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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Low conducting metal screen support flange

In a very high or very low temperature duct system in which duct insulation is terminated at selected locations so as to be not coextensive with the duct, an annular metal perforated or mesh screen support flange is used, as a low conductor of heat or cold, between the duct and an outer insulation cover to retain the end of the insulation and to support its usually very thin cover. The screen may be Z-shaped in cross section having a small diameter annular portion to surround and be secured to the duct adjacent the end of the insulation. A generally radially extending portion of the screen extends outwardly from the small diameter portion and adjacent the end of the insulation. The periphery of the radially extending portion is in alignment with the outer peripheral surface of the insulation and the outer peripheral surface of the insulation cover. A large diameter annular portion of the screen extends longitudinally from the periphery in the direction opposite the small diameter portion, and is adapted to surround the insulation and its cover and be secured thereto. The screen may also be U or channel-shaped with one longitudinally directed leg secured to the insulation cover and the other leg secured to the duct under the insulation.

Lestak, Robert G.↗
NASA NTRS2019

NIRCam: The JWST Near-IR Camera and Slitless Spectrograph

NIRCam is the primary near-infrared camera for JWST. It is well-suited for a wide variety of star formation and other scientific studies and will also be used for aligning the JWST primary mirror segments and telescope. NIRCam will provide high sensitivity, high spatial resolution images in a variety of filters over the 0.6 - 5 μm wavelength region including coronagraphic modes and slitless spectroscopic capabilities. NIRCam consists of two identical optical modules that have adjacent 2.2' x 2.2' fields of view on the sky. Each module is composed of two channels that observe the same field at short (< 2.4 μm) or long (> 2.4 μm) wavelengths simultaneously, with optimized spatial sampling in each channel. NIRCam optical elements include narrow (R = 100), medium (R = 10), and wide (R <= 4) filters, coronagraphic imaging spot and bar masks, and grisms that provide wide-field or time-series slitless spectroscopy. These major NIRCam features will be introduced, and some applications to galactic star formation will be briefly presented.

Greene, Thomas↗
NASA NTRS1981

Thermal iron ions in high speed solar wind streams. II - Temperatures and bulk velocities

Mitchel and Roelof (1980) reported the detection of iron in high speed solar wind flows using the small, but finite sensitivity of solid state detectors to Fe ions in the low energy (50-200 keV protons) L1 channel of the NOAA/JHU energetic particle experiment (EPE). In the current investigation, the EPE response is modeled to a convected Maxwellian to obtain the thermal velocity, flow angle, and bulk velocity of the iron distribution. It is assumed that the iron bulk flow velocity can be represented as a vector sum of the hydrogen bulk velocity and an interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) aligned velocity increment. It is found that the velocity increment is smaller than the local Alfven speed in magnitude, and that the iron thermal velocity is comparable with or greater than the proton thermal velocity, with the 'thermal' velocity defined as the square root of 2kT/m.

Mitchell, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Sky-Scanning Sun-Tracking Airborne Radiometer (3STAR): Instrument Design, Flight Testing, and Tracking Performance

The Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Airborne Radiometer (3STAR) adapts commercial radiometer technology developed for the ocean color research community to airborne measurement of spectrally resolved solar irradiance and sky radiance. These atmospheric observations are used to derive aerosol optical depth (AOD), supporting localized AOD inputs for atmospheric correction of satellite and airborne data over terrestrial and aquatic (including optically dark) targets. The ability to regionally “tune” atmospheric correction schemes with relevant spatial AOD supports constraining atmospheric correction of remote sensing reflectance. Very wide dynamic range has been achieved for multi-channel band-pass-filter-radiometers originally designed for deployment into the water column. By actively tracking and directly pointing to the Sun, the light attenuation by aerosol particles in the atmospheric column can be quantified. These measurements improve knowledge of atmospheric constituents and the atmospheric corrections required to improve remote sensing capabilities for interpreting reflectance measurements from the Earth surface. 3STAR incorporates a custom Sun-tracking/sky-scanning pointing head, a Sun-tracking camera, and a commercially available, cylindrical, 19-channel radiometer tube assembly. An accurate and responsive mount and tracking system has been developed and certified to NASA and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) airworthiness standards for deployment into the aircraft slipstream. Ground and flight testing indicate typical tracking errors of less than 0.1 degrees, well within the field of view of the radiometer as required to minimize measurement uncertainty from alignment error. Preliminary AOD measurements compare to within 0.013 with 15 measurements from an Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) Cimel instrument at 500 nm wavelength and low solar angle.

