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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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NASA NTRS1987

Laboratory and astronomical spectroscopy of C3H2, the first interstellar organic ring

The first laboratory and astronomical observations of the carbene ring molecule C3H2 briefly reported in a recent Letter are described in detail. In the laboratory, 22 millimeter-wave lines have been measured in a He and C2H2 discharge. From these the three rotational constants and the five fourth-order centrifugal distortion constants of C3H2 have been determined to high precision, allowing, in turn, calculation to 0.1 km/s of the most important lines in the radio and far-IR spectrum; 123 lines in the rotational spectrum with E/K less than 100 K are tabulated. Eleven astronomical transitions have been identified, and in Sgr B2 and Orion KL, rotational temperatures and column densities were derived and compared with those of other hydrocarbons with a similar number of C atoms.

Vrtilek, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Plant and animal accommodation for Space Station Laboratory

An extended study has been conducted with the goals of defining and analyzing relevant parameters and significant tradeoffs for the accommodation of nonhuman research aboard the NASA Space Station, as well as conducting tradeoff analyses for orbital reconfiguring or reoutfitting of the laboratory facility and developing laboratory designs and program plans. The two items exerting the greatest influence on nonhuman life sciences research were identified as the centrifuge and the specimen environmental control and life support system; both should be installed on the ground rather than in orbit.

Olson, Richard L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Opportunities and challenges in heat transfer - From the perspective of the government laboratory

The technological problems in which heat transfer research is required are briefly reviewed, discussing the role of the government laboratory in this research. The Hot Section Technology Program at NASA Lewis is addressed as an example. A building-block approach to turbine aerothermal research is shown, as is an interactive computational/experimental synergism and an interdisciplinary research methodology for life prediction of turbine engine hot-section components. The main issues for government laboratories as organizers and focusers in this area of research are listed, and challenges and opportunities for the future are indicated.

Simoneau, Robert J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Lewis' enhanced laboratory for research into the fatigue and constitutive behavior of high temperature materials

Lewis Research Center's high temperature fatigue laboratory has undergone significant changes resulting in the addition of several new experimental capabilities. New materials testing systems have been installed enabling research to be conducted in multiaxial fatigue and deformation at high temperature, as well as cumulative creep-fatigue damage wherein the relative failure-life levels are widely separated. A key component of the new high-temperature fatigue and structures laboratory is a local, distributed computer system whose hardware and software architecture emphasizes a high degree of configurability, which in turn, enables the researcher to tailor a solution to the problem at hand.

Mcgaw, Michael A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Laboratory evaluation and application of microwave absorption properties under simulated conditions for planetary atmospheres

Radio absorptivity data for planetary atmospheres obtained from spacecraft radio occultation experiments and Earth-based radio astronomical observations can be used to infer abundances of microwave absorbing atmospheric constituents in those atmospheres, as long as reliable information regarding the microwave absorping properties of potential constituents is available. The use of theoretically derived microwave absorption properties for such atmospheric constituents, or laboratory measurements of such properties under environmental conditions which are significantly different than those of the planetary atmosphere being studied, often leads to significant misinterpretation of available opacity data. Laboratory measurement of the microwave properties of atmospheric gases under simulated conditions for the outer planets were conducted. Results of these measurements are discussed.

Steffes, Paul G.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A study of single and binary ion plasma expansion into laboratory-generated plasma wakes

Plasma expansion into the wake of a large rectangular plate immersed in a collisionless, supersonic plasma was investigated in laboratory experiments. The experimental conditions address both single ion and binary ion plasma flows for the case of a body whose size is large in comparison with the Debye length, when the potential difference between the body and the plasma is relatively small. A new plasma source was developed to generate equi-velocity, binary ion plasma flows, which allows access to new parameter space that have previously been unavailable for laboratory studies. Specifically, the new parameters are the ionic mass ratio and the ionic component density ratio. In a series of experiments, a krypton-neon plasma is employed where the ambient density ratio of neon to krypton is varied more than an order of magnitude. The expansion in both the single ion and binary ion plasma cases is limited to early times, i.e., a few ion plasma periods, by the combination of plasma density, plasma drift speed, and vacuum chamber size, which prevented detailed comparison with self-similar theory.

