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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 145 records · Page 8

Paradise: A Parallel Information System for EOSDIS

The Paradise project was begun-in 1993 in order to explore the application of the parallel and object-oriented database system technology developed as a part of the Gamma, Exodus. and Shore projects to the design and development of a scaleable, geo-spatial database system for storing both massive spatial and satellite image data sets. Paradise is based on an object-relational data model. In addition to the standard attribute types such as integers, floats, strings and time, Paradise also provides a set of and multimedia data types, designed to facilitate the storage and querying of complex spatial and multimedia data sets. An individual tuple can contain any combination of this rich set of data types. For example, in the EOSDIS context, a tuple might mix terrain and map data for an area along with the latest satellite weather photo of the area. The use of a geo-spatial metaphor simplifies the task of fusing disparate forms of data from multiple data sources including text, image, map, and video data sets.

DeWitt, David↗

Detection And Avoidance Of Obstacles By Helicopters

Report discusses problems relevant to control subsystems enabling helicopters on nap-of-the-Earth flight paths to detect and avoid obstacles automatically. Indicates similarities between this and obstacle-avoidance problem of industrial mobile robots. Two approaches extend two-dimensional obstacle-avoidance concept to three dimensions. First involves direct search of three-dimensional range-map data for indications of openings between obstacles. Second involves compression of data into two-dimensional map for path search.

Cheng, Victor H. L.↗

Color-coded area sensitivity maps of photomultipliers

Technique was devised specifically for testing photomultipliers and other photodetectors, but it could also be used to color code any type of mapping data, such as weather or topographical maps, thermal or pressure distributions on reentry surfaces, or any other three-dimensional data to be displayed in two-dimensional form.

Youngbluth, O., Jr.↗

Neutron Absorption Measurements Constrain Eucrite-Diogenite Mixing in Vesta's Regolith

The NASA Dawn Mission s Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND) [1] acquired mapping data during 5 months in a polar, low altitude mapping orbit (LAMO) with approx.460-km mean radius around main-belt asteroid Vesta (264-km mean radius) [2]. Neutrons and gamma rays are produced by galactic cosmic ray interactions and by the decay of natural radioelements (K, Th, U), providing information about the elemental composition of Vesta s regolith to depths of a few decimeters beneath the surface. From the data acquired in LAMO, maps of vestan neutron and gamma ray signatures were determined with a spatial resolution of approx.300 km full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM), comparable in scale to the Rheasilvia impact basin (approx.500 km diameter). The data from Vesta encounter are available from the NASA Planetary Data System. Based on an analysis of gamma-ray spectra, Vesta s global-average regolith composition was found to be consistent with the Howardite, Eucrite, and Diogenite (HED) meteorites, reinforcing the HED-Vesta connection [2-7]. Further, an analysis of epithermal neutrons revealed variations in the abundance of hydrogen on Vesta s surface, reaching values up to 400 micro-g/g [2]. The association of high concentrations of hydrogen with equatorial, low-albedo surface regions indicated exogenic delivery of hydrogen by the infall of carbonaceous chondrite (CC) materials. This finding was buttressed by the presence of minimally-altered CC clasts in howardites, with inferred bulk hydrogen abundances similar to that found by GRaND, and by studies using data from Dawn s Framing Camera (FC) and VIR instruments [8-10]. In addition, from an analysis of neutron absorption, spatial-variations in the abundance of elements other than hydrogen were detected [2].

Prettyman, T. H.↗

Lithologic discrimination and alteration mapping from AVIRIS Data, Socorro, New Mexico

Geologic maps are, by their very nature, interpretive documents. In contrasts, images prepared from AVIRIS data can be used as uninterpreted, and thus unbiased, geologic maps. We are having significant success applying AVIRIS data in this non-quantitative manner to geologic problems. Much of our success has come from the power of the Linked Windows Interactive Data System. LinkWinds is a visual data analysis and exploration system under development at JPL which is designed to rapidly and interactively investigate large multivariate data sets. In this paper, we present information on the analysis technique, and preliminary results from research on potassium metasomatism, a distinctive and structurally significant type of alteration associated with crustal extension.

