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DOE OSTI2021

The Portable Ice Nucleation Experiment (PINE): a new online instrument for laboratory studies and automated long-term field observations of ice-nucleating particles

Atmospheric ice-nucleating particles (INPs) play an important role in determining the phase of clouds, which affects their albedo and lifetime. A lack of data on the spatial and temporal variation of INPs around the globe limits our predictive capacity and understanding of clouds containing ice. Automated instrumentation that can robustly measure INP concentrations across the full range of tropospheric temperatures is needed in order to address this knowledge gap. In this study, we demonstrate the functionality and capacity of the new Portable Ice Nucleation Experiment (PINE) to study ice nucleation processes and to measure INP concentrations under conditions pertinent for mixed-phase clouds, with temperatures from about -10 to about -40°C. PINE is a cloud expansion chamber which avoids frost formation on the cold walls and thereby omits frost fragmentation and related background ice signals during the operation. The development, working principle and treatment of data for the PINE instrument is discussed in detail. We present laboratory-based tests where PINE measurements were compared with those from the established AIDA (Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere) cloud chamber. Within experimental uncertainties, PINE agreed with AIDA for homogeneous freezing of pure water droplets and the immersion freezing activity of mineral aerosols. Results from a first field campaign conducted at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) observatory in Oklahoma, USA, from 1 October to 14 November 2019 with the latest PINE design (a commercially available PINE chamber) are also shown, demonstrating PINE's ability to make automated field measurements of INP concentrations at a time resolution of about 8 min with continuous temperature scans for INP measurements between -10 and -30°C. During this field campaign, PINE was continuously operated for 45 d in a fully automated and semi-autonomous way, demonstrating the capability of this new instrument to also be used for longer-term field measurements and INP monitoring activities in observatories.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

Sensitivity of thermodynamic profiles retrieved from ground-based microwave and infrared observations to additional input data from active remote sensing instruments and numerical weather prediction models

Accurate and continuous estimates of the thermodynamic structure of the lower atmosphere are highly beneficial to meteorological process understanding and its applications, such as weather forecasting. In this study, the Tropospheric Remotely Observed Profiling via Optimal Estimation (TROPoe) physical retrieval is used to retrieve temperature and humidity profiles from various combinations of input data collected by passive and active remote sensing instruments, in situ surface platforms, and numerical weather prediction models. Among the employed instruments are microwave radiometers (MWRs), infrared spectrometers (IRSs), radio acoustic sounding systems (RASSs), ceilometers, and surface sensors. TROPoe uses brightness temperatures and/or radiances from MWRs and IRSs, as well as other observational inputs (virtual temperature from the RASS, cloud-base height from the ceilometer, pressure, temperature, and humidity from the surface sensors) in a physical iterative retrieval approach. This starts from a climatologically reasonable profile of temperature and water vapor, with the radiative transfer model iteratively adjusting the assumed temperature and humidity profiles until the derived brightness temperatures and radiances match those observed by the MWR and/or IRS instruments within a specified uncertainty, as well as within the uncertainties of the other observations, if used as input. In this study, due to the uniqueness of the dataset that includes all the above-mentioned sensors, TROPoe is tested with different observational input combinations, some of which also include information higher than 4 km above ground level (a.g.l.) from the operational Rapid Refresh numerical weather prediction model. These temperature and humidity retrievals are assessed against independent collocated radiosonde profiles under non-cloudy conditions to assess the sensitivity of the TROPoe retrievals to different input combinations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2026

RTN-117: Image Calibration and Instrument Signal Removal for the First Year of the LSST

The NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) requires calibration products that provide uniform, stable, and accurate photometric and astrometric performance across the 3.2 gigapixel focal plane and throughout the 10-year survey. This paper details the algorithms and workflows used to produce instrument calibrations and remove instrumental artifacts for Data Preview 2 (DP2)---the first end-to-end processing demonstration using on-sky data with the LSST Camera (LSSTCam). We describe the verification, acceptance, and certification framework used to assess calibration quality and quantify residual systematics. We show baseline metrics on calibrated science images to evaluate the robustness of the calibration and instrument signature removal (ISR) data processing pipelines for DP2. Finally, we summarize the known limitations observed in DP2 production and outline expected algorithmic improvements for the first public LSST data release (Data Release~1, DR1).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1961

Instrumentation Requirements for the Engineering Evaluation of Nuclear-Electric Spacecraft

