Launch Events Research Articles

Simulated Dispersion of the Gas Released by the SpaceX Falcon9 Rocket Explosion

This Paper provides a qualitative analysis of the contaminant dispersion caused by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket accident at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 1 September 2016. To achieve this, the Model for Simulating Rocket Exhaust Dispersion and its modeling system were applied to simulate the dispersion of the contaminants emitted during the explosion of the Falcon 9 rocket. This modeling system is a modern tool for risk management and environmental analysis for the evaluation of normal and aborted rocket launch events, being also suitable for the assessment of explosion cases. It deals with the representation of the source term (formation, rising, expansion, and stabilization of the exhaust cloud), the simulation of the short-range dispersion (in the scale from minutes to a couple of hours), and the long-range and chemical transport modeling by integrating with the Community Multiscale Air Quality model and reading meteorological input data from the Weather Research and Forecast model. The results showed that the modeling system captured satisfactorily the phenomenon inside the planetary boundary layer.

Vibratory loads and response prediction for a high-speed flight vehicle during launch events

High-speed flight vehicles (HSFVs) such as space launch vehicles and missiles undergo severe dynamic loads which are generated during the launch and in in-flight environments. A typical vehicle is composed of thin plate skin structures with high-performance electronic units sensitive to such vibratory loads. Such lightweight structures are then exposed to external dynamic loads which consist of random vibration, shock, and acoustic loads created under the operating environment. Three types of dynamic loads (acoustic loads, rocket motor self-induced excitation loads and aerodynamic fluctuating pressure loads) are considered as major components in this study. The estimation results are compared to the design specification (MIL-STD-810) to check the appropriateness. The objective of this paper is to study an estimation methodology which helps to establish design specification for the dynamic loads acting on both vehicle and electronic units at arbitrary locations inside the vehicle.

Crowdsourcing platform gets results

On the Zooniverse, data-analysis projects mesh public outreach and scientific discovery.On the Zooniverse, data-analysis projects mesh public outreach and scientific discovery.

Examination of metals from aerospace-related activity in surface water samples from sites surrounding the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida.

Metal contamination from Space Shuttle launch activity was examined using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy in a two-tier study sampling surface water collected from several sites at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and associated Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in east central Florida. The primary study examined both temporal changes in baseline metal concentrations (19 metals) in surface water (1996 to 2009, 11 sites) samples collected at specific long-term monitoring sites and metal deposition directly associated with Space Shuttle launch activity at two Launch Complexes (LC39A and LC39B). A secondary study examined metal concentrations at additional sites and increased the amount of elements measured to 48 elements. Our examination places a heavy focus on those metals commonly associated with launch operations (e.g., Al, Fe, Mn, and Zn), but a brief discussion of other metals (As, Cu, Mo, Ni, and Pb) is also included. While no observable accumulation of metals occurred during the time period of the study, the data obtained postlaunch demonstrated a dramatic increase for Al, Fe, Mn, and Zn. Comparing overall trends between the primary and secondary baseline surface water concentrations, elevated concentrations were generally observed at sampling stations located near the launch complexes and from sites isolated from major water systems. While there could be several natural and anthropogenic sources for metal deposition at KSC, the data in this report indicate that shuttle launch events are a significant source.

A Computer Vision Approach to Automatically Measure the Initial Spin-Rate of Artillery Projectiles Painted With Stripes

Abstract High-speed video has been used by ballistics engineers as a cost-effective technique to measure the spin-rates of both spin-stabilized and fin-stabilized artillery projectiles. Often at test ranges, state-of-the-art video systems are used to verify critical launch events following muzzle exit. From manual analysis of these videos, important performance metrics such as velocity, pitch angle, and spin-rate can be estimated. To do this, operators step through the video frames and record the time at which certain fiducial markings or numbered stripes are observed on the projectile as it rotates. The different methods evaluated in this paper are automated processes for calculating the muzzle-exit spin-rate from launch videos of spin-stabilized artillery projectiles painted with stripes. Image processing and computer vision techniques are employed to segment the shape of the projectile and extract the stripe pattern in each video frame. The most accurate algorithm estimates are validated to within 0.02 % for both laboratory and computer-simulated flight video and within 0.13 % for manual analysis of real flight video. The sensitivities of the methods to image resolution, video frame-rate, and the length of flight captured are evaluated. Areas of continued research and recommendations for increasing the accuracy of measurements in future tests are also identified.

Launch events: are they really worth investing your time and money in?

Although many PR companies hold extravagant launches and events for their clients, aesthetic clinics may benefit from smaller gatherings with relevant journalists. In her column, PR Professional Kate Zadah provides aesthetic nurses with her top tips on attracting media attention, keeping budgets in check, getting the guest list right and following up about editorial copy after the event

Emerging perception of causality in action-and-reaction sequences from 4 to 6 months of age: Is it domain-specific?

