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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

University role in astronaut life support systems: Space power supply systems

A brief description is given of the schemes suggested for providing electrical power aboard spacecraft. An attempt was made to list the major advantages and disadvantages of each scheme and to identify the particular areas in which it appears likely further research work may prove fruitful. Special attention was given to those research areas that appear suitable for colleges and university work. Chemical, solar, and nuclear power sources are considered together with the appropriate thermoelectric and turboelectric conversion systems.

Chin, L. Y.↗

Lunar soil properties and soil mechanics. Flow in porous media under rarefied gas conditions. Research phase: Fluid conductivity of lunar surface materials

Theoretical and experimental research on fluid conductivity of lunar surface materials is summarized. Theoretical methods were developed for the analysis of transitional and free-molecular flows, and for analysis of lunar permeability probe data in general. Experimental studies of rarefied flows under conditions of a large pressure gradient show flows in the continuum regime to be responsible for the largest portion of the pressure drop between source and sink for one dimensional flow, provided the entrance Knudsen number is sufficiently small. The concept of local similarity leading to a universal nondimensional function of Knudsen number was shown to have approximate validity; flows in all regimes may be described in terms of an area fraction and a single length parameter. Synthetic porous media prepared from glass beads exhibited flow behavior similar in many regards to that of a natural sandstone; studies using artificial stones with known pore configurations may lead to new insight concerning the structure of natural materials. The experimental method involving the use of segmented specimens of large permeability is shown to be fruitful.

Hurlbut, F. C.↗

Marshes and turbid waters in the French Atlantic littoral

The author has identified the following significant results. The multispectral information provided by ERTS-1 is very rich for the coastal regions but the cloud cover, even when only partial, often cuts up the data, and lessens its practical value. The research by densitometric methods has thus far been the most fruitful. It consists of measuring densities along preferential axes. This method has enabled the investigators to perfect a system of computer cartography for the best image. Comparative study of microdensitometric transects in four MSS bands for carefully dilimited profiles on the ground, makes it possible to isolate and recognize various types of countryside: (1) countryside of coastal plains; (2) countryside of coastal sand dunes and beaches; and (3) forms and processes of offshore domains. This study shows the usefulness of the ERTS program in establishing a rapid cartography of the physiographic units of the coastal plains in the interest of a rational program of exploitation and development.

Verger, F.↗

Long-term X-ray observations of Scorpius X-1 by OSO-III.

Review of the observations of Scorpius X-1 in the energy range 7.7-22 keV provided by the X-ray telescope on the OSO-III satellite over the period from May 19 to June 13, 1967. Optical observations representative of the full range of temporal behavior of the source are available on 10 nights during this period. Sco X-1, in spite of being the most extensively observed X-ray source, remains one of the least understood. Coordinated observations in various wavelength bands, although inconclusive so far, represent potentially the most fruitful approach.

Pelling, R. M.↗

New experimental contributions to understanding the effect of ultrasonic irradiation on tomatoes

Irradiation of Aurora 100 tomatoes by a hydrodynamic ultrasonic generator with a frequency of 25 kHz per sec intensifies seed germination and the growth of the plants, causing precosity and increasing the output by 15.63 to 37.65%. The most effective radiation time (between 20 and 40 min) intensifies the phenophases. It causes some increase in output and changes in the chemical compositions of the fruits.

Elena, A.↗

Flight feeding systems design and evaluation. Supplement 1: Production guides

The requirements for processing, packaging, testing, and shipment of foods selected for use in the Apollo food system are presented. Specific foodstuffs chosen from the following categories are discussed: (1) soups; (2) juices; (3) breads; (4) meat and poultry products; (5) fruits and nuts; (6) desserts; and (7) beverages. Food procurement for the mobile quarantine facility and for Apollo preflight and postflight activities is also discussed.

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New energy technologies for buildings

The principal objective of the present work is to identify a variety of strategic approaches which could significantly enhance the rate of commercial development and deployment of total energy systems, fuel cells, and solar conversion. Emphasis is on the need for integration of research, conference, legislation, federal program, and industrial program aspects, leading to a fruitful feedback and follow-through process involving new energy technologies. The discussions are on a general, lay level. Recommendations made feature (1) action which improves the environment for innovation and change, (2) action which decreases risk and creates positive incentives, and (3) action which reflects the distance a particular technology is from commercialization and widespread use, as determined by its position on a development/diffusion scale.

