Digital Commons Network^™

Meteorological Support To Spaceport Operations, Ernest A. Amman

Space Congress® Proceedings

The Spaceflight Meteorology Group. (SMG) Weather" Bureau., ESSA, is responsible for providing weather support in connection with the Manned Spaceflight Program. This weather support is broadly categorized, into: (1) " Mission suppprt, and C 2) Non-mis s ion support.

Prior to a manned space flight, the Cape Kennedy Section of the SMG provides pertinent weather forecasts to the various users, such, as the Mission Director and. the Launch. Director, After launching, the distribution of forecasts for recovery purposes becomes the primary responsibility for another section of SMG.

With the progression from Project Mercury to the Gemini program and to the …

New Developments In The Space Isotope Power Program, Arthur J. Clark

Space Congress® Proceedings

An adequate source of electric power is, of coarse,, essential to all space missions. As these missions become raorti ambitious, the power needs '*ill increase* It is the job of the Atomic Energy Commission to assure that the unique capabilities of nuclear power sources are available for use as needed for these missions. The missions requirements that must be considered involve both the NASA and the military, and the AEG works closely witn both NASA and the DOD in the conduct of this program. The space isotopie -power program is the responsibility of the Space Nuclear Systems Division of the …

Photo-Dilectric Tape Camera Systems, James A. D'Arcy

Space Congress® Proceedings

A photo-dielectric tape camera is a type of television camera which combines the features of an image sensor and an electrostatic tape recorder in one package. Photo-dielectric tape (usually abbreviated to phototape or dielectric tape) is the essential part of a dielectric tape camera; it includes both the photosensitive medium and the storage medium. Optical images sensed by the camera are stored directly on the dielectric tape in the form of a charge pattern. The stored information can be retrieved immediately or retained for as long as several months.

Two types of dielectric tape camera have already been built by …

Optimization Of Thermionic Generator Systems Of High Reliability, Katsunori Shimada, Francis De Winter

Space Congress® Proceedings

Thermionic generators using radioisotopes as primary sources of energy are being considered for application to future space missions. The reliability of a matrix of a large number of thermionic converters has been studied by J. R. Long of the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory and found satisfactory.

In this paper, an optimization of the generator system is carried out for a thermionic generator with a power output of 300 watts* Allowance is made for the efficiency of the dcdc power conditioners that are currently available. The system chosen for the study has from 9 to 15 individual thermionic energy converters. These are …

A Method Of Predicting The Gas Properties Surrounding Aerospace Vehicles In Hypersonic Flight, Alien J. Schwalb

Space Congress® Proceedings

This paper describes two computer programs which have been combined to obtain inviscid perfect and real gas flow fields around axisymmetric blunt nosed vehicles at zero angle of attack, at supersonic or hypersonic flight velocities (Reference 1). A blunt body computer program which calculates the subsonic portion of the flow field, and a method of characteristics computer program which determines the supersonic portion of the flow field, were integrated into a combined efficient single automatic computer program. The blunt body program1 s output automatically supplies the method of characteristics program with the necessary input it requires. The two programs were …

Introduction Of Computer Aided Instruction Into An Aerospace Engineering Curriculum, Richard D. Mathieu, Paul L. Quinn

Space Congress® Proceedings

The computer-aided education program at the U. S. Naval Academy has developed over a two-year period a nucleus of well trained and experienced faculty and technical staff members. The overall approach being used to introduce the use of computeraided instruction into the academic program is described. Details of the participation of the Aerospace Engineering faculty in this program, and the work done to date in courses which support the Aerospace Engineering curriculum, are presented.

Extending Syncom 3'S Orbital Life Over The Pacific, Bernard M. Anzel, Richard E. Balsam

Space Congress® Proceedings

Syncom 3, launched in August 1964, was the first satellite to be maneuvered to a nearstationary orbit. It is presently functioning as an essential communication link between Hawaii and the Far East, As long as the satellite remains within mutual visibility of these areas, this link will continue to exist. Ironically, the by-product of an unwanted process, namely, gas resulting from decomposition of the propellant (hydrogen peroxide) which was originally intended to provide orbital control, is now being used to maintain this link. If the satellite orbit were not controllable, Syncorn 3 would drift out of the mutual visibility longitude …

Orbit Determination And Prediction For Low Or Intermediate Altitude Satellites, Anthony G. Lubowe

Space Congress® Proceedings

A computer system is described which can process raw tracker data from low or intermediate altitude artificial satellites and produce a tracker drive tape for future passes. Alternately (once the future passes have been tracked) graphical printout of the errors between actual and predicted pointing angles and ranges can "be obtained. The system is a descendant of those used for the intermediate altitude TELSTAR satellites.

