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At least 613 records · Page 34

One Way of Testing a Distributed Processor

Launch processing for Space Shuttle is checked out, controlled, and monitored with new system. Entire system can be exercised by two computer programs--one in master console and other in each of operations consoles. Control program in each operations console detects change in status and begins task initiation. All of front-end processors are exercised from consoles through common data buffer, and all data are logged to processed-data recorder for posttest analysis.

Edstrom, R.↗

Outer planet investigations using a CCD camera system

Problems related to analog noise, data transfer from the camera buffer to the storage computer, and loss of sensitivity of a two dimensional charge coupled device imaging system are reported. To calibrate the CCD system, calibrated UBV pinhole scans of the Saturn disk were obtained with a photoelectric area scanning photometer. Atmospheric point spread functions were also obtained. The UBV observations and models of the Saturn atmosphere are analyzed.

Price, M. J.↗

Eight microprocessor-based instrument data systems in the Galileo Orbiter spacecraft

Instrument data systems consist of a microprocessor, 3K bytes of Read Only Memory and 3K bytes of Random Access Memory. It interfaces with the spacecraft data bus through an isolated user interface with a direct memory access bus adaptor, and/or parallel data from instrument devices such as registers, buffers, analog to digital converters, multiplexers, and solid state sensors. These data systems support the spacecraft hardware and software communication protocol, decode and process instrument commands, generate continuous instrument operating modes, control the instrument mechanisms, acquire, process, format, and output instrument science data.

Barry, R. C.↗

Continuous flow electrophoresis: The effect of sample concentration on throughput and resolution in an upward flowing system

The effect of sample concentration on throughput and resolution in a modified continuous particle electrophoresis (CPE) system with flow in an upward direction is investigated. Maximum resolution is achieved at concentrations ranging from 2 x 10 to the 8th power cells/ml to 8 x 10 to the 8th power cells/ml. The widest peak separation is at 2 x 10 to the 8th power cells/ml; however, the sharpest peaks and least overlap between cell populations is at 8 x 10 to the 8th power cells/ml. Apparently as a result of improved electrophoresis cell performance due to coasting the chamber with bovine serum albumin, changing the electrode membranes and rinse, and lowering buffer temperatures, sedimentation effects attending to higher concentrations are diminished. Throughput as measured by recovery of fixed cells is diminished at the concentrations judged most likely to yield satisfactory resolution. The tradeoff appears to be improved recovery/throughput at the expense of resolution.

Jandebeur, T. S.↗

Next generation communications satellites: Multiple access and network studies

Following an overview of issues involved in the choice of promising system architectures for efficient communication with multiple small inexpensive Earth stations serving hetergeneous user populations, performance evaluation via analysis and simulation for six SS/TDMA (satellite-switched/time-division multiple access) system architectures is discussed. These configurations are chosen to exemplify the essential alternatives available in system design. Although the performance evaluation analyses are of fairly general applicability, whenever possible they are considered in the context of NASA's 30/20 GHz studies. Packet switched systems are considered, with the assumption that only a part of transponder capacit is devoted to packets, the integration of circuit and packet switched traffic being reserved for further study. Three types of station access are distinguished: fixed (FA), demand (DA), and random access (RA). Similarly, switching in the satellite can be assigned on a fixed (FS) or demand (DS) basis, or replaced by a buffered store-and-forward system (SF) onboard the satellite. Since not all access/switching combinations are practical, six systems are analyzed in detail: three FS SYSTEMS, FA/FS, DA/ES, RA/FS; one DS system, DA/DS; and two SF systems, FA/SF, DA/SF. Results are presented primarily in terms of delay-throughput characteristics.

Stern, T. E.↗

A study of trends and techniques for space base electronics

Furnaces and photolithography related equipment were applied to experiments on double layer metal. The double layer metal activity emphasized wet chemistry techniques. By incorporating the following techniques: (1) ultrasonic etching of the vias; (2) premetal clean using a modified buffered hydrogen fluoride; (3) phosphorus doped vapor; and (4) extended sintering, yields of 98 percent were obtained using the standard test pattern. The two dimensional modeling problems have stemmed from, alternately, instability and too much computation time to achieve convergence.

