Mesospheric OH temperatures: Simultaneous ground-based and SABER OH measurements over Millstone Hill

We present rotational temperature measurements of the mesospheric OH emission layer using a meridional imaging spectrograph at Millstone Hill (42.6°N, 72.5°W). The system is equipped with a state-of-the-art bare-CCD detector and can yield simultaneous quasi-meridional images of the mesospheric OH and O₂ intensity and temperature fields at 87 and 94 km altitude during the course of each night. A cross-validation study of the rotational OH temperature measurements obtained on 61 nights during the autumnal months of 2005–2007 was undertaken with near-simultaneous kinetic temperature measurements made by the SABER instrument aboard the NASA TIMED satellite during overpasses of Millstone Hill. Excellent agreement was obtained between the two datasets with the small differences being attributable to differences in the spatial and temporal averaging inherent between the two datasets.     

The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter Investigation on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission

The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) is an instrument on the payload of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft (LRO) (Chin et al., in Space Sci. Rev. 129:391–419, 2007). The instrument is designed to measure the shape of the Moon by measuring precisely the range from the spacecraft to the lunar surface, and incorporating precision orbit determination of LRO, referencing surface ranges to the Moon’s center of mass. LOLA has 5 beams and operates at 28 Hz, with a nominal accuracy of 10 cm. Its primary objective is to produce a global geodetic grid for the Moon to which all other observations can be precisely referenced.     

Adaptive Interpolated Time-Delay Estimation

An adaptive delay-estimation (ADE) algorithm is proposed for the continuous tracking of time-delay. The method uses an adaptive delay line which is interpolated by a first-order filter. Two delay-line interpolating filters are considered, each having a single coefficient which is estimated in real time. The first implements linear interpolation, and the second interpolates using a first-order allpass filter. Since the ADE algorithm is derived from recursive Gauss-Newton optimization, it can be viewed as a recursive maximum likelihood (RML) algorithm for time-delay estimation.     

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.     

Modeling of brushless DC generating systems using diakoptics

The mathematical modeling of a brushless DC generator is described, as an illustration of the application of diakoptic techniques to the analysis of small-scale electrical power supply systems. Modeling of the generator and its output rectifier is accomplished using an established matrix technique that accounts for the continuously changing conduction pattern of the diode bridge network. The advantages of using diakoptics are discussed together with the main generator linked to its exciter and to the automatic voltage regulator and permanent magnet generator which are often included in a complete unit. A solution algorithm is presented for this overall arrangement and a comparison is made between theoretical and practical results for a typical 3-stage, 4000-rev/min, 10.3-kW, 28-V unit     

Validation test of 125 Ah advanced design IPV nickel-hydrogenflight cells

An update of validation test results confirming the advanced design nickel-hydrogen cell is presented. An advanced 125 Ah individual pressure vessel (IPV) nickel-hydrogen cell was designed for storing and delivering energy for long-term, low-earth-orbit (LEO) spacecraft missions. The new features of this design are: the use of 26% rather than 31% potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte; a patented catalyzed wall wick; serrated-edge separators to facilitate gaseous oxygen and hydrogen flow within the cell, while maintaining physical contact with the wall wick for electrolyte management; and a floating rather than a fixed stack to accommodate nickel electrode expansion. The resulting improvements include extended cycle life and enhanced thermal, electrolyte, and oxygen management; and accommodation of nickel electrode expansion. Six 125-Ah flight cells based on this design are in the process of being evaluated in a LEO cycle life test     

Generalized model of brushless DC generator

A generalized model is described for a brushless DC machine consisting of a multiphase synchronous machine with a full-wave bridge rectifier connected to its output terminals. The state-variable equations for the machine are suitable for numerical integration on a digital computer, and are assembled in a form which permits investigations to be made on the effects of different numbers of armature phase windings and different winding connections. The model has been used in both steady-state and transient studies on a number of generating units, with the detailed information which is provided being beneficial to design engineers. Comparisons presented between predicted and measured results illustrate the validity of the model and the mathematical techniques adopted, and confirm that accurate information on the performance of a brushless generator may be obtained prior to manufacture