Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “meter”

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 613 records · Page 34

A search for life on earth at 100 meter resolution

A study of several thousand photos indicated approximately 1% of Gemini and Apollo photographs of the earth at 100 m resolution revealed signs of life; rectangular arrays due to human agricultural and urban territoriality, roads, canals, jet contrails, and industrial pollution. Potential false positives such as dunes, sand bars, and jet stream clouds abound. A curve was derived for the detectivity of contemporary life on earth, in a plot of ground resolution versus global coverage. A comparable biology on Mars would not have been detected by all observations of Mars through Mariner 7. Forthcoming Mars orbiter and lander imaging experiments hold significant promise of detecting life on Mars of contemporary terrestrial extent and advancement, should such life exist.

Sagan, C.↗

Evaluation of 2 possible further developments of the UK in-flight radiation warning meter for SSTS

A mass reduction of the moderator and the response to the nucleon flux, responsible for the tissue-star component of the total-dose equivalent rate using a high atomic number material, are discussed. Radiation situations at SST cruising altitudes (approximately 20 km) due to solar proton flares were simulated in the stratosphere and on the ground. Actual stratospheric situations due to galactic cosmic radiation with a limited range of quality factor values (2-4) were encountered during slow ascents by balloons to 36 km. Synthetic situations obtained from high and low energy acclerator radiations were used to obtain radiation distributions having a larger range of quality factor values (11/2-9) than experienced in the stratosphere. The measurements made in these simulations related to the directly ionizing, neutron and tissue-star components of dose-equivalent rate. Due to the restricted range of neutron spectra encountered in the stratosphere, a significant mass reduction of the moderator by 4 kg was made, with the moderator clad with cadmium or some other slow neutron absorber.

Wilson, I. J.↗

A symmetrical laser Doppler velocity meter and its application to turbulence characterization

A symmetrical method of optical heterodyning of the Doppler shifted scattered laser radiation developed for velocity measurements with a minimal instrumental spectral broadening and a high signal-to-noise ratio. The method employs two laser beams incident on the moving scatterer and does not use any reference beam for heterodyning. The Doppler signal frequency is independent of the scattering angle and the signal possesses no receiving aperture broadening. Optical alignment is simple. Typical values of the instrumental spectral broadening were approximately 0.8 percent of the center frequency of the Doppler signal, and the signal-to-noise ratio was approximately 25 dB, obtained from an air flow system using submicron dioctylphthalate scattering aerosol. Experimental and theoretical studies were made on the characteristics of the Doppler signal and the effect of system parameters in turbulent flow measurement. The optimization process involved in the beam optics and in the use of a spatial filter is described. For localized flow measurement in any direction of the three-dimensional orthogonal coordinates, the system, using uncorrected optical components, had a sensing volume which can be described by a sensitive length of 600 microns and a diameter of 100 microns.

Mazumder, M. K.↗

A search for life on earth at 100 meter resolution.

Study of several thousand photos indicating that about 0.01 of Gemini and Apollo photographs of the earth at 100 m resolution reveal signs of life - rectangular arrays due to human agricultural and urban territoriality, roads, canals, jet contrails, and industrial pollution. Potential false positives - e.g., dunes, sand bars, jetstream clouds - abound. A curve is derived for the detectivity of contemporary life on earth, in a plot of ground resolution versus global coverage. A comparable biology on Mars would not have been detected by all observations of Mars through Mariner 7.

Sagan, C.↗

An ampere-hour meter for batteries

Up-down counter records charge as well as discharge in tests of rechargeable batteries. System uses reversible counter preset to represent 100% charge. As battery discharges, total count decreases; as battery is recharged, counter moves back to 100% indication.

Eklund, B. D.↗

Meter circuit for tuning RF amplifiers

Circuit computes and indicates efficiency of RF amplifier as inputs and other parameters are varied. Voltage drop across internal resistance of ammeter is amplified by operational amplifier and applied to one multiplier input. Other input is obtained through two resistors from positive terminal of power supply.

Longthorne, J. E.↗

Overall and blade-element performance of a transonic compressor stage with multiple-circular-arc blades at tip speed of 419 meters per second

A 50-centimeter-diameter axial-flow transonic compressor stage with multiple-circular-arc blades was designed and tested to study the effects of blade shape on efficiency and stall margin. At design speed, peak efficiency of 0.80 occurred at an equivalent weight flow of 29.0 kilograms per second. Measured total pressure ratio and total temperature ratio at peak efficiency were 1.69 and 1.20, respectively. The stall margin at design speed and an equivalent weight flow of 29.0 kilograms per second was 9 percent. The measured stall margin at design weight flow and speed was 15 percent. A comparison of rotor performance made with and without the stator showed a decrease in pressure ratio, peak efficiency, and maximum weight flow with the addition of the stator.

Kovich, G.↗

NASA/JPL deep space network 64 meter diameter antenna dual frequency feed system

To support the Mariner 1973 X-band experiment, it was necessary to implement a dual-frequency microwave feed system for the Cassegrainian-fed DSS 14 64-m antenna. This system must be capable of simultaneous low noise reception at S- and X-bands and high power transmission at S-band. The design and measured perfromance of the DSS 14 reflex feed system is described.

Potter, P. D.↗

Reactivity change in a fast-spectrum space power reactor due to a 328-meter-per-second (1075-ft/sec) impact

Application of nuclear reactors in space will present operational problems. One such problem is the possibility of an earth impact at velocities in excess of 305 m/sec (1000 ft/sec). This report shows the results of an impact against concrete at 328 m/sec (1075 ft/sec) and examines the deformed core to estimate the range of activity inserted as a result of the impact. The results of this examination are that the deformation of the reactor core within the containment vessel left only an estimated 2.7 percent void in the core and that the reactivity inserted due to this impact deformation could be from 4.0 to 10.25 dollars.