Atmosphere↗
NASA NTRS1975

Multiplate focusing collimator

An appartus is described for scanning relatively small near sources of penetrating radiation to obtain the energy distribution thereof, wherein a collimator assembly is interposed between a radiation source and a radiation detector. The collimator assembly has a plurality of plates aligned in parallel planes with respect to a common axis normal to their centers. All the plates have similar random distribution of apertures. All apertures on each plate are the same size. The size of respective plates, the size of the apertures of said respective plates, and the spacing between said respective plates vary precisely according to a predetermined ratio to produce radiation channels which converge to a focal point. The radiation incident to the radiation detector is maximized when the focal point and the radiation source are co-incident.

Hoover, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Observations of E and F region Mg(+) from Spacelab 1

Images of airglow at 2800 A were taken on the Spacelab 1 Shuttle mission and have been interpreted to be solar resonant emission of magnesium ions. On two orbital passes, observations were made near the magnetic equator while observing in the 2800-A channel. The observations were made near the sunset terminator (approximately 1800 LT), in winter (1983, day 335). Three separate emission clouds were observed, all of which extended well into the F region. The location of the clouds in horizontal space is shown. The processed images have been pseudocolored to highlight the intensity distribution in the clouds. Observations included clouds with apparent magnetic-field aligned striations. Bright emissions were observed at the magnetic equator, at 12-deg north magnetic latitude, and at 12-deg south magnentic latitude. Cloud-center brightnesses varied between 680 rayleighs and 1700 rayleighs.

Mende, S. B.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Honeycomb vs. Foam: Evaluating Potential Upgrades to ISS Module Shielding

The presence of honeycomb cells in a dual-wall structure is advantageous for mechanical performance and low weight in spacecraft primary structures but detrimental for shielding against impact of micrometeoroid and orbital debris particles (MMOD). The presence of honeycomb cell walls acts to restrict the expansion of projectile and bumper fragments, resulting in the impact of a more concentrated (and thus lethal) fragment cloud upon the shield rear wall. The Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) is a Russian research module scheduled for launch and ISS assembly in 2011 (currently under review). Baseline shielding of the MLM is expected to be predominantly similar to that of the existing Functional Energy Block (FGB), utilizing a baseline triple wall configuration with honeycomb sandwich panels for the dual bumpers and a thick monolithic aluminum pressure wall. The MLM module is to be docked to the nadir port of the Zvezda service module and, as such, is subject to higher debris flux than the FGB module (which is aligned along the ISS flight vector). Without upgrades to inherited shielding, the MLM penetration risk is expected to be significantly higher than that of the FGB module. Open-cell foam represents a promising alternative to honeycomb as a sandwich panel core material in spacecraft primary structures as it provides comparable mechanical performance with a minimal increase in weight while avoiding structural features (i.e. channeling cells) detrimental to MMOD shielding performance. In this study, the effect of replacing honeycomb sandwich panel structures with metallic open-cell foam structures on MMOD shielding performance is assessed for an MLM-representative configuration. A number of hypervelocity impact tests have been performed on both the baseline honeycomb configuration and upgraded foam configuration, and differences in target damage, failure limits, and derived ballistic limit equations are discussed.