Spacecraft employing nuclear-electric propulsion are being proposed for missions to Venus and distances beyond. These spacecraft utilize a nuclear reactor to provide thermal energy to a turboalternator which generates electric power for an ion motor and the other spacecraft systems. This Report discusses the instrumentation and communications system needed to evaluate a nuclear-electric spacecraft in flight, along with the problems expected. A representative spacecraft design is presented, which leads to a discussion of the instrumentation needed to evaluate such a spacecraft. A basic communications system is considered for transmitting the spacecraft data to Earth. The instrumentation and communications system, as well as all electronic systems on a nuclear-electric spacecraft, will be operating in high temperature and nuclear-radiation environments. The problems caused by these environments are discussed, and possible solutions are offered.

Apel, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1971

Proposed techniques for launching instrumented balloons into tornadoes

A method is proposed to introduce instrumented balloons into tornadoes by means of the radial pressure gradient, which supplies a buoyancy force driving to the center. Presented are analytical expressions, verified by computer calculations, which show the possibility of introducing instrumented balloons into tornadoes at or below the cloud base. The times required to reach the center are small enough that a large fraction of tornadoes are suitable for the technique. An experimental procedure is outlined in which a research airplane puts an instrumented, self-inflating balloon on the track ahead of the tornado. The uninflated balloon waits until the tornado closes to, typically, 750 meters; then it quickly inflates and spirals up and into the core, taking roughly 3 minutes. Since the drive to the center is automatically produced by the radial pressure gradient, a proper launch radius is the only guidance requirement.

Grant, F. C.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Apollo/Saturn 5 consolidated instrumentation plan for AS-511 (Apollo 16)

The consolidated instrumentation plan, for employing optical and electronic data acquisition systems to monitor the performance and trajectory of Apollo Saturn 5 vehicle 511 during the launch phase of the mission (prelaunch, liftoff to insertion), is presented. Telemetry, optical, and electronic tracking equipment on board the vehicle and data acquisition systems monitoring the flight are discussed. Flight safety instrumentation, vehicle data transmission systems, and geophysical instrumentation are also described.

Clark, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Long range radio tracking of sea turtles and polar bear: Instrumentation and preliminary results

Instrumentation developed for studies of path behavior of the green sea turtle and migration movement of polar bear is described. Preliminary results bearing on navigation ability in these species are presented. Both species operate in difficult environments, and the problems faced in the design of electronic instrumentation for these studies are not completely specified at this time. However, the critical factors yet to be understood are primarily related to the behavior of instrumented animals. The data obtained with these experimental techniques are included, first to illustrate the technique and, second to provide initial preliminary results bearing on animal navigation.

Baldwin, H. A.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Skylab consolidated instrumentation plan for SL-1/SL-2

The consolidated instrumentation plan is presented for employing optical and electronic data acquisition systems to monitor the performance and trajectory of Skylab 1 and Skylab 2 vehicles during the launch phase. Telemetry, optical, and electronic tracking equipment on board the vehicles, and data acquisition systems monitoring the flights are discussed. Flight safety instrumentation, vehicle data transmission systems, and instrumentation geography are also described.

Clark, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1972

The NRL OSO-4 Bragg crystal spectrometer instrument

Two Bragg crystal spectrometers were placed on the OSO-4 satellite to study solar flare plasmas by their spectral emissions. The solar flare plasma parameters were measured with these spectrometers, which together covered a total wavelength range of 0.6 to 8.4 A. With these instruments, knowledge could be gained into the mechanisms governing the plasma behavior in the high temperature-low density regime of flare production and in solar evolution and elemental abundances in the sun. However, spacecraft limitations forced many restrictions on the design of the instrument, so the final instrument could not measure all the solar flare plasma state parameters.

Meekins, J. F.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Magnetometer instrument team studies for the definition phase of the outer planets grand tour

The objectives of magnetic field investigations on missions to the outer planets were defined as well as an instrumentation system, a program of studies and instrument development tasks was proposed for the mission definition phase of the Outer Planets Grand Tour project. A report on the status of this program is given. Requirements were also established for the spacecraft and the mission which would insure their compatibility with the magnetic field investigation proposed for the outer planets missions and developed figures of merit for encounter trajectories. The spacecraft-instrumentation interface and the on-board data handling system were defined in various reports by the Project Team and in the reports by the Science Steering Group. The defining program for exploring the outer planets within the more restrictive constraints of the Mariner Jupiter-Saturn project included defining a limited magnetic field investigation.