Peoples, J. A., Jr.↗

Apollo 15 measurement of lunar surface brightness temperatures - Thermal conductivity of the upper 1.5 meters of regolith.

In situ measurements of lunar surface brightness temperatures made as a part of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package at the Apollo 15 Hadley Rille landing site are reported. Data derived from five thermocouples of the Heat Flow Experiment, which are lying on or just above the surface, are used to examine the thermal properties of the upper 15 cm of the lunar regolith using eclipse and nighttime cool-down temperatures. Application of finite-difference techniques in modeling the lunar soil shows that the thermocouple data are best fit by a model consisting of a low-density and low-thermal conductivity surface layer approximately 2 cm thick overlying a region increasing in conductivity and density with depth. Conductivities on the order of 0.00001 W per cm per deg K are postulated for the upper layer, with conductivity increasing to the order of 0.0001 W per cm per deg K at depths exceeding 20 cm. An increase in mean temperature with depth indicates that the ratio of radiative to conductive transfer at 350 K is 2.7 for at least the upper few centimeters of lunar soil; this value is nearly twice that measured for returned lunar fines.

Keihm, S. J.↗

Performance of transonic fan stage with weight flow per unit annulus area of 178 kilograms per second per square meter (6.5(lb/sec)/(sq ft))

The overall and blade-element performances are presented over the stable flow operating range from 50 to 100 percent of design speed. Stage peak efficiency of 0.834 was obtained at a weight flow of 26.4 kg/sec (58.3 lb/sec) and a pressure ratio of 1.581. The stall margin for the stage was 7.5 percent based on weight flow and pressure ratio at stall and peak efficiency conditions. The rotor minimum losses were approximately equal to design except in the blade vibration damper region. Stator minimum losses were less than design except in the tip and damper regions.

Moore, R. D.↗

Performance of transonic fan stage with weight flow per unit annulus area of 208 kilograms per second per square meter (42.6 (lb/sec)/sq ft)

Performance was obtained for a 50-cm-diameter compressor designed for a high weight flow per unit annulus area of 208 (kg/sec)/sq m. Peak efficiency values of 0.83 and 0.79 were obtained for the rotor and stage, respectively. The stall margin for the stage was 23 percent, based on equivalent weight flow and total-pressure ratio at peak efficiency and stall.

Urasek, D. C.↗

Performance of transonic fan stage with weight flow per unit annulus area of 198 kilograms per second per square meter (40.6(lb/sec)/sq ft)

The overall and blade-element performance are presented for an air compressor stage designed to study the effect of weight flow per unit annulus area on efficiency and flow range. At the design speed of 424.8 m/sec the peak efficiency of 0.81 occurred at the design weight flow and a total pressure ratio of 1.56. Design pressure ratio and weight flow were 1.57 and 29.5 kg/sec (65.0 lb/sec), respectively. Stall margin at design speed was 19 percent based on the weight flow and pressure ratio at peak efficiency and at stall.

Kovich, G.↗

Metering gun for dispensing precisely measured charges of fluid

A cyclically operable fluid dispenser for use in dispensing precisely measured charges of potable water aboard spacecraft is described. The dispenser is characterized by (1) a sealed housing adapted to be held within a crewman's palm and coupled with a pressurized source of potable water; (2) a dispensing jet projected from the housing and configured to be received within a crewman's lips; (3) an expansible measuring chamber for measuring charges of drinking water received from the source; (4) and a dispenser actuator including a lever extended from the housing to be digitated for initiating operational cycles, whereby precisely measured charges of potable water selectively are delivered for drinking purposes in a weightless environment.

Cook, T. A.↗

The feasibility of a fluidic respiratory flow meter

A study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of adapting a fluidic airspeed sensor for use as a respiratory flowmeter. A Pulmonary Function Testing Flowmeter was developed which should prove useful for mass screening applications. The fluidic sensor threshold level was not reduced sufficiently to permit its adaptation to measuring the low respiratory flow rates encountered in many respiratory disorders.

Neradka, V. F.↗

A feasibility study for a remote laser water turbidity meter

A technique to remotely determine the attenuation coefficient (alpha) of the water was investigated. The backscatter energy (theta = 180 deg) of a pulse laser (lambda = 440 - 660 nm) was found directly related to the water turbidity. The greatest sensitivity was found to exist at 440 nm. For waters whose turbidity was adjusted using Chesapeake Bay sediment, the sensitivity in determining alpha at 440 nm was found to be approximately 5 - 10%. A correlation was also found to exist between the water depth (time) at which the peak backscatter occurs and alpha.

Hickman, G. D.↗

Electromagnetic flow rate meter

A liquid metal, whose flow rate is to be determined, is directed through a chamber made of electrically-insulating material on which there is impressed a magnetic field perpendicular to the direction of flow of the liquid metal. The magnetic field is made to increase in strength in a downstream direction of the flow of liquid metal. At least a pair of electrodes are disposed in the chamber traversely and perpendicular to the direction of flow and an ammeter is connected between the electrodes. Electrodes may be disposed in the top or the bottom of the chamber and each may be segmented. Oppositely disposed electrodes may be used with at least one dividing wall extending from each electrode to cause reversal of the direction of flow of the liquid metal. The magnetic field may be provided by electromagnets or permanent magnets such as shaded pole permanent magnets.

Banks, B. A.↗