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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

Glancing incidence optics for X-ray and ultraviolet astronomy.

Glancing incidence telescopes of the kind first described by Wolter have now been physically realized, so that it is possible to obtain high-resolution images of celestial objects at all wavelengths greater than about 3 A. The GSFC-MSFC X-ray telescope for the Apollo telescope mount uses Wolter type 1 optics and is capable of forming images of the sun in the 8-70 A region with spatial resolution of the order of one arc second. The GSFC extreme ultraviolet spectroheliometer for OSO H uses type 2 optics and can obtain images of the sun in spectral lines in the 170-400 A region with a spatial resolution of about ten arc seconds. Theoretical (ray trace) and laboratory data on these systems are presented.

Underwood, J. H.↗

In situ measurements of the spectral characteristics of F region ionospheric irregularities

The retarding potential analyzer aboard Ogo 6 has provided high-resolution observations of the ion concentration along the satellite path. Changes in ion concentration as small as 0.03% and at times as small as 0.01% could be measured. Spatial resolution varied from 35 to 380 m. Samples of data have been analyzed to determine the spectral properties of the F region irregularities observed. The most common frequency spectrum observed suggests that the responsible irregularities result from the turbulent dissipation of larger irregularities. At the equator, the larger irregularities are probably produced by convective electric fields. At high latitudes, electric fields may also be involved, but other factors such as precipitating particles may contribute to, or be primarily responsible for, the production of large irregularities. Examples of other types of spectra associated with wavelike irregularities and with 'ground glass' (high-frequency noise) irregularities are also shown.

Dyson, P. L.↗

High-resolution radar maps of the lunar surface at 3.8-cm wavelength

The entire earth-facing lunar surface has been mapped at a resolution of 2 km using the 3.8-cm radar of Haystack Observatory. The observations yield the distribution of the relative radar backscattering efficiency with an accuracy of about 10% for both the polarized (primarily quasi-specular or coherent) and depolarized (diffuse or incoherent) scattered components. The results show a variety of discrete radar features, many of which are correlated with craters or other features of optical photographs. Particular interest, however, attaches to those features with substantially different ratio and optical contrast. An anomaly near 63 degrees is noted in the mean angular scattering law obtained from a summary of the radar data.

Zisk, S. H.↗

High-resolution surface temperature measurements on rotating turbine blades with an infrared pyrometer

A high-resolution pyrometer was developed and tested on a modified turbine engine. The pyrometer was used to obtain temperature profiles of the viewed surface of turbine blades in the engine at tip speeds up to 366 meters per second. The combination of coherent fiber optics, a silicon avalanche detector, and high-speed electronics enabled surface resolution of a spot diameter of 0.05 centimeter. The data, in the form of temperature profiles, was obtained in near real time as a hard copy output from a computer display terminal. Temperatures measured with the pyrometer and with thermocouples agreed within 2 percent at temperatures between 977 to 1144 K.

Uguccini, O. W.↗

Time development of a small solar X-ray burst

The 5.1-7.2 A X-ray emission from the sun was studied via OSO-8 with a high-resolution PET crystal spectrometer during the week of 17 November 1975, when the sun was active. The combination of good temporal and spectral resolution permitted the analysis of the data with multithermal coronal models over the course of a small X-ray burst.

Cohen, G. G.↗

An investigation of the temporal character of mesoscale perturbations in the troposphere and stratosphere

The effectiveness of mesoscale models in explaining perturbations observed in vertical detailed wind profile measurements in the troposphere and lower stratosphere is assessed. The structure and persistence of the data were analyzed and interpreted in terms of several physical models with the goal of establishing explanations for the observed persistent features of the mesoscale flow patterns. The experimental data used in the investigation were obtained by a unique detailed wind profile measurement system. This system is capable of providing resolution of 50 to 100 m wavelengths for the altitude region from approximately 200 m to 18 km. The system consists of a high-resolution tracking radar and special super-pressure balloon configuration known as a Jimsphere.

Vaughan, W. W.↗

Preliminary analysis of remote infrared imagery of shuttle during entry: An aerothermodynamic flight experiment

The preliminary feasibility of remote high-resolution infrared imagery of the space shuttle orbiter lower surface during entry to obtain accurate measurements of aerodynamic heat transfer to that vehicle was examined. In general, it was determined that such such images can be taken from an existing aircraft/telescope system (the C-141 AIRO) with a minimum modification or addition of systems using available technology. These images will have a spatial resolution of about 0.3 m and a temperature resolution much better than 2.5 percent. The data from these images will be at conditions and at a scale not reproducible in ground based facilities and should aid in the reduction of the prudent factors of safety required to account for phenomenological uncertainties on the thermal protection system design. Principal phenomena to be observed include laminar heating, boundary-layer transition, turbulent heating, surface catalysis, and flow separation and reattachment.