Ryan, Shannon J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Feasibility of Coupling Between a Single-Mode Elliptical-Core Fiber and a Single Mode Rib Waveguide Over Temperature

To determine the feasibility of coupling the output of an optical fiber to a rib waveguide in a temperature environment ranging from 20 C to 300 C, a theoretical calculation of the coupling efficiency between the two was investigated. This is a significant problem which needs to be addressed to determine whether an integrated optic device can function in a harsh temperature environment. Because the behavior of the integrated-optic device is polarization sensitive, a polarization-preserving optic fiber, via its elliptical core, was used to couple light with a known polarization into the device. To couple light energy efficiently from an optical fiber into a channel waveguide, the design of both components should provide for well-matched electric field profiles. The rib waveguide analyzed was the light input channel of an integrated-optic pressure sensor. Due to the complex geometry of the rib waveguide, there is no analytical solution to the wave equation for the guided modes. Approximation or numerical techniques must be utilized to determine the propagation constants and field patterns of the guide. In this study, three solution methods were used to determine the field profiles of both the fiber and guide: the effective-index method (EIM), Marcatili's approximation, and a Fourier method. These methods were utilized independently to calculate the electric field profile of a rib channel waveguide and elliptical fiber at two temperatures, 20 C and 300 C. These temperatures were chosen to represent a nominal and a high temperature that the device would experience. Using the electric field profile calculated from each method, the theoretical coupling efficiency between the single-mode optical fiber and rib waveguide was calculated using the overlap integral and results of the techniques compared. Initially, perfect alignment was assumed and the coupling efficiency calculated. Then, the coupling efficiency calculation was repeated for a range of transverse offsets at both temperatures. Results of the calculation indicate a high coupling efficiency can be achieved when the two components were properly aligned. The coupling efficiency was more sensitive to alignment offsets in the y direction than the x, due to the elliptical modal profile of both components. Changes in the coupling efficiency over temperature were found to be minimal.

Tuma, Margaret L.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Discrete and Diffuse Aurora During Varying Activity Levels: Simultaneous Fast and Polar UVI Observations

We examine simultaneous measurements of auroral electron precipitation obtained in-situ by the FAST spacecraft and remotely by Polar Ultraviolet Imagery (UVI) images for activity levels ranging from quiet to storm-time intervals. The incident energy flux measured by FAST and inferred from the UVI images agree well during quiescent periods, particularly in regions of discrete aurora in which the electron precipitation spectra are dominated by the component accelerated by a field-aligned potential. During magnetospheric substorms and active storm periods, such as those following Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) disturbances of the magnetosphere, the energy flux inferred from the UVI images generally exceeds that measured locally by FAST at the same location by as much as an order of magnitude. The auroral electrons during these active periods are dominated by diffuse precipitation which is observed up the to the highest energy channel of FAST (30 keV). These storm-time observations imply that a high energy component above 30 keV not observed by FAST may be contributing significantly to the total energy flux carried by the precipitating electrons. Observations suggest that as magnetospheric activity increases acceleration processes in the magnetosphere and pitch-angle diffusion by wave-particle interactions become more important than the ionospheric acceleration in producing the measured auroral energy fluxes.

Chua, D.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Evidence for Two Separate but Interlaced Components of the Chromospheric Magnetic Field

Chromospheric fibrils are generally thought to trace out low-lying, mainly horizontal magnetic elds that fan out from flux concentrations in the photosphere. A high-resolution (approximately 0.1" per pixel) image, taken in the core of the Ca II 854.2 nm line and covering an unusually large area, shows the dark brils within an active region remnant as fine, looplike features that are aligned parallel to each other and have lengths comparable to a supergranular diameter. Comparison with simultaneous line-of-sight magnetograms confirms that the fibrils are centered above intranetwork areas (supergranular cell interiors), with one end rooted just inside the neighboring plage or strong unipolar network but the other endpoint less clearly defined. Focusing on a particular arcade-like structure lying entirely on one side of a lament channel (large-scale polarity inversion), we find that the total amount of positive-polarity flux underlying this "fibril arcade" is approximately 50 times greater than the total amount of negative-polarity flux. Thus, if the brils represent closed loops, they must consist of very weak fields (in terms of total magnetic flux), which are interpenetrated by a more vertical field that contains most of the flux. This surprising result suggests that the fibrils in unipolar regions connect the network to the nearby intranetwork flux, while the bulk of the network flux links to remote regions of the opposite polarity, forming a second, higher canopy above the fibril canopy. The chromospheric field near the edge of the network thus has an interlaced structure resembling that in sunspot penumbrae.

