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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 109 records · Page 6
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NASA NTRS1980

Space astronomy to the year 2000 - A preview of the possibilities

Following an overview of the role of space observations in contemporary astrophysics, the next generation of space-based observatories (the Space Telescope, the Gamma Ray Observatory and the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility) is described. Possible new directions which may be pursued in the 1990s are also discussed. These include the development of large flux collectors for use in astronomy in the ultraviolet, optical, infrared and millimeter wave portions of the spectrum and the development of space-based interferometers to carry out a variety of astrophysically important measurements. Many of these longer term programs will require substantial advances in optics, structures, and control technology.

Rosendhal, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Current ideas on the nature of comets

The chemical composition, emission and line spectra, and structure of comet nuclei, cometary atmospheres, and comet tails are discussed. The role of ultraviolet and infrared astronomy in defining comets is examined.

Rahe, J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

X-ray and extreme ultraviolet imaging using layered synthetic microstructures

Up to now designers of X-ray optical instruments such as microscopes and telescopes have been compelled to use mirrors operating at small glancing angles. However, using vapor deposition techniques, it is now possible to build multilayered thin film structures in which the individual layers have thicknesses comparable with a wavelength of X-rays. These devices operate in a manner exactly analogous to multilayer dielectric coatings at visible wavelengths and can be used to increase the X-ray and extreme ultraviolet reflectivity of surfaces at large glancing angles. These X-ray mirrors have numerous potential applications in X-ray optics. Attention is given to X-ray images with a normal incidence mirror, and applications of multilayer optics. Single-mirror telescopes for solar/stellar astronomy are discussed, taking into account solar corona and transition region studies, and X-ray and extreme ultraviolet astronomy. Hybrid X-ray telescopes are also considered.

Underwood, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

STS-35: Astro-1 BBXRT Problem Area

The primary objective of STS-35 was to conduct observations in ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy with the ASTRO-1 observatory. ASTRO-1 consisted of four telescopes: Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT); Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment (WUPPE); Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT); and Broad Band X-ray Telescope (BBXRT). This videotape shows work on the BBXRT in the clean room. Two days before a scheduled September 1 launch date, the avionics box on the BBXRT malfunctioned and had to be changed and retested.

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NASA NTRS1985

The generation of infrared and ultraviolet astronomical data bases and retrieval systems

Observations with the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) and with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite have stimulated the need for machine-readable data bases at infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths along with associated software. This paper describes the generation of three such data sets at the Astronomical Data Center (ADC) of the NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC): the Catalog of Infrared Observations, the Combined List of Astronomical Sources, and the Bibliographical Index of Objects Observed by IUE 1978-82. The discussion is divided by spectral regime and includes summaries of the data products developed in each category.

Mead, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Imaging Jupiter's aurorae from H3+ emissions in the 3-4 micrometers band

Since H3+ was first spectroscopically detected on Jupiter, there has been considerable interest in using this simple molecular ion to probe conditions existing in the planet's auroral regions. Here we present a series of images of Jupiter recorded at wavelengths sensitive to emission by H3+, which reveal the spatial distribution of excited H3+ molecular ions in the jovian ionosphere, as seen from Earth. We believe that they provide high-spatial-resolution images of polar aurorae on Jupiter. They suggest that the intensity of the auroral emission can vary on a timescale of an hour, a shorter period than had previously been noted. We also find that the spatial distribution of H3+ emissions correlates only partially with the loci of auroral activity inferred from ultraviolet and longer-wavelength infrared observations. The H3+ emission may therefore be controlled by auroral processes that are different from those responsible for the ultraviolet and infrared emissions.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS1982

The far ultraviolet spectroscopic explorer

The scientific objectives and performance characteristics of a new astronomy mission referred to as the far ultraviolet spectroscopic explorer, or FUSE are being defined by a team involving people experienced instrumental requirements that best meet the scientific needs. The team is intended to have a lifetime of about one year, ending with the submission of a report to NASA which could be used as the basis for an engineering design study. The principal objective of FUSE is to obtain astronomical spectra at wavelengths shorter than is possible with the Space Telescope.

