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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 163 records · Page 9

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NASA NTRS1982

U.S. mission plans for Spacelab

Mission configurations, instrumentation, and objectives for Spacelab sorties on board the Shuttle beginning in Sept. 1983 are reviewed. The first two flights will serve to verify the Spacelab systems and will be followed by operational status, including the fifth flight, which will be a reimbursible venture. Scientific investigations in the fields of atmospheric physics and environmental observation, space plasma physics, astronomy and solar physics, materials processing, and life sciences will be performed using the habitable long module, instrument pallets, and/or an instrument igloo mounted in the payload bay. Instrumentation, such as the imaging spectrometric observatory, which was developed in the U.S., will originate in either the U.S. or Europe. Details of the first four Spacelab flights are presented, noting that the OSS-3 through -7 missions will feature the first time that entire NASA payloads have returned to space.

Sander, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Sounding rockets in Antarctica

Sounding rockets are versatile tools for scientists studying the atmospheric region which is located above balloon altitudes but below orbital satellite altitudes. Three NASA Nike-Tomahawk sounding rockets were launched from Siple Station in Antarctica in an upper atmosphere physics experiment in the austral summer of 1980-81. The 110 kg payloads were carried to 200 km apogee altitudes in a coordinated project with Arcas rocket payloads and instrumented balloons. This Siple Station Expedition demonstrated the feasibility of launching large, near 1,000 kg, rocket systems from research stations in Antarctica. The remoteness of research stations in Antarctica and the severe environment are major considerations in planning rocket launching expeditions.

Alford, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Spacelab mission 1 experiment descriptions, third edition

Experiments and facilities selected for flight on the first Spacelab mission are described. Chosen from responses to the Announcement of Opportunity for the Spacelab 1 mission, the experiments cover five broad areas of investigation: atmospheric physics and Earth observations; space plasma physics; astronomy and solar physics; material sciences and technology; and life sciences. The name of the principal investigator and country is listed for each experiment.

Craven, P. D.↗

NASA NTRS1983

STS-9: Orbital Workshop Spacelab to Fly on Ninth Shuttle Mission

The first non-astronants are discussed. Spacelab is described. Spacelab objectives, Spacelab 1 investigations, atmospheric physics and Earth observations, space plasma physics, solar physics and astronomy, material sciences and technology development, and life sciences are discussed.

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NASA NTRS1984

User's Guide for ERB 7 Matrix. Volume 1: Experiment Description and Quality Control Report for Year 1

The Nimbus 7 ERB MATRIX Tape is a computer program in which radiances and irradiances are converted into fluxes which are used to compute the basic scientific output parameters, emitted flux, albedo, and net radiation. They are spatially averaged and presented as time averages over one-day, six-day, and monthly periods. MATRIX data for the period November 16, 1978 through October 31, 1979 are presented. Described are the Earth Radiation Budget experiment, the Science Quality Control Report, Items checked by the MATRIX Science Quality Control Program, and Science Quality Control Data Analysis Report. Additional material from the detailed scientific quality control of the tapes which may be very useful to a user of the MATRIX tapes is included. Known errors and data problems and some suggestions on how to use the data for further climatologic and atmospheric physics studies are also discussed.

Tighe, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Tunable Heterodyne Receiver from 100 Micron to 1,000 Micron for Airborne Observations

Interest in high resolution spectrometers for the submillimeter wavelength range from 100 micron to 1,000 micron is mostly stimulated by molecular spectroscopy in radioastronomy and atmospheric physics, and by plasma diagnostic experiments. Schottky diodes in waveguide mixer technology and InSb-hot electron bolometers are successfully used in the 0.5 to a few millimeter range whereas tandem Fabry-Perot spectrometers combined with photoconductive detectors (Ge:Sb and Ge:Ga) are used for the 100 micron range. Recent research on heterodyne spectrometers, with Schottky diodes in an open structure mixer and a molecular laser as local oscillators, which can be used over the whole wavelength range is summarized.