Reardom, K. P.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Evidence for Two Separate but Interlaced Components of the Chromospheric Magnetic Field

Chromospheric fibrils are generally thought to trace out horizontal magnetic fields that fan out from flux concentrations in the photosphere. A high-resolution (0.2") image taken in the core of the Ca IJ854.2 nm line shows the dark fibrils within an active region remnant as fine, loop-like features that are aligned parallel to each other and have lengths on the order of a supergranular diameter (approx.30 Mm). Comparison with a line-of-sight magnetogram confirms that the fibrils are centered above intranetwork areas, with one end rooted just inside the neighboring plage or strong unipolar network but the other endpoint less clearly defined. Focusing on a particular arcade-like structure lying entirely on one side of a filament channel (large-scale polarity inversion), we find that the total amount of positive-polarity flux underlying this "fibril arcade' is 50 times greater than the total amount of negative-polarity flux. Thus, if the fibrils represent closed loops, they must consist of very weak fields (in terms of flux density), which are interpenetrated by a more vertical field that contains most of the flux. This surprising result suggests that the fibrils in unipolar regions connect the network to the nearby intranetwork flux, while the bulk of the network flux is diverted upward into the corona and connects to remote regions of the opposite polarity. We conclude that the chromospheric field near the edge of the network has an interlaced structure resembling that in sunspot penumbrae, with the fibrils representing the low-lying horizontal flux that remains trapped within the highly nonpotential chromospheric layer.

Muglach, K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Computational fluid dynamics study of the variable-pitch split-blade fan concept

A computational fluid dynamics study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the variable-pitch split-blade supersonic fan concept. This fan configuration was conceived as a means to enable a supersonic fan to switch from the supersonic through-flow type of operation at high speeds to a conventional fan with subsonic inflow and outflow at low speeds. During this off-design, low-speed mode of operation, the fan would operate with a substantial static pressure rise across the blade row like a conventional transonic fan; the front (variable-pitch) blade would be aligned with the incoming flow, and the aft blade would remain fixed in the position set by the supersonic design conditions. Because of these geometrical features, this low speed configuration would inherently have a large amount of turning and, thereby, would have the potential for a large total pressure increase in a single stage. Such a high-turning blade configuration is prone to flow separation; it was hoped that the channeling of the flow between the blades would act like a slotted wing and help alleviate this problem. A total of 20 blade configurations representing various supersonic and transonic configurations were evaluated using a Navier Stokes CFD program called ADAPTNS because of its adaptive grid features. The flow fields generated by this computational procedure were processed by another data reduction program which calculated average flow properties and simulated fan performance. These results were employed to make quantitative comparisons and evaluations of blade performance. The supersonic split-blade configurations generated performance comparable to a single-blade supersonic, through-flow fan configuration. Simulated rotor total pressure ratios of the order of 2.5 or better were achieved for Mach 2.0 inflow conditions. The corresponding fan efficiencies were approximately 75 percent or better. The transonic split-blade configurations having large amounts of turning were able to generate large amounts of total turning and achieve simulated total pressure ratios of 3.0 or better with subsonic inflow conditions. These configurations had large losses and low fan efficiencies in the 70's percent. They had large separated regions and low velocity wakes. Additional turning and diffusion of this flow in a subsequent stator row would probably be very inefficient. The high total pressure ratios indicated by the rotor performance would be substantially reduced by the stators, and the stage efficiency would be substantially lower. Such performance leaves this dual-mode fan concept less attractive than originally postulated.

