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Results for “RADIO PROBING”

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 91 records · Page 5
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NASA NTRS1977

Probing the solar wind with radio measurements of the second moment field

The dependence of spectral broadening on anisotropic electron-density irregularities and velocity fluctuations in the solar wind is investigated on the basis of results for a second moment mutual coherence function obtained by a parabolic-equation method. It is found that although anisotropic irregularities and wind-velocity fluctuations decrease the bandwidth of the spectrum relative to that for isotropic irregularities and no velocity fluctuations, the shape of the spectrum remains unchanged. Examination of the frequency dependence and shape of a computed angular spectrum indicates that the electron-density spectrum is consistent with a power law having a spectral index close to the value appropriate for the Kolmogorov spectrum. It is proposed that multiple-station observations of some total field be employed to measure the solar wind.

Woo, R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The Deep Space Network. An instrument for radio navigation of deep space probes

The Deep Space Network (DSN) network configurations used to generate the navigation observables and the basic process of deep space spacecraft navigation, from data generation through flight path determination and correction are described. Special emphasis is placed on the DSN Systems which generate the navigation data: the DSN Tracking and VLBI Systems. In addition, auxiliary navigational support functions are described.

Renzetti, N. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Laboratory evaluation and application of microwave absorption properties under simulated conditions for planetary atmospheres

The recognition of the need to make laboratory measurements of simulated planetary atmospheres over a range of temperatures and pressure which correspond to the altitudes probed by radio occultation experiments, and over a range of frequencies which correspond to both radio occultation experiments and radio astronomical observations, has led to the development of a facility at Georgia Tech which is capable of making such measurements. Construction was completed of the outer planets simulator and measurements were conducted of the microwave absorption and refraction from nitrogen under simulated Titan conditions. The results of these and previous laboratory measurements were applied to a wide range of microwave opacity measurements, in order to derive constituent densities and distributions in planetary atmospheres such as Venus.

Steffes, P. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Probing the magnetic field of radio pulsars - A reexamination of polarization position angle swings

A vacuum magnetic field is assumed in the present calculation of the polarization position angle as a function of pulse longitude and polarization-limiting radius in radio pulsars. The polarization-limiting radius is estimated on the basis of results of Cheng and Ruderman (1980) and Stinebring (1982). The average change in position angle is also calculated, and this is found to be consistent with observations studied by Narayan and Vivekanand (1983); an alternative interpretation of the data is given, however, which is further supported by the frequency dependence of polarization angle swing in the Crab pulsar.

Barnard, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Rocket studies of the lower ionosphere

The earth's ionosphere in the altitude range of 50 to 200 km was investigated by rocket-borne sensors, supplemented by ground-based measurement. The rocket payloads included mass spectrometers, energetic particle detectors, Langmuir probes and radio propagation experiments. Where possible, rocket flights were included in studies of specific phenomena, and the availability of data from other experiments greatly increased the significance of the results. The principal ionospheric phenomena studied were: winter anomaly in radiowave absorption, ozone and molecular oxygen densities, mid-latitude sporadic-E layers, energetic particle precipitation at middle and low latitudes, ionospheric instabilities and turbulence, and solar eclipse effects in the D and E regions. This document lists personnel who worked on the project, and provides a bibliography of resultant publications.

Bowhill, Sidney A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Refraction effects on the Galileo probe telemetry carrier frequency

As the Galileo probe relay radio link (RRL) signal propagates outward through the Jovian atmosphere, the atmosphere will manifest itself in two ways. First, the geometric path length of the signal is increased, resulting in a small change of the RRL signal departure angle from the proble (transmitter). Secondly, the velocity of the signal is decreased. For a spherical, static atmosphere with a known profile of refractivity versus altitude the effects of refraction on the RRL frequency can be found using a variation of standard ray-tracing techniques, whereby the ray departure angle is found by an iterative process. From the dispersive characteristics of a mixture of hydrogen and helium with trace amounts of methane and ammonia a simple model of the Jovian atmosphere is constructed assuming spherical symmetry and uniform mixing. The contribution to the RRL Doppler frequency arising from refraction is calculated, and its effect on the Doppler wind measurements is discussed.

Atkinson, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Probing the Solar Corona with Radio Ranging Measurements

An asymmetry in the radial variation of electron density above the east and west limbs of the Sun was inferred from centimeter wavelength ranging measurements conducted by Voyager 2 during its 1985 solar conjunction. These older data are compared with white- light coronagraph measurements of the underlying corona collected by the Mark III K-coronameter at the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory.

solar corona Voyager coronameter coronagraph radio↗
NASA NTRS1991

A technique for using radio jets as extended gravitational lensing probes

A new and potentially powerful method of measuring the mass of a galaxy (or dark matter concentration) which lies close in position to a background polarized radio jet is proposed. Using the fact that the polarization angle is not changed by lensing, an 'alignment-breaking parameter' is defined which is a sensitive indicator of gravitational distortion. The method remains sensitive over a wide redshift range of the gravitational lens. This technique is applied to the analysis of polarimetric observations of the jet of 3C 9 at z = 2.012, combined with a newly discovered 20.3 mag foreground galaxy at z = 0.2538 to 'weigh' the galaxy and obtain an approximate upper limit to the mass-to-light ratio.

Kronberg, Philipp P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Titan Probe navigation analysis

In the proposed Cassini mission, a combined Saturn Orbiter/Titan Probe spacecraft will be launched from the Space Shuttle to arrive at Saturn around 2002, by means of a delta-VEGA trajectory. After Saturn-orbit insertion and a pericrone raise maneuver, the probe will be released to enter the Titan atmosphere and impact onto its surface. During its descent phase and impact onto Titan, the probe will maintain radio contact with the orbiter. Since the Titan-probe experimental phase lasts for only about four hours, probe-orbiter geometry and probe-delivery accuracy are critical to successful completion of this part of the mission. From a preliminary navigation analysis for probe delivery accuracy, it seems feasible to deliver the probe within 50 km (1-sigma value) of the desired aim-point in the Titan B-plane. The covariance study, however, clearly indicates the need for optical data, in addition to radio metric data. A Monte Carlo study indicates that a Delta-V capability of 98 m/sec for trajectory correction maneuvers will be sufficient to cover 99 percent of all contingencies during the segment from Saturn-orbit insertion to Titan-probe release.

Vijayaraghavan, A.↗