Beratan, K. K.↗

Lithologic Discrimination and Alteration Mapping from AVIRIS Data, Socorro, New Mexico

Geologic maps are, by their very nature, interpretive documents. In contrast, images prepared from AVIRIS data can be used as uninterpreted, and thus unbiased, geologic maps. We are having significant success applying AVIRIS data in this non-quantitative manner to geologic problems. Much of our success has come from the power of the Linked Windows Interactive Data System. LinkWinds is a visual data analysis and exploration system under development at JPL which is designed to rapidly and interactively investigate large multivariate data sets. In this paper, we present information on the analysis technique, and preliminary results from research on potassium metasomatism, a distinctive and structurally significant type of alteration associated with crustal extension.

Chapin, C. E.↗

Savanna burning and convective mixing in southern Africa - Implications for CO emissions and transport

Atmospheric data from both remote and direct measurements were used to compute the carbon monoxide (CO) emissions and mass transport from Africa south of the equator. The Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites (MAPS) experiment flew on the Space Shuttle during October 5-13, 1984; the highest CO mixing ratios from the entire mission were measured over southern Africa. In addition to the MAPS data, surface CO mixing ratios were measured in the boundary layer at Cape Point, South Africa. A calibration factor for the remote MAPS CO measurements was determined by computing the ratio of the surface measurements from Cape Point during unpolluted periods to coincident MAPS measurements. The adjusted MAPS CO data were then used to compute the mass flux of CO from biomass burning in southern Africa during the MAPS mission. The transport calculations were compared to the estimated CO emissions from biomass burning to examine the efficiency in which the continental tropical clouds redistribute CO in the troposphere.

Connors, Vickie S.↗

Integration of imagery and cartographic data through a common map base

Several disparate data types are integrated by using control points as the basis for spatially registering the data to a map base. The data are reprojected to match the coordinates of the reference UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) map projection, as expressed in lines and samples. Control point selection is the most critical aspect of integrating the Thematic Mapper Simulator MSS imagery with the cartographic data. It is noted that control points chosen from the imagery are subject to error from mislocated points, either points that did not correlate well to the reference map or minor pixel offsets because of interactive cursorring errors. Errors are also introduced in map control points when points are improperly located and digitized, leading to inaccurate latitude and longitude coordinates. Nonsystematic aircraft platform variations, such as yawl, pitch, and roll, affect the spatial fidelity of the imagery in comparison with the quadrangles. Features in adjacent flight paths do not always correspond properly owing to the systematic panorama effect and alteration of flightline direction, as well as platform variations.

Clark, J.↗

Solar Array Disturbances to Spacecraft Pointing During the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), the first spacecraft to support NASA s return to the Moon, launched on June 18, 2009 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle. It was initially inserted into a direct trans-lunar trajectory to the Moon. After a five day transit to the Moon, LRO was inserted into the Lunar orbit and successfully lowered to a low altitude elliptical polar orbit for spacecraft commissioning. Successful commissioning was completed in October 2009 when LRO was placed in its near circular mission orbit with an approximate altitude of 50km. LRO will spend at least one year orbiting the Moon, collecting lunar environment science and mapping data, utilizing a suite of seven instruments to enable future human exploration. The objective is to provide key science data necessary to facilitate human return to the Moon as well as identification of opportunities for future science missions. LRO's instrument suite will provide the high resolution imaging data with sub-meter accuracy, highly accurate lunar cartographic maps, mineralogy mapping, amongst other science data of interest. LRO employs a 3-axis stabilized attitude control system (ACS) whose primary control mode, the "Observing Mode", provides Lunar nadir, off-nadir, and inertial fine pointing for the science data collection and instrument calibration. This controller combines the capability of fine pointing with on-demand large angle full-sky attitude reorientation. It provides simplicity of spacecraft operation as well as additional flexibility for science data collection. A conventional suite of ACS components is employed in the Observing Mode to meet the pointing and control objectives. Actuation is provided by a set of four reaction wheels developed in-house at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Attitude feedback is provided by a six state Kalman filter which utilizes two SELEX Galileo Star Trackers for attitude updates, and a single Honeywell Miniature Inertial Measurement Unit (MIMU) to provide body rates for attitude propagation. Rate is computed by differentiating accumulated angle provided by the MIMU. The Observing Mode controller is required to maintain fine pointing while a large fully-articulated solar array (SA) maintains its panel normal to the solar incidence. This paper describes the disturbances to the attitude control resulting from the SA articulation. Observing Mode performance in the presence of this disturbance was assessed while the spacecraft was in an initial elliptical low altitude orbit during the commissioning phase, which started about two weeks after launch and lasted for 90 days. LRO demonstrated excellent pointing performance during Observing Mode nadir and inertial attitude target operations during this phase. Transient LRO attitude errors observed during commissioning resulted primarily from three sources, Diviner instrument calibrations, RW zero crossings, and SA articulation. Even during times of considerable disturbance from SA articulation, the attitude errors were maintained below the statistical attitude error requirement level of 15 arc-sec (3 sigma).