Wright, Kenneth Herbert, Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Polymer crystal growth facility concept for Space Station laboratory module

Interest in materials processing in space began to evolve in the late 1950's through low gravity simulation and some experiments on Apollo flights. Encouraged by the early results and considerations of the likely behavior of liquids and solidification process in low-gravity gave the recognition that this environment might be useful for a variety of unique processes. This generated a number of experimental ideas and gave rise to the design and development of facilities that will perform the experiments in space vehicles. These include the evolution of apparatus leading to the development of facilities for processing of materials on Skylab and now for the Space Transportation System (STS). The U.S. module on Space Station (SS) is going to expand this unique laboratory environment with practically no constraint on materials processing activity. This will need technology advancement for the hardware that will be required in this era. This presentation discusses the current concept for the experimental facility which will be housed in the U.S. Laboratory module on the Space Station and will allow the growth of single crystals of polymeric and organic materials using the state-of-the-art growth techniques.

Mookherji, Tripty↗

NASA NTRS1987

A lunar laboratory

An international research laboratory can be established on the Moon in the early years of the 21st Century. It can be built using the transportation system now envisioned by NASA, which includes a space station for Earth orbital logistics and orbital transfer vehicles for Earth-Moon transportation. A scientific laboratory on the Moon would permit extended surface and subsurface geological exploration; long-duration experiments defining the lunar environment and its modification by surface activity; new classes of observations in astronomy; space plasma and fundamental physics experiments; and lunar resource development. The discovery of a lunar source for propellants may reduce the cost of constructing large permanent facilities in space and enhance other space programs such as Mars exploration.

Keaton, P. W.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Direct finite element solution on an optical laboratory matrix-vector processor

The first optical laboratory system results employing a direct LU decomposition solution of a system of linear algebraic equations are presented for a finite element problem solution. This also represents the first laboratory demonstration of the use of sign-magnitude negative number representation as well as new bit partitioning techniques to increase the accuracy of an optical encoded processor beyond the number of bit channels available.

Casasent, David↗

NASA NTRS1988

The laboratory millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectrum of CH3OD

The millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave spectrum of CH3OD, a deuterated isotope of methanol known to be present in the interstellar medium, has been studied in the laboratory. Like all isotopes of methanol, CH3OD possesses a complex dense spectrum because of the phenomenon of internal rotation, sometimes referred to as torsional motion. Approximately 300 lines in the frequency range 130-700 GHz have been assigned. These lines involve transitions between rotational states with rotational quantum number J of not greater than 9 in both the A and the E substates of the lowest torsional state (v sub t = 0). The present data and previous data at lower frequencies (longer wavelengths) have been combined and analyzed by a procedure called the 'internal axis method'. The analysis yields spectral constants for CH3OD which, in turn, have been used to predict the frequencies of a number of other transitions of this species not measured in the laboratory.

Anderson, Todd↗

NASA NTRS1988

Preparation for microgravity - The role of the Microgravity Material Science Laboratory

Experiments at the NASA Lewis Research Center's Microgravity Material Science Laboratory using physical and mathematical models to delineate the effects of gravity on processes of scientific and commercial interest are discussed. Where possible, transparent model systems are used to visually track convection, settling, crystal growth, phase separation, agglomeration, vapor transport, diffusive flow, and polymer reactions. Materials studied include metals, alloys, salts, glasses, ceramics, and polymers. Specific technologies discussed include the General Purpose furnace used in the study of metals and crystal growth, the isothermal dendrite growth apparatus, the electromagnetic levitator/instrumented drop tube, the high temperature directional solidification furnace, the ceramics and polymer laboratories and the center's computing facilities.

Johnston, J. Christopher↗

NASA NTRS1988

Planetary astronomy and supporting laboratory research

The aim was to obtain form laboratory measurements the molecular parameters needed to interpret observations of planetary and cometary spectra, and to develop the analytical and computational techniques to interpret the observed spectra in terms of planetary atmospheres including solids and cometary ices. The gas phase molecular parameters measured include the intensities and half-widths of vib-rotational lines, total intensities of absorption bands, temperature dependencies, and absorption and pressure parameters in random-band models of absorption bands. Computation of line shapes of H2 quadrupole lines from quantum mechanical first principles for comparison with laboratory data and use in modeling of planetary atmospheres was accomplished. The solid phase measurements include band profile and quantitative intensity measurements and dependence on composition as well as thermal and photolytic processing which mimics the particular astrophysical environments. Work on GeH4, PH3, has made significant progress.

