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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 NTRS1984

Observations of Low-degree Modes from the Solar Maximum Mission (extended Abstract)

Mean frequencies, amplitudes, and linewidths for the solar 5 min p mode oscillations of degree 0, 1, and 2 have been obtained from approx. 280 days of SMM-ACRIM total irradiance data. The frequencies are in good agreement with measurements obtained from velocity data. The amplitudes of the modes lie along a well defined envelope of power vs. frequency, which peaks at 3.1 mHz and has a width of 0.7 mHz (FWHM). The r.m.s. amplitude of the highest peak in the spectrum (n=21, l=1) is approx. 3 ppm of the total flux. The linewidths of the narrowest l=O modes are approx. 1 micro Hz (FWHM). A broad continuum of power caused both by solar surface granulation and by instrumental noise interferes with the analysis of 5 min modes. The continuum spectral power in a 1 micro Hz band near 3 mHz corresponds to an apparent r.m.s. variation of approx. 0.5 parts per million of the mean solar flux.

Woodard, M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

DE-1 phase 3 extended mission data analysis of Dynamics Explorer retarding ion mass spectrometer flight data

Field-aligned motion of ionospheric ions at a low altitudes and different pitch angle distributions of ionospheric ions at high altitudes were studied. The objective is twofold: (1) to discover the degree to which observations made by Dynamics Explorer 1 (DE-1) and DE-2 agree when taken in the same ionospheric volume; (2) to understand the processes operating along a magnetic field tube connecting DE-1 and DE-2 that allow a reconciliation of the two data sets. A second investigation has two facets; to reconcile the observed occurrence of ionospheric ions at high altitudes with a point source injection in the ionosphere and subsequent E x B drift, and to reconcile the observed fluxes of ionospheric ions at high altitudes with the measured upward flux at low altitudes. An understanding of the effects of E x B drift molten on the dispersion of ionospheric ions is attained.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1987

Alternative cometary targets for the Giotto extended mission

The plan to use an Earth gravity-assist maneuver to redirect the Giotto spacecraft toward Comet Grigg-Skjellerup (GS) for an encounter in July 1992, and 2 additional cometary opportunities are discussed. The first is an encounter with Comet Hartley-2 (H2) in Aug., 1991. The H2 is intrinsically brighter than GS and the encounter would take place much closer to the Earth. The other potential target is Comet du Toit-Hartley (DTH), which is of considerable scientific interest because it split into 2 pieces during its 1979 apparition. Ths GS and H2 missions are the most viable; DTH is eliminated because its aphelion of transfer orbit and Sun distance at encounter (both 1.2 AU) are incompatible with Giotto's degraded thermal insulation.

Farquhar, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The Giotto Extended Mission (GEM) - High risk, high payoff

In February 1990, ESA began reactivation of the Giotto spacecraft, which had been dormant for the previous four years, via the omnidirectional low-gain antenna mounted atop the Giotto. By the end of April 1990, spacecraft temperatures had been reduced to levels at which the experiments could be activated; of the original complement of ten experiment modules, the magnetometer, energetic particle analyzer, and optical probe experiment were fully functional, and an additional three instruments were partly damaged but usable. A mission that targetted Comet Grigg-Skjellerup 214 million km from the earth was then put into effect.

Nye, H. R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Psychological training of NASA astronauts for extended missions

The success of operational teams working in remote and hostile environments rests in large part on adequate preparation of those teams prior to emplacement in field settings. Psychological training, directed at the maintenance of crew health and performance becomes increasingly important as space missions grow in duration and complexity. Methods: Topics to be discussed include: the conceptual framework of psychological training; needs analysis; content and delivery options; methods of assessing training efficacy; use of testbeds and analogies and the relationship of training to crew selection and real-time support activities. Results and Conclusions: This paper will discuss the psychological training approach being developed at the NASA/JSC Behavior and Performance Laboratory. This approach will be compared and contrasted with those underway in the U.S. Department of Defense and in other space agencies.

Holland, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Polar Plasma Wave Investigation Data Analysis in the Extended Mission

This Summary of Research is being submitted to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in fulfillment of the final reporting requirement under Grant NAG5-7943, which terminated on March 31, 2002. The following contains a summary of the significant accomplishments of the Polar Plasma Wave Investigation (PWI) team during the period of the grant, April 1, 1999 through March 31, 2002, and a listing of all of the publications that resulted from work carried out under the grant. Also included below is a listing of the numerous public outreach activities that took place during the period of the grant in which the Polar mission and Polar PWI science were discussed.