The use of the system with data from, a low altitude satellite (perigee height «\110 miles,, eccentricity ^.02^ inclination angle «BQ°) is documented. One particular result, obtained by processing 10 passes from 5 sites over …

A Conceptual Framework For Post Entry Education Of Public Administrators, Huey B. Long

Space Congress® Proceedings

Platitudes and insults are equally conspicuous in the history of local government. It has been labeled as the "kitchen of democracy" by some and described as the most corrupt and inefficient level of government in America by others . Yet, one consistently used descriptive word appears in contemporary literature to characterize local government. That word is, "trouble." While there is little disagreement that limited qualified manpower is contributing to the difficulties being experienced by local government there is even less disagreement on another point; that local government must be maintained and improved if the federal system of government is to …

Digital Filtering In Space Communication, Arnfinn M. Manders

Space Congress® Proceedings

In ground receivers for space applications, a bank of filters is frequently used to demultiplex the received subcarriers. Such filter banks are also frequently used for measurements of the doppler shift of the received signals. These filters are generally characterized by having a narrow bandwidth. This means that they are rather costly and often difficult to construct to the desired specifications. Since the baseband structure varies from mission to mission, the useful life of these baseband filters is short.

An alternate approach to the filtering problem that can cut cost and increase flexibility while at the same time improve system …

Deorbit Maneuver And Targeting Strategy For Unmanned Mars Landers, W. J. Pragluski, D. Marquet

Space Congress® Proceedings

Several deorbit maneuver strategies for unmanned Mars soft landers are evaluated in terms of propulsive efficiency, targeting capability, communication link geometry, and sensitivity to system uncertainties. These strategies include (1) minimum deorbit impulse, (2) minimum entry condition uncertainties, (3) minimum variation in the lander antenna aspect angle during entry, (4) minimum communication range from the lander to the orbiting spacecraft during entry. The selected maneuver strategy is a combination of the above which restricts orbiter lead angles to the range between 0 deg and -10 deg. The analysis covers a range of elliptical orbits with periapsis altitudes of 500 to …

Source-Material On New Technology For Engineering Education, Kenneth A. Mccollom

Space Congress® Proceedings

Monographs are being prepared from research reports for use as supplementary source material in engineering classrooms. Each Monograph contains and develops one central idea and Is planned for use in one to three class periods of a course. The three prominent engineering science subject areas of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and control systems were selected in which to establish a pilot program for creation and testing of these documents. The main objective is to speed the results of new technology resulting from research into the classroom. This NASA Pilot Program is an experiment of the College of Engineering at Oklahoma State …

A Scale Model Investigation Of Rocket Exhaust Effects On An Improved Saturn V Booster Utilizing Solid Propellant Strap-Ons, K. C. Hendershot, J. Llinas, Homer B. Wilson

Space Congress® Proceedings

Missions currently being considered by NASA beyond the Apollo manned lunar landing will require a larger payload capability than is available with the current generation of Saturn boosters. An attractive method of achieving the desired payload increase consists of adding large solid propellant rocket motors (strap-ons) to existing boosters to augment the thrust from the basic booster liquidpropellant engines. The soundness of this approach has already been demonstrated by such vehicles as the Titan III-C and Thrust Augmented Thor/Delta, where significant performance increases have been obtained within current state of the art and at minimum cost, while simultaneously retaining the …

A System For In-Flight Determination Of Lunar Orbit Injection Conditions, D. D. Van Winkle

Space Congress® Proceedings

This paper is based on vork accomplished by the Douglas Missile and Space Systems Division under Contracts NAS7-380 and NAST-53T for the Goddard Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, Maryland.

The S-Ii Injection Stage For The Mars/Venus Flyby Mission, W. H. Morita, J. W. Sandford

Space Congress® Proceedings

Multiple Saturn launches have been considered as a means of placing in earth orbit the system elements required for spacecraft planetary injection. With the S-II injection stage concept evolved for this purpose, the flyby mission spacecraft and injection stage (with hydrogen and without oxygen) are assembled in earth orbit. Tankers supply liquid oxygen to the injection stage.

