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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

Effect of choked flow on terminal characteristics of MPD thrusters

A one-dimensional steady real gas MPD accelerator model based on data for various electrode lengths and anode orifice radii is presented. The model relates the electric field to the boundary conditions in a form that agrees with experiment over parametric variations in current and mass flow. The electric field is sensitive to the formulations and assumptions bound into the analysis, and is useful in the modeling of outflow properties. It is shown that the location of the sonic point in the arc chamber shifts upstream for high current operation, and the relation between terminal voltage and current is demonstrated. Experiments using an anode suggested by the theory yield a thrust efficiency 1.5 times that of the unmodified thruster.

King, D. Q.↗

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↗

Computer modeling of high-efficiency solar cells

Transport equations which describe the flow of holes and electrons in the heavily doped regions of a solar cell are presented in a form that is suitable for device modeling. Two experimentally determinable parameters, the effective bandgap shrinkage and the effective asymmetry factor are required to completely model the cell in these regions. Nevertheless, a knowledge of only the effective bandgap shrinkage is sufficient to model the terminal characteristics of the cell. The results of computer simulations of the effects of heavy doping are presented. The insensitivity of the terminal characteristics to the choice of effective asymmetry factor is shown along with the sensitivity of the electric field and quasielectric fields to this parameter. The dependence of the terminal characteristics on the effective bandgap shrinkage is also presented.

Schartz, R. J.↗

Communications terminal breadboard

A baseline design is presented of a digital communications link between an advanced manned spacecraft (AMS) and an earth terminal via an Intelsat 4 type communications satellite used as a geosynchronous orbiting relay station. The fabrication, integration, and testing of terminal elements at each end of the link are discussed. In the baseline link design, the information carrying capacity of the link was estimated for both the forward direction (earth terminal to AMS) and the return direction, based upon orbital geometry, relay satellite characteristics, terminal characteristics, and the improvement that can be achieved by the use of convolutional coding/Viterbi decoding techniques.

Source record↗

Thruster models for NEP system analysis

There are currently no thruster modeling codes that can be integrated with power system codes for full propulsion system modeling. Most existing thruster models were written from a 'stand alone' viewpoint, assuming the user is performing analyses on thruster performance alone. The goal of the present modeling effort is to develop thruster codes that model performance and scaling as a function of mission and system inputs, rather than in terms of more elemental physical parameters. System level parameters of interest are as follows: performance, such as specific impulse and efficency; terminal characteristics, such as voltage or current; and mass. Specific impulse and efficiency couple with mission analyses, while terminal characteristics allow integration with power systems. Additional information on lifetime and operation may be required for detailed designs.

Gilland, Jim↗

Flight investigation of the VFR and IFR landing approach characteristics and terminal area airspace requirements for a light STOL airplane

A flight research program was conducted to determine the terminal area instrument flight capabilities of a light STOL airplane. Simulated (hooded) instrument landing approaches were made using steep single-segment and two-segment glide slopes. A brief investigation was also made of the visual flight terminal area capabilities of the aircraft. The results indicated that the airplane could be flown on a 7 deg glide-slope ILS-type approach in still air with an adequate 3 deg margin for downward correction.

Crane, H. L.↗

Influence of Hot Carrier Transport on the Transient Response of an InGaAs/InAlAs Metal-Semiconductor Schottky Diode Structure

The calculated transient characteristic of a heterostructure, rectifying contact is theoretically examined. It is found that hot carrier transport drastically affects the output terminal characteristics of the heterostructure Schottky contact and, hence, the working of a blocking contact. This is of importance to the understanding of InGaAs MSM devices in particular, as well as any structure which contains a blocking contact in general.

Salem, Ali F.↗

The magnetospheric plasma tail

The structural nature of the earth's plasmasphere at onset and immediately following an intense magnetic storm is examined. Thermal proton density measurements by the RF ion mass spectrometer on the low altitude polar orbiting satellite OGO-4 were compared on five consecutive nightside passes during the early recovery stage of an intense storm occuring in September 1967. Observational results revealed (1) characteristic termination of the dense plasmapause, (2) secondary enhancement of the ion density poleward of the first abrupt plasmapause, and (3) an elongated plasma tail during the recovery phase of the storm.

