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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 433 records · Page 24

Real time telemetry and data compression

The generation of telemetry and data compression by the flight program was verified. The adequacy of flight program telemetry control and timing is proven by the analysis of simulation laboratory runs of past programs through the use of telemetry. The telemetry data are correctly issued using specific tags called process input/output (P10) tags. Verification is accomplished by ensuring that a specific P10 tag and mode register setting identifies the correct parameter and that the data are properly scaled for subsequent ground station reduction. It was checked that the LVDC telemetry correctly adheres to the general requirements specified by the EDD. Data compression specifications are verified using compressed data from nominal flight simulations and from a series of perturbations designed to test data table overflows, data dump rates, and compression of data for occurrence events.

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Separation of granulocytes from whole blood by leukoadhesion, phase 1

Capillary glass tubes are investigated for the separation and retrieval of large quantities of viable granulocytes and monocytes from whole blood on a continuous basis from a single donor. This effort represented the feasibility demonstration of a three phase program for development of a capillary tube cell separation device. The activity included the analysis and parametric laboratory testing with subscale models required to design a prototype device. Capillary tubes 40 cm long with a nominal 0.030 cm internal diameter yielded the highest total process efficiency. Recovery efficiencies as high as 89% of the adhering cell population were obtained. Granulocyte phagocytosis of latex particles indicated approximately 90% viability. Monocytes recovered from the separation column retained their capability to stimulate human bone marrow colony growth, as demonstrated in an in vitro cell culture assay.

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Buckling and postbuckling research on flat and curved composite panels

Progress in the development of verified design technology for generic advanced-composite structural components loaded in compression is reported. Generic structural configurations material systems and load ranges of interest for a given application were investigated using structural procedures, structural analysis procedures, and laboratory testing of structural specimens. Both flat and curved composite compression panels that are designed either to be buckling resistant or to have postbuckling strength depending on the expected application of the panels were considered.

Starnes, J. H., Jr.↗

Evaluation of particle transport for the P80-1 spacecraft

Charged and neutral particle transport from an 8-cm mercury ion thruster to the surfaces of the P80-1 spacecraft, the Teal Ruby sensor and the ECOM-501 sensor was examined. Evaluation of particle transport modes utilized both laboratory measurements and analysis. Line-of-sight particle transport considered deposition of Group II (high energy-high angle mercury charge exchange) ions and neutral mercury on solar array surfaces. Nonline-of-sight transport modes studied were recirculation/reinterception of mercury ions in magnetic fields and refraction of low energy mercury charge exchange (Group IV) ions by local electric fields.

Sellen, J. M., Jr.↗

Rough surface wavelength measurement through self mixing of Doppler microwave backscatter

A microwave backscatter technique is presented that has the ability to sense the dominant surface wavelength of a random rough surface. The purpose of this technique is to perform this measurement from an aircraft or spacecraft, wherein the horizontal velocity of the radar is an important parameter of the measurement system. Attention will be directed at water surface conditions for which a dominant wavelength can be defined, then the spatial variations of reflectivity will have a two dimensional spectrum that is sufficiently close to that of waves to be useful. The measurement concept is based on the relative motion between the water waves and a nadir looking radar, and the fact that while the instantaneous Doppler frequency at the receiver returned by any elementary group of scatterers on a water wave is monotonically changing, the difference in the Doppler frequency between any two scattering 'patches' stays approximately constant as these waves travel parallel to the major axis of an elliptical antenna footprint. The results of a theoretical analysis and a laboratory experiment with a continuous wave (CW) radar that encompasses several of the largest waves in the illuminated area show how the structure in the Doppler spectrum of the backscattered signal is related to the surface spectrum and its parameters in an especially direct and simple way when an incoherent envelope detector is the receiver.

