Analysis of the impingement of condensed rocket exhaust products upon proximate space vehicles
Impingement of condensed rocket exhaust gases upon proximate space vehicles
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Impingement of condensed rocket exhaust gases upon proximate space vehicles
Effects of sulfur hexafluoride on tensile and yield strengths of aluminum and steel with application to exhaust gases from rocket engines
Portions of the combined Apollo spacecraft (the command and service module and the lunar module) are subjected to the impingement of hot exhaust gases from the various propulsion systems of the modules. The configurations of the vehicles and the sources of impinging engine plumes are described. A typical Apollo mission is outlined. Protection and design-verification methods are discussed. Finally, recommendations are made for future spacecraft programs.
The portable hydrazine attitude propulsion module is described that was designed and developed to support the attitude control pitch axis simulation tests performed on an air bearing table for the thermoelectric outer planet spacecraft program. The propulsion module was a self-contained, liquid hydrazine propulsion system from which the exhausted gases were generated within the catalyst bed of either of two nominal 0.22-N opposing thrusters. The module, which was designed for convenient assembly onto and removal from an air bearing table, was tested to establish its operational safety. This test history and the very conservative design of the module enabled it to be man-rated for operation in the presence of personnel. The report briefly summarizes the system operations during air bearing table tests, presents a detailed description of the propulsion module hardware, and discussing the system evolution.
This paper reports some preliminary results from the suprathermal ion detectors deployed on the lunar surface by the Apollo 12 and 14 astronauts. Salient features of these results include: the possible observation of sporadic venting of gas from the lunar surface; evidence for a prompt ionization and acceleration mechanism operating in the lunar exosphere; and a preliminary measurement yielding approximately 1 month for the e-folding decay time for the heavier components of the exhaust gases from the Apollo lunar landing systems. Prominent phenomena from which these results have been derived are: (1) ion bursts of low to moderate energy seen in conjunction with lunar sunrise and sunset; (2) solar wind energy ions detected on the night side of the moon; (3) ions of several keV energy seen during the lunar sunset to midnight quadrant of the moon's orbit; (4) magnetosheath ion flux enhancements; (5) ion bursts generated by the lunar impact of the Apollo 13 Saturn upper stage; and (6) geomagnetic storm associated ion flux variations in the earth's magnetotail.
An anesthetic gas flow pop-off valve canister is described that is airtight and permits the patient to breath freely. Once its release mechanism is activated, the exhaust gases are collected at a hose adapter and passed through activated coal for adsorption. A survey of laminar air flow clean rooms is presented and the installation of laminar cross flow air systems in operating rooms is recommended. Laminar flow ventilation experiments determine drying period evaporation rates for chicken intestines, sponges, and sections of pig stomach.
During a 14-hour period on Mar. 7, 1971, the Apollo 14 ALSEP suprathermal ion detector experiment (SIDE) observed an intense, prolonged series of bursts of 48.6-eV ions at the lunar surface. The SIDE mass analyzer showed the mass per unit charge of these ions to be characteristic of water vapor if singly ionized. The event was also observed by the SIDE total ion detectors (TIDs) at the Apollo 14 site and at Apollo 12 (located 183 km to the west). The TID data from SIDE 14 indicate that the energy spectrum was narrower than the 20-eV interval between energy channels. Ion spectra due to the LM exhaust gases are shown to be readily identified by the SIDE and are distinctly different in character from the spectra obtained on March 7. Detailed consideration of other possible sources of water, including the Apollo 14 CSM, leads to the conclusion that the water vapor did not come from a man-made source. Also, it is estimated that the event may have involved a quantity of water much greater than that which has been artificially introduced into the lunar environment. Consequently, it appears to be of lunar origin.
The effects of exhaust gases from supersonic transport aircraft on the equilibrium of the stratosphere are discussed. A method for reducing the amount of nitrogen oxides generated by the engines of supersonic transports is describes. The engine requirements for the turbojet engines of the supersonic transport aircraft are defined. The design of combustion chambers to provide premixed flames and the thermodynamic properties of premixed flames are analyzed. Charts are developed to show the isotherms of the ignited mixtures for various conditions and the mass fraction of nitrogen oxide along selected streamlines.
Reports on the following technologies are included: engine design, exhaust gases, use of composites, bearings, and supersonic and hypersonic propulsion.
In order to study exhaust gas chemistry for the space shuttle, the vapor pressure of 2 to 1 weight mixtures of 3-M hydrochloric acid and Al2O3 was studied over a l80 minute reaction period at 31 C. The Al2O3 sample was one of high surface area furnished by NASA Langley Research Center. A brief review is given for aqueous aluminum chemistry, and the chemical reactions of combustion products (exhaust gases) of aluminum propellant binders for the space shuttle are listed.