Calhoun, Philip↗

Planning The Route Of A Robotic Land Vehicle

Algorithm enables experimental robotic land vehicle to follow automatically route computed on basis of terrain-height-map data. Computer executing algorithm merges coarser global topographical data with finer local topographical data obtained through stereoscopic video system as vehicle moves along, then smoothes merged elevation map, interpolates map to evenly-horizontally-spaced grid points, and differentiates map to produce data on slopes and roughness for use in calculations of traversability and optimum route(s). Distance traveled minimized to extent possible consistent with avoidance of obstacles.

Gennery, Donald B.↗

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: Data Characterization and Map Making

We present a description of the data reduction and mapmaking pipeline used for the 2008 observing season of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT). The data presented here at 148 GHz represent 12% or the 90 TB collected by ACT from 2007 to 2010. In 2008 we observed for 136 days, producing a total of 142h of data (11 TB for the 148 GHz band only), with a daily average of 10.5 h of observation. From these, 108.5 h were devoted to 850 sq deg stripe (11.2 h by 9 deg.1) centered on a declination of -52 deg.7, while 175 h were devoted to a 280 square deg stripe (4.5 h by 4 deg.8) centered at the celestial equator. We discuss sources of statistical and systematic noise, calibration, telescope pointing and data selection. Out of 1260 survey hours and 1024 detectors per array, 816 h and 593 effective detectors remain after data selection for this frequency band, yielding a 38 % survey efficiency. The total sensitivity in 2008, determined from the noise level between 5 Hz and 20 Hz in the time-ordered data stream (TOD), is 32 muK square root of s in CMB units. Atmospheric brightness fluctuations constitute the main contaminant in the data and dominate the detector and noise covariance at low frequencies in the TOD. The maps were made by solving the lease squares problem using the Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient method, incorporating the details of the detector and noise correlations. Cross-correlation with WMAP sky maps as well as analysis from simulations reveal the our maps are unbiased at l > 300. This paper accompanies the public release of the 148 GHz southern stripe maps from 2008. The techniques described here will be applied to future maps and data releases.

Duenner, Rolando↗

Use of ocean color scanner data in water quality mapping

Remotely sensed data, in combination with in situ data, are used in assessing water quality parameters within the San Francisco Bay-Delta. The parameters include suspended solids, chlorophyll, and turbidity. Regression models are developed between each of the water quality parameter measurements and the Ocean Color Scanner (OCS) data. The models are then extended to the entire study area for mapping water quality parameters. The results include a series of color-coded maps, each pertaining to one of the water quality parameters, and the statistical analysis of the OCS data and regression models. It is found that concurrently collected OCS data and surface truth measurements are highly useful in mapping the selected water quality parameters and locating areas having relatively high biological activity. In addition, it is found to be virtually impossible, at least within this test site, to locate such areas on U-2 color and color-infrared photography.

Khorram, S.↗

LANDSAT data for coastal zone management

The lack of adequate, current data on land and water surface conditions in New Jersey led to the search for better data collections and analysis techniques. Four-channel MSS data of Cape May County and access to the OSER computer interpretation system were provided by NASA. The spectral resolution of the data was tested and a surface cover map was produced by going through the steps of supervised classification. Topics covered include classification; change detection and improvement of spectral and spatial resolution; merging LANDSAT and map data; and potential applications for New Jersey.

