An assessment of inductive coupling roadway powered vehicles

The technical concept underlying the roadway powered vehicle system is the combination of an electrical power source embedded in the roadway and a vehicle-mounted power pickup that is inductively coupled to the roadway power source. The feasibility of such a system, implemented on a large scale was investigated. Factors considered included current and potential transportation modes and requirements, economics, energy, technology, social and institutional issues. These factors interrelate in highly complex ways, and a firm understanding of each of them does not yet exist. The study therefore was structured to manipulate known data in equally complex ways to produce a schema of options and useful questions that can form a basis for further, harder research. A dialectical inquiry technique was used in which two adversary teams, mediated by a third-party team, debated each factor and its interrelationship with the whole of the known information on the topic

Free Flying Magnetometers as a Demonstration of Micro-spacecraft Technologies

Four Free Flying Magnetometers (FFMs) flew on the Enstrophy sounding rocket launched on February 10, 1999 from Poker Flats Research Range. Each of these FFMs is a highly integrated sensorcraft , containing their own data, attitude determination, telecom, and power systems in addition to a small 3-axis magnetometer. All of this was fit into a package a little bigger than a hockey puck and weighed less than 250 grams. The FFM technology development task was funded by NASA/JPL

WF/PC internal molecular contamination during system thermal-vacuum test

During the recent system thermal vacuum test of the Wide-Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC), instrumentation was added to the WF/PC to characterize the internal molecular contamination and verify the instrument throughput down to 1470 angstroms. Analysis of data elements revealed two contaminants affecting the far-ultraviolet (FUV) performance of the WF/PC. The one contaminant (heavy volatile) is correlated with the electronic and housing temperature, and the contamination is significantly reduced when the electronics are operated below plus 8 degrees to plus 10 degrees C. The other contaminant (light volatile) is controlled by the heat pipe temperature, and the contamination is significantly reduced when the Thermal Electric Cooler (TEC) hot-junction temperature is below minus 40 degrees to minus 50 degrees C. The utility of contamination sensors located behind instruments during system tests was demonstrated

An integrated space physics instrument (ISPI) for Solar Probe

Instruments for the Solar Probe mission must be designed not only to address the unique scientific measurement requirements, but must be compatible with the modest resource dollars as well as tight constraints on mass and power. Another unique aspect of the Solar Probe mission is its constraint on telemetry and the fact that the prime science is conducted in a single flyby. The instrument system must be optimized to take advantage of the telemetry and observing time available. JPL, together with industry and university partners, is designing an Integrated Space Physics Instrument (ISPI) which will measure magnetic fields, plasma waves, thermal plasma, energetic particles, dust, and perform EUV/visible and coronal imaging for the Solar Probe mission. ISPI uses a new architecture and incorporates technology which not only eliminates unnecessary duplication of function, but allows sensors to share data and optimize science. The current ISPI design goal (for a flight package) is a 5 kilogram/10 watt payload. © 1997 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87393/2/131_1.pd

Mapping of Earth\u27s Magnetic Field with the Ørsted Satellite

The Danish Ørsted satellite will carry three science experiments with the objectives of mapping the Earth\u27s magnetic field and measuring the charged particle environment from a 7801an altitude sun-synchronous polar orbit. The science data generated during the planned one year mission will be used to improve geomagnetic models and study the auroral phenomena. Comprehensive and accurate mapping of the geomagnetic field every 5 to 10 years is of particular interest to geophysical studies. As such, the Ørsted science data return will complement the Magsat (1979-80) and Aristoteles (=2000) mission objectives. Two magnetometers will be mounted on an 8 meter long deployable boom together with a star imager for determining the absolute pointing vector for the CSC fluxgate magnetometer. Particle detectors are mounted in the main body of the satellite. Position determination will be provided by a multi-channel GPS receiver. The main body of the 50 kg satellite is shaped as a box with modular electronic boxes and includes sub-systems in areas of Power, Attitude Control, Communication, Command & Data Handling, Structure and Mechanisms. The Ørsted satellite is planned to be launched as an auxiliary payload on either Ariane 4 or a Delta launcher in early 1995