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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 19 records

The origin of the moon

Study of dynamical history of earth-moon system, lunar geology, and geophysical discoveries by satellites to determine origin of moon

LUNAR GEOLOGY

Lunar Flight Study Series: Volume 6. A Study of Geometrical and Terminal Characteristics of Earth-Moon Transits Embedded in the Earth-Moon Plane

This report represents the results of a study of coplanar earth-moon transits. The study was initiated to provide information concerning coplanar geometrical characteristics of earth-moon trnasits. The geometrical aspects of transit behavior are related to variations injection conditions. The model of the earth-moon system used in this investigation is the Jacobian model of the restricted three body problem. All transits considered in this study are restricted to the moon-earth plane (MEP).

TRAJECTORY MEASURING SYSTEM

Beyond apollo.

Apollo capabilities extended for future biomedical, technological and operational experiments, trading space maneuvering capability for experiment load-carrying capacity

SPACE EXPLORATION

Regenerative Environmental Control Systems for Manned-Lunar Spacecraft

The historic earth orbital flight of the Mercury space capsule on February 20, 1962 has illustrated that man has the capability of creating instrumentation and equipment which permit him to survive outside the protective earth atmosphere which, in time, has served both as a shield and a barrier. Because of this great achievement man need no longer restrict himself to earth-space but may direct his resources to expand his zone of operation to earth-moon space. However, in order to exploit this new frontier many problems must be solved which are not mere extensions or extrapolations of those already treated. The problem associated with providing man with an adequate environment for extended periods in the earth's atmosphere, earth-moon space and on the lunar surface is indeed extensive. Trapped radiation, solar flare activity, meteoroid bombardment, solar radiation and the hard vacuum of space are no longer merely phenomena. of scientific interest; they describe the operating environment of manned earth-lunar spacecraft. In order that man may effectively operate in the earth-moon space, myriads of systems and subsystems of varying types and functions must be devised and integrated into an efficient, reliable man-machine complex. This paper will consider only one small aspect of this problem--that is, the problem of providing man with an adequate gaseous and thermal environment in earth-lunar spacecraft. Control of atmospheric gases in manned sealed environments will be treated in Part I. Part II treats thermal regulation and atmosphere control requirements of mobile life support systems for lunar exploration.

Control

Postflight Evaluation of Atlas-Centaur AC-5 (Launched 2 March 1965)

The Atlas-Centaur AC-5 vehicle was launched from ETR Complex 36A on March 2., 1965 at 8:25.04 a.m. EST. Within about 1 second after launch the thrust of the Atlas booster engine decayed rapidly; the vehicle settled back on the launch pad and was quickly destroyed by fire and explosion. Considerable damage was sustained by the launch complex and its associated equipment. Loss of booster engine thrust was due to fuel depletion at the turbopump inlets, which is attributed to closure of the fuel prevalve or the staging valve. To preclude the recurrence of either of these fuel valving malfunctions, the following corrective action has been taken: The remote control actuator has been replaced by manual operation of the Atlas fuel prevalve; the internal passage dimensions in the staging valve have been increased to lessen the hydraulic load on the valve poppet. In addition to the Atlas fuel system malfunction, a failure in the power control circuitry of the Centaur guidance computer resulted in partial removal of power at umbilical ejection. To prevent such a guidance system failure on future flights some redundant circuitry has been eliminated and more rigorous checkout procedures have been adopted. No further anomalies were discovered in the telemetered data prior to the Atlas booster thrust decay. A prime objective of the AC-5 flight was to place a dynamic model of the Surveyor spacecraft in a simulated lunar transfer trajectory. An important facet of this problem is the demonstration of a launch-on-time capability in accordance with the proper Earth-moon relation. The window opening time was established at 8:25 a.m. EST; thus the actual launch occurred within 4 seconds of the planned time.

Source record

Lunar Flight Study Series: Volume 5. Trajectories in the Earth-Moon Space with Symmetrical Free Return Properties

An extensive investigation has been made of the characteristics of so-called "free return" trajectories. For the purposes of the study., these trajectories are defined as having certain symmetric properties which afford flight to the vicinity of the moon and return to earth without need for propulsion after the initial boost phase. The restricted three-body model for the earth-moon-probe system is used throughout. Two kinds of free return trajectories are shown to -exist and are studied. Of particular interest is the fact that for one kind of free return path, the largest inclination which can be achieved between the flight plane at periselenum and the plane of the moon's orbit about earth is about 10. 8 degrees while for the other kind of path the largest possible inclination is dependent on ·the radius at periselenum. In this case the inclination is limited to about 14 degrees or less for periselenum radius of 1938 km, but may be as great as 90 degrees with periselenum radius of 21150 km. Trajectories are also demonstrated which pass in front of the moon. These exhibit inclination behavior very much like that given by trajectories which go behind the moon. The injection velocity for these trajectories also changes only slightly from the circumlunar trajectories (less than 2 m/s for periselenum radius of 1938 km). However, the position of injection is changed considerably and the flight time may be increased by as much as five times that for circumlunar flight.

RETURN-TO-EARTH PHASE