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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

Spacecraft charging anomalies on the DSCS II, launch 2 satellites

The six different types of anomalous events occurred on two DSCS II satellites. The total number of events, over 100, and the long operational period, nearly 3 years, permits some statistical analyses to be performed. Correlation of occurrences of particular types of anomalies with equinoxes and seasons of the year are consistent with a spacecraft charging model. On the other hand, an interesting correlation of occurrences with days of the week has been found. Finally, a long term diminution in the frequency of occurrence of events has been observed, and is discussed in terms of environmental activity, material degradations and the need for more data.

Inouye, G. T.↗

Revisiting the Effectiveness of Debris Mitigation by Back-Dating Fragmentation Event

Since 1961, more than 250 satellites have fragmented while in orbit about the Earth, from very low Earth orbit out to the geostationary belt. The problem of orbital debris has been recognized since at least the late 1970s, with the institution of the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) in 1979 at the Johnson Space Center. Efforts to mitigate the growth of the orbital debris environment have mainly focused in two areas: the reduction and elimination of accidental explosions of spacecraft and rocket upper stages and the timely removal of spacecraft and rocket upper stages from orbit after completion of their missions. The ODPO continues to analyze the orbital population in orbit based on object type, mass, and other parameters of interest for characterizing the overall growth of objects in Earth’s orbit. Of the 268 known fragmentation events, 46 have occurred more than ten years after the affected satellites’ launch. These long-delayed breakups increase the population of orbital debris on the date of fragmentation, but we can also consider that the debris generated during that event could be attributed to the launch date of that satellite. We will present here an analysis of the historical growth of the low-Earth orbit debris environment, removing intentional fragmentation events, and examine the effectiveness of mitigation measures (such as passivation and reducing post-mission orbital lifetime).

Chris Ostrom↗

Revisiting the Effectiveness of Debris Mitigation by Back-Dating Fragmentation Events

Since 1961, more than 250 satellites have fragmented while in orbit about the Earth, from very low Earth orbit out to the geostationary belt. The problem of orbital debris has been recognized since at least the late 1970s, with the institution of the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) in 1979 at the Johnson Space Center. Efforts to mitigate the growth of the orbital debris environment have mainly focused in two areas: the reduction and elimination of accidental explosions of spacecraft and rocket upper stages and the timely removal of spacecraft and rocket upper stages from orbit after completion of their missions. The ODPO continues to analyze the orbital population in orbit based on object type, mass, and other parameters of interest for characterizing the overall growth of objects in Earth’s orbit. Of the 268 known fragmentation events, 46 have occurred more than ten years after the affected satellites’ launch. These long-delayed breakups increase the population of orbital debris on the date of fragmentation, but we can also consider that the debris generated during that event could be attributed to the launch date of that satellite. We will present here an analysis of the historical growth of the low-Earth orbit debris environment, removing intentional fragmentation events, and examine the effectiveness of mitigation measures (such as passivation and reducing post-mission orbital lifetime).

Chris Ostrom↗

Vibroacoustic Response of the NASA ACTS Spacecraft Antenna to Launch Acoustic Excitation

The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite was an experimental NASA satellite launched from the Space Shuttle Discovery. As part of the ground test program, the satellite s large, parabolic reflector antennas were exposed to a reverberant acoustic loading to simulate the launch acoustics in the Shuttle payload bay. This paper describes the modelling and analysis of the dynamic response of these large, composite spacecraft antenna structure subjected to a diffuse acoustic field excitation. Due to the broad frequency range of the excitation, different models were created to make predictions in the various frequency regimes of interest: a statistical energy analysis (SEA) model to capture the high frequency response and a hybrid finite element-statistical energy (hybrid FE-SEA) model for the low to mid-frequency responses. The strengths and limitations of each of the analytical techniques are discussed. The predictions are then compared to the measured acoustic test data and to a boundary element (BEM) model to evaluate the performance of the hybrid techniques.

