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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 127 records · Page 7

Evaluation of thermal X/5-detector Skylab S-192 data for estimating evapotranspiration and thermal properties of soils for irrigation management

An energy budget approach to evaluating the SKYLAB X/5-detector S-192 data for prediction of soil moisture and evapotranspiration rate was pursued. A test site which included both irrigated and dryland agriculture in Southern Texas was selected for the SL-4 SKYLAB mission. Both vegetated and fallow fields were included. Data for a multistage analysis including ground, NC-130B aircraft, RB-57F aircraft, and SKYLAB altitudes were collected. The ground data included such measurements as gravimetric soil moisture, percent of the ground covered by green vegetation, soil texture, net radiation, soil temperature gradients, surface emittance, soil heat flux, air temperature and humidity gradients, and cultural practices. Ground data were used to characterize energy budgets and to evaluate the utility of an energy budget approach for determining soil moisture differences among twelve specific agricultural fields.

Moore, D. G.↗

Aerospike Engine Post-Test Diagnostic System Delivered to Rocketdyne

The NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, in cooperation with Rocketdyne, has designed, developed, and implemented an automated Post-Test Diagnostic System (PTDS) for the X-33 linear aerospike engine. The PTDS was developed to reduce analysis time and to increase the accuracy and repeatability of rocket engine ground test fire and flight data analysis. This diagnostic system provides a fast, consistent, first-pass data analysis, thereby aiding engineers who are responsible for detecting and diagnosing engine anomalies from sensor data. It uses analytical methods modeled after the analysis strategies used by engineers. Glenn delivered the first version of PTDS in September of 1998 to support testing of the engine s power pack assembly. The system was used to analyze all 17 power pack tests and assisted Rocketdyne engineers in troubleshooting both data acquisition and test article anomalies. The engine version of PTDS, which was delivered in June of 1999, will support all single-engine, dual-engine, and flight firings of the aerospike engine.

Meyer, Claudia M.↗

Biogeochemical cycling and remote sensing

The present investigation is concerned with the role of remote sensing in the analysis of biochemical cycling. A general review is provided of the interest of NASA in biochemical cycling, taking into account an assessment of the state and dynamics of the pools and fluxes of four major elements (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur), an understanding of the coupling and interaction of the biosphere and the atmosphere, and an understanding of the biosphere and the oceans. Attention is given to biogeochemical cycling science issues, the potential remote sensing role, the vegetation type, aspects of vegetation structure, the leaf area index, the canopy height, functional relationships, environmental and soil variables, questions of experimental design, sampling sites and ground data, and radiometric data and analysis.

Peterson, D. L.↗

An evaluation of vertical drag and ground effect using the RSRA rotor balance system

A flight test program utilizing the Rotor Systems Research Aircraft (RSRA) main rotor balance system was conducted to obtain data for the helicopter configuration. The test program is discussed along with the employed data reduction methods, and the results. NASA 740, the RSRA used for the vertical drag test, was in the standard helicopter configuration. The 31-foot radius blades have a linear twist of eight degrees and NACA 0012 airfoil sections. Aspects of instrumentation are considered, taking into account the data recording system, the static calibration facility, and aspects of data calibration and processing. Attention is given to the test procedure, data analysis methods, balance measurements, the ground effect, and vertical drag. It is found that the RSRA rotor balance system is capable of providing high quality performance data. The vertical drag of the RSRA is 4%, compared to 2.9% predicted.

Flemming, R. J.↗

Remote measurement of chlorophyll concentration and secchi-depth using the principal components of the ocean's color spectrum

Statistical results and conclusions are presented, based on direct comparisons of the ocean's color and chlorophyll concentration. The ocean color and ground truth data for this analysis were collected during Mission 140 of NASA's NP3A earth resources aircraft over the period from 6 through 14 August 1970. During this experiment, chlorophyll and light attenuation data were collected. All sets of comparative observations are simultaneous in the sense that the ship began sampling when the aircraft came overhead.

