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At least 127 records · Page 7

A state-based approach to trend recognition and failure prediction for the Space Station Freedom

A state-based reasoning approach to trend recognition and failure prediction for the Altitude Determination, and Control System (ADCS) of the Space Station Freedom (SSF) is described. The problem domain is characterized by features (e.g., trends and impending failures) that develop over a variety of time spans, anywhere from several minutes to several years. Our state-based reasoning approach, coupled with intelligent data screening, allows features to be tracked as they develop in a time-dependent manner. That is, each state machine has the ability to encode a time frame for the feature it detects. As features are detected, they are recorded and can be used as input to other state machines, creating a hierarchical feature recognition scheme. Furthermore, each machine can operate independently of the others, allowing simultaneous tracking of features. State-based reasoning was implemented in the trend recognition and the prognostic modules of a prototype Space Station Freedom Maintenance and Diagnostic System (SSFMDS) developed at Honeywell's Systems and Research Center.

Nelson, Kyle S.↗

Preliminary design and implementation of the baseline digital baseband architecture for advanced deep space transponders

The baseline design and implementation of the digital baseband architecture for advanced deep space transponders is investigated and identified. Trade studies on the selection of the number of bits for the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and optimum sampling schemes are presented. In addition, the proposed optimum sampling scheme is analyzed in detail. Descriptions of possible implementations for the digital baseband (or digital front end) and digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) for carrier tracking are also described.

Nguyen, T. M.↗

Data collection in IMS: It's not as easy as it looks

Data collection in Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) is not as easy an endeavor as it appears. Despite the advent of high speed personal computers and fast analog-to-digital converters (ADC's), care must be taken to ensure that reliable data are obtained in a timely fashion. This is especially true in hyphenated techniques, e.g. GC-IMS, where the amount of data increases dramatically when gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) data is being collected. Using the Graseby GC-IMS, with a gate repetition rate of 33 Hz, it is theoretically possible to collect 33 spectra per second. This collection rate is not realistically obtained due to a number of factors. Among these factors are inaccuracy of the timing signal from the IMS, the necessity to store the data, disk input/output limitations, disk operating system limitations, and program overhead. Taking these factors into account, we have achieved a data collection rate of 20 spectra per second. This paper will describe these problems, demonstrate the practical effects these problems present, and present methods for minimizing these effects.

Davis, Dennis M.↗

The Use of Large Lithium-Drifted, Germanium Diodes for Gamma-Ray Spectral Measurements at Balloon Altitudes

A series of balloon-borne experiments has been initiated at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in cooperation with the Space Sciences Laboratory of the NASA G. C. Marshall Space Flight Center to determine the feasibility of using large (greater than 20 cc) lithium-drifted, germanium diodes to investigate the spectrum of atmospheric gamma rays (60 keV < E < 1.5 MeV) at altitudes corresponding to a few grams per cm (sup 2) residual atmosphere. The results of these measurements will also provide a basis for designing an appropriate shield for a multi-diode, highly directional gamma-ray spectrometer for use in astrophysical measurements. Two flights were accomplished during 1967 using the same two diodes and basic instrument package. Both flights were launched at the NCAR Scientific Balloon Flight Base, Palestine, Texas, and attained a float altitude of 117, 000 ft. The measured atmospheric gamma-ray spectrum shows at least one distinct line at 511 keV (annihilation radiation) superimposed on a continuous distribution of gamma rays attributable to both energy-degraded gamma rays and brems-strahlung photons. A second diode, encased in a passive shield of plastic and lead, shows the expected lines resulting from both neutron inelastic scattering and capture in the germanium. Data acquisition was accomplished on an event-by-event basis through the use of 512-channel, on-board ADC and word-generator circuits and a ground-based, on-line telemetry decoder. The decoder makes it possible to store the data in the memory of a modified pulse-height analyzer simultaneously with storage on magnetic tape. This provides a real-time visual observation of the data as it is accumulated and greatly facilitates preflight calibrations.

