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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 73 records · Page 4

Feasibility Study of a Nuclear-Stirling Plant for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter

NASA is undertaking the design of a new spacecraft to explore the planet Jupiter and its three moons Calisto, Ganymede and Europa. This proposed mission, known as Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) would use a nuclear reactor and an associated electrical generation system (Reactor Power Plant-RPP) to provide power to the spacecraft. The JIMO spacecraft is envisioned to use this power for science and communications as well as Electric Propulsion (EP). Among other potential power-generating concepts, previous studies have considered Thermoelectric and Brayton Power conversion systems, coupled to a liquid metal reactor for the JIMO mission. This paper will explore trades in system mass and radiator area for a nuclear reactor power conversion system, however this study will focus on Stirling power conversion. The Stirling convertor modeled in this study is based upon the Component Test Power Convertor design that was designed and operated successfully under the Civil Space Technology Initiative for use with the SP-100 nuclear reactor i the 1980's and early 1990's. The study design is such that two of the four convertors would operate at any time to generate the 100 kWe while the others are held in reserve. For this study the Stirling convertors hot-side temperature is 1050 K, would operate at a temperature ratio of 2.4 for a minimum mass system and would have a system efficiency of 29%. The Stirling convertor would generate high voltage (400 volt), 100 Hz single phase AC that is supplied to the Power Management and Distribution system. The waste hear is removed from the Stirling convertors by a flowing liquid sodium-potassium eutectic and then rejected by a shared radiator. The radiator consists of two coplanar wings, which would be deployed after the reactor is in space. System trades were performed to vary cycle state point temperatures and convertor design as well as power output. Other redundancy combinations were considered to understand the affects of convertor size and number of spares to the system mass.

Schmitz, Paul C.↗

Earth-based observations of Faraday rotation in radio bursts from Jupiter

New observations have been made of Faraday rotation in decameter-wavelength radio bursts from the planet Jupiter. Data obtained during six Io-B storms clearly indicate that an appreciable fraction of the observed Faraday rotation occurs in the Jovian magnetosphere. All of the Faraday rotation observed during a single Io-A storm can be accounted for by earth's ionosphere. Measurements of the Faraday effect in Io-B emissions indicate that the source is in Jupiter's northern magnetic hemisphere. Observations of the Faraday effect in Io-C emissions are proposed to determine its location as well.

Phillips, J. A.↗

Systems-level study of a nonsurvivable Jupiter turbopause probe. Volume 1: Summary

The design of a space probe to explore the atmosphere of the planet Jupiter is discussed. Five major areas were considered: (1) definition of science requirements, (2) mission evaluation, (3) definition of probe system, (4) definition of spacecraft support requirements, and (5) nonequilibrium flow field analysis for communications blackout evaluation. The overall mission and system design are emphasized. The integration of the various technologies into complete systems designs is described. Results showed that a nonsurvivable turbopause probe mission to Jupiter with adequate data return to meet the science objectives is feasible and practical.

Wiltshire, R. S.↗

Jupiter Probe Heatshield design

A heatshield performance assessment is made for extraterrestrial entry into the atmosphere of the planet Jupiter. A rigorous determination of the potential ablation and thermostructural failure mechanisms for a candidate carbon-phenolic heatshield is made. The thermostructural integrity of the char layer is addressed in detail with the total response phenomenology involving char layer formation, stress under aerodynamic and thermodynamic loads, and points of stress concentration under the high radiative heat rates and severe temperature gradients encountered in the Jovian atmosphere. An alternate material concept in the carbon-carbon generic material class is examined to assess the viability of this material class for application to the Jupiter Probe Heatshield.

Kratsch, K. M.↗

Enhanced acetylene emission near the north pole of Jupiter

The present paper is concerned with observations of acetylene fundamental and hot band vibrational emission lines from the planet Jupiter. It is pointed out that the observation of a polar bright spot in the atmosphere of Jupiter is characterized by an enhancement in the individual lines of C2H2 which can be interpreted as an enhancement in the acetylene abundance. However, a purely thermal effect, or non-LTE phenomena cannot be excluded. The intensity of the observed hot band lines is also consistent with either hypothesis. The reported observations were performed with a cooled Fabry-Perot Grating Spectrometer (FPGS). Observations and instrumentation are considered in detail along with the calculation of synthetic spectra on the basis of a line-by-line computation, and the interpretation of the obtained data.

Drossart, P.↗

Enhanced acetylene emission near the north pole of Jupiter

The present paper is concerned with observations of acetylene fundamental and hot band vibrational emission lines from the planet Jupiter. It is pointed out that the observation of a polar bright spot in the atmosphere of Jupiter is characterized by an enhancement in the individual lines of C2H2 which can be interpreted as an enhancement in the acetylene abundance. However, a purely thermal effect, on non-LTE phenomena cannot be excluded. The intensity of the observed hot band lines is also consistent with either hypothesis. The reported observations were performed with a cooled Fabry-Perot Grating Spectrometer (FPGS). Observations and instrumentation are considered in detail along with the calculation of synthetic spectra on the basis of a line-by-line computation, and the interpretation of the obtained data.