As part of an ongoing assessment of the environmental effects of solid-rocket-motor operations in the troposphere, estimates were made of the nitric oxide produced in the troposphere by the space shuttle and Titan 3-C boosters. Calculations were made with the low-altitude plume computer program and included the effects of coupled finite-rate chemistry and turbulent mixing. A recent measurement of nitric oxide taken in the effluent cloud of a Titan 3-C booster is compared with calculations made with this computer code. The various chemical reactions of the exhaust gases are listed in tabular form.
The Titan-Centaur was launched from Kennedy Space Center on February 11, 1974 at 0948 eastern daylight time. Ground level effluent measurements were obtained from the solid rocket motors for comparison with NASA diffusion models for predicting effluent ground level concentrations and cloud behavior. The results obtained provide a basis for an evaluation of such key model inputs such as cloud rise rate, stabilization altitude, crosswind growth, volume expansion, and cloud trajectory. Ground level effluent measurements were limited because of changing meteorological conditions, incorrect instrument location, and operational problems. Based on the measurement results, operational changes are defined. Photographs of the ground exhaust clouds are shown. The chemical composition of the exhaust gases was analyzed and is given.
The fundamental assumptions of the Blizard and Keck combustion model for internal combustion engines are examined and a generalization of that model is derived. The most significant feature of the model is that it permits the occurrence of unburned hydrocarbons in the thermodynamic-kinetic modeling of exhaust gases. The general formulas are evaluated in two specific cases that are likely to be significant in the applications of the model.
Forty-six days after Viking 1 landed, Viking 2 landed in Utopia Planitia, about 6500 kilometers away from the landing site of Viking 1. Images show that in the immediate vicinity of the Viking 2 landing site the surface is covered with rocks, some of which are partially buried, and fine-grained materials. The surface sampler, the lander cameras, engineering sensors, and some data from the other lander experiments were used to investigate the properties of the surface. Lander 2 has a more homogeneous surface, more coarse-grained material, an extensive crust, small rocks or clods which seem to be difficult to collect, and more extensive erosion by the retroengine exhaust gases than lander 1. A report on the physical properties of the Martian surface based on data obtained through sol 58 on Viking 2 and a brief description of activities on Viking 1 after sol 36 are given.
Installation of molybdenum nitric oxide (NO)-to-higher oxides of nitrogen (NOx) converter in chemiluminescent gas analyzer and use of air purge allow accurate measurements of NOx in exhaust gases containing as much as thirty percent carbon monoxide (CO). Measurements using conventional analyzer are highly inaccurate for NOx if as little as five percent CO is present. In modified analyzer, molybdenum has high tolerance to CO, and air purge substantially quenches NOx destruction. In test, modified chemiluminescent analyzer accurately measured NO and NOx concentrations for over 4 months with no denegration in performance.
The present investigation represents a part of a NASA program which is concerned with a study regarding the seriousness of man-made stratospheric ozone depletion. Such a depletion could possibly be caused by exhaust gases of aircraft at high altitudes or the release of chlorofluorocarbons into the lower atmosphere. A balloon-borne optical radar system was employed to conduct ozone measurements in the altitude region from 21 to 36 km and hydroxyl radical measurements in the region from 33 to 36 km. The hydroxyl radical was determined by making use of a procedure which is based on fluorescence induced by laser radiation. The technique of differential absorption lidar (DIAL) was used to measure ozone. According to this technique, two wavelengths are transmitted simultaneously and their backscattered intensities are measured. the obtained results show that optical radar represents an effective tool for stratospheric investigations.
Attention is given to a short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft reaction control system (RCS) design study. The STOVL fighter/attack aircraft employs an existing turbofan engine, and its hover requirement places a premium on weight reduction, which eliminates prospective nonairbreathing RCSs. A simple engine compressor bleed RCS degrades overall performance to an unacceptable degree, and the supersonic requirement precludes the large volume alternatives of thermal or ejector thrust augmentation systems as well as the ducting of engine exhaust gases and the use of a dedicated turbojet. The only system which addressed performance criteria without requiring major engine modifications was a dedicated load compressor driven by an auxilliary power unit.
The current arrangement of a Platecoil heat exchanger which uses LN2 on the inside of parallel tubes, in counter flow to the test cell engine exhaust gases which are drawn through a box surrounding the plates by the existing vacuum blowers is examined. As a result of inadequate performance and special test data it was decided to redesign the system to accommodate an Apollo RCS engine.