Valero, F. P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Comparison of laboratory calibrations of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) at the beginning and end of the first flight season

Spectral and radiometric calibrations of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) were performed in the laboratory in June and November, 1987, at the beginning and end of the first flight season. Those calibrations are described along with changes in instrument characteristics that occurred during the flight season as a result of factors such as detachment of the optical fibers to two of the four AVIRIS spectrometers, degradation in the optical alignment of the spectrometers due to thermally-induced and mechanical warpage, and breakage of a thermal blocking filter in one of the spectrometers. These factors caused loss of signal in three spectrometers, loss of spectral resolution in two spectrometers, and added uncertainty in the radiometry of AVIRIS. Results from in-flight assessment of the laboratory calibrations are presented. A discussion is presented of improvements made to the instrument since the end of the first flight season and plans for the future. Improvements include: (1) a new thermal control system for stabilizing spectrometer temperatures, (2) kinematic mounting of the spectrometers to the instrument rack, and (3) new epoxy for attaching the optical fibers inside their mounting tubes.

Vane, Gregg↗

NASA NTRS1989

Brain-wave measures of workload in advanced cockpits: The transition of technology from laboratory to cockpit simulator, phase 2

The present Phase 2 small business innovation research study was designed to address issues related to scalp-recorded event-related potential (ERP) indices of mental workload and to transition this technology from the laboratory to cockpit simulator environments for use as a systems engineering tool. The project involved five main tasks: (1) Two laboratory studies confirmed the generality of the ERP indices of workload obtained in the Phase 1 study and revealed two additional ERP components related to workload. (2) A task analysis' of flight scenarios and pilot tasks in the Advanced Concepts Flight Simulator (ACFS) defined cockpit events (i.e., displays, messages, alarms) that would be expected to elicit ERPs related to workload. (3) Software was developed to support ERP data analysis. An existing ARD-proprietary package of ERP data analysis routines was upgraded, new graphics routines were developed to enhance interactive data analysis, and routines were developed to compare alternative single-trial analysis techniques using simulated ERP data. (4) Working in conjunction with NASA Langley research scientists and simulator engineers, preparations were made for an ACFS validation study of ERP measures of workload. (5) A design specification was developed for a general purpose, computerized, workload assessment system that can function in simulators such as the ACFS.

Horst, Richard L.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Laboratory for Oceans

A review is made of the activities of the Laboratory for Oceans. The staff and the research activities are nearly evenly divided between engineering and scientific endeavors. The Laboratory contributes engineering design skills to aircraft and ground based experiments in terrestrial and atmospheric sciences in cooperation with scientists from labs in Earth sciences.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1988

Laboratory diode laser spectroscopy in molecular planetary astronomy

Infrared spectroscopy of planetary atmospheres is performed at high spectral resolution comparable to that in the laboratory. This requires that laboratory spectroscopy use the highest resolution and the most accurate techniques. Tunable diode laser spectroscopy can supply many of the spectroscopic parameters needed by astronomers. In particular, line positions, line strengths, and collisional line widths are measured with diode lasers, and these are often among the best values available. Diode laser spectra are complimentary to lower resolution, broader-coverage Fourier transform spectra. Certain procedures must be adopted, however, when using diode lasers, for determining their output characteristics and for calibrating each spectrum against quality references.

Jennings, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The dynamics of charged particles in the near wake of a very negatively charged body - Laboratory experiment and numerical simulation

A numerical simulation that is cylindrical in configuration space and three-dimensional in velocity space has been initiated to test a model for the near-wake dynamics of a very negatively charged body, with reference to the plasma environment around spacecraft. The simulation parameters were closely matched to those of a laboratory experiment so that the results can be compared directly. The laboratory study showed that the electrons and ions can display different temporal features in the filling-in of the wake; and that they can both be found within one body diameter of an object with a highly negative body potential. It was also found that the temperature of the electrons in the very near wake could be somewhat colder than the ambient value, suggesting the possibility of a filtering mechanism being operative there. The simulation results to date largely corroborate the density findings.

Morgan, M. Alvin↗

NASA NTRS1988

Recent laboratory results of the KITE attitude dynamics simulator

It has previously been shown that, for all but the most simple tethered satellite missions, conventional means of performing attitude control are insufficient. A particularly effective method of implementing attitude control for tethered satellites is to use the tether tension force to generate control torques by moving the tether attach point relative to the satellite center of mass. It has been proposed to demonstrate this attitude control technique in a Space Shuttle flight test project known as the Kinetic Isolation Tether Experiment (KITE). This paper describes a scaled, one dimensional laboratory simulation of the KITE mission. The simulator has been built to verify theoretical predictions of attitude control ability and to investigate the technological requirements in order to implement this concept. The laboratory apparatus is described in detail and preliminary experimental results are presented and discussed. The results to date have shown a fine pointing accuracy of 5 arc-seconds RMS and a closed-loop bandwidth of 0.08 Hz.

Kline-Schoder, Robert↗