Grebowsky, J. M.↗

NASA compendium of satellite communications programs

A comprehensive review is given of worldwide satellite communication programs that range in time from the inception of satellite communications to mid-1974. Particular emphasis is placed on program results, including experiments conducted, communications system operational performance, and technology employed. The background for understanding these results is established through brief summaries of the program organization, system configuration, and satellite and ground terminal characteristics. Major consideration is given to the communications system aspects of each program, but general spacecraft technology and other experiments conducted as part of the same program are mentioned summarily.

Source record↗

Microwaves to megabits

Receiver and terminal characteristics of the Mark 3 very long baseline interferometry system are described in some detail. The Mark 3 system has 14 IF to video converters, each with built in synthesized local oscillators which have a range of 100 to 500 MHz covered in 10 kHz steps. In the normal wideband continuum mode, all 14 upper and all 14 lower sideband video outputs (each with 2 MHz bandwidth) are recorded with a total data rate of 112 Mbits/sec. In geodetic observations, two IF bands are simultaneously recorded from a dual band (5/X) receiver.

Rogers, A. E. E.↗

The Lunar Laser OCTL Terminal (LLOT) Optical Systems

The Lunar Laser OCTL Terminal is an auxiliary ground station terminal for the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD). The LLOT optical systems exercise modulation and beam divergence control over six 10-watt fiber-based laser transmitters at 1568 nanometers, which act as beacons for pointing of the space-based terminal. The LLOT design transmits these beams from distinct sub-apertures of the F/76 OCTL telescope at divergences ranging from 110 microrad to 40 microrad. LLOT also uses the same telescope aperture to receive the downlink signal at 1550 nanometers from the spacecraft terminal. Characteristics and control of the beacon lasers, methods of establishing and maintaining beam alignment, beam zoom system design, co-registration of the transmitted beams and the receive field of view, transmit/receive isolation, and downlink signal manipulation and control are discussed.

laser communications↗

Magellan Aerodynamic Characteristics During the Termination Experiment Including Thruster Plume-Free Stream Interaction

Results are presented on the aerodynamic characteristics of the Magellan spacecraft during the October 1994 Termination Experiment, including the effects of the thruster engine exhaust plumes upon the molecular free stream around the spacecraft and upon the aerodynamics coefficients. As Magellan passed through the Venusian atmosphere, the solar arrays were turned in opposite directions relative to the free stream creating a torque on the spacecraft. The spacecraft control system was programmed to counter the effects of this torque with attitude control engines to maintain an inertially fixed attitude. The orientation and reaction engine telemetry returned from Magellan are used to create a model of the aerodynamic torques. Geometric models of the Magellan spacecraft are analyzed with the aid of both free molecular and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo codes. The simulated aerodynamic torques determined are compared to the measured torques. The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method is also used to model the attitude engine exhaust plumes, the free stream disturbance caused by these plumes, and the resulting torques acting on the spacecraft compared to no-exhaust plume cases. The effect of the exhaust plumes was found to be sufficiently large that thrust reversal is possible.

Cestero, Francisco J.↗

Characteristics of Quasi-Terminator Orbits Near Primitive Bodies

Quasi-terminator orbits are introduced as a class of quasi-periodic trajectories in the solar radiation pressure (SRP) perturbed Hill dynamics. These orbits offer significant displacements along the Sun-direction without the need for station-keeping maneuvers. Thus, quasi-terminator orbits have application to primitive-body missions, where a variety of observation geometries relative to the Sun (or other directions) can be achieved. This paper describes the characteristics of these orbits as a function of normalized SRP strength and invariant torus frequency ratio and presents a discussion of mission design considerations for a global surface mapping orbit design.

orbital motions↗