Chapman, G. T.↗

First-Generation Jet Propulsion Laboratory "Hockey-Puck" Free-Flying Magnetometers for Distributed In-Situ Multiprobe Measurement of Current Density Filamentation in the Northern Auroral Zone: Enstrophy Mission

The sub-orbital rocket mission was a collaborative project between the University of New Hampshire, Cornell University, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to study filamentation phenomena in the northern Auroral zone. The Enstrophy mission test flies the JPL Free-Flying Magnetometer (FFM) concept. The FFM technology development task has been funded by NASA develop miniaturized, low-power, integrated "sensorcrafts". JPL's role was to design, integrate, test, and deliver four FFMs for deployment from the sounding rocket, allowing a unique determination of curl-B. This provides a direct measurement of magnetic-field-aligned current density along the rocket trajectory. A miniaturized three-axis fluxgate magnetometer was integrated with a 4-channel 22-bit sigma-delta Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), four temperature sensors, digital control electronics, seven (Li-SOCl2) batteries, two (4 deg x 170 deg field of view) sun-sensors, a fan-shaped-beam laser diode beacon, a (16 MHz) stable Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) clock, Radio Frequency (RF) communication subsystem, and an antenna for approximately 15 minutes of operation where data was collected continuously and transmitted in three (3) bursts (approximately 26 seconds each) to ground station antennas at Poker Flat, Alaska. FFMs were stowed within two trays onboard the rocket during the rocket launch and were released simultaneously using the spinning action of the rocket at approximately 300 km altitude (approximately 100 sec. into the flight). FFMs were deployed with spin rate of approximately 17 Hz and approximately 3 m/sec linear velocity with respect to the rocket. For testing purposes while the rocket was in the launch pad and during flight prior to release of FFMs from the rocket, commands (such as "power on", "test", "flight", "power off', and clock "Reset" signal) were transmitted via a infrared Light Emitting Diode to an infrared detector in the FFM. Special attention was paid to low magnetic signature electronic design and choice of materials in packaging. The miniaturized fluxgate magnetometers had a range of 1-60000 nT with 0.1% full-scale linearity. The frequency range of interest for magnetic measurement was 10 mHz - 50 Hz. Digital data from the magnetometer's three axes were placed in a 4MB Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) in data packages (frames) formatted together with time tags and frame ID. After a specified time was elapsed, the data were Viterbi encoded and transmitted at a rate of 100 kbps (BPSK). Each of the four FFMs transmitted at different frequency. These carrier frequencies were in the range of 2200-2300 MHz. The antenna was a single patch on a high dielectric constant substrate covering one end-plate of the hockey-puck-sized unit. The local clocks aboard the FFMs were reset at the start of the mission and stayed synchronized within 3 msec during the mission. Position of each FFM with respect to the rocket is calculated by the knowledge of its release velocity (measured at exit point of the FFM launcher tract) providing an accuracy of 1 m over the maximum range of 3 km. Spatial and temporal nature of observants can be separated to within 3 m in space or 3 msec time interval.

Javadi, H.↗

Radiation Damage and Single Event Effect Results for Candidate Spacecraft Electronics

We present data on the vulnerability of a variety of candidate spacecraft electronics to proton and heavy-ion induced single-event effects and proton-induced damage. We also present data on the susceptibility of parts to functional degradation resulting from total ionizing dose at low dose rates (0.003-0.33 Rads(Si)/s). Devices tested include optoelectronics, digital, analog, linear bipolar, hybrid devices, Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs), Digital to Analog Converters (DACs), and DC-DC converters, among others.

OBryan, Martha V.↗

Co-Investigator Proposal for Enstrophy - - Filamentation of Auroral Currents

Cornell University provided three instruments for the Enstrophy experiment: an electric field meter, a plasma wave receiver, and a magnetometer for measuring FAC. The electric field meter consisted of a 6 m Weitzmann boom system with analog signal processing and 12 bit ADC, which yielded one electric field component instantaneously and a two dimensional electric field every half spin. The plasma wave receiver used the same sensing system with the addition of pre-amplifiers in the spheres to sense plasma waves up to and including the electron Langmuir frequency. Signal processing employed a variety of continuous and snap shot techniques depending on the frequency range and band width. The science magnetometer provided by Cornell University was a Billingsly design fluxgate previously used on spacecraft missions but without radiation hardening. The magnetometer was mounted on a one meter, stiff aluminum "flop-down" boom. The Enstrophy payload was launched on february 11, 1999. Because of a design flaw in the event timers, the magnetometer boom was deployed before the payload despun. As a result the magnetometer separated mechanically from the boom but maintained electrical connection. This was confirmed by the calculation of the scalar magnetic field from all three vector components of the magnetic field. However, the individual vector values had no scientific value. The electric field and plasma wave instrumentation worked as designed. The data from these instruments was provided to the University of New Hampshire and to the Principal Investigator, as proposed.

