Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “outgassing”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 541 records · Page 30

Io - Thermal models and chemical evolution

A combined thermal and chemical evolution model of Io is presented, outlining limits on the possible starting materials, heating history, chemical history, and present state of Io. Our best scenario starts with Io being accreted from material in a proto-Jovian nebula which condensed between 400-600 K. Radionuclides and tidal heating would lead to large-scale convection within Io and chemical reactions leading to the outgassing of water and methane. Reactions between Fe(0)-FeS and water, at least near the surface, go to completion, resulting in all Fe being oxidized with elemental sulfur producing a low-conductivity crust. In the deep interior, these reactions may not completely exhaust Fe metal, and an FeS-rich core may be formed.

Consolmagno, G. J.↗

On the distribution of noble gases in Allende - A differential oxidation study

The investigation makes use of an oxidizing technique which is based on methods widely employed in light stable isotope analysis. The utilization of closed-system differential combustion in molecular oxygen in an ultra-high vacuum system on-line with a spectrometer makes it possible to conduct precise abundance and isotopic measurements of all gases released in progressive oxidation and/or thermal outgassing of the host phases. Attention is given to the noble gases mobilized in progressive oxidation of a carbon-rich acid residue and a fine-grained matrix separate. The progressive oxidation of the Allende matrix is discussed. Release occurred over three distinct intervals, characterized by oxidation below 600 C, gas mobilization between 630 and 750 C, and high-temperature diffusive release.

Frick, U.↗

Distribution and activity of discrete emission areas on the nucleus of periodic Comet Swift-Tuttle

A general model is proposed which accounts for the dynamical evolution of the observed jets, envelopes and tail bands of periodic Comet Swift-Tuttle, the parent comet of the Perseid meteor stream, in terms of dust ejection from discrete active regions on the rotating nucleus. High-resolution drawings and measurements of cometary jets made upon the comet's first appearance in 1862 are used to infer a nuclear rotation period of 2.77 days, obliquity of 80 deg, and spin axis orientation with respect to the solar direction of 60 deg. The observed jets are attributed to eight discrete active regions covering not more than 1% of the cometary surface and producing bursts of duration of about 0.1 day. Calculations show that waning dust jets develop into envelopes and that old envelopes in turn become the observed tail bands. No evidence of truly violent explosions is found, and effects of active region outgassing on cometary orbital motion are negligible. Potential applications of the model to periodic Comet Halley and other comets are noted.

Sekanina, Z.↗

Venus was wet - A measurement of the ratio of deuterium to hydrogen

The deuterium-hydrogen abundance ratio in the Venus atmosphere was measured while the inlets to the Pioneer Venus large probe mass spectrometer were coated with sulfuric acid from Venus' clouds. The ratio is 0.016 + or - 0.002. The hundredfold enrichment of deuterium means that at least 0.3 percent of a terrestrial ocean was outgassed on Venus, but is consistent with a much greater production.

Donahue, T. M.↗

A possible common origin for the rare gases on Venus, earth, and Mars

The rare gas concentrations in the terrestrial planets and the carbonaceous chondrites could have been derived from a single source an early solar wind. The fractionation processes responsible for the varying concentration patterns in this model are differential ionization and the relative separation of neutrals from ions due to interaction with the solar magnetic field. If species dependent effects are small relative to radius dependent effects, this process can explain in detail both the relative and absolute abundances in the terrestrial planets and carbonaceous chondrites. The electron temperatures predicted by the data are consistent with astrophysical constraints previously derived for the solar nebula, and the timeline of events necessary for this model is consistent with accretion in a gas free environment. If species dependent fractionations are small, or approximately cancel each other, the earth is found to be outgassed by an order of magnitude more efficiently than Venus or Mars.

Hostetler, C. J.↗

Prebiotic organic matter - Possible pathways for synthesis in a geological context

Models for the accretion of the earth, core formation, differentiation of the planet into core, mantle, crust, and atmosphere, and prebiotic synthesis of organic materials are reviewed. The development of the Haldane-Oparin and Urey models is traced, and the effect of accretion time on the outgassing process and the composition of the consequent atmosphere is examined. Model prebiotic atmospheres are calculated, the extent of equilibration of the primitive atmosphere is studied and the evolution of the atmosphere prior to organic chemical evolution is reviewed. Finally, experimental progress in synthesis of biological monomers and polymers under presumed early earth conditions is covered.