Roeser, H. P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Absolute intensities of spectral lines in carbon dioxide bands near 2050/cm

The absolute intensities of individual lines of eleven relatively weak bands of (C-12)(O-16)2, (C-13)(O-16)2, (O-16)(C-12)(O-18), and (O-16)(C-12)(O-17) near 2050/cm were measured and recorded at room temperature and 0.01/cm resolution with the Fourier transform spectrometer located in the McMath solar telescope complex located at the National Solar Observatory on Kitt Peak. Each spectrum was obtained with an integration time of one hour, the temperature and pressure were monitored during this time, and the signal-to-rms noise in the 5 micron region was approximately 4000 for all scans. The intensities were determined from analysis of 1-2/cm segments of spectra using nonlinear least-squares spectral curve fitting, and analyzed to determine the vibrational band intensity and F-factor coefficients for each of the bands. The results are pertinent to a wide variety of problems in atmospheric physics and for the analysis of remote-sensing data.

Rinsland, C. P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The University of Wyoming's small scientific balloon program

Over 500 small scientific balloons have been launched by the University of Wyoming's Atmospheric Physics Group from 26 locations over the globe in a study of stratospheric aerosol physics and chemistry which began in 1971. These flighs have led to a basic understanding of the evolution of sulfurous gases, injected into the stratosphere by major volcanic eruptions, into sulfuric acid aerosol droplets. The recent use of new, thin film balloon technology, to reduce cost and simplify launch techniques, has been a major advantage to the program.

Hofmann, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Alexandrite laser source for atmospheric lidar measurements

During the past years, there has been a marked increase in interest in the applications of vibronic solid state lasers to meteorology and atmospheric physics. Two airborne lidar programs are now under development in France. The differential absorption lidar (DIAL) method with vibronic solid state lasers is very attractive for water vapor, temperature and pressure measurements. Alexandrite laser and titanium-sapphire are both suitable for these applications. However, only alexandrite rods are commercially available. The requirements on the laser source for airborne dial applications are two fold: (1) a restriction on laser linewidth and a requirement on stability and tunability with a good spectral purity; and (2) a requirement on the time separation between the two pulses. These constraints are summarized.

Pelon, J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Pre-shuttle lidar system research

Included are the results of the initial phase of a simulation study in connection with photomultiplier tubes (PMT) and associated networks and an analytical study of atmospheric physics (including multiscattering) leading to modeling studies in connection with differential absorption lidar (DIAL) observations. This effort was in support of the ER-2 aircraft DIAL projects.

Lang, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Science in orbit: The shuttle and spacelab experience, 1981-1986

Significant achievements across all scientific disciplines and missions for the first six years of Shuttle flights are presented. Topics covered include science on the Space Shuttle and Spacelab, living and working in space, studying materials and processes in microgravity, observing the sun and earth, space plasma physics, atmospheric science, astronony and astrophysics, and testing new technology in space. Future research aboard the Shuttle/Spacelab is also briefly mentioned.

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NASA NTRS1990

Uranus photochemistry and prospects for Voyager 2 at Neptune

CH4 is the only photochemically active constituent in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune. NH3, H2O and H2S are all removed by condensation at pressures greater than 1.5 bars. Although the bulk mole fraction (about 2 percent) of CH4 is 20-30 times its solar value on both planets, it drops to its saturation limit (about 0.0001) at the Uranus tropopause, but remains high (about 2 percent) at the Neptune tropopause. This results in much greater mixing ratios of the product hydrocarbons in the stratosphere of Neptune. On both planets, the photolysis products of CH4 undergo condensation near the tropopause and the upper stratosphere. Voyager observations of the hydrocarbons at Uranus and those planned at Neptune are discussed, along with their implications for upper-atmospheric physics and thermochemistry.

