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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2008

A Closer Look at Solar Wind Sputtering of Lunar Surface Materials

Solar-wind induced potential sputtering of the lunar surface may be a more efficient erosive mechanism than the "standard" kinetic (or physical) sputtering. This is partly based on new but limited laboratory measurements which show marked enhancements in the sputter yields of slow-moving, highly-charged ions impacting oxides. The enhancements seen in the laboratory can be orders of magnitude for some surfaces and highly charged incident ions, but seem to depend very sensitively on the properties of the impacted surface in addition to the fluence, energy and charge of the impacting ion. For oxides, potential sputtering yields are markedly enhanced and sputtered species, especially hydrogen and light ions, show marked dependence on both charge and dose.

Barghouty, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Solar Array (Radiated/Non-Radiated): Materials Characterization and Cryogenic Thermal Cycling Qualification for the Planned Europa Clipper Mission (ECM)

Two special instruments were custom built for our critical study and manufactured and employed to test the SA materials of interest to cryogenic temperature conditions. We have procured custom manufactured two independent systems such as Thermo -Mechanical Analyzer (TMA) with Three Point Bend Probe (TPBP) module and Dilatometer. TMA can be used to measure Young’ s modulus or elastic modulus (e -modulus). Dilatometer can be used to measure Co -efficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE). We have optimized the materials configuration to measure physical properties of radiated and non -radiated materials for CTE and e -modulus, which will be useful to assess materials and processes reliability for cryogenic temperature applications. We have successfully implemented for some materials that are of interest to solar panels for the planned ECM project to measure CTE and Young's modulus. Also a separate study was undertaken to thermal cycle qualify SAs for ECM project. One can do thermal cycling to temperatures of 50 K and 133 K using liquid Helium (Lq He). This is in reality exorbitantly too expensive and is also inefficient. Furthermore, this is not technically controllable test to 133 K and 50 K temperatures. This is also too expensive to accomplish. Therefore, a vacuum set -up was made along with a cryostat successfully. This is a closed loop system where we do not lose the Helium gas. We were able to get to 35 K for a given test coupon size. These temperatures are lower than what we would intend to qualify the solar array technologies. This will allow to have some margin at cold temperatures. We successfully completed the qualification of solar array technologies down to 50 K temperatures. This is the first time we are reporting this accomplishment. In this paper, we will present the solar array materials properties for cryogenic temperatures down to 20 K temperatures and the thermal cycling qualification test results from 133 K to 50 K for three times the mission life of 120 thermal cycles to meet JPL Design.

Ramesham, Rajeshuni↗
NASA NTRS1979

Parameter dependence of equilibrium charging potentials

Equilibrium surface potentials for slab configurations (representative e.g. of a large solar power satellite) are determined under extensive parametric variations of materials, solar exposure and substorm characteristics. The dependence of the charging process for dielectric surfaces on the various material response characteristics is described. The results are used as a guide to the material selection and design of large space systems to minimize dielectric breakdowns and reduce parasitic leakage currents on SPS.

Suh, P. K.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Spectroscopic Evidence for Interstellar Ice in Comet Hyakutake

Volatile compounds in comets are the most pristine materials surviving from the time of formation of the Solar System, and thus potentially provide information about conditions that prevailed in the primitive solar material. Moreover, comets may have supplied a substantial fraction of the volatiles on the terrestrial planets, perhaps including organic compounds that played a role in the origin of life on Earth. Here we report the detection of hydrogen isocyanide (HNC) in comet Hyakutake. The abundance of HNC relative to hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is very similar to that observed in quiescent interstellar molecular clouds, and quite different from the equilibrium ratio expected in the outermost solar nebula, where comets are thought to form. Such a departure from equilibrium has long been considered a hallmark of gas-phase chemical processing in the interstellar medium, suggesting that interstellar gases have been incorporated into the comet's nucleus, perhaps as ices frozen onto interstellar grains. If this interpretation is correct, our results should provide constraints on the temperature of the solar nebula, and the subsequent chemical processes that occurred in the region where comets formed.

Irvine, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Radiation tolerance of boron doped dendritic web silicon solar cells

The potential of dendritic web silicon for giving radiation hard solar cells is compared with the float zone silicon material. Solar cells with n(+)-p-P(+) structure and approximately 15% (AMl) efficiency were subjected to 1 MeV electron irradiation. Radiation tolerance of web cell efficiency was found to be at least as good as that of the float zone silicon cell. A study of the annealing behavior of radiation-induced defects via deep level transient spectroscopy revealed that E sub v + 0.31 eV defect, attributed to boron-oxygen-vacancy complex, is responsible for the reverse annealing of the irradiated cells in the temperature range of 150 to 350 C.