Chang, S.↗

Standards for Epoxies Used in Microelectronics

Improved qualification standards and test procedures for epoxy adhesives used in assembly of high-reliability hybrid microcircuits listed in new report. Objective of standards to resolve problems in areas of outgassing, bond shear strength, corrosivity, volume resistivity, ionic impurities, electrical stability, and frequency of qualification testing. pp

Caruso, S. V.↗

Low-Shock Pyrotechnic Actuator

Miniature 1-ampere, 1-watt pyrotechnic actuator enclosed in flexible metal bellows. Bellows confines outgassing products, and pyrotechnic shock reduction achieved by action of bellows, gas cushion within device, and minimum use of pyrotechnic material. Actuator inexpensive, compact, and lightweight.

Lucy, M. H.↗

Oxygen atom reaction with shuttle materials at orbital altitudes

Significant effects of the environment on payload bay materials observed on all flights are discussed. The STS 5 experiment is described. Increased outgassing rates resulting in possible localized effects on experiments, changes in optical control surfaces, and photoemission from reaction products are considered.

Leger, L. J.↗

OSS-1/contamination monitor

A 20-cm high, 18-cm wide, and 30-cm long (8x7x12 inch) box weighing about 7 kg (15 lbs) and consuming about 7 watts of power was carried on the OSS-1 pallet to monitor the mass build-up or accretion of condensible, volatile materials on surfaces in the shuttle bay during all phases of ascent, on-orbit, and descent. Passively thermally controlled, the box holds two witness samples and four actively temperature controlled quartz crystal microbalances (TQCM) whose temperature can vary from -60 C to +80 C. Graphs show the accretion indicated by the TQCM during the launch and early orbital phase. Conditions during tail to the Sun, nose to the Sun, and bay to the Sun attitudes of the shuttle during STS-3 are reflected in temperatures indicated by the OSS-1 thermistor. These temperatures influence outgassing rates of various materials as well as measurements made by the contamination monitor package. The parameters that bear on TQCM measurements data are shown in graphs and discussed.

Kruger, R.↗

STS-2, -3, -4 Induced Environment Contamination Monitor (ICEM)

The second, third, and fourth space transportation system missions are described including the location of the IECM in the payload bay and the shuttle coordinate systems used. Measurement results from the three flights are given for each instrument with comparisons to original goals for preflight environment and induced environment contamination. These results include very low levels of molecular mass accumulation rates, absence of molecular films on optical samples, outgassing species above 50 amu undetectable generally low levels of on-orbit particulates, and decay rates for early mission water dump particulates. Results of exposure of several optical materials and coatings to atomic oxygen are also presented. From these results, it is concluded that the space shuttle met the established induced environment contamination goals.

Miller, E. R.↗

J series thruster thermal test results

Test experience with J series ion thrusters have indicated that the present thruster design may result in excessive temperatures in areas which utilize organic materials such as wire insulation, with the resultant outgassing and potential contamination of insulating materials. Further, it appears that thermal data obtained with earlier thruster designs, such as the 700 series thruster, may not be directly applicable to the J series design. Two J series thrusters were fitted with thermocouples and critical temperatures measured for a variety of configurations and operating parameters. Completely enclosing the thruster to reduce facility contamination significantly increased temperatures prompting the selection of a compromise geometry for life testing. The operating parameter having the largest effect on temperatures was discharge power, while beam power affected little else than extraction system temperatures. Several off-normal operating modes were also investigated. Data believed to be sufficient to effectively modify existing thermal models were obtained from the tests.

Bechtel, R. T.↗

J series thruster isolator failure analysis

Three Hg propellant isolators (two cathode and one main) failed during testing in the Mission Profile Life Test. These failures involved contamination of the surface of the alumina insulating body which resulted in heating of the vaporizer by leakage current from the high voltage supply, with subsequent loss of propellant flow rate control. Failure analysis of the isolators showed the surface resistance was temperature dependent and that the alumina could be restored to its original insulating state by grit blasting the surface. The contaminant was identified as carbon and the most likely sources identified as ambient facility hydrocarbons, directed back-sputtered facility materials, and outgassing from organic insulating materials within the thruster envelope. Methods to eliminate contamination from each of these sources are described.