Mueller, J. L.↗

The Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS) aerodynamics and systems: Description and analysis

The aerodynamics, control system, instrumentation complement and recording system of the USAF Total In/Flight Simulator (TIFS) airplane are described. A control system that would allow the ailerons to be operated collectively, as well as, differentially to entrance the ability of the vehicle to perform the dual function of maneuver load control and gust alleviation is emphasized. Mathematical prediction of the rigid body and the flexible equations of longitudinal motion using the level 2.01 FLEXSTAB program are included along with a definition of the vehicle geometry, the mass and stiffness distribution, the calculated mode frequencies and mode shapes, and the resulting aerodynamic equations of motion of the flexible vehicle. A complete description of the control and instrumentation system of the aircraft is presented, including analysis, ground test and flight data comparisons of the performance and bandwidth of the aerodynamic surface servos. Proposed modification for improved performance of the servos are also presented.

Andrisani, D., II↗

Configurational and system requirements for control of large space systems

Control of large space systems, modeling, and control difficulties are discussed. Ground based analysis of spaceflight data are presented to determine structural dynamics characteristics for the purpose of revising control laws, and to trim the surface contour. Systems identification for adaptive control and automatic surface control are also considered.

Taylor, L. W., Jr.↗

Overview of global scale research Doppler lidar activities

Efforts in support of a global backscatter mission are reviewed briefly. Lidar system sensitivity was calibrated by means of ground-based tests. The analysis of ground-based data and planning of a global backscatter mission were conducted. Proposals for FY-85 include using a more powerful laser to conduct backscatter measurements.

Fitzjarrald, D. E.↗

Dust jets in comet Halley observed by Giotto and from the ground

A hypothesis for the short-lived, intermittent discrete sources of dust on the nucleus surface of comet Halley has been confirmed by closeup imaging by a camera aboard the Giotto probe. A previous conclusion for the nonexistence of jet emission from the dark side of the nucleus, reached on the basis of analysis of ground-based data, is also confirmed. Attention is given to such issues as possible spin vector variations for comet Halley over the 76-year period, the survival of dust sources, and the positions of the prime meridian at the two returns to the sun.

Sekanina, Z.↗

Advanced computing

Advanced concepts in hardware, software and algorithms are being pursued for application in next generation space computers and for ground based analysis of space data. The research program focuses on massively parallel computation and neural networks, as well as optical processing and optical networking which are discussed under photonics. Also included are theoretical programs in neural and nonlinear science, and device development for magnetic and ferroelectric memories.

Source record↗

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS)

The mission and instruments of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) are discussed. The individual experiments that will measure energy input to the atmosphere, temperature and important trace chemical species, and winds are individually described. The ground system, correlative measurements, data analysis, and theoretical studies are addressed.

Reber, Carl A.↗

Protecting rain forests and forager's rights using LANDSAT imagery

Creating rain forest reserves is vital given the global decline in biodiversity. Yet, the plants and animals that will be protected from untrammeled commercial exploitation within such reserves constitute essential resources for indigenous foragers and farmers. Balancing the needs of local subsistence level populations with the goals of national and international conservation agencies requires a thorough understanding of the mutual impacts that arise from the interaction of park and people. In the Ituri forest of Zaire, LANDSAT TM image analysis and GPS ground truth data were used to locate human settlements so that boundaries of the proposed Okapi Reserve could be chosen to minimize its impact on the subsistence practices of the local foragers and farmers. Using satellite imagery in conjunction with cultural information should help to ensure traditional resource exploitation rights of indigenous peoples whilst simultaneously protecting the largest contiguous area of undisturbed forest.

Wilkie, David S.↗

Experimental Supersonic Combustion Research at NASA Langley

Experimental supersonic combustion research related to hypersonic airbreathing propulsion has been actively underway at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) since the mid-1960's. This research involved experimental investigations of fuel injection, mixing, and combustion in supersonic flows and numerous tests of scramjet engine flowpaths in LaRC test facilities simulating flight from Mach 4 to 8. Out of this research effort has come scramjet combustor design methodologies, ground test techniques, and data analysis procedures. These technologies have progressed steadily in support of the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) program and the current Hyper-X flight demonstration program. During NASP nearly 2500 tests of 15 scramjet engine models were conducted in LaRC facilities. In addition, research supporting the engine flowpath design investigated ways to enhance mixing, improve and apply nonintrusive diagnostics, and address facility operation. Tests of scramjet combustor operation at conditions simulating hypersonic flight at Mach numbers up to 17 also have been performed in an expansion tube pulse facility. This paper presents a review of the LaRC experimental supersonic combustion research efforts since the late 1980's, during the NASP program, and into the Hyper-X Program.