Mckenzie, S.↗

The NASA/MSFC Global Reference Atmospheric Model-1995 version (GRAM-95)

The latest version of the Global Reference Atmospheric Model (GRAM-95) is presented and discussed. GRAM-95 uses the new Global Upper Air Climatic Atlas (GUACA) CD-ROM data set, for 0- to 27-km altitudes. As with earlier versions, GRAM-95 provides complete geographical and altitude coverage for each month of the year. Individual years 1985 to 1991 and a period-of-record (1980 to 1991) can be simulated for the GUACA height range. GRAM-95 uses a specially developed data set, based on Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP) data, for the 20- to 120-km height range, and the NASA Marshall Engineering Thermosphere (MET) model for heights above 90 km. Fairing techniques assure a smooth transition in the overlap height ranges (20 to 27 km and 90 to 120 km). In addition to the traditional GRAM variables of pressure, density, temperature and wind components, GRAM-95 now includes water vapor and 11 other atmospheric constituents (O3, N2O, CO, CH4, CO2, N2, O2, O, A, He, and H). A new, variable-scale perturbation model provides both large-scale and small-scale deviations from mean values for the thermodynamic variables and horizontal and vertical wind components. The perturbation model includes new features that simulate intermittency (patchiness) in turbulence and small-scale perturbation fields. The density perturbations and density gradients (density shears) computed by the new model compare favorably in their statistical characteristics with observed density perturbations and density shears from 32 space shuttle reentry profiles. GRAM-95 provides considerable improvement in wind estimates from the new GUACA data set, compared to winds calculated from the geostrophic wind relations previously used in the 0- to 25-km height range. The GRAM-95 code has been put into a more modular form, easier to incorporate as subroutines in other programs (e.g., trajectory codes). A complete user's guide for running the program, plus sample input and output, is provided.

Justus, C. G.↗

The NASA/MSFC Global Reference Atmospheric Model: 1999 Version (GRAM-99)

The latest version of Global Reference Atmospheric Model (GRAM-99) is presented and discussed. GRAM-99 uses either (binary) Global Upper Air Climatic Atlas (GUACA) or (ASCII) Global Gridded Upper Air Statistics (GGUAS) CD-ROM data sets, for 0-27 km altitudes. As with earlier versions, GRAM-99 provides complete geographical and altitude coverage for each month of the year. GRAM-99 uses a specially-developed data set, based on Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP) data, for 20-120 km altitudes, and NASA's 1999 version Marshall Engineering Thermosphere (MET-99) model for heights above 90 km. Fairing techniques assure smooth transition in overlap height ranges (20-27 km and 90-120 km). GRAM-99 includes water vapor and 11 other atmospheric constituents (O3, N2O, CO, CH4, CO2, N2, O2, O, A, He and H). A variable-scale perturbation model provides both large-scale (wave) and small-scale (stochastic) deviations from mean values for thermodynamic variables and horizontal and vertical wind components. The small-scale perturbation model includes improvements in representing intermittency ("patchiness"). A major new feature is an option to substitute Range Reference Atmosphere (RRA) data for conventional GRAM climatology when a trajectory passes sufficiently near any RRA site. A complete user's guide for running the program, plus sample input and output, is provided. An example is provided for how to incorporate GRAM-99 as subroutines in other programs (e.g., trajectory codes).

Justus, C. G.↗

A Streamlined Approach to Spatial Mapping of Complex 3D Thermal Boundary Condition Data

