SEARCH · Search NASA
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.
Report presents data on responses of electrically insulating thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers to radiation. Lowest-threshold-dose (LTD) levels and 25-percent-change levels presented for such properties as tensile strength and electrical resistivity. Data on radiation-induced outgassing also given.
Proposed compound-wall configuration enables construction of large high-vacuum chambers without having to use thick layers of expensive material to obtain necessary strength. Walls enclose chambers more than 1 m in diameter and several kilometers long. Compound wall made of strong outer layer of structural-steel culvert pipe welded to thin layer of high-quality, low-outgassing stainless steel.
Report presents results of literature searches and tests of eight adhesives for use in high-radiation, low-temperature, vacuum environment of Galileo spacecraft mission to Jupiter. Used as bonding agents for thermal blankets, instruments, structural members, and coatings. Adhesives tested for contamination, reflectance, bond integrity, color, transmittance, outgassing, dielectric constant, coefficient of thermal expansion, optical interference, peel strength, and shear strength. Some of tests conducted at temperature of liquid nitrogen (-150 degree C).
Molecular contamination levels arising from the external induced neutral environment of the Space Station (Phase 1 configuration) were calculated using the MOLFLUX model. Predicted molecular column densities and deposition rates generally meet the Space Station contamination requirements. In the doubtful cases of deposition due to materials outgassing, proper material selection, generally excluding organic products exposed to the external environment, must be considered to meet contamination requirements. It is important that the Space Station configuration, once defined, is not significantly modified to avoid introducing new unacceptable contamination sources.
The excitation mechanisms and radiance estimates over the 1 to 10 micron region for CO2(v), H2O(v), CO(v), OH(v), NO2(2B-2A) and N2(B3 pi - A3 sigma) are discussed. The infrared irradiance of the Space Station at an altitude of 460 km was estimated. The surface material was presumed to be non-carbonaceous and inert. The determined number densities of the various gases relevant to the Space Station from both ambient and outgassing sources are presented. A model for the production of and emission from the infrared active molecules was constructed that considers two classes of production processes: (1) gas phase excitation of molecules in the near Station environment by collision with ambient flux; and (2) surface processes that lead to molecular excitation. A composite spectrum of all major emitting species shows that the observed irradiance is non-uniform over the 1 to 8 micron region. The comparison of predicted irradiance with the zodiacal background indicates that the Space Station infrared background from atmosphere-induced emissions may be a problem of consequence.
Results of the radio OH emission from Comet Halley obtained with the 43-m NRAO telescope over the period from July 1985 to May 1986 show the global properties to be close to those predicted by Schloerb and Gerard (1985). The OH production rates are found to be well correlated with heliocentric magnitude estimates and to roughly follow the production rates determined from UV OH observations. After correction for the Greenstein effect, the mean velocities suggest that there is anisotropic outgassing of the parent molecule. An increase in the linewidths of the OH emission near and after perihelion is also noted.
Attempts to measure the ambient ionospheric plasma environment in the vicinity of the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter have shown that the plasma is quite different, in a variety of characteristics, from the ionospheric plasma at low earth orbit altitudes. It appears that the large size, complex geometry and various outgassing characteristics of a typical Orbiter payload can all contribute to modifications of the plasma environment of the Space Shuttle Orbiter. The measurements indicate that the plasma is often quite turbulent and contains populations more energetic than the ambient ionospheric plasma. Pronounced wake and ram effects have been observed, and at times the data can be interpreted as plasma number density enhancements of an order of magnitude or greater over the ambient, undisturbed plasma concentration. There is evidence that this enhanced plasma concentration contains molecular ions, not occurring naturally at low earth orbit altitudes. In addition to describing the observations, the electrodynamics of enhanced Orbiter-generated plasma and its possible impact on optical measurements from the Space Shuttle Orbiter will be discussed.
The truss system of the Hubble Space Telescope is made of graphite epoxy tubes and beams that have very low material damping. This paper describes a systematic experimental evaluation of the damping capacity of the graphite epoxy material used in the telescope truss system. The damping capacity of the composite material was measured both under normal and elevated temperatures in atmospheric conditions and in vacuum. Both free decay and steady state methods were used to measure the damping ratio of different specimens under different boundary conditions. A method that involves an iterative least-squares curve-fitting technique for the measured frequency response data has been developed to improve the accuracy of the damping ratio estimation. A unique experimental setup was developed to measure the damping of the material in a vacuum chamber. It was found that outgassing (moisture desorption) has little effect on the damping of the specimen. On the other hand, it was observed that temperature has a significant effect on both the damping and resonance frequencies of the specimen.
Experiments operating in the VUV as well as those employing cryocooled optical surfaces are the most seriously affected by spacecraft contamination due to outgassing of foreign materials, reaction byproducts of thruster firings, system venting emissions, etc. Attention is presently given to a self-contained optical contamination monitor, furnishing in-flight and/or real-time monitoring of VUV reflectivity and transmittance. The time-lining of measurement results with other spacecraft events will allow the direct evaluation of spacecraft operation effects on critical optical surfaces.
The advent of Space Shuttle Orbital operations utilizing science and technology payloads has led to a renewal of interest of vehicle-environmental interactions in low earth orbit. The first science payload on STS-3 showed an interaction on the surface of the Orbiter which, although it had been detected earlier on unmanned spacecraft, quickened interest in the possible impact of this phenomena on future missions. Subsequent flights have yielded data on a wide variety of interaction phenomena resulting from the large size of the Orbiter and its outgassing characteristics. These drivers have given rise to modifications in the neutral gas and plasma environments of the Space Shuttle Orbiter. The physics of the interactions result in the generation of disturbed wave fields, optical emissions and particle distributions in the vicinity of the Orbiter. In this overview, the present observations, suggested interpretations and open questions will be addressed.