Kintner, Paul M.↗

Recent Radiation Damage and Single Event Effect Results for Candidate Spacecraft Electronics

We present data on the vulnerability of a variety of candidate spacecraft electronics to proton and heavy-ion induced single-event effects and proton-induced damage. Devices tested include optoelectronics, digital, analog, linear bipolar, hybrid devices, Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs), and DC-DC converters, among others.

Martha V. OBryan↗

Charge Resolution of the Silicon Matrix of the ATIC Experiment

ATIC (Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter) is a balloon borne experiment designed to measure the cosmic ray composition for elements from hydrogen to iron and their energy spectra from approx.50 GeV to near 100 TeV. It consists of a Si-matrix detector to determine the charge of a CRT particle, a scintillator hodoscope for tracking, carbon interaction targets and a fully active BGO calorimeter. ATIC had its first flight from McMurdo, Antarctica from 28/12/2000 to 13/01/2001. The ATIC flight collected approximately 25 million events. The silicon matrix of the ATIC spectrometer is designed to resolve individual elements from proton to iron. To provide this resolution careful calibration of each pixel of the silicon matrix is required. Firstly, for each electronic channel of the matrix the pedestal value was subtracted taking into account its drift during the flight. The muon calibration made before the flight was used then to convert electric signals (in ADC channel number) to energy deposits in each pixel. However, the preflight muon calibration was not accurate enough for the purpose, because of lack of statistics in each pixel. To improve charge resolution the correction was done for the position of Helium peak in each pixel during the flight . The other way to set electric signals in electronics channels of the Si-matrix to one scale was correction for electric channel gains accurately measured in laboratory. In these measurements it was found that small different nonlinearities for different channels are present in the region of charge Z > 20. The correction for these non-linearities was not done yet. In linear approximation the method provides practically the same resolution as muon calibration plus He-peak correction. For searching a pixel with the signal of primary particle an indication from the cascade in the calorimeter was used. For this purpose a trajectory was reconstructed using weight centers of energy deposits in BGO layers. The point of intersection of this trajectory with Si-matrix and its RMS was determined. The pixel with maximal signal in 3sigma region was taken as sought. The signal in this pixel was corrected by trajectory zenith angle. The preliminary results on charge resolution of the Si-matrix in the range from protons to iron are presented.

Zatsepin, V. I.↗

Current Single Event Effects and Radiation Damage Results for Candidate Spacecraft Electronics

We present data on the vulnerability of a variety of candidate spacecraft electronics to proton and heavy ion induced single event effects, total ionizing dose and proton-induced damage. Devices tested include optoelectronics, digital, analog, linear bipolar, hybrid devices, Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs), and DC-DC converters, among others.

OBryan, Martha V.↗

Development and Operations of the Astrophysics Data System

The ADS was represented at the AAS meeting with 3 poster papers and a demonstration booth. We have setup a mirror site of the Vizier data base system at the CDS. functionality of the ADC at Goddard. This will replace the Preparations for the APS and LPSC meetings in March started. We will have demonstrations at both meetings. Preparations for the APS and LPSC meetings in March continued. We will have demonstrations at both meetings. The ADS was represented with a poster at the joint AGUEGU meeting in Nice, France. Discussions about the on-going collaboration between the ADS and the CDS in Strasbourg, France were held in Strasbourg. The ADS was invited to organize a session about the ADS and its mirror sites at the next United Nations Workshop on Basic Space Sciences in the Developing World. Efforts are under way to enter the tables of contents of all conference proceedings in the SA0 library into the ADS. This requires copying the tables of contents from all volumes in the library and have them typed in. This will greatly enhance the coverage of the literature in the ADS. We started the development of a search system for the full text of all scanned material in the ADS. This will eventually allow our users search capabilities that so far do not exist in any form. I order to enable the full text searching, we have purchased OCR software and are in the process of OCRing the scanned pages in the ADS. Efforts are in progress to handle the inclusion of data set identifiers in article manuscripts. The ADS will be the central system that will allow the journals to verify data set identifiers. The "master verifier" has been implemented in prototype form at the ADS. We started to include more journals in Geosciences/Geophysics in the ADS. The Royal astronomical Society has decided to archive their on-line journals in the ADS three years after publication. We have started to process these older on-line articles in order to archive them in the ADS. Our mirror site in Korea now has a full article mirror. We developed XML output capability in the ADS. This will make it easier to exchange data with other data systems. We started the development of new indexing software that will eventually reduce the indexing time for a database from days to hours or less. The ADS was represented at the IAU General Assembly with a poster. Discussions with the IAU management were held about extending the ADS IAU collaborations.

