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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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At least 685 records · Page 38

Instrumentation in a time-shared environment

Time shared computer system providing real time service to multiple laboratory instrumentation, discussing high speed channel, computer control and data abstracting techniques

Reynolds, W. E.↗

A guide to onboard checkout. Volume 5: Data management

The baseline data management subsystem for a space station is discussed. The subsystem consists of equipment necessary to transfer, store, and process data to and from users and subsystems. It acquires and conditions a wide variety of input data from experiments, vehicle subsystems sensors, uplinked ground communications, and astronaut-activated controls. Computer techniques for failure analysis, reliability, and maintenance checkout onboard the space station are considered.

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Power conditioning equipment for a thermoelectric outer planet spacecraft, volume 1, book 1

Equipment was designed to receive power from a radioisotope thermoelectric generator source, condition, distribute, and control this power for the spacecraft loads. The TOPS mission, aimed at a representative tour of the outer planets, would operate for an estimated 12 year period. Unique design characteristics required for the power conditioning equipment results from the long mission time and the need for autonomous on-board operations due to large communications distances and the associated time delays of ground initiated actions. The salient features of the selected power subsystem configuration are: (1) The PCE regulates the power from the radioisotope thermoelectric generator power source at 30 vdc by means of a quad-redundant shunt regulator; (2) 30 vdc power is used by certain loads, but is more generally inverted and distributed as square-wave ac power; (3) a protected bus is used to assure that power is always available to the control computer subsystem to permit corrective action to be initiated in response to fault conditions; and (4) various levels of redundancy are employed to provide high subsystem reliability.

Andrews, R. E.↗

A preliminary design study for a cosmic X-ray spectrometer

The results are described of theoretical and experimental investigations aimed at the development of a curved crystal cosmic X-ray spectrometer to be used at the focal plane of the large orbiting X-ray telescope on the third High Energy Astronomical Observatory. The effort was concentrated on the development of spectrometer concepts and their evaluation by theoretical analysis, computer simulation, and laboratory testing with breadboard arrangements of crystals and detectors. In addition, a computer-controlled facility for precision testing and evaluation of crystals in air and vacuum was constructed. A summary of research objectives and results is included.

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The occultation of beta Scorpii by Jupiter and Io. I - Jupiter.

Use of computer-controlled one-dimensional area-scanning photometers to observe the occultation of the Beta Scorpii system by Jupiter on May 13, 1971. Six high-quality light curves were obtained; three of the occultations of the brighter component Beta Sco A and three of Beta Sco C. The mean scale height of the Jovian upper atmosphere is 32 plus or minus 6 km near -10 deg zenographic latitude, 31 plus or minus 2 km at -47 deg zenographic latitude, and 24 plus or minus 2 km at -57 deg zenographic latitude. The determination of the atmospheric scale height is highly sensitive to the background level subtracted, providing a possible explanation of an earlier result by Baum and Code (1953) placing the scale height at about 8 km. Correlated departures of the light curve from a theoretical isothermal curve are reproduced in the three bright-star curves, and are thus not due to random density fluctuations in the Jovian atmosphere, but are rather due to global stratification. Details of the stratification, which includes at least a number of warm layers, are examined by deconvolution of the light curves. There is evidence for a high-temperature (T greater than 300 K) thermosphere on two of the bright-star light curves.

Hubbard, W. B.↗

Binary-selectable detector holdoff circuit

High-speed switching circuit protects detectors from sudden, extremely-intense backscattered radiation that results from short-range atmospheric dust layers, or low-level clouds, entering laser/radar field of view. Function of circuit is to provide computer-controlled switching of photodiode detector, preamplifier power-supply voltages, in approximately 10 nanoseconds.

Kadrmas, K. A.↗

Design, processing, and testing of lsi arrays for space station

The design of a MOS 256-bit Random Access Memory (RAM) is discussed. Technological achievements comprise computer simulations that accurately predict performance; aluminum-gate COS/MOS devices including a 256-bit RAM with current sensing; and a silicon-gate process that is being used in the construction of a 256-bit RAM with voltage sensing. The Si-gate process increases speed by reducing the overlap capacitance between gate and source-drain, thus reducing the crossover capacitance and allowing shorter interconnections. The design of a Si-gate RAM, which is pin-for-pin compatible with an RCA bulk silicon COS/MOS memory (type TA 5974), is discussed in full. The Integrated Circuit Tester (ICT) is limited to dc evaluation, but the diagnostics and data collecting are under computer control. The Silicon-on-Sapphire Memory Evaluator (SOS-ME, previously called SOS Memory Exerciser) measures power supply drain and performs a minimum number of tests to establish operation of the memory devices. The Macrodata MD-100 is a microprogrammable tester which has capabilities of extensive testing at speeds up to 5 MHz. Beam-lead technology was successfully integrated with SOS technology to make a simple device with beam leads. This device and the scribing are discussed.

Lile, W. R.↗

Development of a plan for automating integrated circuit processing

The operations analysis and equipment evaluations pertinent to the design of an automated production facility capable of manufacturing beam-lead CMOS integrated circuits are reported. The overall plan shows approximate cost of major equipment, production rate and performance capability, flexibility, and special maintenance requirements. Direct computer control is compared with supervisory-mode operations. The plan is limited to wafer processing operations from the starting wafer to the finished beam-lead die after separation etching. The work already accomplished in implementing various automation schemes, and the type of equipment which can be found for instant automation are described. The plan is general, so that small shops or large production units can perhaps benefit. Examples of major types of automated processing machines are shown to illustrate the general concepts of automated wafer processing.

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Systems performance monitoring for advanced manned spacecraft

Optimum system mechanizations for advanced manned spacecraft are considered. Several studies have proposed automation of the onboard system management task, with functions such as system status monitoring, configuration management, and redundancy management being accomplished under computer control. An experimental system was used in the laboratory to investigate hardware and software requirements for accomplishing these onboard system management functions. A performance monitor system is proposed for the space shuttle. This system provides support to the flight crew in the management of all onboard systems but does not perform critical switching functions during the flight phase.

Chambers, T. V.↗