Swenson, B. L.↗

High-resolution observations of the Lyman alpha sky background

The first high-resolution observations of the Lyman alpha sky background, obtained with a spectrometer on the Copernicus satellite, are examined. The high-resolution observations presented allow the first direct measurement of the heliocentric velocity of the local interstellar medium. The high resolution of the spectrometer and the projection of the earth's orbital velocity along the line of sight made it possible to separate the weak extraterrestrial background feature from the intense geocoronal emission line. The observations also contain considerable information about the Lyman alpha emission from the geocorona. The data permit limits to be placed on the temperature of the gas that produces the background feature.

Adams, T. F.↗

Recent developments at JPL in the application of digital image processing techniques to astronomical images

Several techniques of a digital image-processing nature are illustrated which have proved useful in visual analysis of astronomical pictorial data. Processed digital scans of photographic plates of Stephans Quintet and NGC 4151 are used as examples to show how faint nebulosity is enhanced by high-pass filtering, how foreground stars are suppressed by linear interpolation, and how relative color differences between two images recorded on plates with different spectral sensitivities can be revealed by generating ratio images. Analyses are outlined which are intended to compensate partially for the blurring effects of the atmosphere on images of Stephans Quintet and to obtain more detailed information about Saturn's ring structure from low- and high-resolution scans of the planet and its ring system. The employment of a correlation picture to determine the tilt angle of an average spectral line in a low-quality spectrum is demonstrated for a section of the spectrum of Uranus.

Lorre, J. J.↗

The University of Colorado OSO-8 spectrometer experiment. I - Introduction and optical design considerations

The optical design of the high-resolution ultraviolet spectrometer prepared for the OSO-8 spacecraft is discussed. The instrument is a conventional 1 m Ebert-Fastie spectrometer fed by a Cassegrainian telescope. The instrument operates in the spectral range 1200-2000 A with spectral resolution of order 0.02 A. Spatial resolution is about 2.5 arcsec normal to the direction of the slit and is selectable from about 3 arcsec to 15 arcmin along the direction of the slit. Time resolution for the single spectrometer channel is selectable according to the needs of an individual observation and is limited to a maximum sampling rate of 40 ms per data point. The instrument is controlled by an internal general purpose computer.

Bruner, E. C., Jr.↗

Numerical simulation of VTPR temperature retrievals in a severe storm environment

Environmental conditions prior to convective development on the Great Plains of the U.S. on one case study day were investigated using the high-resolution infrared radiation sounder (HIRS) on Nimbus 6. A dual-retrieval scheme was developed to retrieve both lower tropospheric moisture and temperature parameters from the HIRS radiances. Total precipitable water, surface dew point temperatures, and stability indices were analyzed at a resolution of up to 30 Km on this day. Correlations with interpolated NES rawinsonde values were high and intrinsic noise levels were low. The true quality of the mesoscale analyses, however, is only seen by examining the small scale features at a scale of approximately 100 Km. Perturbations on the dry line feature for this day were seen in the satellite data, although the dry line position was just as easily picked up by surface observations. Convective development 2 1/2 hours later did seem to correlate well with the local maxima of moisture and instability seen in the satellite analyses.

Vonderhaar, T. H.↗

Detection of 6.13 MeV gamma-rays within and at the top of the atmosphere

A measurement of the 6.13 MeV gamma-radiation from excited O-16 in the atmosphere has been made with a high-resolution Ge(Li) spectrometer flown from Palestine, Texas, 1974 June 10, on a high-altitude balloon. This measurement, made both within and near the top of the atmosphere, is found to have the same general profile as predicted by a semiempirical model, but gives a flux about a factor of 2 higher than predicted. Certain variations in the intensity at float altitude have led to the hypothesis of an extraterrestrial source of 6.13 MeV gamma-radiation from the galactic anticenter. The 3 sigma upper limits for a number of other astrophysically significant line fluxes are also given. The data presented here are consistent with either a source or a no-source hypothesis.