Boggess, A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

STS-35: Astronaut Departure

The primary objective of the STS-35 mission was the round-the-clock observations of the celestial sphere in ultraviolet and X ray astronomy with ASTRO-1. The mission was commanded by Vance D. Brand. The crew consisted of the pilot Guy S. Gardner, the mission Specialists Jeffery Hoffman, John Lounge, and Robert Parker, and the payload specialists Samuel Durrance, and Ronald Parise. This videotape shows the astronauts leaving the Kennedy Space Center after one of the attempts to launch the mission was scrubbed due to hydrogen leaks aboard the shuttle Columbia.

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NASA NTRS1990

STS-35/ASTRO-1: Breakfast/Suit-up /Depart O & C / Ingress / Launch with Isolated Views

The primary objective of the STS-35 mission was the round-the-clock observations of the celestial sphere in ultraviolet and X ray astronomy with ASTRO-1. The mission was commanded by Vance D. Brand. The crew consisted of the pilot Guy S. Gardner, mission Specialists Jeffery Hoffman, John Lounge, and Robert Parker, and payload specialists Samuel Durrance, and Ronald Parise. This videotape opens with a view of the shuttle on the pad at night in preparation for a night launch. The astronauts are introduced as they finish their pre-launch breakfast. The next shots are those of the astronauts getting into their spacesuits, and boarding the bus to be taken to the pad. The astronauts are next shown climbing into the shuttle. The launch of the shuttle is shown from 19 different camera angles.

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NASA NTRS1990

Ultraviolet, visible, and gravity astrophysics: A plan for the 1990's

NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) receives advice on scientific strategy and priorities from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Guidance to the OSSA Astrophysics Division, in particular, is provided by dedicated academy committees, ad hoc study groups, and, at ten-year intervals, by broadly mandated astronomy and astrophysics survey committees charged with making recommendations for the coming decade. Many of the academy's recommendations have important implications for the conduct of ultraviolet and visible-light astronomy from space. Moreover, these areas are now poised for an era of rapid growth. Through technological progress, ultraviolet astronomy has already risen from a novel observational technique four decades ago to the mainstream of astronomical research today. Recent developments in space technology and instrumentation have the potential to generate comparably dramatic strides in observational astronomy within the next ten years. In 1989, the Ultraviolet and Visible Astrophysics Branch of the OSSA Astrophysics Division recognized the need for a new, long-range plan that would implement the academy's recommendations in a way that yielded the most advantageous use of new technology. NASA's Ultraviolet, Visible, and Gravity Astrophysics Management Operations Working Group was asked to develop such a plan for the 1990's. Since the branch holds programmatic responsibility for space research in gravitational physics and relativity, as well as for ultraviolet and visible-light astrophysics, missions in those areas were also included. The working group met throughout 1989 and 1990 to survey current astrophysical problems, assess the potential of new technologies, examine prior academy recommendations, and develop the implementation plan. The present report is the product of those deliberations. Key astrophysical questions to be addressed cover topics such as the structure and evolution of the early universe, energetics of active galactic nuclei, stellar winds in massive stars, sources powered by accretion, composition and state of the interstellar medium, nature of the galactic halo, chromospheric activity in cool stars, and formation of stars and planetary systems. This document provides a review of these questions, program concerns, and the recommended implementation plan for the 1990's.

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NASA NTRS2014

Enhanced Fluoride Over-Coated Al Mirrors for FUV Astronomy

Astronomical observations in the Far Ultraviolet (FUV) spectral region are some of the more challenging due to the very distant and faint objects that are typically searched for in cosmic origin studies such as origin of large scale structure, the formation, evolution, and age of galaxies and the origin of stellar and planetary systems. These challenges are driving the need to improve the performance of optical coatings over a wide spectral range that would increase reflectance in mirrors and reduced absorption in dielectric filters used in optical telescope for FUV observations. This paper will present recent advances in reflectance performance for Al+MgF2 mirrors optimized for Lyman-alpha wavelength by performing the deposition of the MgF2 overcoat at elevated substrate temperatures. We will also present optical characterization of little studied rare-earth fluorides such as GdF3 and LuF3 that exhibit low-absorption over a wide wavelength range and could therefore be used as high refractive index alternatives for dielectric coatings at FUV wavelengths.