A cold-cathode ionization gage was flown on Space Shuttle flight STS-5IF as part of the Spacelab 2 payload. Neutral pressure data that were taken in the payload bay during the first few hours on orbit are presented. These data show that when the payload bay is oriented such that the atmospheric gases are ramming into it, the pressure rises to a peak of 4 x 10 to the -6th Torr. Pressure is also slightly higher during the sunlit portion of each orbit. Outgassing of the payload bay causes the pressure to be elevated to a few times 10 to the -6th Torr early in the mission. In addition, several effects on pressure have been identified that are due to chemical releases. Substantial increases (50-150 percent) are seen during another experiment's gas purge. Orbiter chemical-release effects include: pressure increases of 200 percent up to 7 x 10 to the -6th Torr due to Orbital Maneuvering System burns, minor perturbations in pressure due to vernier thruster firings and little or no increase in pressure due to water dumps. In the case of vernier thruster firings, effects are seen only from down-firing thrusters in the back of the Orbiter, which are probably due to reflection of thruster gases off Orbiter surfaces.
Design of vent reduces radiative transfer of heat. Venting system allows gases to escape while minimizing loss of heat by radiation. Prevents excessive buildup of internal pressure on thermal blanket. Polyimide box serves as modular vent. Many modules combined to suit gas-flow requirements of equipment. Indirect flow paths, external thermal control film, and thermal blankets reduce radiative loss of heat from interior. Developed to permit outgassing from thermal-blanket-covered spacecraft during passage from atmosphere of Earth to vacuum of space, venting approach adaptable to thermal insulation in laboratory vacuum systems.
Scanning-monochromator spectrograph designed to measure contamination on surfaces of optical elements as function of time. Repeatedly exposes samples to environment, then measures their transmittances or reflectances over range of wavelengths. Intended for use at vacuum-ultraviolet wavelengths to evaluate effects of outgassing, heating, and cooling on optical instruments. Principle of operation also applicable to spectral monitoring of time-dependent contamination at other wavelengths and in laboratory, industrial, or other settings.
A Paleo-ocean on the northern plains of Mars is proposed. The hypothetical ocean would have formed very early in Mars' history, during the early period of rapid outgassing and cratering. As the ocean froze and receded, bursting of aquifers along the shoreline would create catastrophic flooding. Analysis of soil at the two Viking landing sites, both of which occur on the floor of the hypothetical ocean, is not inconsistent with an oceanic clay rich in water soluble salts.
The major concern of this study was the formation of a haze on the transmissive optics when exposed to a vacuum environment. The phenomena was determined to be a result of molecular transport from a low outgassing structural adhesive. Detailed analysis, both chemical and analytical, were conducted to assess the formation of the haze. Results of the study are given as well as information on clean-up and problem elimination.
A laser interferometer gravitational wave observatory (LIGO) is being developed with sensitivities which will have a high probability of detecting gravitational waves from astrophysical sources. A major component of LIGO is a total of 16 km of 1.2 m (48 inch) diameter tube at a pressure of less than 10 to the minus 8th power torr. It will be of 304L stainless steel procured directly from the steel mills with the initial hydrogen content specially reduced. Projections of the outgassing rates of hydrogen and of water vapor as a function of time are given and the uncertainties discussed. Based on these, a preliminary analysis of the vacuum system is presented.
In order to provide observers with accurate ephemerides of comets and asteroids, up-to-date astrometric positions must be used to improve the existing orbits. For active comets, nongravitational forces must be taken into account; these forces are assumed due to the rocket-like effect of outgassing cometary ices and are used to characterize the volatility and rotation properties of icy cometary nuclei. In an effort to improve ephemeris accuracies, the benefits of a new nongravitational force model for comets as well as new radar data types are being investigated. The first successful attempts to improve the orbits of close Earth approaching asteroids using radar data have been completed for asteroids 1982XB and 1986JK. The radar Doppler measurements of 1982XB, made on Dec. 5-6, 1987, were represented to less than 0.1 Hz while the Doppler observations of 1986Jk, made on May 28 - June 1, 1986, were represented to within a few Hz for each of the 11 measurements. Last minute orbit updates for asteroid 324 Bamberga allowed a successful stellar occultation prediction to be made on Dec. 8, 1987. A new paradigm for the cometary nongravitational force model has been successfully tested on a few comets. This new model allows the water vaporization curve to peak on either side of perihelion, thus introducing a nongravitational force via an asymmetric radial force, rather than through a symmetric transverse effect that the old model requires.
In collecting samples from Mars to address questions such as whether Mars accreted homogeneously or heterogeneously, how Mars segregated into a metallic core and silicate mantle, and whether Mars outgassed catastrophically coincident with accretion or more serenely on a longer timescale, we must be guided by our experience in addressing these questions for the Earth, Moon, and igneous meteorite parent bodies. A key measurement to be made on any sample returned from Mars is its oxygen isotopic composition. A single measurement will suffice to bind the SNC meteorites to Mars or demonstrate that they cannot be samples of that planet. A positive identification of Mars as the SNC parent planet will permit all that has been learned from the SNC meteorites to be applied to Mars with confidence. A negative result will perhaps be more exciting in forcing us to look for another object that has been geologically active in the recent past. If the oxygen isotopic composition of Earth and Mars are established to be distinct, accretion theory must provide for different compositions for two planets now separated by only 0.5 AU.