Willett, J. B.↗

High-resolution spectral measurement of the HNO3 5.9-micron band using a tunable diode laser

High resolution spectra in the region of the v(2) band of nitric acid have been obtained for selected portions of the HNO3 spectrum using tunable diode laser techniques. Continuous spectra are presented from 1718.97/cm to 1729.57/cm, with a spectral resolution not greater than 0.001/cm (30 MHz). Absolute line intensities and line positions are presented. Self- and foreign-gas (N2) broadening coefficients were iteratively calculated from the experimental data and were determined to be alpha(a) = 0.74/cm atm and alpha (f) = 0.13/cm atm, respectively.

Bair, C. H.↗

High-resolution Martian atmosphere modeling

A multilayer radiative transfer, high-spectral-resolution infrared model of the lower atmosphere of Mars has been constructed to assess the effect of scattering on line profiles. The model takes into accout aerosol scattering and absorption and includes a line-by-line treatment of scattering and absorption by CO2 and H2O. The aerosol complex indices of refraction used were those measured on montmorillonite and basalt chosen on the basis of Mars ir data from the NASA Lear Airborne Observatory. The particle sizes and distribution were estimated using Viking data. The molecular line treatment employs the AFGL line parameters and Voigt profiles. The modeling results indicate that the line profiles are only slightly affected by normal aerosol scattering and absorption, but the effect could be appreciable for heavy loading. The technique described permits a quantitative approach to assessing and correcting for the effect of aerosols on lineshapes in planetary atmospheres.

Egan, W. G.↗

High-resolution LDA measurements of Reynolds stress in boundary layers and wakes

The turbulent character of the boundary layer and wake associated with an airfoil has been studied at a Reynolds number of 1,000,000 and a Mach number of 0.1. To accomplish these measurements, a unique laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) has been developed that is capable of sensing two velocity components from a remote distance of 2.13 m. Using special simultaneity logic and counter-type signal processors, the geometrical features of the LDA have been exploited to provide variable spatial resolution as low as 0.2 mm. By combining the LDA with an on-line computerized data acquisition and display system, it has been possible to measure mean velocity and Reynolds stress tensor distribution at several locations along the upper surface of a 0.9-m-chord, flapped airfoil installed in the Ames 7- by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel.

Orloff, K. L.↗

Future lunar gravity measurements

Future missions to the moon should include a detailed high-resolution global gravity survey from a low (15-30 km) polar orbiting spacecraft. The use of gravity gradiometer instruments on board the spacecraft will give higher-resolution data at lower total mission cost than the present Doppler tracking technique. Simulations show that although a three axis gradiometer system is preferred, and can even be used to estimate spacecraft attitude and altitude variation, a properly oriented single rotating gravity gradiometer can be used to resolve closely spaced mascons in both the along-track and cross-track directions.

Forward, R. L.↗

Radar, visual and thermal characteristics of Mars - Rough planar surfaces

High-resolution Viking Orbiter images contain significant information on Martian surface roughness at 25- to 100-m lateral scales, while earth-based radar observations of Mars are sensitive to roughness at lateral scales of 1 to 30 m or more. High-rms slopes predicted for the Tharsis-Memnonia-Amazonis volcanic plains from extremely weak radar returns are qualitatively confirmed by the Viking image data. Large-scale, curvilinear ridges on lava flows in the Memnonia Fossae region are interpreted as innate flow morphology caused by compressional foldover of moving lava sheets of possible rhyolite-dacite composition. The presence or absence of a recent mantle of fine-grained eolian material on the volcanic surfaces studied was determined by the visibility of fresh impact craters with diameters less than 50 m. Lava flows with surfaces modified by eolian erosion and deposition occur west-northwest of Apollinaris Patera at the border of the cratered equatorial uplands and southern Elysium Planitia. Nearby yardangs, for which radar observations indicate very high-rms slopes, are similar to terrestrial features of similar origin.

Schaber, G. G.↗

Infrared Imagery of Shuttle (IRIS). Task 1, summary report

The feasibility of remote, high-resolution infrared imagery of the Shuttle Orbiter lower surface during entry to obtain accurate measurements of aerodynamic heat transfer was demonstrated. Using available technology, such images can be taken from an existing aircraft/telescope system (the C141 AIRO) with minimum modification or addition of systems. Images with a spatial resolution of 1 m or better and a temperature resolution of 2.5% between temperatures of 800 and 1900 K can be obtained. Data reconstruction techniques can provide a geometrically and radiometrically corrected array on addressable magnetic tape ready for display by NASA.

Chocol, C. J.↗