Gurnett, Donald A.↗
NASA NTRS2002

UAH Analysis of TIDE/PSI Data for ISTP Solar Maximum Extended Mission

During the course of this research, several investigations have been carried out at both high and low altitudes. The low altitude studies are those associated with perigee observations of ion field-aligned flows measured by POLAR/TIDE near 5000 km altitude. High altitude studies employed ion observations near apogee (above 6 R(sub E) geocentric). In both cases the observations occur at high latitudes, in or near the polar regions: the southern polar region for the low altitude studies and the northern polar region for the high altitude studies. A study of the relationship between field-aligned flow velocities, fluxes, and densities to convection speeds was published in the Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics . Here we have demonstrated an anti-correlation between the 0+ densities and the convection speeds, and a correlation between the parallel upward velocities and the convection speeds, and have discussed these results as being compatible with the Cleft Ion Fountain concept for supplying O(sup +) ions to the polar cap magnetosphere. Another topic investigated was the relationship between TIDE-observed upward and downward parallel O(sup +) bulk velocities near 5000 km altitude over the southern polar regions, and near-simultaneous auroral observations by the Ultra-Violet Imager. We have prepared several overlaid plots of such auroral images across an MLT-ILAT dial plot of the polar regions with upward and downward velocities, as well as other parameters such as ion densities and fluxes. The overlaid plots show quite nicely how upward velocities and crossovers between upward and downward velocities occur in association with auroral forms, while downward flows are associated with dark regions of the polar cap.

Comfort, Richard H.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Polar Plasma Wave Investigation Data Analysis in the Extended Mission

The low latitude boundary layer (LLBL) is a region where solar wind momentum and energy is transferred to the magnetosphere. Enhanced "broadband" electric plasma waves from less than 5 Hz to l0(exp 5) Hz and magnetic waves from less than 5 Hz to the electron cyclotron frequency are characteristic of the LLBL. Analyses of Polar plasma waves show that these "broadband" waves are actually discrete electrostatic and electromagnetic modes as well as solitary bipolar pulses (electron holes). It is noted that all wave modes can be generated by approx. 100 eV to approx. 10 keV auroral electrons and protons. We will review wave-particle interactions, with focus on cross- diffusion rates and the contributions of such interactions toward the formation of the boundary layer. In summary, we will present a scenario where the global solar wind-magnetosphere interaction is responsible for the auroral zone particle beams, and hence for the generation of plasma waves and the formation of the boundary layer. It is speculated that all planetary magnetospheres will have boundary layers and they will be characterized by similar currents and plasma wave modes.

Gurnett, Donald A.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Polar Plasma Wave Investigation Data Analysis in the Extended Mission

The low latitude boundary layer (LLBL) is a region where solar wind momentum and energy is transferred to the magnetosphere. Enhanced "broadband" electric plasma waves from less than 5 Hz to 10(exp 5) Hz and magnetic waves from less than 5 Hz to the electron cyclotron frequency are characteristic of the LLBL. Analyses of Polar plasma waves show that these "broadband" waves are actually discrete electrostatic and electromagnetic modes as well as solitary bipolar pulses (electron holes). It is noted that all wave modes can be generated by approx. 100 eV to approx. 10 keV auroral electrons and protons. We will review wave-particle interactions, with focus on cross-diffusion rates and the contributions of such interactions toward the formation of the boundary layer. In summary, we will present a scenario where the global solar wind-magnetosphere interaction is responsible for the auroral zone particle beams, and hence for the generation of plasma waves and the formation of the boundary layer. It is speculated that all planetary magnetospheres will have boundary layers and they will be characterized by similar currents and plasma wave modes.