Rogers, R. Clayton↗

DSN and GAVRT observations of Jupiter at 13 GHz and the calibration of the Cassini radar instrument for passive radiometry

One objective of the Cassini-Jupiter Microwave Observing Campaign observations was to measure Jupiter's average disk temperature with high accuracy at 13.78 GHz, which is the frequency of the radar receiver on the spacecraft. Preliminary results of the ground-based observations are reported. A second objective of the Cassini-JMOC project included an educational compment that allowed middle- and high school students to participate directly in the ground-based observations and data analysis.

radio astronomy Jupiter radio emission Cassini pas↗

Classification of Dust Days by Satellite Remotely Sensed Aerosol Products

Considerable progress in satellite remote sensing (SRS) of dust particles has been seen in the last decade. From an environmental health perspective, such an event detection, after linking it to ground particulate matter (PM) concentrations, can proxy acute exposure to respirable particles of certain properties (i.e. size, composition, and toxicity). Being affected considerably by atmospheric dust, previous studies in the Eastern Mediterranean, and in Israel in particular, have focused on mechanistic and synoptic prediction, classification, and characterization of dust events. In particular, a scheme for identifying dust days (DD) in Israel based on ground PM10 (particulate matter of size smaller than 10 nm) measurements has been suggested, which has been validated by compositional analysis. This scheme requires information regarding ground PM10 levels, which is naturally limited in places with sparse ground-monitoring coverage. In such cases, SRS may be an efficient and cost-effective alternative to ground measurements. This work demonstrates a new model for identifying DD and non-DD (NDD) over Israel based on an integration of aerosol products from different satellite platforms (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)). Analysis of ground-monitoring data from 2007 to 2008 in southern Israel revealed 67 DD, with more than 88 percent occurring during winter and spring. A Classification and Regression Tree (CART) model that was applied to a database containing ground monitoring (the dependent variable) and SRS aerosol product (the independent variables) records revealed an optimal set of binary variables for the identification of DD. These variables are combinations of the following primary variables: the calendar month, ground-level relative humidity (RH), the aerosol optical depth (AOD) from MODIS, and the aerosol absorbing index (AAI) from OMI. A logistic regression that uses these variables, coded as binary variables, demonstrated 93.2 percent correct classifications of DD and NDD. Evaluation of the combined CART-logistic regression scheme in an adjacent geographical region (Gush Dan) demonstrated good results. Using SRS aerosol products for DD and NDD, identification may enable us to distinguish between health, ecological, and environmental effects that result from exposure to these distinct particle populations.

satellite remote sensing↗

BioSensor Users' Guide

The BioSensor is a fully autonomous 3-color LED-based spectrophotometer paired with a fluidics system that supports microbes in liquid culture. Originally developed for the BioSentinel CubeSat mission to study the response of a wild type and mutant strain of yeast to the deep space environment, the BioSensor consists of a series of 16-well, independently plumbed fluidics cards. The cards utilize filters to allow the fluidic system to administer reagents while constraining the microbes in their wells. Heaters on each card incubate to the appropriate growth temperature once the experiment begins. During the active experiment, the LED/detector system measures the transmission of light through each well at three specific wavelengths, similar to a standard benchtop spectrophotometer. The transmission/absorbance kinetics curves for each well are telemetered back to Earth, along with temperature data, for analysis on the ground. The BioSensor is being upgraded from its original CubeSat free-flyer interface to be a secondary payload on lunar landers, Gateway, and other BLEO applications, while maintaining the same functionality and science utility for future experiments.

Matthew Lera↗

BioSensor Users' Guide

The BioSensor is a fully autonomous 3-color LED-based spectrophotometer paired with a fluidics system that supports microbes in liquid culture. Originally developed for the BioSentinel CubeSat mission to study the response of a wild type and mutant strain of yeast to the deep space environment, the BioSensor consists of a series of 16-well, independently plumbed fluidics cards. The cards utilize filters to allow the fluidic system to administer reagents while constraining the microbes in their wells. Heaters on each card incubate to the appropriate growth temperature once the experiment begins. During the active experiment, the LED/detector system measures the transmission of light through each well at three specific wavelengths, similar to a standard benchtop spectrophotometer. The transmission/ absorbance kinetics curves for each well are telemetered back to Earth, along with temperature data, for analysis on the ground. The BioSensor is being upgraded from its original CubeSat free-flyer interface to be a secondary payload on lunar landers, Gateway, and other BLEO applications, while maintaining the same functionality and science utility for future experiments.

Matthew Lera↗