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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Abatement of gaseous and particulate contamination in a space instrument

Methods to prevent the ingestion of external contaminants into the instrument and to limit the effect of the self-generated contaminants during ground, launch, orbiting and landing phases of flight were investigated. It is proposed that a positive pressure and purging flow of clean gas inside the instrument be maintained while on the ground, during launch, and for a period of time in orbit. The pressure to be maintained and the required purging flow are examined in terms of the effectiveness in preventing gaseous and particulate contaminants ingestion and the abatement of the self-generated contaminants. Considerations have been given to the venting requirements for the structural integrity of the instrument during launch, the limitations on the volume and the pressure of the purging gas to be carried along in orbit, and the required venting area is established based on the internal volume of the instrument, the allowable pressure differential, and the rate of external pressure change during launch. Previously announced in STAR as N83-23350

Scialdone, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

An Intercomparison of Ground, Airborne, and Space Instrumentation Definitions of the Lightning Element

For the past century, scientists have made quantitative measurements of lightning discharges. In the process, they refined the definition of a lightning unit, or basic quantum of lightning, in order to base it on observable parameters. In this paper, we will use cluster analysis to derive a basic spatial and temporal definition or scale length for the unit of lightning. We will use data from three different systems that detected pulses from the same storm complex over Central Oklahoma during June, 1998. Since the different instruments detect lightning in different ways with different resolutions, there may not be a single definition of the unit of lightning that can be applied to all three systems. However, common components can be found since all instrumentation are detecting aspects of the same phenomenon.

Mach, Douglas↗
NASA NTRS2004

Performance Expectations for Future Moderate Resolution Visible and Infrared Space Instruments Based on AIRS and MODIS In-Flight Experience

Lessons learned from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) projects highlight areas where further technology development is needed to address future land, ocean and atmospheric measurement needs. Although not established as requirements at this time, it is anticipated that scientists will expect improvements in the areas of spatial, spectral, radiometric, polarimetric, temporal and calibration performance for future sensors. This paper addresses each of these performance areas and provides lessons learned from MODIS and AIRS. We also present expectations in performance of the system based on information from NASA Instrument Incubator Program and industry reports. Tradeoffs are presented vs orbit altitude (LEO, ME0 and GEO) and provide a 'systems' perspective to future measurement concepts.

Infrared↗
NASA NTRS2012

Light Weight Silicon Mirrors for Space Instrumentation

Each mirror is a monolithic structure from a single crystal of silicon. The mirrors are light weighted after the optical surface is ground and polished. Mirrors made during the initial phase of this work were typically 1/50 lambda or better (RMS at 633 n m)

Bly, Vincent T.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Black-silicon as a Wideband Infrared Absorber for the Space Instruments: Fabrication, Modeling, and Characterization

The uniform black silicon (BSI) cryogenically etched has been demonstrated as a superior absorber in par with other ultra-absorbers such as carbon nano tubes in the visible and near-infrared spectrum. In this work, we discuss the fabrication, modeling, and characterization of the BSI aiming at the 2.5-5 microns range. We investigated a series of cryogenic parameters such as temperature, pressure, oxygen flowrate, power, and etching duration and fabricated a series of uniformly etched wafers. Additionally, we established at hree-dimensional mathematical model of a unit cell and manipulated the silicon needle geometry and shape. Our preliminary fabrication results show silicon needles of 8 micron height have five orders of magnitude specular reflectance in the infrared region. The modeling efforts how longer pillar heights could be better absorbers as the wavelength increases.

Wideband absorber↗
NASA NTRS1964

Instruments of space

Space instrument systems to measure and obtain engineering, scientific, and medical data in fields of aeronautics, atmospheric structure, solar observation, and lunar exploration

SPACECRAFT INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1986

Problems and approaches to the calibration of solar EUV instrumentation in space

Accurate measurements of the Sun's extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission are of major importance in aeronomical studies of the Earth's upper atmosphere and for studies of the Sun's outer atmosphere, where the radiation originates in the tenuous, high-temperature chromosphere and corona. Current levels of calibration accuracy of space instrumentation used to observe this radiation and accuracies desired in the future are discussed. Several suggestions are made for methods that can provide approximate recalibrations of instruments in orbit using the radiation from the Sun itself.