Trotter, J. D.↗

The SMART MIL-STD-1553 bus adapter hardware manual

The SMART Multiplexer Interface Adapter, (SMIA) a complete system interface for message structure of the MIL-STD-1553, is described. It provides buffering and storage for transmitted and received data and handles all the necessary handshaking to interface between parallel 8-bit data bus and a MIL-STD serial bit stream. The bus adapter is configured as either a bus controller of a remote terminal interface. It is coupled directly to the multiplex bus, or stub coupled through an additional isolation transformer located at the connection point. Fault isolation resistors provide short circuit protection.

Ton, T. T.↗

The NATO III 5 MHz Distribution System

A high performance 5 MHz distribution system is described which has extremely low phase noise and jitter characteristics and provides multiple buffered outputs. The system is completely redundant with automatic switchover and is self-testing. Since the 5 MHz reference signals distributed by the NATO III distribution system are used for up-conversion and multiplicative functions, a high degree of phase stability and isolation between outputs is necessary. Unique circuit design and packaging concepts insure that the isolation between outputs is sufficient to quarantee a phase perturbation of less than 0.0016 deg when other outputs are open circuited, short circuited or terminated in 50 ohms. Circuit design techniques include high isolation cascode amplifiers. Negative feedback stabilizes system gain and minimizes circuit phase noise contributions. Balanced lines, in lieu of single ended coaxial transmission media, minimize pickup.

Vulcan, A.↗

Historical background and design evolution of the transonic aircraft technology supercritical wing

Two dimensional wind tunnel test results obtained for supercritical airfoils indicated that substantial improvements in aircraft performance at high subsonic speeds could be achieved by shaping the airfoil to improve the supercritical flow above the upper surface. Significant increases in the drag divergence Mach number, the maximum lift coefficient for buffer onset, and the Mach number for buffet onset at a given lift coefficient were demonstrated for the supercritical airfoil, as compared with a NACA 6 series airfoil of comparable thickness. These trends were corroborated by results from three dimensional wind tunnel and flight tests. Because these indicated extensions of the buffet boundaries could provide significant improvements in the maneuverability of a fighter airplane, an exploratory wind tunnel investigation was initiated which demonstrated that significant aerodynamic improvements could be achieved from the direct substitution of a supercritical airfoil on a variable wing sweep multimission airplane model.

Ayers, T. G.↗

Trends and Techniques for Space Base Electronics

Simulations of various phosphorus and boron diffusions in SOS were completed and a sputtering system, furnaces, and photolithography related equipment were set up. Double layer metal experiments initially utilized wet chemistry techniques. By incorporating ultrasonic etching of the vias, premetal cleaning a modified buffered HF, phosphorus doped vapox, and extended sintering, yields of 98% were obtained using the standard test pattern. A two dimensional modeling program was written for simulating short channel MOSFETs with nonuniform substrate doping. A key simplifying assumption used is that the majority carriers can be represented by a sheet charge at the silicon dioxide silicon interface. Although the program is incomplete, the two dimensional Poisson equation for the potential distribution was achieved. The status of other Z-D MOSFET simulation programs is summarized.

Trotter, J. D.↗

A spacecraft mass memory design using self-structured magnetic bubbles

A self-structured multilayered bubble device developed for spacecraft sensor systems is described. The data link buffer mass memory is analyzed, and system characteristics are estimated based on a nominal 1.6 micron bubble diameter. It is shown that a memory of at least 10 billion bits capacity and 30 megabits per second could be developed with conventional spacecraft constraints.

Stermer, R. L., Jr.↗

Organized motion in turbulent flow

A review of organized motion in turbulent flow indicates that the transport properties of most shear flows are dominated by large-scale vortex nonrandom motions. The mean velocity profile of a turbulent boundary layer consists of a viscous sublayer, buffer layer, and a logarithmic outer layer; an empirical formula of Coles (1956) applies to various pressure gradients. The boundary layer coherent structure was isolated by the correlation methods of Townsend (1956) and flow visualization by direct observations of complex unsteady turbulent motions. The near-wall studies of Willmart and Wooldridge (1962) used the space-time correlation for pressure fluctuations at the wall under a thick turbulent boundary layer; finally, organized motion in free shear flows and transition-control of mixing demonstrated that the Reynolds number invariance of turbulence shows wide scatter.

