Interference-free wind tunnel testing of jet propelled missiles

Wind tunnel evaluation of the aerodynamic interaction effects between plume and the external flow past the missile body including the wake boundary (“slipstream”) over powered flight envelopes of rocket propelled vehicles can be greatly facilitated — or even made possible — by a methodology replacing the hot propellant by cold, inert gases. Model nozzle design is based on the second order matching of plume geometry and first order modeling of plume stiffness. Since modeled nozzles will have larger throat radii than the prototypes, one can use sting-supported, sting-fed model installations thus eliminating aerodynamic interference effects due to struts. The concepts of simulated altitude and simulated full-scale Reynolds Number greatly reduce wind tunnel occupancy time. Computer programs, covering all steps of evaluating prototype nozzle performance, model sting nozzle design, model test evaluation and interpretation have been developed. The modeling methodology is supported by experimental results obtained in an induction wind tunnel at the FFA, Bromma, Sweden and in the 16 T and VKF-A altitude tunnels at AEDC, Tullahoma, Tenn.     

STADAR: Servo Tester with Automatic Data Acquisition and Reduction

STADAR is a Servo Tester with Automatic Data Acquisition and Reduction developed for the Apollo program. This paper describes the operational capability of STADAR and discusses certain aspects of the design. STADAR evaluates system performance by supplying an input stimuli and two data acquisition and analysis channels. Stimuli (0.02-30 c/s 0-10 V peak) are automatically programmed to a frequency accuracy of ±0.01 percent and an amplitude accuracy of ± 0.1 percent. Data acquisition accuracy is 0.1 percent or 50 microvolts. System design utilizes programmable data filters to improve system S/N ratio. Active filter mechanization methods and results are presented as well as techniques for instantaneous precise generation of stimuli which are automatically programmed.     

Some Electrical/Electronic Areas Requiring Emphasis in Preparation for Future Space Programs

A panel session held at the 1965 Aerospace Conference, Houston,Tex., June 23, 1965. Panelists discussed Life-Suppport interfaces with Electric Power; Communications; Navigation; System Integration for Future Space Programs; and Reliability.     

Composition of the Volatile Material in Halley's Coma from In Situ Measurements

The investigation of the volatile material in the coma of comets is a key to understanding the origin of cometary material, the physical and chemical conditions in the early solar system, the process of comet formation, and the changes that comets have undergone during the last 4.6 billion years. So far, in situ investigations of the volatile constituents have been confined to a single comet, namely P/Halley in 1986. Although, the Giotto mission gave only a few hours of data from the coma, it has yielded a surprising amount of new data and has advanced cometary science by a large step. In the present article the most important results of the measurements of the volatile material of Halley's comet are summarized and an overview of the identified molecules is given. Furthermore, a list of identified radicals and unstable molecules is presented for the first time. At least one of the radicals, namely CH₂, seems to be present as such in the cometary ice. As an outlook to the future we present a list of open questions concerning cometary volatiles and a short preview on the next generation of mass spectrometers that are being built for the International Rosetta Mission to explore the coma of Comet Wirtanen. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Scan-based emitter passive localization

This paper investigates the problem of estimating the position of a scanning emitter using a passive scan-based geolocation technique. This is achieved by taking advantage of the geometric constraints introduced by the uniform rotating motion of the antenna main beam as it sweeps across a number of separate receivers. A detailed analysis of the estimation process and accuracy of the emitter position is given and a number of computer simulations showing the benefits of this geolocation technique are also included     

Single ion actions: the induction of micronuclei in V79 cells exposed to individual protons.

Understanding the effects of single-particles from conventional radiation biology experiments is problematic due to the stochastics of particle tracks. This complicates the determinations of risk associated with low doses. We have developed a charged particle microbeam, which allows individually counted particles to be delivered to precise cellular locations. The system is capable of delivering a single charged particle with > 99% efficiency. Of these particles 90% are delivered with a resolution of +/- 2 micrometers and 96% with a resolution of +/- 5 micrometers. We have carried out preliminary studies in Chinese hamster V79 cells to monitor the effectiveness of low energy protons at inducing cytological damage. We have used the micronucleus assay as a measure of predominantly lethal chromosome damage. The effects of a single 3.2 MeV proton delivered individually to cells could be measured, with less than 2% of the exposed cells producing micronuclei 24 hours later. The yield of micronuclei formation was essentially linear up to the highest dose (30 particles per cell nucleus) delivered. Ultimately, the ability to target particles to different parts of the cell nucleus may start to impact on models available for chromosome aberration formation and chromosomal Organisation and mechanisms underlying genomic instability.     

General Aviation Aircraft Flight Operations Quality Assurance: Overcoming the Obstacles

This describes the initiative to introduce a capable yet affordable Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) program into the general aviation industry. A brief overview of the FOQA concept is given along with a historical perspective to the evolution of such programs. Initial development of a FOQA program for general aviation by the Center for Sensors and Sensor Systems at Saint Louis University is introduced herein. A brief discussion of the obstacles in developing such a system is presented, as well as strategies for overcoming these obstacles. The system consists mainly of a quick access recorder (QAR) that is conceived to be a stand-alone, non-intrusive system that collects parametric flight data, a preprocessor system to analyze initial data sets and validate their use, and post-processor software used in the analysis of available flight parameters. The program concepts are presented for initial determination of the needs and possibilities, and examples are presented along with flight data collected in the University's fleet of aircraft.     

Effects of carbon ions on primary cultures of mouse brain cells.

Primary mixed cultures of astrocytes and microglia were obtained from neonatal mice, and were irradiated with high-LET carbon ions. Immunohistochemical staining showed astrocytes survived more prominently than microglia. Tagged with specific antibodies, astrocytes and microglia surviving after irradiation were counted by flow cytometry. Decreases in the number of microglia and astrocytes were detected at a dose as small as 2 Gy when Day 5 cultures were irradiated with 13 keV/micrometer carbon ions. When the cultures were irradiated on Day 10, the dose-dependent decrease of microglia was more prominent for 13 keV/micrometer carbon ions than 70 keV/micrometer carbon ions. Astrocytes showed a marginal decrease at Day 10 and Day 14. We concluded that microglia are more sensitive than astrocytes to carbon ions and X-rays, and that the radiosensitivity of microglia depends on both differentiation/proliferation status and radiation quality.