Reflectance↗
NASA NTRS1979

Voyager 1 examines Jupiter

An overview of the Voyager mission to Jupiter, Saturn, and possibly Uranus is presented. Scientific instruments onboard the spacecraft are described as well as methods used for their calibration and evaluation during the cruise phase of the mission. Experiments to be performed cover the following areas: imaging science, radio science, cosmic rays, ultraviolet spectroscopy, photopolarimetry, planetary radio astronomy, magnetic fields, low-energy charged particles, plasma science, and infrared radiometry and spectroscopy. A list of the satellites of Jupiter and their diameters, distances, and periods is included.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1986

Operational characteristics of Wedge and Strip image readout systems

Application of the Wedge and Strip readout system in microchannel plate detectors for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer and FAUST space astronomy programs is discussed. Anode designs with high resolution (greater than 600 x 600 pixels) in imaging and spectroscopy applications have been developed. Extension of these designs to larger formats (100 mm) with higher resolution (3000 x 3000 pixels) are considered. It is shown that the resolution and imaging are highly stable, and that the flat field performance is essentially limited by photon statistics. Very high speed event response has also been achieved with output pulses having durations of less than 10 nanoseconds.

Siegmund, O. H. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The circumstellar environments of intermediate mass main sequence stars

Analysis of archival Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) and International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) data resulted in identification of accreting gas toward a 2.8 Myr post-Herbig Be star in the R CrA star formation region, and identification of accreting gas toward HD 93563, previously identified as a classical Be star. Accreting gas was also detected toward two B(e) stars of previously controversial evolutionary state, resulting in identification of these systems as pre-Main Sequence Herbig Be stars viewed edge-on to their circumstellar disks. In parallel with this effort, accreting gas was detected toward the Herbig Ae star HR 5999, resulting in development of identification criteria for edge-on PMS proto-planetary disk systems. The work on individual stars is described.

Grady, Carol A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Multiple detector focal plane array ultraviolet spectrometer for the AMPS laboratory

The possibility of meeting the requirements of the amps spectroscopic instrumentation by using a multi-element focal plane detector array in a conventional spectrograph mount was examined. The requirements of the detector array were determined from the optical design of the spectrometer which in turn depends on the desired level of resolution and sensitivity required. The choice of available detectors and their associated electronics and controls was surveyed, bearing in mind that the data collection rate from this system is so great that on-board processing and reduction of data are absolutely essential. Finally, parallel developments in instrumentation for imaging in astronomy were examined, both in the ultraviolet (for the Large Space Telescope as well as other rocket and satellite programs) and in the visible, to determine what progress in that area can have direct bearing on atmospheric spectroscopy.

Feldman, P. D.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Discovery of an Extremely Short Duration Flare from Proxima Centauri Using Millimeter through Far-ultraviolet Observations

We present the discovery of an extreme flaring event from Proxima Cen by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder(ASKAP), Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array(ALMA), Hubble Space Telescope(HST),Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite(TESS), and the du Pont Telescope that occurred on 2019 May 1. In the millimeter and FUV, this flare is the brightest ever detected, brightening by a factor of>1000 and>14,000 as seen by ALMA and HST, respectively. The millimeter and FUV continuum emission trace each other closely during the flare, suggesting that millimeter emission could serve as a proxy for FUV emission from stellar flares and become a powerful new tool to constrain the high-energy radiation environment of exoplanets. Surprisingly, optical emission associated with the event peaks at a much lower level with a time delay. The initial burst has an extremely short duration, lasting for<10 s. Taken together with the growing sample of millimeter M dwarf flares, this event suggests that millimeter emission is actually common during stellar flares and often originates from short burst-like events.

Stellar activity↗