lines by SIF. Unfortunately, GOSAT only provides a sparse spatial sampling with individual soundings separated by several hundred kilometers. Complementary, the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2) instruments onboard MetOp-A and MetOp-B enable SIF retrievals since 2007 with a continuous and global spatial coverage. GOME-2 measures in the red and near-infrared (NIR) spectral regions with a spectral resolution of 0.5 nm and a pixel size of up to 40x40 km2. Most recently, another global and spatially continuous data set of SIF retrievals at 740 nm spanning the 2003-2012 time frame has been produced from ENVISATSCIAMACHY. This observational scenario has been completed by the first fluorescence data from the NASA-JPL OCO-2 mission (launched in July 2014) and the upcoming Copernicus' Sentinel 5-Precursor to be launched in early 2016. OCO-2 and TROPOMI offer the possibility of monitoring SIF globally with a 100-fold improvement in spatial and temporal resolution with respect to the current measurements from the GOSAT, GOME-2 and SCIAMACHY missions. In this contribution, we will provide an overview of existing global SIF data sets derived from space-based atmospheric spectrometers and will demonstrate the potential of such data to improve our knowledge of vegetation photosynthesis and gross primary production at the synoptic scale. We will show examples of ongoing research exploiting SIF data for an improved monitoring of photosynthetic activity in different ecosystems, including large crop belts worldwide, the Amazon rainforest and boreal evergreen forests.

vegetation agriculture satellite↗
NASA NTRS1984

An improved dual-frequency technique for the remote sensing of ocean currents and wave spectra

A two frequency microwave radar technique for the remote sensing of directional ocean wave spectra and surface currents is investigated. This technique is conceptually attractive because its operational physical principle involves a spatial electromagnetic scattering resonance with a single, but selectable, long gravity wave. Multiplexing of signals having different spacing of the two transmitted frequencies allows measurements of the entire long wave ocean spectrum to be carried out. A new scatterometer is developed and experimentally tested which is capable of making measurements having much larger signal/background values than previously possible. This instrument couples the resonance technique with coherent, frequency agility radar capabilities. This scatterometer is presently configured for supporting a program of surface current measurements.

Schuler, D. L.↗