Influence of freezing rate changes on MnBiBi eutectic microstructure

In an attempt to explain the influence of space processing on the microstructure of MnBiBi, eutectic mixtures were directionally solidified with a sudden change of translation rate. The MnBi fiber spacing was able to adapt to the changing freezing rate as predicted by heat transfer computations. Thus the microstructure adapts more rapidly than the freezing rate could be changed in the present experiments.     

Table-Aided Design of the Energy-Storage Reactor in DC-to-DC Converters

A new procedure for the selection of magnetic cores for use in energy-storage dc-to-dc power converters that eliminates the need for an automated computer search algorithm and stored data file is presented. The converter configurations included in the procedure are the three commonly encountered single-winding converters for voltage stepup, for current stepup and voltage stepup/current stepup, and for the two-winding converter for voltage stepup/current stepup. For each converter configuration, three types of controllers are considered: constant-frequency, constant on-time, and constant off-time. Using concepts developed from analyses of these converters by considering the transfer of energy by means of an energystorage inductor or transformer, a special table of parameters calculated from magnetic core data is constructed, which leads to a considerably simplified design procedure.     

Voyager imaging experiment

The overall objective of this experiment is exploratory reconnaissance of Jupiter, Saturn, their satellites, and Saturn's rings. Such reconnaissance, at resolutions and phase angles unobtainable from Earth, can be expected to provide much new data relevant to the atmospheric and/or surface properties of these bodies. The experiment also has the following specific objectives:Observe and characterize the global circulation of the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn;Determine the horizontal and vertical structure of the visible clouds and establish their relationship to the belted appearance and dynamical properties of the planetary atmospheres;Determine the vertical structure of high, optically-thin, scattering layers on Jupiter and Saturn;Determine the nature of anomalous features such as the Great Red Spot, South Equatorial Belt disturbances, etc.;Characterize the nature of the colored material in the clouds of Jupiter and Saturn, and identify the nature and sources of chromophores on Io and Titan;Perform comparative geologic studies of many satellites at less than 15-km resolution;Map and characterize the geologic structure of several satellites at high resolution (1 km);Investigate the existence and nature of atmospheres on the satellites;Determine the mass, size, and shape of many of the satellites by direct measurement;Determine the direction of the spin axes and periods of rotation of several satellites, and establish coordinate systems for the larger satellites;Map the radial distribution of material in Saturn's rings at high resolution;Determine the optical scattering properties of the primaries, rings, and satellites at several wavelengths and phase angles;Search for novel physical phenomena, e.g., phenomena associated with the Io flux tube, meteors, aurorae, lightning, or satellite shadows.Team leader.Deputy team leader.     

How primitive are the gases in Titan's atmosphere?

Titan's atmosphere contains a mixture of nitrogen, methane, argon, hydrogen, simple hydrocarbons and nitriles, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Sources of nitrogen may be as a product of the photodissociation of ammonia or trapped in the ices that formed the satellite. Reasons for the abundance of deuterium are examined and its association with nitrogen on Titan is explained.     

Partnerships in remote sensing : A theme with some examples

This article reviews the revolution in remote sensing which has taken place over the past 25 years. This revolution could not have occurred without the closest cooperation among government agencies, industry and academia. International cooperation is shown to be essential in carrying out the bold missions planned for the next decade. The article reviews the history of the NASA-NOAA relationship, and the history of international partnerships with emphasis on development of the operational METSAT system. The government-industry partnership is also reviewed, with case studies to examine the evolution of METSAT sensor design, LANDSAT commercialization, and the NOAA Administrator's new initiative to facilitate development of a commercial Ocean Color Instrument. Government interaction with academia, in the form of National Science Foundation programmes and government-university ‘cooperative institutes’, is reviewed. The author concludes by showing how plans for integrating research and operations on Space Station platforms can only succeed through an alliance of all the remote-sensing players.     