The earth orbital mode of operation is based on delivery of payloads to orbit by use of a twostage Saturn V earth-launch system. To accomplish orbital operations, the current S-II stage can be modified for the injection stage application. Required changes are based …

Determining The Magnetism Of Small Spacecraft, M. H. Lackey

Space Congress® Proceedings

A satellite has permanent magnetism associated with it resulting from the magnetization of ferrous items distributed about its volume. The magnetism will interact with the earth ! s magnetic field producing a torque about the center of gravity of the satellite. If this torque is large, it can misalign the satellite and cause it to oscillate in its orbit. Prior to launch the magnetic field from the permanent magnetism can be measured and analyzed to determine how much torque will be produced by an external magnetic field. Ideally there exists some dipole moment called the "effective or resultant dipole moment …

A Multiplexer/Demultiplexer System For The Multi-Color Spin-Scan Cloud Camera On Ats-C, F. W. Van Kirk, D. G. Kovar

Space Congress® Proceedings

The ATS-3 spacecraft has transmitted many high quality color pictures of the full earth disc. This paper describes the design of the multiplexing/demultiplexing system for the multi-color camera. This system, which employs time division multiplexed pulse amplitude modulation (PAM), is described from a block diagram standpoint. Circuit design highlights and packaging details are also provided, Finally, the test results of the actual equipment are given.

Design Considerations For The Small Scientific Satellite (S3 ), G. W. Longanecker

Space Congress® Proceedings

The Small Scientific Satellite (S) program has been established to provide a highly sophisticated Scout class system for individual experimenters or small groups of experimenters to conduct specialized studies of specific phenomena in the magnetosphere or near Interplanetary space. The spacecraft system is designed, to be as flexible as possible to accommodate a wide variety of scientific missions to be flown in, the next decade. This paper describes the methods used to obtain design guidelines through extensive Interviews with potential, users and the resultant design concepts,

Evolution Of The Command Subsystem For The Nimbus Family Of Satellites, John Pluth

Space Congress® Proceedings

There are four satellites included in the NIMBUS spacecraft family. Two satellites have been launched, the third is about to be launched, and the fourth is presently being developed for launch in 1969. A Command Clock Subsystem is part of every NIMBUS Satellite, and each satellite has a Command Clock Subsystem which differs with its predecessor. A discussion of the differences among the Command Clock Subsystems is the purpose of this paper.

Structural Considerations For Larger Upper Stage Development, Clifford Y. Kam, Karl M. Anderson, Gerald V. Anderson

Space Congress® Proceedings

The selection of design configurations and materials for large vehicles such as those proposed for manned missions to Mars in the early 1980's will require the resolving of major technological questions during the next few years. The structure required to contain the large volume of liquid propellants, particularly hydrogen, must be of efficient design so that payload capability can be maximized. In a typical study recently conducted, design criteria were established for a multimodule upper stage. Each stage module consists of a basic shell structure, an insulated, internally mounted LH2 propellant tank, and the thrust engine with its associated support …

Mars Lander Vehicle/Parachute Dynamics, R. D. Moog, Martin Marietta

Space Congress® Proceedings

Parachute decelerators used exclusively or in combination with retro rockets have been considered prime candidates for the terminal descent and landing system of a scientifically instrumented Mars lander. The objective of this study is to understand basic relationships between parameters affecting dynamic response of the parachute and capsule and to define those aspects of the system which have a sensitive effect on the design of the lander capsule. Of particular interest is the response of the capsule to wind gusts and to establish the sensitivity to gust onset rates in the VM series of Martian atmospheres.

The model used in …

Instrumentation For A Mars Entry Experiment, L. Wolfert, M. Kardos, J. Dougherty, J. Cox

Space Congress® Proceedings

This paper is based on a preliminary design of an entry science package for a Voyager Mars entry and landing capsule. The introduction outlines the various conditions under which the instruments must operate and the range of anticipated measurement parameters. The following sections describe the technology survey, alternative measurement concepts considered, and the instruments selected for the entry science package. The last section is devoted to the complete subsystem operation, sequence of events, data handling, and the system of backup measurements.

A Second Generation (High-Speed) Maximum Power Tracker For Space Applications, Clement A. Berard

Space Congress® Proceedings

During the past few years, considerable effort has been exerted by both industry and government to improve the performance of space power systems. One of the significant advances has been the development of practical Maximum Power-Point Tracking (MPPT) systems. This paper presents the background and evolution of a second-generation (high-speed) MPPT system capable of operation with solar arrays with rapidly fluctuating parameters due to mission operation (e.g., spin-stabilized spacecraft).

An experimental model of the high-speed MPPT system has been constructed and tested. Results from these tests are presented herein.