Kepler, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS2009

NASA Tech Briefs, December 2009

Topics include: A Deep Space Network Portable Radio Science Receiver; Detecting Phase Boundaries in Hard-Sphere Suspensions; Low-Complexity Lossless and Near-Lossless Data Compression Technique for Multispectral Imagery; Very-Long-Distance Remote Hearing and Vibrometry; Using GPS to Detect Imminent Tsunamis; Stream Flow Prediction by Remote Sensing and Genetic Programming; Pilotless Frame Synchronization Using LDPC Code Constraints; Radiometer on a Chip; Measuring Luminescence Lifetime With Help of a DSP; Modulation Based on Probability Density Functions; Ku Telemetry Modulator for Suborbital Vehicles; Photonic Links for High-Performance Arraying of Antennas; Reconfigurable, Bi-Directional Flexfet Level Shifter for Low-Power, Rad-Hard Integration; Hardware-Efficient Monitoring of I/O Signals; Video System for Viewing From a Remote or Windowless Cockpit; Spacesuit Data Display and Management System; IEEE 1394 Hub With Fault Containment; Compact, Miniature MMIC Receiver Modules for an MMIC Array Spectrograph; Waveguide Transition for Submillimeter-Wave MMICs; Magnetic-Field-Tunable Superconducting Rectifier; Bonded Invar Clip Removal Using Foil Heaters; Fabricating Radial Groove Gratings Using Projection Photolithography; Gratings Fabricated on Flat Surfaces and Reproduced on Non-Flat Substrates; Method for Measuring the Volume-Scattering Function of Water; Method of Heating a Foam-Based Catalyst Bed; Small Deflection Energy Analyzer for Energy and Angular Distributions; Polymeric Bladder for Storing Liquid Oxygen; Pyrotechnic Simulator/Stray-Voltage Detector; Inventions Utilizing Microfluidics and Colloidal Particles; RuO2 Thermometer for Ultra-Low Temperatures; Ultra-Compact, High-Resolution LADAR System for 3D Imaging; Dual-Channel Multi-Purpose Telescope; Objective Lens Optimized for Wavefront Delivery, Pupil Imaging, and Pupil Ghosting; CMOS Camera Array With Onboard Memory; Quickly Approximating the Distance Between Two Objects; Processing Images of Craters for Spacecraft Navigation; Adaptive Morphological Feature-Based Object Classifier for a Color Imaging System; Rover Slip Validation and Prediction Algorithm; Safety and Quality Training Simulator; Supply-Chain Optimization Template; Algorithm for Computing Particle/Surface Interactions; Cryogenic Pupil Alignment Test Architecture for Aberrated Pupil Images; and Thermal Transport Model for Heat Sink Design.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1995

The Physics of Turbulence in the Boundary Layer

The geometry of the velocity field in a numerically simulated incompressible turbulent boundary layer over a flat plate at Re theta=670 has been studied using the invariants of the velocity gradient tensor. These invariants are computed at every grid point in the flow and used to form the discriminant. Of primary interest are those regions in the flow where the discriminant is positive; regions where, according to the characteristic equation, the eigenvalues of the velocity gradient tensor are complex. An observer moving with a frame of reference which is attached to a fluid particle lying within such a region would see a local flow pattern of the type stable-focus-stretching or unstable-focus-compressing. When the flow is visualized this way, continuous, connected, large-scale structures are revealed that extend from the point just below the buffer layer out to the beginning of the wake region. These structures are aligned with the mean shear close to the wall and arch in the cross-stream direction away from the wall. In some cases the structures observed are very similar to to the hairpin eddy vision of boundary layer structure proposed by Theodorsen. That the structure of the flow is revealed more effectively by the discriminant rather than by the vorticity is important and adds support to recent observations of the discriminant in a channel flow simulation. Of particular importance is the fact that the procedure does not require the use of an arbitrary threshold in the discriminant. Further analysis using computer flow visualization shows a high degree of spatial correlation between regions of positive discriminant, extreme negative pressure fluctuations and large instantaneous values of Reynolds shear stress.