Schoen, R.↗

Martian surface weathering studies

The nature of the Martian surface was characterized by means of its reflectance properties. The Mariner 9 photography was used to establish terrain units which were crossed by the Mariner 6 and 7 paths. The IR reflectance measured by the IR spectrometers on these spacecraft was to be used to indicate the nature of the surface within these units. There is an indication of physical size and/or compositional variation between units but too many natural parameters can vary (size, shape, composition, adsorbed phases, reradiation, atmospheric absorbtion, temperature gradients, etc.) to be certain what effect is causing those variations observed. It is suggested that the characterization could be fruitfully pursued by a group which was dedicated to peeling back the layers of minutia affecting IR reflectance.

Calvin, M.↗

Survey and development of finite elements for nonlinear structural analysis. Volume 2: Nonlinear shell finite elements

The development of two new shell finite elements for applications to large deflection problems is considered. The elements in question are doubly curved and of triangular and quadrilateral planform. They are restricted to small strains of elastic materials, and can accommodate large rotations. The elements described, which are based on relatively simple linear elements, make use of a new displacement function approach specifically designed for strongly nonlinear problems. The displacement function development for nonlinear applications is based on certain beam element formulations, and the strain-displacement equations are of a shallow shell type. Additional terms were included in these equations in an attempt to avoid the large errors characteristic of shallow shell elements in certain types of problems. An incremental nonlinear solution procedure specifically adopted to the element formulation was developed. The solution procedure is of combined incremental and total Lagrangian type, and uses a new updating scheme. A computer program was written to evaluate the developed formulations. This program can accommodate small element groups in arbitrary arrangements. Two simple programs were successfully solved. The results indicate that this new type of element has definite promise and should be a fruitful area for further research.

Source record↗

Potential applications of digital, visible, and infrared data from geostationary environmental satellites

An hourly, digital data base from the Visible/Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer (VISSR) instrument on the GOES-1 and SMS-2 geostationary satellites is described. Several examples of developmental applications of these quantitative digital data are presented. These include a review of recent attempts to develop products that are of use to meteorologists who provide services to aviation, agriculture, forestry, hydrology, oceanography, and climatology. The sample products include high resolution thermal gradients of land and ocean surfaces, thermal change analyses, fruit frost/freeze application, cloud-top altitude analysis, analysis of hurricane characteristics, and analyses of solar insolation.

Miller, D. B.↗

Materials science experiments in space

The criteria for the selection of the experimental areas and individual experiments were that the experiment or area must make a meaningful contribution to the field of material science and that the space environment was either an absolute requirement for the successful execution of the experiment or that the experiment can be more economically or more conveniently performed in space. A number of experimental areas and individual experiments were recommended for further consideration as space experiments. Areas not considered to be fruitful and others needing additional analysis in order to determine their suitability for conduct in space are also listed. Recommendations were made concerning the manner in which these materials science experiments are carried out and the related studies that should be pursued.

Gelles, S. H.↗

Feature discrimination/identification based upon SAR return variations

A study of the statistics of The look-to-look variation statistics in the returns recorded in-flight by a digital, realtime SAR system are analyzed. The determination that the variations in the look-to-look returns from different classes do carry information content unique to the classes was illustrated by a model based on four variants derived from four look in-flight SAR data under study. The model was limited to four classes of returns: mowed grass on a athletic field, rough unmowed grass and weeds on a large vacant field, young fruit trees in a large orchard, and metal mobile homes and storage buildings in a large mobile home park. The data population in excess of 1000 returns represented over 250 individual pixels from the four classes. The multivariant discriminant model operated on the set of returns for each pixel and assigned that pixel to one of the four classes, based on the target variants and the probability distribution function of the four variants for each class.

Rasco, W. A., Sr.↗

On the detectability of millimeter wavelength spectral lines from planetary atmospheres

This paper adopts a simple line-formation model to estimate detection limits on the fractional absorption produced by molecular lines in the spectra of the planets, when observed with the 14-m antenna and low-noise receivers of the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. The results, which can readily be adjusted for receiver and telescope characteristics of other observatories, indicate that three kinds of observing programs may prove fruitful: (1) programs to monitor temporal variations of the strong CO absorption in the spectrum of Venus and Mars; (2) searches for weak absorption lines of other molecules, which are particularly promising for Venus: and (3) efforts to measure broad features in the continuous spectra of Venus, and possibly Jupiter, produced by molecules deep in the planetary atmospheres. Except for delineation of broad features of NH3 and possibly H2O near 25 GHz, hardly any useful observations can be made at frequencies less than 60 GHz.