Atreya, S. K.↗

NASA NTRS1989

NASA's initial flight missions in the Small Explorer Program

A new component of NASA's Explorer Program has been initiated in order to provide research opportunities characterized by small, quick-turn-around, and frequent space missions. Objectives include the launching of one or two payloads per year, depending on mission cost and availability of funds and launch vehicles. The four missions chosen from the proposals solicited by the Small Explorer Announcement Opportunity are discussed in detail. These include the Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) designed to carry out energetic particle studies of outstanding questions in the fields of space plasma, solar, heliospheric, cosmic ray, and middle atmospheric physics; the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS), which will conduct both pointed and survey observations of dense galactic molecular clouds; the Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer (FAST); and the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS).

Rasch, Nickolus O.↗

NASA NTRS1991

NASA/Ames Research Center's science and applications aircraft program

NASA-Ames Research Center operates a fleet of seven Science and Applications Aircraft, namely the C-141/Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO), DC-8, C-130, Lear Jet, and three ER-2s. These aircraft are used to satisfy two major objectives, each of equal importance. The first is to acquire remote and in-situ scientific data in astronomy, astrophysics, earth sciences, ocean processes, atmospheric physics, meteorology, materials processing and life sciences. The second major objective is to expedite the development of sensors and their attendant algorithms for ultimate use in space and to simulate from an aircraft, the data to be acquired from spaceborne sensors. NASA-Ames Science and Applications Aircraft are recognized as national and international facilities. They have performed and will continue to perform, operational missions from bases in the United States and worldwide. Historically, twice as many investigators have requested flight time than could be accommodated. This situation remains true today and is expected to increase in the years ahead. A major advantage of the existing fleet of aircraft is their ability to cover a large expanse of the earth's ecosystem from the surface to the lower stratosphere over large distances and time aloft. Their large payload capability allows a number of scientists to use multi-investigator sensor suites to permit simultaneous and complementary data gathering. In-flight changes to the sensors or data systems have greatly reduced the time required to optimize the development of new instruments. It is doubtful that spaceborne systems will ever totally replace the need for airborne science aircraft. The operations philosophy and capabilities exist at NASA-Ames Research Center.

Hall, G. Warren↗

NASA NTRS1991

International Workshop on Stratospheric Aerosols: Measurements, Properties, and Effects

Following a mandate by the International Aerosol Climatology Program under the auspices of International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics International Radiation Commission, 45 scientists from five nations convened to discuss relevant issues associated with the measurement, properties, and effects of stratospheric aerosols. A summary is presented of the discussions on formation and evolution, transport and fate, effects on climate, role in heterogeneous chemistry, and validation of lidar and satellite remote sensing of stratospheric aerosols. Measurements are recommended of the natural (background) and the volcanically enhanced aerosol (sulfuric acid and silica particles), the exhaust of shuttle, civil aviation and supersonic aircraft operations (alumina, soot, and ice particles), and polar stratospheric clouds (ice, condensed nitric and hydrochloric acids).

Pueschel, Rudolf F.↗

NASA NTRS1990

POsitron Electron Magnet Spectrometer (POEMS) for the Eos Mission

The scientific objectives of the POsitron Electron Magnet Spectrometer (POEMS) experiment are briefly reviewed. These include determining the origin of primary positrons and studying particle confinement in the Galaxy, solar modulation, solar flares, the geospace environment, and atmospheric physics and chemistry. The design of the POEMS instrument is summarized.

Evenson, Paul↗

NASA NTRS1993

The mysterious atmosphere of the Earth. ATLAS: Instruction guide with activities

This teacher's guide presents lesson plans addressing various aspects of atmospheric physics and chemistry; the interactions between land, air, and sea; air pollution; and the mechanisms of climate change. The science concepts in this guide have been designed to complement the middle school curriculum. However, many activities can be used with younger or older students.

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NASA NTRS1993

Sensing a change in the wind

A review is presented of new airborne sensors that enable better prediction of dangerous low-altitude windshear and microburst conditions. This research includes studies of the basic atmospheric physics and meteorology of microbursts that create windshear conditions; numerical simulation of windshear velocity, precipitation, and thermal fields; and simulation of the measurement performance of candidate sensor technologies. Based on this research, lidar, Doppler radar, and passive IR technologies all show promise for providing airborne forward-looking windshear detection.

Lewis, Michael S.↗