Commercialization of Materials Processing in Space

The primary motivation of the Materials Processing in Space program is the scientific and commercial utilization of the effects of the unique environments of space on material processes. The reduction or elimination of the pervasive influences of gravity on Earth-based process mechanisms affords opportunities for understanding and improving ground-based processing or producing select materials in space which, typically, would be of low volume, high value commercial interest. Additionally, the unlimited, if not hard vacuum of space affords equally interesting influences on material processes. To evolve the commercialization of Materials Processing in Space, the program seeks to establish and demonstrate the scientific/technological precepts for analyzing and using the space environment and, in parallel, to establish the legal and management mechanisms to implement commercial ventures

Superconducting Gap Structure of kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 Probed by Thermal Conductivity Tensor

The thermal conductivity of organic superconductor kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 (Tc =10.4 K) has been studied in a magnetic field rotating within the 2D superconducting planes with high alignment precision. At low temperatures (T < 0.5 K), a clear fourfold symmetry in the angular variation, which is characteristic of a d-wave superconducting gap with nodes along the directions rotated 45 degrees relative to the b and c axes of the crystal, was resolved. The determined nodal structure is inconsistent with recent theoretical predictions of superconductivity induced by the antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Let

An automated GC/MS system for the analysis of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in water

This paper describes a GC/MS system capable of performing Volatile Organic Analysis on liquids, solids, and air. When combined with a syringe auto-injector, the system is completely automated for both volatile and semi-volatile analyses. An OI Analytical Model 4551 Vial Multisampler and an OI Analytical DPM-16 Multisampler are interfaced and then connected to an OI Analytical Model 4560 Sample Concentrator, an HP Model 5971 MSD, an HP Model 7673 Auto-Injector, and an HP Model 5890 Series II GC to form a multi-tasking GC/MS system. This system is shown to allow greater versatility in the laboratory

Paper Session I-A - Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM)

The Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM) is a150-in. diameter segmented motor design that incorporates substantive design changes to improve the reliability and design safety margins of the space shuttle system. The new motor thrust characteristics are tailored to preclude the necessity for throttling the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) during the period of maximum dynamic pressure. This reduces or eliminates about 175 criticality 1/1R failure modes for the shuttle system. Furthermore, the ASRM is designed to provide a 12,000 Ib payload improvement which will support space station development and other critical NASA missions. To achieve the level of process control and automation needed for high quality, reproducibility, and improved reliability, NASA concluded that a substantially new modern, fully-automated facility is required. Sites selected to produce and test the ASRM are the TVA Yellow Creek Mississippi site and the Stennis Space Center site, respectively. The ASRM design/program evolved from Phase A studies conducted in late 1986 and Phase B studies conducted from mid-1987 to April 1988. All major solid propulsion contractors participated in these studies. The study results culminated in the release of an ASRM Request for Proposals (phase C/D) October 31, 1988. Authority to proceed (ATP) with the Development and Verification Program is currently planned for April 1, 1989, with the first ASRM Shuttle development flight tentatively scheduled for late 1994

Diagnosable structured logic array

A diagnosable structured logic array and associated process is provided. A base cell structure is provided comprising a logic unit comprising a plurality of input nodes, a plurality of selection nodes, and an output node, a plurality of switches coupled to the selection nodes, where the switches comprises a plurality of input lines, a selection line and an output line, a memory cell coupled to the output node, and a test address bus and a program control bus coupled to the plurality of input lines and the selection line of the plurality of switches. A state on each of the plurality of input nodes is verifiably loaded and read from the memory cell. A trusted memory block is provided. The associated process is provided for testing and verifying a plurality of truth table inputs of the logic unit

Bromegrasses

The bromegrasses belong to the genus Bromus of which there are some 100 species (Gould & Shaw, 1983). The genus includes both annual and perennial cool season species adapted to temperate climates. Hitchcock (1971) described 42 bromegrass species found in the USA and Canada of which 22 were native (Gould & Shaw, 1983). Bromus is the Greek word for oat and refers to the panicle inflorescence characteristic of the genus. The bromegrasses are C3 species (Krenzer et aI., 1975; Waller & Lewis, 1979)