The second-generation MPPT system provides a means of efficient power conditioning …

Advanced Beryllium Gyro Technology, Paul J. Gripshover, Hugh D. Hanes

Space Congress® Proceedings

This paper describes the process developed for fabricating beryllium gyro components by hot isostatic pressing. Five different components, an inner gimbal, a gyro sleeve, an accelerometer sleeve, an inner cylinder, and an inner cylinder cover, were fabricated. Although the process varied somewhat for each type of specimen, it consisted primarily of vibratory packing, hydrostatic pressing, hot isostatic pressing, and leaching. Since the most challenging component to be fabricated was the inner gimbal, this paper is devoted primarily to the process development of this particular component.

Two key developments associated with the fabrication of the inner gimbal were the use of …

An Analysis Of The Telecommunication Performance Of A Data Relay Satellite System, C. T. Dawson, G. D. Arndt, B. H. Boston

Space Congress® Proceedings

The Data-Relay Satellite System (DRSS) has "been proposed as a means of providing a communication capability between a number of earth-orbiting space vehicles and the Mission Control Center- Houston (MCC-H) using earth-orbiting synchronous satellites as relay devices. The purpose of this paper is to report the investigation of the performance characteristics of the relay system and to determine the expected communications capabilities of the DRSS operating with Apollo spacecraft systems and with an advanced spacecraft-systems concept.

When the DRSS is used with the spacecraft high-gain antenna (Apollo or modified spacecraft), positive circuit margins can be expected for all up-link and …

Reduction To Practice Of Space Inventions, Robert F. Kempf

Space Congress® Proceedings

The legal concept of actual reduction to practice can be a significant factor in obtaining patent protection for an invention. It is well established that to prove actual reduction to practice, it must be shown the invention worked as intended in its practical contemplated use; and the acts relied on for reduction to practice cannot occur in a foreign country.

To show that an invention worked as intended in its practical contemplated use, a complete operative embodiment must be constructed and subjected to some degree of testing; and depending on the circumstances this testing may be under conditions of actual …

Measurement Of Space Environmental Effects On Biological Specimens, T. H. Harmount

Space Congress® Proceedings

Experimentation -with live biology in space flight is a relatively new field of endeavor. The recently acquired ability of man to place relatively large satellites into earth, solar, and interplanetary orbit has opened to the field of biological research a great new area of investigation.

Bioscience experiments have already been flown on the Biosatellite and some of the Gemini flights. Many more are proposed. Some of the major areas of interest are as follows:

a. Studies of "zero-gravity" effects in living organisms. Reduction of the g vector to extremely low values for periods of time of more than a few …

Future Trends In Graduate Tv Instruction, Paul D. Arthur

Space Congress® Proceedings

The University of Florida has run a major graduate program in Engineering using microwave television for several years now (ref. 1). Initially called GENESYS, our system has presented 350 courses over seven semesters and two quarters. Student enrollment is in the order of 600, all taking graduate courses in engineering. Recently this TV system was given a broader scope and renamed SUNSTAR (State UNiversity .System for Television And R.adio) . Professional offerings other than engineering are envisioned and participation by other state universities will be possible. This expansion is to be welcomed and even further expansion to regional or national …

Decision Analysis Of The Voyager Mars Project, Lee E. Hargrave

Space Congress® Proceedings

This report summarizes the application of decision analysis to the selection of Voyager mission configurations for the Mars opportunities in the 1970 T s. In this context, the term nmission configuration" connotes the number and types of launch vehicles, spacecraft, and capsule systems to be launched at each Mars launch opportunity. This marks the first known application of the discipline of decision analysis to a space project.

Some 14 potential mission configurations are proposed for Mars missions from 1971 through 1981, ranging from a fly-by with a small, nonsurvivable atmospheric probe to orbiting spacecraft and large surface landers with extensive …

Probability Of Tropical Cyclone Induced Winds At Cape Kennedy, John R. Hope, Charles J. Neumann

Space Congress® Proceedings

A statistical technique is developed for estimating the climatological probability that an existing tropical cyclone will produce sustained 35-knot winds at Cape Kennedy. Probabilities are specified for specific times and for various time intervals extending to seven days. The technique is developed initially considering only the storm's location, then expanded to take into account its antecedent path. Two classes of storms are processed separately: (1) Those originating over the Atlantic Ocean or the eastern Caribbean Sea, and (2) those originating over the western Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico. The technique can be adapted for wind speeds of other …