Rohatgi, A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Real-time and accelerated outdoor endurance testing of solar cells

Materials for solar-cell module construction have been studied on the basis of limited real-time outdoor exposure evaluations. The materials tested included transmission samples, sub-modules, and actual solar cells. The results suggest that glass, fluorinated ethylene propylene, and perfluoroalkoxy are good materials for the covering or encapsulation of solar-cell modules. In all cases, dirt accumulation and cleanability are important factors.

Forestieri, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Shock waves in the solar system.

Review of the role of gasdynamic processes involving shock waves in the transfer of solar material and energy to the earth and elsewhere in the solar system. The role of shock waves in maintaining the high temperature of the solar corona and in establishing the steady-state solar wind is discussed. An approximate hydromagnetic theory is developed to explain the flow of a supersonic solar wind past planets and the moon. Data concerning the passage of interplanetary shock waves and the ability of a solar flare to produce such a wave are reviewed, and some terrestrial consequences of solar activity are cited.

Spreiter, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Meteorites and their parent bodies: Evidence from oxygen isotopes

Isotopic abundance variations among meteorites are used to establish genetic associations between meteorite classes. Oxygen isotope distributions between group II E irons with H-group ordinary chondrites and enstatic meteorites indicate that the parent bodies were formed out of pre-solar material that was not fully mixed at the time condensation occurred within the solar nebula.

Clayton, R. N.↗
NASA NTRS1992

LEO effects on candidate solar cell cover materials

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) test samples discussed within are part of the Solar Array Materials Passive (SAMPLE) LDEF experiment, which included contributions from NASA and Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL). Only the JPL portion is described in this paper. The JPL test plate contains 30 individual thin silicon solar cell/cover samples. It was the intent of the experiment to evaluate the stability and protective capability of various cover materials such as conventional fused silica and potential alternative materials such as Teflon, silicone RTV's, glass resins, polyimides, and a copolymer encapsulate. Examination of the recovered experiment shows extensive physical changes have occurred. Approximately 150 micrometeoroid/debris impact were noted, some directly on the solar cells. Of particular interest are the results of ultraviolet and atomic oxygen interactions with the various cover materials. Initial results show that the fused silica cover is the most stable and protective, with performance of other materials varying widely. Electrical measurements of the cell/cover samples are presented as part of the evaluation of cover materials to protect cells in low earth orbit environments.

Stella, Paul M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Measurements of material properties for solar cells

Measurements on two candidate materials for space flight are reported. The observed optical transmittance of aluminum films vapor deposited on fused quartz showed anomalously high transmittance thru 400 A and 600 A and showed an effective skin depth of 110 A in the latter part of the 1000 A thickness. KAPTON films are shown by their optical transmission spectra to have an energy gap for electron excitation of approximately 2.5 eV, which value depends on the thickness as manufactured. The resistance of KAPTON film to ionizing radiation is described by their optical spectra and their electron spin resonance spectra.

Castle, J. G., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2003

The Genesis Mission: An Overview

One of the scientists studying the formation of planets is Don Burnett, principal investigator of the Genesis mission. He designed a NASA project to collect a sample of solar material that may help scientists answer important and puzzling questions. In August 2002, NASA launched the Genesis spacecraft. The spacecraft is not a time machine; it cannot go back to the time of formation of the solar system. What it will do is the next best thing. The Genesis spacecraft will journey toward the sun. It will go to a place outside the Earth's magnetic field where the Earth and sun gravities are balanced. While in orbit, the spacecraft will bathe in solar wind that is flung out from the sun. Solar wind particles are similar to material from which the planets formed, and are atoms, ions, or high-energy particles.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1988

Planetary optical and infrared imaging

The purpose of this investigation is to obtain and analyze high spatial resolution charge coupled device (CCD) coronagraphic images of extra-solar planetary material and solar system objects. These data will provide information on the distribution of planetary and proto-planetary material around nearby stars leading to a better understanding of the origin and evolution of the solar system. Imaging within our solar system will provide information on the current cloud configurations on the outer planets, search for new objects around the outer planets, and provide direct support for Voyager, Galileo, and CRAF by imaging material around asteroids and clouds on Neptune. Over the last year this program acquired multispectral and polarization images of the disk of material around the nearby star Beta Pictoris. This material is believed to be associated with the formation of planets and provides a first look at a planetary system much younger than our own. Preliminary color and polarization data suggest that the material is very low albedo and similar to dark outer solar system carbon rich material. A coronagraphic search for other systems is underway and has already examined over 100 nearby stars. Coronagraphic imaging provided the first clear look at the rings of Uranus and albedo limits for the ring arcs around Neptune.

Terrile, R. J.↗