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At least 109 records · Page 6

The Effects of Surface Roughness on the NEAR XRS Elemental Results: Monte-Carlo Modeling

The objective of the NEAR-Shoemaker X-ray Gamma-Ray Spec1roscopy ("XGRS") investigation was to determine the elemental composition of the near-Earth asteroid 433 Eros. The X-ray Spectrometer (XRS) system measured the characteristic fluorescence of six major elements (Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Fe) in the 1-10 keV energy range excited by the interaction of solar X-rays with the upper 100 microns of the surface of 433 Eros. Various investigators, using both laboratory experiments and computer simulations have established that X-ray fluorescent line ratios can be influenced by small-scale surface roughness at high incidence or emission angles. The effect on the line ratio is specific to the geometry, excitation spectrum, and composition involved, In general, however, the effect is only substantial for ratios of lines with a significant energy difference between them: Fe/Si and Ca/Si are much more likely to be affected than AI/Si or Mg/Si. We apply a Monte-Carlo code to the specific geometry and spectrum of a major NEAR XRS solar flare observation, using an H chondrite composition as the substrate. The seventeen most abundant elements were included in the composition model, from oxygen to titanium.

Lin, Lucy F.↗

(abstract) Satellite Dynamics About Eros

The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission spacecraft will arrive at Asteroid 433 (Eros) in February 1999. Following an initial period of characterization, the science phase of the mission will commence, and unprecedented information concerning an asteroid's shape, mass, density, composition, and rotational dynamics will be sent to Earth for analysis. It will also mark the start of orbital operations about the most complex and irregular gravity field ever encountered in the history of space exploration. The severity of Eros' distortion from the usual spheroid bodies encountered in planetary exploration leads to fundamental differences in the orbital dynamics about it. Operations about Eros will also serve as an exciting test of orbital determination and prediction in an orbital environment which can be chaotic in some instances. General orbital dynamics about Eros are discussed. Some simple formulae are given for the secular motion of the node and argument of periapsis. Conditions for a satellite orbit to escape from Eros are discussed, and some simple results derived. Finally, the chaotic nature of certain orbits about Eros are discussed, and the consequences for orbit prediction are investigated.

Near↗

An investigation of a sterile access technique for the repair and adjustment of sterile spacecraft

A description is presented of a unique system for the sterilization and sterile repair of spacecraft and the results of a test program designed to assess the biological integrity and engineering reliability of the system. This trailer-mounted system, designated the model assembly sterilizer for testing (MAST), is capable of the dry-heat sterilization of spacecraft and/or components less than 2.3 meters in diameter at temperatures up to 433 K and the steam sterilization of components less than 0.724 meter in diameter. Sterile access to spacecraft is provided by two tunnel suits, called the bioisolator suit systems (BISS), which are contiguous with the walls of the sterilization chambers. The test program was designed primarily to verify the biological and engineering reliability of the MAST system by processing simulated space hardware. Each test cycle simulated the initial sterilization of a spacecraft, sterile repair of a failed component, removal of the spacecraft from the MAST for mating with the bus, and a sterile recycle repair.

Farmer, F. H.↗

Titanium spallation cross sections between 30 and 584 MeV and Ar-39 activities on the moon

The production cross sections of Ar39 for Ti spallation at 45-, 319-, 433-, and 584-MeV proton energies were measured to be 0.37 + or - 0.09, 12.4 + or - 3.7, 9.1 + or - 2.7, and 17.8 + or - 6.2 mb, respectively. Normalized Ar39 production rates and activities are also derived for protons above 40 MeV and for three differential proton spectra of the type approximately E(- alpha). It is concluded that, even for samples of high-Ti content, Ti spallation by solar protons below 200-MeV energy does not contribute significantly to their Ar39 radioactivity.

Steinburnn, F.↗

Titanium spallation cross sections between 30 and 584 MeV and Ar-39 activities on the moon

The production cross sections of Ar-39 for Ti spallation at 45-, 319-, 433-, and 584-MeV proton energies were measured to be 0.37 + or - 09, 12.4 + or - 3.7, 9.1 + or - 2.7, and 17.8 + or - 6.2 mb, respectively. Normalized Ar-39 production rates and activities are also derived for protons above 40 Mev and for three differential proton spectra. It is concluded that even for samples of high-Ti content, Ti spallation by solar protons below 200-MeV energy does not contribute significantly to their Ar-39 radioactivity.

