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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Evolution from amino acids - Lunar occurrence of their precursors.

Review of the present state of experimentally based concepts of organic evolution from amino acids. Earlier studies of the synthesis of amino acid precursors from meteoritic material, lunar dust, and terrestrial lava are briefly summarized, and laboratory experiments in which polymers of amino acids were obtained either by direct heating of dry amino acids or by heating aqueous solutions of mixtures of amino acids are described. In particular, a process is described by which alpha-amino acids were made to react to form linear chains of proteinoids. It is concluded that a proteinoid microsystem was a common ancestor of all life on earth.

Fox, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Solid state polymerization and crystallography of polyimide precursors

Although the production of crystallinity in a polymeric system has historically led to commerically useful properties, the polyimides, prized for their high temperature characteristics, as customarily synthesized by melt or solution casting, are amorphous. It is shown that polymide containing residual crystallinity can be synthesized by isothermal annealing of crystals of the salt of the diisopropyl ester of pyromellitic acid and phenylene diamine. The reaction is topochemical in that the geometry of the polymer product is dependent upon that of the crystalline precursor. Infrared spectroscopy reveals the presence of imide absorption in the polymer, while powder diffractometry suggests residual crystallinity. Single crystal X-ray analysis of the monomer yields a structure of chains of alternating acid and base suggesting that the monomer is amenable to polymerization with a minimum of geometrical disruption.

Wakelyn, N. T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

An interstellar precursor mission

A mission out of the planetary system, with launch about the year 2000, could provide valuable scientific data as well as test some of the technology for a later mission to another star. Primary scientific objectives for the precursor mission concern characteristics of the heliopause, the interstellar medium, stellar distances (by parallax measurements), low energy cosmic rays, interplanetary gas distribution, and mass of the solar system. Secondary objectives include investigation of Pluto. Candidate science instruments are suggested. Individual spacecraft systems for the mission were considered, technology requirements and problem areas noted, and a number of recommendations made for technology study and advanced development. The most critical technology needs include attainment of 50-yr spacecraft lifetime and development of a long-life NEP system.

Jaffe, L. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Theoretical models of interstellar shocks. I - Radiative transfer and UV precursors

Theoretical models of interstellar radiative shocks are constructed, with special attention to the transfer of ionizing radiation. These models are 'self-consistent' in the sense that the emergent ionizing radiation (the UV precursor) is coupled with the ionization state of H, He, and the metals in the preshock gas. For shock velocities of at least 110 km/s the shocks generate sufficient UV radiation for complete preionization of H and He, the latter to He(+). At lower velocities the preionization can be much smaller, with important consequences for the cooling function, the shock structure, and the emission. For models with shock velocities of 40 to 130 km/s the intensities of the strongest emission lines in the UV, optical, and infrared are tabulated, as well as postshock column densities of metal ions potentially observable by UV absorption spectroscopy. Possible applications to supernova remnants and high-velocity interstellar gas are assessed.

Shull, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Possible existence and role of excited ozone precursors in the stratosphere

Laboratory kinetic experiments, quantum theoretical studies and certain recently discovered infrared emissions from the stratosphere together imply the possible existence of a metastable, energetic, and reactive form of ozone in the upper atmosphere. This species can potentially affect the upper atmospheric photochemistry and heat balance. For these reasons there is a need for further quantum theoretical and laboratory chemical kinetic studies addressing some of the relevant properties of the internally excited ozone precursors.

Prasad, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Pyrolysis-high resolution gas chromatography and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of kerogens and kerogen precursors

A series of kerogens and kerogen precursors isolated from DSDP samples, oil shales and recent algal mats have been examined by Curie point pyrolysis-high resolution gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This study has shown that the three main types of kerogens (marine, terrestrial and mixtures of both) can be characterized using these techniques. The marine (algal) kerogens yield principally aliphatic products and the terrestrial kerogens yield more aromatic and phenolic products with some n-alkanes and n-alkenes. The yields of n-alkanes and n-alkenes increase and phenols decrease with increasing geologic age, however, pyrolysis-GC cannot be used to characterize the influence of short term diagenesis on the kerogen structure.

Van De Meent, D.↗