All-sky monitors for X-ray astronomy

We discuss the rationale for a semi-permanent all-sky X-ray monitor, and investigate a variety of options for its implementation. We conclude that the Space Station offers an excellent opportunity for hosting such a monitor, and that a set of pinhole cameras can be configured to provide an effective and economical monitor system. A baseline of six independent pinhole modules, each of which requires approximately one cubic foot, 30 pounds, 2 watts, and 100 bits per second, can provide full sky coverage with scientifically interesting sensitivities. No other resources or special accommodation (such as detailed alignment registration, time-tagging or on-orbit servicing) would be required. The baseline system can locate bright sources to a few arc min, and can simultaneously measure each of the several hundred sources in the sky brighter than a few thousandths the intensity of the Crab nebula every day for decades.     

Protecting spacecraft against meteoroid/orbital debris impact damage: an overview

Meteoroids and orbital debris pose a serious damage threat to all spacecraft. The effects of a meteoroid/orbital debris (M/OD) impact depend on a variety of factors, including where the M/OD impact occurs, the size, composition, and speed of the impacting object, and the function of the impacted spacecraft system. These effects can be minimal, can degrade a functional spacecraft component, or can compromise spacecraft functionality, even to the point of mission loss or loss of life. To minimize the damage threat from the meteoroid/orbital debris environment, it is often necessary to install protective shielding around critical spacecraft systems. If a system cannot be shielded, operational constraints may need to be imposed to reduce the damage threat. This paper presents an overview of the research and development activities performed since the late 1950s with an aim of increasing the level of protection afforded satellites and spacecraft operating in the M/OD environment and ultimately mitigating the mechanical and structural effects of an M/OD impact.     

Chemical composition measurements of the atmosphere of Jupiter with the Galileo Probe mass spectrometer.

The Galileo Probe entered the atmosphere of Jupiter on December 7, 1995. Measurements of the chemical and isotopic composition of the Jovian atmosphere were obtained by the mass spectrometer during the descent over the 0.5 to 21 bar pressure region over a time period of approximately 1 hour. The sampling was either of atmospheric gases directly introduced into the ion source of the mass spectrometer through capillary leaks or of gas, which had been chemically processed to enhance the sensitivity of the measurement to trace species or noble gases. The analysis of this data set continues to be refined based on supporting laboratory studies on an engineering unit. The mixing ratios of the major constituents of the atmosphere hydrogen and helium have been determined as well as mixing ratios or upper limits for several less abundant species including: methane, water, ammonia, ethane, ethylene, propane, hydrogen sulfide, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon. Analysis also suggests the presence of trace levels of other 3 and 4 carbon hydrocarbons, or carbon and nitrogen containing species, phosphine, hydrogen chloride, and of benzene. The data set also allows upper limits to be set for many species of interest which were not detected. Isotope ratios were measured for 3He/4He, D/H, 13C/12C, 20Ne/22Ne, 38Ar/36Ar and for isotopes of both Kr and Xe.     

Gemini Orbital Tracking

One purpose of the GEMINI program is to study the problem of and establish techniques associated with acquisition, tracking, and photography of terrestrial objects from the orbiting spacecraft. This paper describes a ground-based simulation which was performed to obtain a realistic understanding of this problem and to provide the astronauts with preflight experience. The results presented evaluate the test subjects' performance in terms of tracking-rate errors, position errors, and fuel consumption for various orbital altitudes and target offsets.     

In situ dating on Mars: A new approach to the K–Ar method utilizing cosmogenic argon

Cosmogenic argon isotopes are produced in feldspars via nuclear reactions between cosmic rays and Ca and K atoms within the lattice. These cosmogenic isotopes can be used as proxies for K and Ca, much like nuclear reactor-derived ³⁹Ar and ³⁷Ar are used as proxies for K and Ca, respectively, in ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology. If Ca and K are uniformly distributed, then the ratio of radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar (⁴⁰Ar^?) to cosmogenic ³⁸Ar or ³⁶Ar (³⁸Ar_cos or ³⁶Ar_cos) is proportional to the difference between the radioisotopic and exposure ages, as well as the K/Ca ratio of the degassing phase. Thus cosmogenic, radiogenic, and trapped Ar isotopes, all of which can be measured remotely and are stable over geologic time, are sufficient to generate an isochron-like diagram from which the isotopic composition of the trapped component may be inferred. Such data also provide a means to assess the extent to which the system has remained closed with respect to ⁴⁰Ar^?, thereby mitigating otherwise unquantifiable uncertainties that complicate the conventional K–Ar dating method.