Cantwell, B. J.↗

Antihistamine effect on synaptosomal uptake of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine

A study on the effects of five H1 and H2 antihistamines on the synaptosomal uptake of serotonin (5HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) is presented. Brain homogenates from female rats were incubated in Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer solution in the presence of one of three radioactive neurotransmitters, and one of the five antihistamines. Low concentrations of pyrilamine competitively inhibited 5HT uptake, had little effect on NE uptake, and no effect on DA uptake. Promethazine, diphenhydramine, metiamide, and cimetidine had no effect on 5HT or DA uptake at the same concentration. Diphenhydramine had a small inhibitory effect on NE uptake. It is concluded that pyrilamine is a selective and potent competitive inhibitor of 5HT uptake at concentrations between .05 and .5 micromolars.

Brown, P. A.↗

Dynamic properties of the thermosphere inferred from Pioneer Venus mass spectrometer measurements

The data obtained by the Pioneer Venus spectrometer experiments indicate that the day-night temperature contrast on Venus is associated with wind velocities of about 200 m/s which transport oxygen, helium, and hydrogen toward the night side. A mass exchange with the mesosphere commensurate with an eddy diffusion coefficient of 3 x 10 to the 7th is required to buffer the horizontal advection so as to reproduce the observed day time bulge in oxygen and the small diurnal variations in helium. The observed time response and magnitude of the day-night density variations require transport processes to be effective over time periods between five and ten days, implying a superrotation rate or prevailing winds in excess of 50 m/s at the equator. Nonlinear mass transport results in wave steepening and contributes to the amplification of the density extrema in hydrogen and helium.

Mayr, H. G.↗

A 10 micron heterodyne receiver for ultra high resolution astronomical spectroscopy

An improved CO2 laser heterodyne spectrometer is examined. The present system uses reflective optics to eliminate refocusing at different wavelengths, and the local oscillator is a line-center-stabilized isotopic CO2 laser. A tunable diffraction grating makes possible easy and rapid selection of over 50 transitions per isotope of CO2. The IF (0 to 1.6 GHz) from the HgCdTe photomizer is analyzed by a 128-channel filter bank, consisting of 64 tunable 5-MHz filters and 64 fixed 25-MHz RF filters. These filters provide resolving powers of about 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 and velocity resolution of 50 to 250 m/sec; their output is synchronously detected, integrated, multiplexed and stored in a buffer memory for the desired integration period. Kitt Peak observations show the wide spectral coverage, wide mixer and electronics bandwidth, and high sensitivity of the system.

Buhl, D.↗

A seismic signal processor suitable for use with the NOAA/GOES satellite data collection system

Because of the high data-rate requirements, a practical system capable of collecting seismic information in the field and relaying it, via satellite, to a central collection point is not yet available. A seismic signal processor has been developed and tested for use with the NOAA/GOES satellite data collection system. Performance tests on recorded, as well as real time, short period signals indicate that the event recognition technique used is nearly perfect in its rejection of environmental noise and other non-seismic signals and that, with the use of solid state buffer memories, data can be acquired in many swarm situations. The design of a complete field data collection platform is discussed based on the prototype evaluation.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗

Formation of the thioester, N,S-diacetylcysteine, from acetaldehyde and N,N'-diacetylcystine in aqueous solution with ultraviolet light

The thioester, N,S-diacetylcysteine, is formed during the illumination of phosphate buffered (pH 7.0) aqueous solutions of acetaldehyde and N,N'-diacetylcystine with ultraviolet light. The yield of N,S-diacetylcysteine relative to N-acetylcysteine and unidentified products progressively increases as ultraviolet light below 239 nm, 253 nm and 281 nm is cut off with optical filters. When ultraviolet light below 320 nm is removed with an optical filter, there is no detectable reaction. Illumination of 0.025 M N,N'-diacetylcystine with 0.5 M and 1.0 M acetaldehyde with filtered ultraviolet light gives, respectively, 20% and 80% yields of N,S-diacetylcysteine. In the reaction with 1.0 M acetaldehyde, N-acetylcysteine forms early in the reaction and later decreases with its conversion to N,S-diacetylcysteine. The prebiotic significance of these reactions is discussed.

Weber, A. L.↗