Larko, Jeffrey M.↗

First geosynchronous weather satellite prepared for launch

The Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS), which is scheduled for launch 16 May 1974 is described along with the data transmission system. The Carrier Balloon System is discussed. The primary type of data to be obtained in conjunction with SMS and Nimbus F are meteorological, oceanographic, seismic, and tsunami information. The Space Environment Monitoring System is also described.

Source record↗

INTELSAT V-D (F-4) Launch

Plans for the Intelsat 5D (F4) satellite launch are presented. The spacecraft and its subsystems are described and the mission is summarized. The Atlas Centaur launch vehicle is also described.

Source record↗

Obtaining coincident image observations for Mission to Planet Earth science data return

One objective of the Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) program involves comparing data from various instruments on multiple spacecraft to obtain a total picture of the Earth's systems. To correlate image data from instruments on different spacecraft, these spacecraft must be able to image the same location on the Earth at approximately the same time. Depending on the orbits of the spacecraft involved, complicated operational details must be considered to obtain such observations. If the spacecraft are in similar orbits, close formation flying or synchronization techniques may be used to assure coincident observations. If the orbits are dissimilar, the launch time of the second satellite may need to be restricted in order to align its orbit with that of the first satellite launched. This paper examines strategies for obtaining coincident observations for spacecraft in both similar and dissimilar orbits. Although these calculations may be performed easily for coplanar spacecraft, the non-coplanar case involves additional considerations which are incorporated into the algorithms presented herein.

Newman, Lauri Kraft↗

The application of support vector machines to analysis of global satellite data sets from MlSR

The Multi-angle Imaging Spectro Radiometer (MISR) is one of a suite of five instruments onboard NASA's Terra EOS satellite, launched in December 1999. Typical satellite imagers view the earth from a single direction, but MISR's cameras image the earth simultaneously from nine different directions in four spectral bands. In this way, MISR provides unique multiangle information about solar radiation scattered from clouds, aerosols and other terrestrial surfaces. One of the primary goals of the MISR mission is to improve our understanding of how clouds and aerosols affect the earth's global energy balance.

support vector machines↗

Jason-1 and Jason-2 POD Using GPS

The Jason-2 satellite, launched in June 2008, is the latest follow-on to the successful Jason-1 altimetry satellite mission launched in December 7, 2001. Both, Jason-2 and Jason-1 are equipped with a GPS dual-frequency receiver, a laser retroreflector array, and a DORIS receiver for precise orbit determination (POD). A series of dynamic and reduced-dynamic Jason-2 orbits computed at NASA GSFC, based on GPS-only data and the std0905 standards, have been completed till cy74through cycle 74 using the IGS05 framework. These orbits, now publicly available, have been shown to agree radially at 1 cm RMS with the GSFC std0905 SLR/DORIS orbits and in comparison with orbits produced by JPL, ESA and CNES. In this paper, we describe the implementation of the IGS08 and repro1 framework for the Jason-2 and Jason-1 GPS POD processing with the NASA GSFC GEODYN software. . In our updated GPS POD, ambiguity fixing and updated time variable and static gravity fields. We also evaluate the implementation of non-tidal and degree-1 loading displacement as forward modeling to the tracking stations. Reduced-dynamic versus dynamic orbit differences are used to characterize the remaining force model errors and TRF instability. In particular, we assess their consistency radially and the stability of the altimeter satellite reference frame in the North/South direction as a proxy to assess the consistency of the reference frame.

Melachroinos, Stavros↗

NASA TO LAUNCH RELAY EXPERIMENTAL SATELLITE

Objectives of Project Relay are to test intercontinental microwave communications by low-altitude active repeater satellites, measure energy levels of space radiation in the orbital path and determine the extent of radiation damage to solar cells and electronic components. A second Relay satellite will be launched next year. Information obtained from the Relay experiments will contribute, ultimately, to development of a future operational satellite system for world- wide communication.

COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE↗