Kline, Stephen↗
NASA NTRS2004

A Two-Dimensional, Semiconducting Bolometer Array for HAWC

The Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy's (SOFIA's) High resolution Airborne Wideband Camera (HAWC) will use an ion-implanted silicon bolometer array developed at NASA s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The GSFC Pop-Up Detectors (PUDs) use a unique folding technique to enable a 12 x 32 element closepacked array of bolometers with a filling factor greater than 95%. The HAWC detector uses a resistive metal film on silicon to provide frequency independent, approx. 50% absorption over the 40 - 300 micron band. The silicon bolometers are manufactured in 32-element rows within silicon frames using Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) silicon etching techniques. The frames are then cut, "folded", and glued onto a metallized, ceramic, thermal bus "bar". Optical alignment using micrometer jigs ensures their uniformity and correct placement. The rows are then stacked side-by-side to create the final 12 x 32 element array. A kinematic Kevlar suspension system isolates the 200 mK bolometer cold stage from the rest of the 4K detector housing. GSFC - developed silicon bridge chips make electrical connection to the bolometers, while maintaining thermal isolation. The Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET) preamplifiers for all the signal channels operate at 120 K, yet they are electrically connected and located in close proximity to the bolometers. The JFET module design provides sufficient thermal isolation and heat sinking for these, so that their heat is not detected by the bolometers. Preliminary engineering results from the flight detector dark test run are expected to be available in July 2004. This paper describes the array assembly and mechanical and thermal design of the HAWC detector and the JFET module.

Voellmer, George M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Assessment of ERTS-1 imagery as a tool for regional geological analysis in New York State

The author has identified the following significant results. Linear anomalies dominate the new geological information derived from ERTS-1 imagery, total lengths now exceeding 26,500 km. Maxima on rose diagrams for ERTS-1 anomalies correspond well with those for mapped faults and topographic lineaments. Multi-scale analysis of linears shows that single topographic linears at 1:2,500,000 may become dashed linears at 1:1,000,000 aligned zones of shorter parallel, en echelon, or conjugate linears at 1:5000,000, and shorter linears lacking any conspicuous zonal alignment at 1:250,000. Field work in the Catskills suggests that the prominent new NNE lineaments may be surface manifestations of dip slip faulting in the basement, and that it may become possible to map major joint sets over extensive plateau regions directly on the imagery. Most circular features found were explained away by U-2 airfoto analysis but several remain as anomalies. Visible glacial features include individual drumlins, drumlinoids, eskers, ice-marginal drainage channels, glacial lake shorelines, sand plains, and end moraines.

Isachsen, Y. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Development of SIR-C Ground Calibration Equipment

SIR-C/X-SAR is currently scheduled for launch in April 1994. SIR-C is an L-Band and C-Band, multi-polarization spaceborne SAR system developed by NASA/JPL. X- SAR is an X-Band SAR system developed by DARA/ASI. One of the problems involved in calibrating the SIR-C instrument is to make sure that the horizontal (H) and vertical (V) polarized beams are aligned in the azimuth direction, i.e.. that they are pointing in the same direction. This is important if the polarimetric performance specifications for the system are to be met. To solve this problem, we have designed and built a prototype of a low-cost ground receiver capable of recording received power from two antennas, one H-polarized, the other V-polarized. The two signals are mixed to audio then recorded on the left and right stereo channels of a standard audio cassette player. The audio cassette recording can then be played back directly into a Macintosh computer, where it is digitized. Analysis of.

Freeman, A.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Optimal Angle of Attack Control for Aerocapture Maneuvers

Recent investigations of aerocapture maneuvers have considered direct force control as a promising alternative to bank angle control. By modulating the angle of attack and sideslip angle independently, the longitudinal and lateral channels can be decoupled and thus solved separately. However, the optimal angle of attack profile for minimizing post-atmospheric propellant expenditure was previously unknown. This research applies principles of optimal control theory to numerically solve for the optimal angle of attack profile for control of the longitudinal channel. Direct methods are first employed to discretize the angle of attack profile and show that an optimal solution follows a nearly bang-bang (full lift up then full lift down) structure under a variety of conditions along the flight path angle corridor. To corroborate these results, indirect methods were also applied to scope the Optimal Control Problem (OCP) as a Two Point Boundary Value Problem (2P-BVP) which could then be solved numerically. The indirect optimization results aligned closely with the direct results, providing further evidence that a bang-bang structure provides a good approximation for the optimal angle of attack profile for aerocapture maneuvers using direct force control.

aerocapture↗