Spatial mapping of 1D, 2D, and particularly 3D thermal boundary condition data is essential for accurate thermal simulation of spacecraft and launch vehicles. This information typically is available in simple ASCII file format but can be problematic to use for thermal simulations. Difficulties that can be encountered include the ability to directly use the available file format, transformation of the data into the desired reference coordinate system in 3D space, and accurate interpolation of the data onto the thermal calculation domain. This paper presents a streamlined approach to spatial mapping of complex unsymmetrical 3D cold wall heat flux data using the fields’ capability in Simcenter3D. A recent example of 3D thermal plume simulation at MSFC will be employed to illustrate the use of text, csv, and Excel files, specifying coordinate systems for transformation of data in 3D space, and use of the various interpolation schemes available for spatial mapping. Spatial boundary condition verification is also very important, and the spacecraft thermal analyst needs effective visualization tools to develop confidence in the boundary condition definitions. Visualization of the spacecraft plume raw field data, the calculated field data, and the interpolated field data onto the thermal calculation domain will be discussed, with a particular focus on real-time viewing of the interpolated data for available interpolation schemes. The objective of this paper is to outline the modeling techniques used with the integrated thermal analysis of a terrestrial lunar lander demonstrator. Specifically, the techniques outlined herein focus on spatial mapping of convective and radiative exhaust plume results from a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Two cases were investigated, however, the modeling techniques that were utilized translate to both cases seamlessly. Those two cases were as follows: • Lunar lander demonstrator firing on-pad (worst case). • Lunar lander demonstrator hovering at an elevated position above the launch pad. For the purposes of information control, this paper will focus on the modeling techniques only, using altered or dimensionless data where necessary. BACKGROUND The thermal model examined in this paper is of the lunar lander demonstrator known as XL-1T (terrestrial), born from a collaborative effort between Masten Space Systems (MSS) and NASA, under NASA’s Lunar CATALYST (also known as Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown) initiative. The lander is a reusable vertical takeoff/vertical landing (VTVL) test bed which is controlled by four throttleable main engines utilizing green hypergolic propellants.

Hawkins, Robert F.↗

Isolation Effects on the Moon: High Topographic Slope Observations from the LRO and LOLA Instruments

The extremely low temperatures in the Moon's polar permanent shadow regions (PSR) has long been considered a unique factor necessary for entrapping volatile Hydrogen (H). However, recent discoveries indicate some H concentrations lie outside PSR, suggesting other geophysical factors may also influence H distributions. In this study we consider insolation and its resulting thermal effects as a loss/redistribution process influencing the Moon's near-surface < 1m volatile H budget. To isolate regional (5deg latitude band) insolation effects we correlate two data sets collected from the ongoing, 1.5 year long mapping mission of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Epithermal neutron mapping data from the Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) is registered and analyzed in the context of slope derivations from Lunar topography maps produced by the Lunar Observing Laser Altimeter (LOLA). Lunar epithermal neutrons are inferred to be direct geochemical evidence for near-surface H due to the correlated suppression of surface leakage fluxes of epithermal neutrons with increased H concentration. Regional suppressions of neutrons seen in LEND maps are considered localized evidence of H concentration increase in the upper 1 m of the Lunar surface. To quantify spatially localized insolation effects, LEND data are averaged from sparsely distributed pixels, classed as a function of the LOLA slope derivations.

McClanahan, T. P.↗

UNF-ST&DARDS Enhancements for RCCA Data in As-loaded Dual Purpose Cask Models

This report summarizes the work performed to enable detailed modeling of rod cluster control assembly (RCCAs) in dual purpose canisters (DPCs) in as-loaded configurations using the Used Nuclear Fuel – Storage, Transportation & Disposal Analysis Resource and Data System (UNF-ST&DARDS). The goal of this project was to evaluate the reactivity impact that RCCAs have on k eff of DPCs with pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel to potentially use the additional margin in future post-closure criticality safety analysis. This preliminary evaluation determined the number of DPCs that currently require compensatory actions prior to emplacement in a repository because of their high reactivity under post-closure criticality scenarios, which could be made acceptable by including the as-loaded RCCAs as specified in the Unified Database (UDB). This report briefly describes the modeling methods currently used within UNF-ST&DARDS and the modifications made to automate inclusion of the as-loaded RCCAs in the DPCs for post-closure criticality calculations for the loss of neutron absorber (NA) scenarios, or NA models. For the Zion site, the loss of basket scenarios, or degraded basket (DB) models, are also included. Discussion is also provided regarding the UDB data compared to available site-specific loading map data for the sites, which are specifically evaluated herein. This report compares the modifications to a similar evaluation for the Zion by site conducted by Walker as an initial validation. After the partial validation, all existing PWR sites with applicable NA models within the UDB were evaluated.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