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At least 415 records · Page 23

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NASA NTRS1974

Techniques for evaluating long periodic orbit variations

A method of analyzing long periodic variations of orbits from osculating elements is presented. A precision of 0.03 arc sec in inclination has been achieved with this technique for the GEOS 1 and 2 orbits. A combined numerical-analytical technique for computing mean elements is also described. This method has given mean elements with a precision of 0.1 arc sec in inclination and 10 cm in semimajor axis for the GEOS satellites. Application of these techniques to the determination of earth tidal parameters is also discussed.

Douglas, B. C.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Energetic solar proton vs terrestrially trapped proton fluxes

The relative importance of solar and trapped proton fluxes in the consideration of shielding requirements for geocentric space missions is analyzed. Using models of these particles, their fluences encountered by spacecraft in circular orbits are computed as functions of orbital altitude and inclination, mission duration, threshold energy (10 to 100 MeV), and risk factor (for solar protons only), and ratios of solar-to-trapped fluences are derived. It is shown that solar protons predominate for low-altitude polar and very high-altitude missions, while trapped protons predominate for missions at low and medium altitudes and low inclinations. It is recommended that if the ratio of solar-to-trapped protons falls between 0.1 and 10, both fluences should be considered in planning shielding systems.

King, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1975

15th order resonance terms using the decaying orbit of TETR-3

Fifteenth-order commensurability of the orbit of TETR-3 (1971-83B) is studied. The study is designed to obtain good discrimination of 15th-order resonances through a better range of inclinations. The first low inclination orbit, 33 deg, is used for this purpose; it is very sensitive to the high degree terms which were rather poorly represented by previously analyzed orbits.

Wagner, C. A.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Jupiter orbiter lifetime - The hazard of Galilean satellite collision

An assessment of the long-term collision risk is made for an uncontrolled orbiting spacecraft that repeatedly enters the spatial region occupied by the satellites. Numerical data are obtained for 50-year orbit propagations which account approximately for the major perturbative effects of Jupiter oblateness, solar gravity and satellite gravity. A broad statistical viewpoint regarding the question of collision likelihood is adopted and is based on a total sample size of 480 initial orbits distributed among 4 orbit classes, 8 inclinations and 15 initial epochs. Numerical results compare favorably with an analytical prediction formula which shows that eccentric, low-inclination orbits have high collision probability.

Friedlander, A. L.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Evidence for non-radial fields in the sun's photosphere and a possible explanation of the polar magnetic signal

The appearance of H-alpha fibrils suggests the presence of magnetic fields inclined at noticeably nonradial angles in the sun's chromosphere. Evidence is presented to suggest that these angles continue into the photosphere. The presence even of small nonradial inclinations can significantly affect the appearance of regions observed by a longitudinal magnetograph. In particular, a simple bipolar loop can appear unbalanced when viewed near the limb. It is suggested that the observed polar signal may be nothing more than a geometric effect arising when a balanced but systematically aligned array of bipolar pairs is viewed at an angle.

Pope, T.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Southern Hemisphere meteor stream determinations

Meteor orbits have been deduced from radio observations of meteor trails carried out at Adelaide, Australia, using a combined multistation CW and pulse radar system operating at 27 MHz. The orbits of 1667 meteors have been determined down to a limiting radio magnitude of +8. The data have been systematically searched for stream meteors, and the significance of minor associations has been appraised. Altogether, 40.4% of the orbits were found to be associated with at least one other orbit, and 29.8% with two or more. Numerous minor streams with high inclination and low eccentricity have been found at deep southern declinations from December to March, with little activity in this quarter during June and October. In addition to confirming several previously established cometary associations, a comprehensive search has indicated that 34 of the meteor associations may be related to 17 comets. Associations between several long-period comets and low-eccentricity high-inclination streams appear to be indisputable, and they confirm the origin of at least some of the 'toroidal group' meteors.

Gartrell, G.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Earth albedo as determined from Skylab data

Earth albedo calculated from Skylab flight data when correlated with latitude falls within the range of values obtained from previous investigations. The Skylab data ranged between latitudes of plus or minus 50 degrees. Seasonal variations show higher values for the winter months and lower values for the summer months. Surface geometry and orbit altitude had little effect on the orbit averaged albedo which was a function of orbit inclination, solar declination, and beta angle. A range of values is presented as a function of orbit inclination.