Neupert, Werner M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Nuclear Science Symposium, 23rd, Scintillation and Semiconductor Counter Symposium, 15th, and Nuclear Power Systems Symposium, 8th, New Orleans, La., October 20-22, 1976, Proceedings

The volume includes papers on semiconductor radiation detectors of various types, components of radiation detection and dosimetric systems, digital and microprocessor equipment in nuclear industry and science, and a wide variety of applications of nuclear radiation detectors. Semiconductor detectors of X-rays, gamma radiation, heavy ions, neutrons, and other nuclear particles, plastic scintillator arrays, drift chambers, spark wire chambers, and radiation dosimeter systems are reported on. Digital and analog conversion systems, digital data and control systems, microprocessors, and their uses in scientific research and nuclear power plants are discussed. Large-area imaging and biomedical nucleonic instrumentation, nuclear power plant safeguards, reactor instrumentation, nuclear power plant instrumentation, space instrumentation, and environmental instrumentation are dealt with. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Wagner, L. J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Yeast strain development to test in-space bioproduction in the Lunar Explorer Instrument for space biology Applications (LEIA) mission

The Lunar Explorer Instrument for space biology Applications (LEIA) is investigating the effects of lunar radiation and gravity on yeast viability, growth, and metabolism. LEIA is part of the CP-22 Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) surface mission to the south polar region of the Moon. The biological payload will test genetic factors that are likely to influence the tolerance of yeast for deep space and lunar surface radiation. LEIA is also investigating in-space production of β-carotene in bioengineered yeast. This carotenoid is both an antioxidant and pro-vitamin A- an essential human micronutrient. We report progress on engineering carotenoid-expressing strains to test the impacts of strain background and specific genetic variants on growth and production of β-carotene. To test for enhanced sensitivity to the LEIA mission environment, we generated gene knockouts for the RAD51 DNA damage repair locus as well as the SOD1, SOD2, and TSA1 reactive oxygen species (ROS) defense enzymes. We are also generating strains expected to increase tolerance to abiotic stressors and ROS. To be included in the biology payload, each strain needs to satisfy a series of requirements to be compatible with the mission concept of operations. The LEIA mission will conduct experiments using an autonomous light emitting diode optical detection system and microfluidics incubator to quantify growth, metabolism, and carotenoid production. Strains must produce sufficient carotenoids for bioproduction to be detectable with this optical system. Cells will be loaded into microfluidics cards, desiccated, and stored for 8-12 months prior to the initiation of lunar surface operations. The CLPS lander will operate for one lunar day, and strains will need to grow to stationary phase within 96 hours to ensure that telemetry of LEIA data to Earth can be completed. Genetic variants also need to display expected phenotypes within these optical detection, storage, and growth cycle constraints.

Yeast Engineering↗
NASA NTRS2005

Space Weathering: Laboratory Analyses and In-Situ Instrumentation

Space weathering is now understood to be a key modifier of visible and near infrared reflectance spectra of airless bodies. Believed to be caused by vapour recondensation after either ion sputtering or impact vaporization, space weathering has been successfully simulated in the laboratory over the past few years. The optical changes caused by space weathering have been attributed to the accumulation of sub-microscopic iron on regolith grain surfaces. Such fine-grained metallic iron has distinctive magnetic properties that can be used to study it.

Bentley, M. S.↗
NASA NTRS1966

Instrumentation for space physics.

Satellite instrumentation, discussing data handling systems, cosmic ray detection, signal and information processing, etc

DATA HANDLING SYSTEM↗
NASA NTRS1998

Principles of Space Plasma Wave Instrument Design

Space plasma waves span the frequency range from somewhat below the ion cyclotron frequency to well above the electron cyclotron frequency and plasma frequency. Because of the large frequency range involved, the design of space plasma wave instrumentation presents many interesting challenges. This chapter discusses the principles of space plasma wave instrument design. The topics covered include: performance requirements, electric antennas, magnetic antennas, and signal processing. Where appropriate, comments are made on the likely direction of future developments.

Gurnett, Donald A.↗