A conceptual approach for noncontact calorimetry in space

A concept is developed and described which allows to measure the heat capacity and the effective thermal conductivity of stable and undercooled liquid metals and alloys in an electromagnetic levitation apparatus. We propose to use an ac pulse heating method which is used nowadays as a standard technique for precision measurement of low temperature heat capacities. The ideal process parameters including the drop diameter D, temperature T, and frequency of measurement ω can be optimized when the following relations hold for the external and internal relaxation time constants τ_1 and τ_2, respectively: ωτ_1≳10 and ωτ_2<0.1. Then heat capacity data can be obtained with an accuracy of better than 1% with D about 5 to 10 mm, T between 1200 and 1800 K and ω between 0.1 and 1 Hz for typical metals and alloys

Einstein solid state spectrometer observation of the peculiar red dwarf Wolf 630 AB

Wolf 630 AB is a double and perhaps triple star with a predominant dM 3.5e spectrum. It is one of the relatively strong red dwarf X-ray sources. The 0.5 to 4 keV spectral data for a steady, non-flaring flux are interpreted in terms of emission from thin thermal plasma with a dominant temperature of approximately 6,500,000 K. Both in temperature and average surface flux the quiescent corona is similar to that of the low temperature component found for RS Canum Venaticorum binaries. There is an indication of additional emission above 10 to the 7th power K, but the ratio of high to low temperature emission is smaller than for typical RS CVn systems. The solid state spectrometer observed the spectrum of only one other red dwarf, Ad Leo, which is very similar to that observed for Wolf 630 AB

Miniature oxygen resuscitator

Miniature, portable resuscitation system is used during evacuation of patients to medical facilities. A carrying case contains a modified resuscitator head, cylinder of oxygen, two-stage oxygen regulator, low pressure tube, and a mask for mouth and nose

A real time spectrum to dose conversion system

A system has been developed which permits the determination of dose in real time or near real time directly from the pulse-height output of a radiation spectrometer. The technique involves the use of the resolution matrix of a spectrometer, the radiation energy-to-dose conversion function, and the geometrical factors, although the order of matrix operations is reversed. The new technique yields a result which is mathematically identical to the standard method while requiring no matrix manipulations or resolution matrix storage in the remote computer. It utilizes only a single function for each type dose required and each geometric factor involved

Development of a temperature-compensated hot-film anemometer system for boundary-layer transition detection on high-performance aircraft

A hot-film constant-temperature anemometer (CTA) system was flight-tested and evaluated as a candidate sensor for determining boundary-layer transition on high-performance aircraft. The hot-film gage withstood an extreme flow environment characterized by shock waves and high dynamic pressures, although sensitivity to the local total temperature with the CTA indicated the need for some form of temperature compensation. A temperature-compensation scheme was developed and two CTAs were modified and flight-tested on the F-104/Flight Test Fixture (FTF) facility at a variety of Mach numbers and altitudes, ranging from 0.4 to 1.8 and 5,000 to 40,000 ft respectively

Broadband power amplifier tube: Klystron tube 5K70SK-WBT and step tuner VA-1470S

The design concept, the fabrication, and the acceptance testing of a wide band Klystron tube and remotely controlled step tuner for channel selection are discussed. The equipment was developed for the modification of an existing 20 KW Power Amplifier System which was provided to the contractor as GFE. The replacement Klystron covers a total frequency range of 2025 to 2120 MHz and is tuneable to six (6) each channel with a band width of 22 MHz or greater per channel. A 5 MHz overlap is provided between channels. Channels are selected at the control panel located in the front of the Klystron magnet or from one of three remote control stations connected in parallel with the step tuner. Included in this final report are the results of acceptance tests conducted at the vendor's plant and of the integrated system tests

Solar powered hybrid sensor module program

Geo-orbital systems of the near future will require more sophisticated electronic and electromechanical monitoring and control systems than current satellite systems with an emphasis in the design on the electronic density and autonomy of the subsystem components. Results of a project to develop, design, and implement a proof-of-concept sensor system for space applications, with hybrids forming the active subsystem components are described. The design of the solar power hybrid sensor modules is discussed. Module construction and function are described. These modules combined low power CMOS electronics, GaAs solar cells, a crystal oscillatory standard UART data formatting, and a bidirectional optical data link into a single 1.25 x 1.25 x 0.25 inch hybrid package which has no need for electrical input or output. Several modules were built and tested. Applications of such a system for future space missions are also discussed

Electroforming of a throat nozzle for a combustion facility (NASA Langley Reimbursable Program)

Special procedures were developed and then utilized for plating nickel over channels of a throat nozzle section of a NASA Langley combustor facility. When tested hydrostatically, the part failed in the stainless-steel substrate and not at the interface between the plating and substrate. The procedures used for plating the part are detailed as are high-temperature property data which show that the part can withstand long-term, high-temperature exposure without suffering degradation of the plated bond

High-temperature ductility of electro-deposited nickel

Work done during the past several months on high temperature ductility of electrodeposited nickel is summarized. Data are presented which show that earlier measurements made at NASA-Langley erred on the low side, that strain rate has a marked influence on high temperature ductility, and that codeposition of a small amount of manganese helps to improve high temperature ductility. Influences of a number of other factors on nickel properties were also investigated. They included plating solution temperature, current density, agitation, and elimination of the wetting agent from the plating solution. Repair of a large nozzle section by nickel plating is described