Earth-storable propellants for spacecraft.
Earth storable propellants exist in liquid phase in near-Earth temperatures at vapor pressure below 100 psi and hypergolic, yielding simple, reliable and predictable systems
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Earth storable propellants exist in liquid phase in near-Earth temperatures at vapor pressure below 100 psi and hypergolic, yielding simple, reliable and predictable systems
Range and range rate tracking system development and performance evaluation for spacecraft near-earth and cislunar position
Lateral range and lift-drag ratio requirements for return to optimum or nonoptimum recovery sites from near-earth circular orbit
Goddard Range and Range Rate System concept, design and performance for near-Earth and cislunar spacecraft tracking
NASA aeronautics and space research including near-Earth, cislunar and interplanetary space, manned flights, meteorology and communications
Soviet handbook of astronautics covering spacecraft and operating problems of near-earth spaceflight
Analytical solution to three-body problems is applied to the problem of predicting the orbit of a lunar satellite and determining the orbit of a near-earth satellite. Using this solution, the state vector may be generated at any time without intermediate numerical extrapolation.
Near-earth and deep space tracking and data acquisition requirements for Pioneer 7 space probe
Performance evaluation of near-earth and deep space tracking facilities for Pioneer 7 space probe
Four satellite cluster laboratory in near-earth environment to investigate solar-terrestrial relationships, emphasizing interaction of solar wind and magnetosphere
MOS capacitors as low mass micrometeoroid detectors in near-earth space, discussing fabrication and environmental tests
Lunar surface meteoroid activity from Surveyor 3 sample examination, comparing with predictions by cumulative-flux and near-earth models
The micrometeorite activity in a near-earth environment and the effect of the environment on microorganisms were studied by exposure of polished metal and plastic surfaces to the environment outside the Gemini spacecraft. Preliminary results are summarized as follows: (1) The cumulative influx rate in the size ranges from 10 to the minus 15th power to 10 to the minus 14th power gram was approximately 2 particles/ sq m/sec, as determined on the Gemini 12 mission; (2) The cumulative influx rate in the same mass range, as determined by the data from the Gemini 9 mission was almost 200 particles/ sq m/sec; and (3) The large particle cumulative influx rate was about 3 x 0.00001 particle/ sq m/sec, with a mass of the order of 10 to the minus 7th power gram. No living organisms could be found on the sterile collecting surfaces after recovery and handling.
The feasibility of employing an optical meteoroid detecting system, known as Sisyphus, to measure the near-earth particulates from an earth orbiting vehicle, is considered. A Sisyphus system can discriminate between natural and man-made particles since the system measures orbital characteristics of particles. A Sisyphus system constructed for the Pioneer F/G missions to Jupiter is used as the baseline, and is described. The amount of observing time which can be obtained by a Sisyphus instrument launched into various orbits is determined. Observation time is lost when, (1) the Sun is in or near the field of view, (2) the lighted Earth is in or near the field of view, (3) the instrument is eclipsed by the Earth, and (4) the phase angle measured at the particle between the forward scattering direction and the instrument is less than a certain critical value. The selection of the launch system and the instrument platform with a dedicated, attitude controlled payload package is discussed. Examples of such systems are SATS and SOLRAD 10(C) vehicles, and other possibilities are AVCO Corp. S4 system, the OWL system, and the Delta Payload Experiment Package.
Preliminary designs of the Bioexplorer spacecraft, developed in an earlier study program, are analyzed and updated to conform to a new specification which includes use of both the Scout and the space shuttle vehicle for launch. The updated spacecraft is referred to as bioresearch module. It is capable of supporting a variety of small biological experiments in near-earth and highly elliptical earth orbits. The baseline spacecraft design is compatible with the Scout launch vehicle. Inboard profile drawings, weight statements, interface drawings, and spacecraft parts and aerospace ground equipment lists are provided to document the design. The baseline design was analyzed to determine the design and cost impact of a set of optional features. These include reduced experiment power and thermal load, addition of an experiment television monitor, and replacement of VHF with S-band communications. The impact of these options on power required, weight change and cost is defined.
This paper reports an evaluation of the performance potential of five nuclear rocket engines for four mission classes. These engines are: the regeneratively cooled gas-core nuclear rocket; the light bulb gas-core nuclear rocket; the space-radiator cooled gas-core nuclear rocket; the fusion rocket; and an advanced solid-core nuclear rocket which is included for comparison. The missions considered are: earth-to-orbit launch; near-earth space missions; close interplanetary missions; and distant interplanetary missions. For each of these missions, the capabilities of each rocket engine type are compared in terms of payload ratio for the earth launch mission or by the initial vehicle mass in earth orbit for space missions (a measure of initial cost). Other factors which might determine the engine choice are discussed. It is shown that a 60 day manned round trip to Mars is conceivable.-
System definition studies were conducted of the Earth Observatory Satellite (EOS). The studies show that the concept of an Earth Observatory Satellite in a near-earth, sun-synchronous orbit would make a unique contribution to the goals of a coordinated program for acquisition of data for environmental research with applications to earth resource inventory and management. The technical details for the proposed development of sensors, spacecraft, and a ground data processing system are presented.
A brief outline of NASA's space exploration plans for the 1970s is given. Research of the upper atmosphere and near-earth space will slack off in comparison with that which was done in the past, although now missions with very specific tasks will be launched, instead of those intended to get a general picture of these regions. Space Shuttle and Spacelab will open up the possibility of using the ionosphere as a huge plasma laboratory without walls. Exploration of other planets will continue with the Mars Lander and Viking Lander, the Pioneer-Venus program, and flybys of Jupiter and Saturn.