White, R. E.↗

Nitrogen tetroxide scrubber data analysis

A major difficulty in the analysis of scrubber data is that of separating the physical effects, such as mass transfer, from the physico-chemical effects, such as reaction rates. This is especially true for the absorbtion of nitrogen tetroxide in the various liquids that were tested in the NASA-Kennedy Space Center Hypergolic Toxic Scrubber Program. A fruitful approach to correlating the data for outlet concentrations was to treat the overall absorbtion as a pseudo first-order absorbtion equation. This approach provided a method for normalizing the data to constant inlet concentration, constant sump liquor condition, and constant scrubbing time, and permitted evaluation of the test and fluid parameters that affected both absorbtion rate and scrubbing time. The analysis indicated that scrubber performance may be improved by optimizing liquor concentrations and liquor flowrate distributions.

Simon, E. D.↗

The practical impact of elastohydrodynamic lubrication

Elastohydrodynamic lubrication has had its most significant impact on, among all the types of concentrated contact mechanisms, rolling element bearings. EHL technology, through its inclusion in computer codes, now provides us with more effective methods for optimizing bearing design and for predicting bearing life, power loss, temperature and dynamic behavior. Bearing life prediction has advanced to a much more sophisticated level as compared to the calculation of fatigue life based on Lundberg-Palmgren theory. Application of elastohydrodynamics to gearing has, more or less, been limited to the calculation of pitch point film thicknesses. Techniques for calculating film thicknesses over the entire range of tooth meshes for arbitrarily shaped gear teeth (noninvolute, spur, helical, etc.) need to be developed. Elastomer seals with both unidirectional and reciprocating motion offer a fruitful application for the elastohydrodynamics of low modulus materials.

Anderson, W. J.↗

The joint US-USSR biological satellite program

The joint US-USSR biological satellite missions carried out in 1975 and 1977 using Cosmos 782 and Cosmos 936 spacecraft, respectively, is reviewed. The experimental equipment and the biological specimens aboard the aircraft are considered, and it is noted that Cosmos 782, unlike Cosmos 936, carried no centrifuges for rats, although it did contain a centrifuge where a variety of biological specimens, including carrot tissue and fruit flies, were subjected to artificial gravity during space flight. The ground control groups, designed for biological experiments under simulated space-conditions, are taken into account. The U.S. experiments aboard the aircraft are described, with attention given to the experiments with rats, fish embryos, plants, and insects. Results of the experiments are noted, including the finding that space flight factors, especially weightlessness, have a measurable effect on the erythropoietic and musculoskeletal systems of rats

Souza, K. A.↗

A passive microwave technique for profiling of atmospheric water vapor

There is considerable interest in remote measurements of the vertical distribution of water vapor, particularly under cloud conditions. The net integrated amount of water vapor has been measured using the 22.235-GHz water vapor line (Staelin et al., 1975). Attempts to use this line for obtaining vertical distribution information have not been fruitful because of the weakness of absorption even at line center. The 183.310-GHz line is much stronger and thus provides a possibility of profiling water vapor. The paper presents a preliminary analysis of this possibility. A technique is described for retrieval of water vapor profiles from microwave radiometric measurements near the 183-GHz water vapor line, and weighting functions useful in the retrievals are developed. The results suggest that microwave radiometry near the 183-GHz water vapor line could yield interesting water vapor profiles, at least over oceans.

Schaerer, G.↗

The Automated Array Assembly Task of the Low-cost Silicon Solar Array Project, Phase 2

An advanced process sequence for manufacturing high efficiency solar cells and modules in a cost-effective manner is discussed. Emphasis is on process simplicity and minimizing consumed materials. The process sequence incorporates texture etching, plasma processes for damage removal and patterning, ion implantation, low pressure silicon nitride deposition, and plated metal. A reliable module design is presented. Specific process step developments are given. A detailed cost analysis was performed to indicate future areas of fruitful cost reduction effort. Recommendations for advanced investigations are included.

Coleman, M. G.↗