Weissman, D. E.↗

The aeronomy of vibrationally excited ozone

Theoretical calculations show that above 80 km in the earth's atmosphere the production of vibrationally excited ozone by chemical processes leads to number densities which are usually larger than those expected for local thermodynamic equilibrium. Quenching of highly excited molecules produced in O+O2+M, O3+M provided a significant source of the lower lying states above the mesopause while the 9.6 microns emission of O3 (0,0,1) was a major sink. Analysis of available laboratory results implied that reactions involving excited ozone play a significant role in the global ozone balance despite the relatively small abundance of the molecule. However, this effect is implicit in many of the rate coefficients currently used in stratospheric calculations. In the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere, where the excited state populations differ from those for thermal equilibrium, published reaction rate data are not necessarily applicable to aeronomic calculations.

Frederick, J. E.↗

A sonic satellite power system microwave power transmission simulation

A simulator is described which generates and transmits a beam of audible sound energy mathematically similar to the SPS power beam. The simulator provides a laboratory means for analysis of ground based closed loop SPS phase control and of ionospheric effects on the SPS microwave power beam.

Ott, J. H.↗

A sonic satellite power system microwave power transmission simulator

A simulator which generates and transmits a beam of audible sound energy mathematically similar to the SPS power beam is described. The simulator provides a laboratory means for analysis of ground based closed loop SPS phase control and of ionospheric effects on the SPS microwave power beam.

Ott, J. H.↗

A power satellite sonic simulator

A simulator is described which generates and transmits a beam of audible sound energy mathematically similar to the solar power satellite (SPS) power beam. The simulator provides a laboratory means for analysis of ground based closed loop SPS phase control and of ionospheric effects on the SPS microwave power beam.

Ott, J. H.↗

Astronomy and astrophysics for the 1980's, volume 1

The programs recommended address the most significant questions that confront contemporary astronomy and fall into three general categories: prerequisites for research initiatives, including instrumentation and detectors, theory and data analysis, computational facilities, laboratory astrophysics, and technical support at ground-based observatories; programs including an Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility, a Very-Long Baseline Array, a Technology Telescope and a Large Deployable Reflector; and programs for study and development, including X-ray observatories in space, instruments for the detection of gravitational waves from astronomical objects, and long duration spaceflights of infrared telescopes. Estimated costs of these programs are provided.

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Particle excitation, airglow and H2 vibrational disequilibrium in the atmosphere of Jupiter

The extreme ultraviolet EUV emission produced by particle excitation of the hydrogen atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn is examined using model calculations to determine the nature of the energy deposition process and the effect of such processes on atmospheric structure. Tasks ranging from examination of phenomenologically related processes on Saturn and Titan to analysis of experimental laboratory data required to allow accurate modeling of emissions from hydrogenic atmospheres are investigated. An explanation of the hydrogen H Ly(alpha) bulge in Jupiter's emission from the equatorial region is presented. It is proposed that Saturn, rather then Titan is the major source of the extended hydrogen cloud. The atomic hydrogen detected at the rings of Saturn may originate predominantly from the same source. A cross calibration is obtained between the Pioneer 10 EUV photometer and the Voyager EUV spectrometers, thus providing a direct measure of the temporal morphology of Jupiter between a minimum and a maximum in solar activity. Atomic and molecular data required for the research program are analyzed. An extrapolation of conditions in the upper atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn produces a predicted condition at Uranus in terms of excitation and hydrogen escape rates that may be observed at Voyager-Uranus encounter.

Shemansky, D. E.↗

Atmospheric concentrations and behavior of halocarbons and methane

The atmospheric concentrations of halocarbons and methane in the troposphere and stratosphere were precisely measured by grab-sampling followed by gas-chromatographic analysis in the laboratory. Chlorofluorocarbons such as CCl2F2 and CCl3F have received a great deal of attention due to their probable impact on the stratospheric ozone: the chlorofluorocarbons accumulated in the troposphere are eventually decomposed by photolysis in the stratosphere releasing Cl radicals which in turn participate in the ClO sub x-catalytic chain destroying the ozone, especially in the upper stratosphere. Methane reacts with Cl in the stratosphere reducing the ozone depletion, while its source and future trend of concentration in the troposphere are uncertain. The study of their distribution and behavior in the atmosphere are therefore very important. After the extensive survey of the locations for collection of atmospheriic samples representing the midlatitudes Northern Hemisphere (N.H.) without local contamination, we have measured the concentrations of CCl2F2, CCl3F, CH3CCl3, CC1, CHCl=CCl2 and CCl2=CCl2 with plus or minus 1 pptv precision in samples collected in Hokkaido and west coast Tohoku area (the northern part of Japan, 40 deg to 45 deg N) every summer and winter since 1979. The observed concentrations of CCl2F2 and CCl3F are now above 360 and 200 pptv, respectively, and have been steadily increasing by approx. 15 and approx. 8 pptv/year during the last several years.