Campbell, J. W.↗

The problem of split comets in review

Cometary splitting is investigated from the dynamical and physical standpoints. A simple two-parameter model is proposed in which the rate of recession of the fragments is determined by the momentum from outgassing, so that the net differential force is of the same nature as the nongravitational perturbations detected in the motions of unsplit comets; the two parameters of the model are the differential radial acceleration and the time of splitting. It is shown that the model successfully represents the positional observations of nearly all the 21 known split comets. The following candidate triggering mechanisms for cometary splitting are considered: tidal forces, rotation, dust-mantle dumping, and radioactive heating. A model that fits the dynamical data and physical characteristics is presented which suggests that most fragments must be appreciably nonspherical and rapidly precessing.

Sekanina, Z.↗

Shuttle optical environment; Proceedings of the Meeting, Washington, DC, April 23, 24, 1981

The numerical modeling, instrumentation, identification, and procedures to characterize and/or control contamination hazards to equipment used on the Shuttle are discussed. On-orbit pollutants include molecular offgassing and outgassing, particulate material, and substances from thrusters, vents, and leaks. Clean-rooms are being implemented in ground assembly and integration facilities. Attention is given to an upgraded SPACE program for numerically modeling contamination pathways and appropriate procedures to protect instrumentation from film and particulate deposition. Finally, attention is given to military cryogenic IR detectors being employed to quantify the Shuttle thermal and solid pollutant environment on-orbit as a prelude to future operational IR sensors.

Miller, E. R.↗

Mass loss parameters for typical Shuttle materials

The weight loss of twenty different typical Shuttle materials was measured with a thermogravimetric analyzer as the material temperature was increased from ambient to 300 C. An additional ten tests were performed where conditioning of the material varied. The materials were selected from each general grouping such as adhesives, coatings, lubricants, encapsulants, elastomers, and resins. Care was taken in the preparation, curing, and preconditioning of the materials to simulate flight use. Making the assumption that the weight loss follows first order rate theory, the source outgassing parameters for these thirty materials is presented.

Muscari, J. A.↗

Further developments of electrographic image detectors

This paper reports the current status of a program to develop far- and middle-ultraviolet-sensitive electrographic detectors. These include large-format, semitransparent-photocathode detectors and opaque-photocathode electrographic Schmidt cameras. Modifications of a previously-demonstrated far-UV large-format detector to make it suitable for possible Shuttle/Spacelab space astronomy investigations have been implemented and tested. Middle-ultraviolet-sensitive large-format and Schmidt electrographic detectors are now in the laboratory development stage. Cesium telluride photocathodes are used to provide sensitivity in the 1700-3100 A spectral range, and techniques for processing these photocathodes are discussed. The preparation and use of polyimide barrier membranes, for protecting the photocathodes from deterioration by film outgassing, are described. A new opaque-photocathode vacuum-ultraviolet-sensitive electrographic detector has been demonstrated, which is based on an oblique-focusing electron optical system similar to that used by Princeton with electron-bombarded CCD arrays. Test results and potential applications of this detector are described.

Carruthers, G. R.↗

Absorption spectra of typical space materials in the vacuum ultraviolet

In order to develop a data base for potential optical degradation of space vacuum ultraviolet instruments, the collected volatile condensed material (CVCM) transmittance was measured in the wavelength region from 115 nm to 300 nm. The parent outgassing materials included: the adhesives, Ablebond 36-2, Trabond BB-2116, EA-9309, and Scotchweld 2216; the paints, Chemglaze Z-306, Z-306 over 9922 primer, Z-306 over AP-131 primer, Cat-A-Lac 463-3-8, 463-3-8 over primer, 3M Nextel 401-C10, and 401-C10 over 901-P1 primer; the resins, Fiberite 934, Solithane 113/C113-300 Formulation no. 1, and 113/C113-300 Formulation no. 8; the lubricants, Lube-Lok 4306 and RT/Duroid 5813; and the double-sided adhesive tape 3M-415. The effect of thermal vacuum conditioning of selected materials was also studied. The transmittance measurements were used to calculate the absorption coefficient for each of 28 different source materials versus wavelength.

Muscari, J. A.↗