Prenger, F. C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Jupiter orbiter lifetime - The hazard of Galilean satellite collision

An assessment of the long-term collision risk is made for an uncontrolled orbiting spacecraft that repeatedly enters the spatial region occupied by the satellites. Numerical data are obtained for 50-year orbit propagations which account approximately for the major perturbative effects of Jupiter oblateness, solar gravity and satellite gravity. A broad statistical viewpoint regarding the question of collision likelihood is adopted and is based on a total sample size of 480 initial orbits distributed among 4 orbit classes, 8 inclinations and 15 initial epochs. Numerical results compare favorably with an analytical prediction formula which shows that eccentric low-inclination orbits have high collision probability.

Friedlander, A. L.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Implications of outer-zone radiations on operations in the geostationary region utilizing the AE4 environmental model

The radiation exposure in the region of geostationary orbits is examined in search for means of optimizing human performance. It is found that the use of slightly inclined circular orbits is one means by which exposure and spacesuit thickness requirements can be reduced. Another effective technique is to limit the extravehicular activity to those days when the short term fluctuations result in low exposure. Space-suit shielding approaching 1/2 sq cm or less may be possible by utilizing work stoppages and inclined orbits. If aluminum and other low-atomic-number materials are used to construct the habitat, then excessive wall thicknesses are required. If special bremsstrahlung shielding is used, then the habitat shield may be reduced to as low as 2 g/sq cm. Numerous tables and graphs are presented for future analysis of dose in the geostationary region.

Wilson, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Theory of a cylindrical probe in a collisionless magnetoplasma

A theory is presented for a cylindrical electrostatic probe in a collisionless plasma in the case where the probe axis is inclined at an angle to a uniform magnetic field. The theory is applicable to electron collection, and under more restrictive conditions, to ion collection. For a probe at space potential, the theory is exact in the limit where probe radius is much less than Debye length. At attracting probe potentials, the theory yields an upper bound and an adiabatic limit for current collection. At repelling probe potentials, it provides a lower bound. The theory is valid if the ratios of probe radius to Debye length and probe radius to mean gyroradius are not simultaneously large enough to produce extrema in the probe sheath potential. The numerical current calculations are based on the approximation that particle orbits are helices near the probe, together with the use of kinetic theory to relate velocity distributions near the probe to those far from it. Probe characteristics are presented for inclination angles from 0 to 90 deg and for probe-radius mean-gyroradius ratios from 0.1 to infinity. For an angle of 0 deg, the end-effect current is calculated separately.

Laframboise, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Measurement of post-separated flowfields on airfoils

A small combination pitch-yaw probe designed to facilitate measurement of post-separated flow fields on airfoils is described, along with its calibration. A five-tube probe is found 'ideally suited' to separated-flow measurements because of the pitch and yaw angle information provided in addition to static and total pressures. Wall proximity effects (in a low-speed tunnel) are described. Procedures for measurements in flows with small inclinations in pitch and yaw, for large flow angles, and for scanning flows with large inclinations are indicated.

Seetharam, H. C.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Geopotential resonances on Vanguard orbits

Since their establishment in 1959 the orbits of Vanguard 3 (1959-7A) and the Vanguard 2 rocket (1959-2B) have been slowly contracting through at least five strong resonances of eleventh order. Tracking with Baker-Nunn cameras and the U.S. Navy space surveillance (radio interferometer) system over a 14-year period has revealed resonant fluctuations on them of up to 0.035 deg in inclination (peak to peak). Six geopotential terms (lumped coefficients) of eleventh order and three of twenty-second order have been measured by using orbit inclinations derived from this tracking record. The terms of eleventh order are significantly smaller than is predicted by Kaula's rule. (The lumped coefficients are sensitive to geopotential effects as high as thirty-seventh degree.) These observed terms are compatible with a recent 27-satellite geopotential solution (GEM 7) whose formal coefficent errors are increased by a factor of 3.3.

Wagner, C. A.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Experimental and analytical determination of characteristics affecting light aircraft landing-gear dynamics

An experimental and analytical investigation was conducted to determine which characteristics of a light aircraft landing gear influence gear dynamic behavior significantly. The investigation focused particularly on possible modification for load control. Pseudostatic tests were conducted to determine the gear fore-and-aft spring constant, axial friction as a function of drag load, brake pressure-torque characteristics, and tire force-deflection characteristics. To study dynamic tire response, vertical drops were conducted at impact velocities of 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8 m/s onto a level surface; to determine axial-friction effects, a second series of vertical drops were made at 1.5 m/s onto surfaces inclined 5 deg and 10 deg to the horizontal. An average dynamic axial-friction coefficient of 0.15 was obtained by comparing analytical data with inclined surface drop test data. Dynamic strut bending and associated axial friction were found to be severe for the drop tests on the 10 deg surface.