Steinbrunn, F.↗

The occultation of Kappa Geminorum by Eros

The paper discusses predictions and observations of the occultation of Kappa Gem by (433) Eros on January 24, 1975. Several positive and negative observations made in western New England are described. Local circumstances for the occultation are reconstructed, and the size and shape of Eros are determined analytically as well as graphically. The calculations yield two extremes for the cross section: a circle 23 km in diameter or a somewhat irregular figure 20 km by 6 or 7 km. Arguments based on the expected albedo of the asteroid suggest that the circle should be warped into an ellipse 21 by 13 km or that the irregular figure might be one component of a dumbbell-like profile.

Oleary, B.↗

Radio observations of asteroids: Results and prospects

Radio observations of the asteroids can provide information on the thermal and dielectric properties of the surface materials and because the radio emission arises somewhat below the surface, the data give some indication of layering. Observational difficulty has limited the investigations to only 6 asteroids: 1 Ceres and 324 Bamberga appear to have a layer of dust covering a more compacted material; the data on 4 Vesta cannot be matched by any current models for the surface; and the results for 18 Melpomene, 31 Euphrosyne and 433 Eros are too incomplete for firm conclusions. Future possibilities include more accurate radiometry of a few selected asteroids of different taxonomic classes and actual resolution of some of the larger objects by aperture synthesis techniques.

Dickel, J. R.↗

Radio observations of asteroids: Results and prospects

Radio observations of the asteroids can provide information on the thermal and dielectric properties of the surface materials and because the radio emission arises somewhat below the surface, the data give some indication of layering. Observational difficulty limited the investigations to only 6 asteroids:1 Ceres and 324 Bamberga appear to have a layer of dust covering a more compacted material; the data on 4 Vesta cannot be matched by any current models for the surface; and the results for 18 Melpomene, 31 Euphrosyne and 433 Eros are too incomplete for firm conclusions. Future possibilities include more accurate radiometry of a few selected asteroids of different tuxonomic classes and actual resolution of some of the larger objects by aperture synthesis techniques.

Dickel, J. R.↗

The IR energy distribution of SS433

The infrared energy distribution of the emission-line object SS 433 in the range 1 to 10 microns is determined. Photometric measurements were made with a 2.2-m telescope using an InSb detector and a 6-arcsec diaphragm for 1.2- to 4.8-micron observations and a gallium-doped germanium bolometer with a 6-arcsec diaphragm for 8- to 13-micron observations. Results indicate the presence of substantial night-to-night flux density and color variations, and a decrease in flux density at wavelengths greater than 5 microns. The energy cut-off is used to estimate a physical size of 1 AU for the emitting region and an electron density of 10 to the 11th/cu cm on the basis of a model of reddened free-free emission from an ionized plasma, with self-absorption of radiation over 5 microns. The greater variability observed at longer wavelengths is also interpreted in terms of this model.

Wynn-Williams, C. G.↗

Radio observations of asteroids - Results and prospects

Radio observations of the asteroids can provide information on the thermal and dielectric properties of the surface materials and, because the radio emission arises somewhat below the surface, the data give some indication of layering. Observational difficulty has limited the investigations to only 6 asteroids. 1 Ceres and 324 Bamberga appear to have a layer of dust covering a more compacted material; the data on 4 Vesta cannot be matched by any current models for the surface; and the results for 18 Melpomene, 31 Euphrosyne and 433 Eros are too incomplete for firm conclusions. Future possibilities include more accurate radiometry of a few selected asteroids of different taxonomic classes and actual resolution of some of the larger objects by aperture synthesis techniques.

Dickel, J. R.↗

Nimbus-7 coastal zone color scanner - System description and initial imagery

Initial imagery from the Nimbus-7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) shows subtle variations in water color. Organisms, especially phytoplankton, play a major influence on the variations in water color. Processing of the visual data is described, and in particular, the use of an algorithm to remove aerosol from the image is discussed. Data on the six spectral bands (433-12,500 nm) are presented and comparisons are made between the CZCS and the Landsat-1 multispectral scanner. The implications for management of fisheries is noted.