Gurnett, Donald A.↗
NASA NTRS2006

From Prime to Extended Mission: Evolution of the MER Tactical Uplink Process

To support a 90-day surface mission for two robotic rovers, the Mars Exploration Rover mission designed and implemented an intensive tactical operations process, enabling daily commanding of each rover. Using a combination of new processes, custom software tools, a Mars-time staffing schedule, and seven-day-a-week operations, the MER team was able to compress the traditional weeks-long command-turnaround for a deep space robotic mission to about 18 hours. However, the pace of this process was never intended to be continued indefinitely. Even before the end of the three-month prime mission, MER operations began evolving towards greater sustainability. A combination of continued software tool development, increasing team experience, and availability of reusable sequences first reduced the mean process duration to approximately 11 hours. The number of workshifts required to perform the process dropped, and the team returned to a modified 'Earth-time' schedule. Additional process and tool adaptation eventually provided the option of planning multiple Martian days of activity within a single workshift, making 5-day-a-week operations possible. The vast majority of the science team returned to their home institutions, continuing to participate fully in the tactical operations process remotely. MER has continued to operate for over two Earth-years as many of its key personnel have moved on to other projects, the operations team and budget have shrunk, and the rovers have begun to exhibit symptoms of aging.

mission operations↗
NASA NTRS2006

From Prime to Extended Mission: Evolution of the MER Tactical Uplink Process

To support a 90-day surface mission for two robotic rovers, the Mars Exploration Rover mission designed and implemented an intensive tactical operations process, enabling daily commanding of each rover. Using a combination of new processes, custom software tools, a Mars-time staffing schedule, and seven-day-a-week operations, the MER team was able to compress the traditional weeks-long command-turnaround for a deep space robotic mission to about 18 hours. However, there was never an intention of maintaining the pace of this process indefinitely. Even before the end of the three-month prime mission, MER operations began evolving towards greater sustainability. A combination of continued software tool development, increasing team experience, and availability of reusable sequences first reduced the mean process duration to approximately 11 hours. The number of workshifts required to perform the process dropped, and the team returned to a modified 'Earth-time' schedule. Additional process and tool adaptation eventually provided the option of planning multiple Martian days of activity within a single workshift, making 5- day-a-week operations possible. The vast majority of the science team returned to their home institutions, continuing to participate fully in the tactical operations process remotely. MER has continued to operate for over two Earth-years as many of its key personnel have moved on to other projects, the operations team and budget have shrunk, and the rovers have begun to exhibit symptoms of aging.

Mars exploration↗
NASA NTRS2012

The Keys to Successful Extended Missions

Many of NASA's successful missions of robotic exploration have gone on to highly productive mission extensions, from Voyager, Magellan, Ulysses, and Galileo, to the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, a variety of Mars orbiters, Spitzer, Deep Impact / EPOXI, and Cassini. These missions delivered not only a high science return during their prime science phase, but a wealth of opportunities during their extensions at a low incremental cost to the program. The success of such mission extensions can be traced to demonstration of new and unique science achievable during the extension; reduction in cost without significant increase in risk to spacecraft health; close inclusion of the science community and approval authorities in planning; intelligent design during the development and prime operations phase; and well crafted and conveyed extension proposals. This paper discusses lessons learned collected from a variety of project leaders which can be applied by current and future missions to maximize their chances of approval and success.

mission lifetime↗
NASA NTRS2013

GRAIL Orbit Determination for the Science Phase and Extended Mission

The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory Mission (GRAIL) is the 11th mission of the NASA Discovery Program. Its objective is to help answer funda-mental questions about the Moon's internal structure, thermal evolution, and collisional history. GRAIL employs twin spacecraft, which fly in formation in low altitude polar orbits around the Moon. An improved global lunar gravity field is derived from high-precision range-rate measurements of the distance between the two spacecraft. The purpose of this paper is to describe the strategies used by the GRAIL Orbit Determination Team to overcome challenges posed during on-orbit operations.

near-coplanar orbits↗
NASA NTRS2008

Deep Impact Extended Mission Challenges for the Validation and Verification Test Program

The Deep Impact Spacecraft was launched on January 12, 2005 as part of NASA's Discovery Program as a radical mission to excavate the interior of a comet. The Spacecraft consisted of two separate entities known as the Flyby and the Impactor, which were commanded to separate prior to comet rendezvous with comet 9P/Tempel 1. The overall mission was deemed a success on July 4, 2005, as the 370-kg Impactor collided with the comet at 10.2 km/s. This event was captured using the camera and infrared spectrometer on the Flyby spacecraft, along with ground-based observatories. Since this event, the Flyby spacecraft has been in hibernation mode and has received only a small amount of maintenance. The Deep Impact Program was managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), led by Dr. Michael A'Hearn from the University of Maryland in College Park, and built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colorado.

Test Bench↗