Drossart, Pierre↗

Saturn Deep Atmospheric Entry Probes Delivered by INSIDE Jupiter Derivative Spacecraft

In situ probes are the most reliable means for sampling composition and conditions deep in giant planet atmospheres. Deep constituent abundances at the giant planets offer clues to conditions in the solar systems protoplanetary disk and variations with heliocentric distance. Currently in situ atmospheric data are available from only one giant planet, Jupiter, and probes that penetrate deeper than the Galileo probe are needed there to measure the deep abundances of such important species as H2O and H2S. Deep probes at Saturn would extend the sampled heliocentric range to Saturn, providing important constraints on the conditions and variability of the protoplanetary disk, and would provide significant new information about Saturn and its evolutionary processes. Such a probe mission could be implemented using a derivative of the INSIDE Jupiter mission's spacecraft as the Carrier/Relay Spacecraft (CRSC), with probes per JPL/Team X and other design studies. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Spilker, T. R.↗

Galileo, The Tour Guide

At this very moment, spacecraft Galileo is orbiting the planet Jupiter. We invite you to join us for an exciting 2-year mission, the first extensive visit to an outer planet and its satellites.

Galileo Jupiter↗

Jupiter's decametric rotation period and the source-A emission beam

Determinations of the average decametric rotation period for the planet Jupiter are discussed. Mean rotation periods for a twelve year span are plotted as a function of the mean epochs. Two lesser peaks in the longitude histograms were resolved in addition to the main peak. The three peaks, which are believed to result from emission beams oriented in different directions relative to the corotating magnetic field of the planet, are designated Sources A, B, and C in decreasing order of prominence at frequencies in the vicinity of 18 MHz.

Carr, T. D.↗

Shoemaker-Levy Comet Impact with Jupiter Press Briefing

A press briefing about the impact of the G fragment of Comet Shoemaker-Levy on the planet Jupiter is presented. The briefing occurred on July 18, 1994 just hours after the impact. Still black and white pictures taken from the Hubble Space Telescope are presented. Eugene Shoemaker, co-discoverer of the Comet, and Heidi Hammel, Principal Investigator for the Hubble Imaging team at MIT present preliminary results of the study of images and answer questions about the impact and the results of the impact on Jupiter.

Source record↗

Is Jupiter's magnetosphere like a pulsar's or earth's?

The application of pulsar physics to determine the magnetic structure in the planet Jupiter outer magnetosphere is discussed. A variety of theoretical models are developed to illuminate broad areas of consistency and conflict between theory and experiment. Two possible models of Jupiter's magnetosphere, a pulsar-like radial outflow model and an earth-like convection model, are examined. A compilation of the simple order of magnitude estimates derivable from the various models is provided.

Kennel, C. F.↗

Voyager-Jupiter radio science data papers

The reduction and interpretation of the radio science data from the Voyager 1 and 2 encounters of the planet Jupiter and its satellites resulted in the preparation of several papers for publication in the special Voyager-Jupiter issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research. The radio science and tracking systems of the Deep Space Network provide the data which makes this research possible. This article lists submitted papers by title, with their authors and with abstracts of their contents.

Levy, G. S.↗

Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11

On December 3, 1974, Pioneer 11 passed the planet Jupiter at a distance of 42,000 km. The spacecraft is now headed for an encounter with the planet Saturn in September 1979. The prime scientific objectives of the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 missions are discussed along with the spacecraft payload, aspects of spacecraft design, the spacecraft power supply, and details regarding the spacecraft trajectory during the approach to Jupiter.

Hall, C. F.↗

Exobiology, Jupiter and life.

Recent experiments in an environmental chamber have shown that not even hardy terrestrial bacteria can survive on the Martian surface. The planet Jupiter is now considered by many to be the most likely place to find nonterrestrial life. Atmospheric simulation experiments for Jupiter that have been performed involve spark or semicorona discharges in mixtures of methane and ammonia at room temperature and a pressure lower than atmospheric. Terrestrial microorganisms have been shown capable of surviving 24 hr under a range of possible Jovian atmospheric conditions. The final mode of approach to the question of Jovian life concerns theoretical studies on the sort of chemical systems from which life could be generated.

Molton, P. M.↗

Comparative ionospheres. I - The inner planets. II - The outer planets

A description is given first of the fundamental physical and chemical processes controlling the thermospheres and ionospheres of the inner planets, Venus and Mars. A comparison is made between the neutral composition and temperature structure of Venus and Mars and those of the earth. Consideration is then given to the chemical and diffusion processes in the ionosphere. After a brief treatment of the ionospheric energetics and heat sources, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of the nightside ionosphere of Venus are reviewed. A description is then given of the upper atmospheres and ionospheres of the major planets, Jupiter and Saturn. The treatment of the temperature structure and composition of the thermospheres of the major planets includes a description of the physical and chemical processes controlling the hydrocarbons and atomic hydrogen. A comparison is then made between the ionospheres of the major planets and those of the inner planets. It is noted that Io and Titan also have atmospheres and ionospheres, and these are treated briefly. Even though comets cannot be classed as planets, they have atmospheres and ionospheres that are not gravitationally confined.

Cravens, T. E.↗

Observations of Jupiter at 26.3 MHz using a large array

A 640 element phase-steerable dipole array has been used to make highly sensitive observations of the planet Jupiter during the 1973 apparition. The satellite Io is found to have very little influence at the low flux levels, whereas the definition of sources A and B appears to be relatively flux independent. A two-dimensional analysis of the data in the Jupiter-Io plane has revealed considerable source B activity at low intensities which is not influenced by Io.

Desch, M. D.↗

Jupiters radiation belts and their effects on spacecraft

The effects of electron and proton radiation on spacecraft which will operate in the trapped radiation belts of the planet Jupiter are described, and the techniques and results of the testing and simulation used in the radiation effects program are discussed. Available data from the Pioneer 10 encounter of Jupiter are compared with pre-encounter models of the Jupiter radiation belts. The implications that the measured Jovian radiation belts have for future missions are considered.

Parker, R. H.↗