Hovis, W. A.↗

Radar investigation of asteroids

Radar investigations were conducted of selected minor planets, including: (1) observations during 1981-82 of 10 potential targets (2 Pallas, 8 Flora, 12 Victoria, 15 Eunomia, 19 Fortuna, 22 Kalliope, 132 Aethra, 219 Thusnelda, 433 Eros, and 2100 Ra-Shalom); and (2) continued analyses of observational data obtained during 1980-81 for 10 other asteroids (4 Vesta, 7 Iris, 16 Psyche, 75 Eurydike, 97 Klotho, 216 Kleopatra, 1685 Toro, 1862 Apollo, 1865 Cerberus, and 1915 Quetzalcoatl). Scientific objectives include estimation of echo strength, polarization, spectral shape, spectral bandwidth, and Doppler shift. These measurements: (1) yield estimates of target size, shape, and spin vector; (2) place constraints on topography, morphology, and composition of the planetary surface; (3) yield refined estimates of target orbital parameters; (4) reveal the presence of asteroidal satellites.

Ostro, S. J.↗

Relativistic astrophysics - The view from Texas in Baltimore /Review/

Recent observational and theoretical work presented at the Tenth Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics held in Baltimore, Maryland from December 15-19, 1980, is outlined. Areas covered include the theoretical foundations of relativistic astrophysics in general relativity, quantum gravitational theory and the association of grand unification with astronomical and cosmological issues, the cosmic microwave, X-ray, gamma-ray, UV, cosmic ray and gravitational wave backgrounds, the current expansion rate and average mass-energy density of the universe, and mechanisms of galaxy formation. Also discussed are the characteristics of active galaxies and clusters emitting in the gamma-ray and X-ray regions, and compact objects formed from supernova explosions, including pulsars, X-ray-emitting neutron stars, Sco X-1 and SS 433, gamma-ray sources, and X-ray and gamma-ray bursters.

Trimble, V. L.↗

Gravitational spin precession in binary systems

The precessional behavior of a binary system is modeled along the lines of one orbital angular and two spin angular non-dissipatively coupled momenta. It is found that the precessional behavior consists of a periodic nutation superimposed on an overall precession of the system about the axis of total angular momentum. A periodic nutation, superimposed on an overall precession of the system about the axis of total angular momentum, is found to characterize system behavior. It is also shown that the nutation associated with precession in such compact object-containing binaries as the PSR 1913+16 pulsar and the Martin and Rees (1979) model of SS 433 will generally be too small to be observable.

Hamilton, A. J. S.↗

Radar backscattering from a rough rotating triaxial ellipsoid with applications to the geodesy of small asteroids

Radar geodesy of the asteroid 433 Eros was reported by Jurgens and Goldstein (1976). Their measurements were based on the spectral properties of a rough rotating triaxial ellipsoid. This paper presents the theory by which theoretical spectra based on a backscattering model of the form of the nth power of the cosine of theta, or any reasonable backscattering model, can be computed. Some general properties of these spectra are demonstrated, and simple measurements of the apparent radar cross section, center frequency, and effective bandwidth as a function of time are shown to be useful in determining the sizes of the semi-major axes, the exponent n in the scattering model, the backscatter efficiency of the surface material, the rotation period, and the declination of the observer above or below the rotation equator. Some of these parameters are correlated, and multiple estimation may be difficult unless the observations span a period sufficiently long so as to present a wide range of declinations of the observer. However, the departure from a spherical shape aids in separating the scattering properties from the target dimensions and facilitates the simultaneous estimation of all free parameters.

Jurgens, R. F.↗

Very high resolution observations of the radio source in the supernova remnant G127.1+0.5

The results of recent very long baseline interferometry of G127.11+0.54 at 10.65 GHz reveal a core dual 'jet' structure. The morphology and physical properties of the compact source are similar to those of SS 433. The combined data from various studies of this object suggest that G127.11+0.54 may be the stellar remnant of the supernova event which also produced the supernova remnant G127.1+0.5.

Geldzahler, B. J.↗

Observations of asteroids in the 3- to 4-micron region

Spectra of eleven asteroids (1, 2, 8, 10, 15, 16, 22, 83, 386, 433, 471) have been obtained in the 3- to 4-micron region. Of these, only 1 Ceres and 2 Pallas have previously been observed in this wavelength region. Spectra of the S- and M-type asteroids are generally featureless, but 8 Flora may be an exception. None of the three new C-type spectra show significant absorption.

Eaton, N.↗