Makide, Y.↗

PACOSS program overview and status

Many future civilian and military large space structures (LSS) will have as performance objectives stringent pointing accuracies, short settling times, relatively fast response requirements, or combinations thereof. Many of these structures will be large, light weight, and will exhibit high structural modal density at low frequency and within the control bandwidth. Although it is possible in principle to achieve structural vibration control through purely active means, experience with complex structures has shown that the realities of plant model inaccuracies and sensor/actuator dynamics frequently combine to produce substandard performance. A more desirable approach is to apply passive damping technology to reduce the active control burden. Development of the technology to apply this strategy is the objective of the PACOSS (Passive and Active Control OF Space Structures) program. A key element in the PACOSS program is the Representative System Article (RSA). The RSA is a generic paper system that serves as a testbed for damping and controls studies. It also serves as a basis for design of the smaller Dynamic Test Article (DTA), a hardware testbed for the laboratory validation of analysis and design practices developed under PACOSS.

Rogers, L. C.↗

New very high resolution radar studies of the Moon

As part of an effort to further understand the geologic utility of radar studies of the terrestrial planets, investigators at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics are collaborating with NEROC Haystack Observatory, MIT and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the analysis of existing 3.8 and 70 cm radar images of the Moon, and in the acquisition of new data for selected lunar targets. The intent is to obtain multi-polarization radar images at resolutions approaching 75 meters (3.8 cm wavelength) and 400 meters (70 cm wavelength) for the Apollo landing sites (thereby exploiting available ground truth) or regions covered by the metric camera and geochemical experiments onboard the command modules of Apollos 15, 16 and 17. These data were collected in both like- and cross-polarizations, and, in the case of the 70 cm data, permit the phase records to be used to assess the scattering properties of the surface. The distribution of surface units on the Moon that show a mismatch between the surface implied by like- and cross-polarized scattering data is being analyzed, based on the scattering models of Evans and Hagfors.

Mouginis-Mark, Peter J.↗

Investigation of low energy space plasma

Analysis techniques and software development, data analysis and modeling, laboratory plasma flow studies, meetings, and publications are presented.

Comfort, Richard H.↗

Holography on the Spacelab 3 mission

Spacelab 3's Fluid Experiment System, in which triglycine sulfate crystals were produced by a low temperature solution-growth technique, employs holography as its primary data-gathering system. This use of holography allows optical techniques which would be difficult to apply in orbit to be used after the holographic data is returned to ground laboratories, using an analysis of the reconstructed holographic image. The system used allows both single- and double-exposure holograms to be obtained in two separate orthogonal configurations.

Owen, Robert B.↗

Martian sediments and sedimentary rocks

Martian sediments and sedimentary rocks, clastic and nonclastic, should represent a high priority target in any future return-sample mission. The discovery of such materials and their subsequent analysis in terrestrial laboratories, would greatly increase the understanding of the Martian paleoclimate. The formation of Martian clastic sedimentary rocks, under either present, low-pressure, xeric conditions or a postulated, high-pressure, hydric environment, depends upon the existence of a supply of particles, various cementing agents and depositional basins. A very high resolution (mm-cm range) photographic reconnaissance of these areas would produce a quantum jump in the understanding of Martian geological history. Sampling would be confined to more horizontal (recent) surfaces. Exploration techniques are suggested for various hypothetical Martian sedimentary rocks.

Markun, C. D.↗