Coleman, P. J., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1969

Dual purpose optical instrument capable of simultaneously acting as spectrometer and diffractometer

A dual purpose optical instrument is described capable of simultaneously acting as a spectrometer and diffractometer to respectively perform elemental and structural analysis of an unknown sample. The diffractometer portion of the instrument employs a modified form of Seeman-Bohlin focusing which involves providing a line source of X-rays, a sample, and a detector, all on the same focal circle. The spectrometer portion of the instrument employs a fixedly mounted X-ray energy detector mounted outside of the plane of the focal circle.

Dasgupta, K.↗

NASA NTRS1973

A study of the compatibility of science instruments with the solar electric propulsion space vehicle

Electromagnetic interference and field-of-view constraints are identified as the areas of most concern to science on solar electric propulsion space vehicles. Several areas are indicated which more detailed data on the space vehicle environment are needed. In addition, possible means to attain or demonstrate science/space vehicle compatibility are recommended for further iteration between space vehicle design and science payload considerations. The space vehicle design developed by the solar electric propulsion system integration technology effort is used. Two payload sets for comet Encke missions (a slow flyby and a rendezvous), as well as several instruments which are not included in the two payload sets, are analyzed to determine requirements on the space vehicle imposed by the instruments in order to meet their objectives. Environmental requirements for the sets of instruments are developed and compared to both the SEPSIT design criteria and the environment as it is presently understood.

Parker, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Wet chemistry instrument prototype

A wet chemistry instrument prototype for detecting amino acids in planetary soil samples was developed. The importance of amino acids and their condensation products to the development of life forms is explained. The characteristics of the instrument and the tests which were conducted to determine the materials compatibility are described. Diagrams are provided to show the construction of the instrument. Data obtained from the performance tests are reported.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1974

ASRDI oxygen technology survey. Volume 5: Density and liquid level measurement instrumentation for the cryogenic fluids oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen

Information is presented on instrumentation for density measurement, liquid level measurement, quantity gauging, and phase measurement. Coverage of existing information directly concerned with oxygen was given primary emphasis. A description of the physical principle of measurement for each instrumentation type is included. The basic materials of construction are listed if available from the source document for each instrument discussed. Cleaning requirements, procedures, and verification techniques are included.

Roder, H. M.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Effects of flight instrumentation errors on the estimation of aircraft stability and control derivatives

An error analysis program based on an output error estimation method was used to evaluate the effects of sensor and instrumentation errors on the estimation of aircraft stability and control derivatives. A Monte Carlo analysis was performed using simulated flight data for a high performance military aircraft, a large commercial transport, and a small general aviation aircraft for typical cruise flight conditions. The effects of varying the input sequence and combinations of the sensor and instrumentation errors were investigated. The results indicate that both the parameter accuracy and the corresponding measurement trajectory fit error can be significantly affected. Of the error sources considered, instrumentation lags and control measurement errors were found to be most significant.

Bryant, W. H.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Study to evaluate the integration of a mass spectrometer with a wet chemistry instrument

The charactertistics and performance capability of the current Viking '75 Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer Instrument are reviewed and documented for the purpose of possible integration with a wet chemistry instrument. Interface, high mass discrimination, and vacuum requirements were determined in a simulated flight investigation. Suggestions for future investigations, tradeoff studies, and design modifications are presented, along with the results of column bleed measurements. A preliminary design of an integrated Wet Chemistry/Mass Spectrometer instrument for amino acid analysis is shown, including estimates of additional weight, volume, and power requirements.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1974

Analytical techniques and instrumentation: A compilation

Technical information on developments in instrumentation is arranged into four sections: (1) instrumentation for analysis; (2) analysis of matter; (3) analysis of electrical and mechanical phenomena; and (4) structural analysis. Patent information for two of the instruments described is presented.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1974

Thermal and heat flow instrumentation for the space shuttle Thermal Protection System

The 100 mission lifetime requirement for the space shuttle orbiter vehicle dictates a unique set of requirements for the Thermal Protection System (TPS) thermal and heat flow instrumentation. This paper describes the design and development of such instrumentation with emphasis on assessment of the accuracy of the measurements when the instrumentation is an integral part of the TPS. The temperature and heat flow sensors considered for this application are described and the optimum choices discussed. Installation techniques are explored and the resulting impact on the system error defined.

Hartman, G. J.↗