Fasanella, E. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Upper atmosphere research satellite program

A satellite program to conduct research on the chemistry, energetics, and dynamics of the upper atmosphere was developed. The scientific goals of the Upper Atmospheric Research Program, the program requirements, and the approach toward meeting those requirements are outlined. An initial series of two overlapping spacecraft missions is described. Both spacecraft are launched and recovered by the STS, one in the winter of 1983 at a 56 deg inclination, and the other a year later at a 70 deg inclination. The duration of each mission is 18 months, and each carries instruments to make global measurements of the temperature, winds, composition, irradation, and radiance in the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere between the tropopause and 120 km altitude. The program requires a dedicated ground-based data system and a science team organization that leads to a strong interaction between the experiments and theory. The program includes supportive observations from other platforms such as rockets, balloons, and the Spacelab.

Huntress, W. T., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Orbit Selection for Earth Observation Missions

The orbit selection process is simplified for most earth-oriented satellite missions by a restriction to circular orbits, which reduces the primary orbit characteristics to be determined to only two: altitude and inclination. A number of important mission performance characteristics depend on these choices, however, so a major part of the orbit selection task is concerned with developing the correlating relationships in clear and convenient forms to provide a basis for rational orbit selection procedures. The present approach to that task is organized around two major areas of mission performance, orbit plane precession and coverage pattern development, whose dependence on altitude and inclination is delineated graphically in design chart form. These charts provide a visual grasp of the relationships between the quantities cited above, as well as other important mission performance parameters including viewing time of day (solar), sensor swath width (and fields of view), swath sequencing, and pattern repeat condition and repeat periods.

King, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1978

System implementation for Earth Radiation Budget Satellite System

A description is presented of the instrument system which is needed for the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite System (ERBSS). The system is to be composed of instruments on two of NOAA's near-polar sun-synchronous Tiros-N/NOAA A through G series of operational satellites and on a NASA midinclination satellite of the Applications Explorer Mission (AEM) type referred to as ERBS-A/AEM. The Tiros-N/NOAA satellites will be in nominal 833 km altitude circular orbits with orbital inclinations of 98 deg. The AEM satellite will be in a circular orbit with an inclination of approximately 56 deg and a nominal altitude of 600 km. Each satellite will carry wide field-of-view (WFOV) and medium field-of-view (MFOV) sensors, a sensor for measuring the solar constant, and a narrow field-of-view (NFOV) cross-track scanner. The conceptual design of the W/MFOV instrument is discussed along with the conceptual design of the scanner.

Cooper, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1978

On the early history of the asteroids

Among the major features of the asteroids as a group is the fact that they are small and numerous rather than being a single planet, and that they have unusually high eccentricities and inclinations. Regarding the first, this paper presents two lines of argument concerning the concept that the asteroids formed with a mass-distribution similar to what we observe today. Considerations of planet accretion are used to clarify the role of Jupiter in preventing coalescence of asteroids into a single planet. Regarding the eccentricities and inclinations, it is proposed that they were excited by secular resonances associated with the presence of Jupiter within a dissipating solar nebula.

Heppenheimer, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Measurement and analysis of magnetic field variation during a class 2b flare

A digital analysis of high-time-resolution videomagnetograms taken during a class 2b flare that occurred at 60 deg east is reported. The data were obtained at the Big Bear Observatory and calibrated by a Mt. Wilson magnetogram. Changes of weak magnetic fields (less than 100 G) with an amplitude of 30% to 100% have been detected over 55% of the optical flare region, apparently taking place at the initial phase of the flare. Statistical considerations suggest a real flare association with most of these changes. H-alpha observations show that large changes took place over the footpoints of heavily inclined structures like penumbral fibrils, while smaller changes took place over the plage region. An apparent polarity reversal was found at the feet of erupted fibrils. Based on force-free field calculations these changes can be reasonably explained as a transformation of the current-carrying fields to potential fields which produced large changes in the field-line inclination and rotation.

Tanaka, K.↗