Murray, Stephen S.↗

Citizen Explorer: An Earth Observer With New Small Satellite Technology - 1

Citizen Explorer-I (CX-I), designed and built by students at Colorado Space Grant Consortium in Boulder to provide global ozone monitoring, employs a unique mission architecture and several innovative technologies during its mission. The mission design allows K-12 schools around the world to be involved as ground stations available to receive science data and telemetry from CX-I. Another important technology allows the spacecraft to be less reliant on ground operators. Spacecraft Command Language (SCL) allows mission designers to set constraints on the satellite operations. The satellite then automatically adheres to the constraints when the satellite is out of contact with Mission Operations. In addition to SCL, a low level of artificial intelligence will be supplied to the spacecraft through the use of the Automated Scheduling and Planning ENvironment (ASPEN). ASPEN is used to maintain a spacecraft schedule in order to achieve the objectives a mission operator would normally have to complete. Within the communications system of CX-I, internet of CX-I, internet protocols are the main method for communicating with the satellite. As internet protocols have not been widely used in satellite communication, CX-I provides an opportunity to study the effectiveness of using internet protocols over radio links. The Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) on CX-I uses a gravity gradient boom as a means of orienting the satellite's science instruments toward nadir. The boom design is unique because it is constructed of tape measure material. These new technologies' effectiveness will be tested for use on future small satellite projects within the space satellite industry.

Allen, Zachary↗

A Step Response Based Mixed-Signal BIST Approach for Continuous-time Linear Circuits

A new Mixed-Signal Built-in self-test approach that is based upon the step response of a reconfigurable (or multifunction) analog block is presented in this paper. The technique requires the overlapping step response of the Circuit Under Test (CUT) for two circuit configurations. Each configuration can be realized by changing the topology of the CUT or by sampling two CUT nodes with differing step responses. The technique can effectively detect both soft and hard faults and does not require an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and/or digital-to-analog converter(DAC). It also does not require any precision voltage sources or comparators. This approach does not require any additional analog circuits to realize the test signal generator and sample circuits. The paper is concluded with the application of the proposed approach to a circuit found in the work of Epstein et al and two ITC 97 analog benchmark circuits.

Walker, Alvernon↗

A Step Response Based Mixed-Signal BIST Approach

A new Mixed-Signal Built-in Self-test approach that is based upon the step response of a reconfigurable (or multifunction) analog block is presented in this paper. The technique requires the overlapping step response of the Circuit Under Test (CUT) for two circuit configurations. Each configuration can be realized by changing the topology of the CUT or by sampling two CUT nodes with differing step responses. The technique can effectively detect both soft and hard faults and does not require an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and/or digital-to-analog converter( DAC). It also does not require any precision voltage sources or comparators. The approach does not require any additional analog circuits to realize the test signal generator and a two input analog multiplexer for CUT test node sampling. The paper is concluded with the application of the proposed approach to a circuit found in the work of Epstein et a1 and two ITC 97 analog benchmark circuits.

Walker, Alvernon↗

Assessment of Selected CERES Electronic Component Survivability under Simulated Overvoltage Conditions

In August, 1998 a Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument telemetry housekeeping parameter generated a yellow warning message that indicated an on-board + 15V Data Acquisition Assembly (DAA) power converter deregulation anomaly. An exhaustive investigation was undertaken to understand this anomaly and the long-term consequences which have severely reduced CERES operations on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) spacecraft. Among investigations performed were ground tests that approximated the on-board electronic circuitry using a small quantity of flight identical components exposed to maximum spacecraft bus over-voltage conditions. These components include monolithic integrated microcircuits that perform analog signal conditioning on instrument sensor signals and an analog- to-digital converter (ADC) for the entire DAA. All microcircuit packages have either a bipolar silicon design with internal current limiting protections or have a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) design with bias protections. Ground tests that have been running for approximately 8 months have indicated that these components are capable of withstanding as much as twice their input supply voltage ratings without noticeable performance degradation. These data provide CERES operators with confidence of being able to continue science operations over the remaining life of the TRMM mission. This paper will discuss this anomaly and some possible causes, a simulator of affected electronics, test results, prognosis for future CERES operations, and conclusions.

Chapman, John J.↗