Two experiments (N=136) studied how 4- to 6-month-olds perceive a simple schematic event, seen as goal-directed action and reaction from 3years of age. In our causal reaction event, a red square moved toward a blue square, stopping prior to contact. Blue began to move away before red stopped, so that both briefly moved simultaneously at a distance. Primarily, our study sought to determine from what age infants see the causal structure of this reaction event. In addition, we looked at whether this causal percept depends on an animate style of motion and whether it correlates with tasks assessing goal perception and goal-directed action. Infants saw either causal reactions or noncausal delayed control events in which blue started some time after red stopped. These events involved squares that moved either rigidly or nonrigidly in an apparently animate manner. After habituation to one of the four events, infants were tested on reversal of the habituation event. Spatiotemporal features reversed for all events, but causal roles changed only in reversed reactions. The 6-month-olds dishabituated significantly more to reversal of causal reaction events than to noncausal delay events, whereas younger infants reacted similarly to reversal of both. Thus, perceptual causality for reaction events emerges by 6months of age, a younger age than previously reported but, crucially, the same age at which perceptual causality for launch events has emerged in prior research. On our second question, animate/inanimate motion had no effect at any age, nor did significant correlations emerge with our additional tasks assessing goal perception or goal-directed object retrieval. Available evidence, here and elsewhere, is as compatible with a view that infants initially see A affecting B, without differentiation into physical or psychological causality, as with the standard assumption of distinct physical/psychological causal perception.

A Partial Promise of Voice: Digital Storytelling and the Limits of Listening

The continual rise of participatory media offers increasing opportunities for nonprofessionals and marginalised communities to tell their stories. In the policy arena, Australia's Social Inclusion Agenda and international debates on indicators of well-being name ‘voice’ as a key capability for social inclusion and individual flourishing. In this article, I engage recent scholarship on ‘listening’ and ‘voice that matters’ to highlight the limits of the participatory media genre of digital storytelling and of the social inclusion category of ‘voice’. The discussion is illustrated via examples from public launch events for ‘mini-films’ produced in digital storytelling projects facilitated by Information Cultural Exchange (ICE), a new media arts organisation working in Sydney's cosmopolitan western suburbs. While these public events ensure a process of ‘voice’, I argue for a greater commitment to political listening in media research, practice and policy, lest the promise of ‘voice’ remain only partially fulfilled.

Analysis of Dynamic Stability of Space Launch Vehicles under Aerodynamic Forces Using CFD Derived Data

A computational framework is developed to investigate the dynamic stability of space launch vehicles subjected to aerodynamic forces. A detailed mechanics based mathematical model of a moving flexible vehicle is used. The aerodynamic forces on the vehicle are obtained from simulation using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) package. The objective behind this investigation is to analyze the problem of aeroelastic instability in blunt/conical nose slender space launch vehicles. Coupling among the rigid-body modes, the longitudinal vibration modes, and the transverse vibrational modes are considered. The effect of propulsive thrust as a follower force is also considered. A one-dimensional finite element model is developed to investigate the occurrence of aeroelastic instabilities of various types. Eigenvalues of the vehicle are determined in order to analyze the stable regimes. As a special case, we show numerical simulations by considering a typical vehicle configuration, for a vehicle Mach number of 0.8. Phenomenon of flutter is observed at this Mach number. The proposed analysis is suitable for different launch events such as vehicle take-off, maximum dynamic pressure regime, thrust transients, stage separation etc. The approach developed in this paper can be utilized for preliminary design of launch vehicles and establishing the stability boundaries for different trajectory parameters.

Optimization potential of the vehicle launch performance for start—stop micro-hybrid vehicles

One of the primary features of a micro-hybrid vehicle is the automatic shutdown and restart of the engine to avoid engine idling when the vehicle is at rest. The system strategy and its calibration have important significance for the driveability of the vehicle in terms of the vehicle launch behaviour. An unsatisfactory vehicle launch is defined as an inferior launch performance of the vehicle resulting in a stalled engine, a launch with negative vehicle acceleration, and an aborted engine restart due to the inability of the vehicle to provide torque as demanded by the user. In this research, micro-hybrid system optimization for reduction in the percentage of impaired vehicle launch events in real-world usage has been conducted on a start—stop vehicle. The design for the six-sigma process was followed for the optimization study. A high-fidelity electrical and powertrain system and a longitudinal vehicle dynamics model for a start—stop vehicle have been developed. The model has been validated with experimental data. The drivers' behaviour for vehicle launch events from a customer clinic of start—stop vehicles has been used as an input to the model. Using design of experiments, the system has been optimized to maximize the percentage of successful launch events in real-world usage.

The perception of social and mechanical causality in young children with ASD

This study investigated perceptual causality in launch and reaction events in children with ASD (CA = 8.4, VMA = 5.1) and mental age matched controls with typical development and learning difficulties. This is of interest because difficulties with global processing in autism suggest that individuals with ASD may not ‘see’ causal Gestalts in general, and specific difficulties with reaction perception could be related to difficulties with TOM. Participants matched pictures depicting mechanical and psychological cause and non-causality to computer animated launch and reaction events and delayed control events. Children with ASD showed the typical response to reaction events, matching them with the picture for psychological cause, but they were impaired in launch perception compared to control participants. We discuss the possibility that event duration may be the critical difference between the causal events. The information allowing identification of a reaction is conveyed over a longer time frame (600 ms here) than in launching (21 ms here). This may allow for the deployment of global processes and/or attentional shifts in reaction, but not launch perception.

Communication campaign conjures up success for Homebase

PurposeExamines the use of “how to” guides as tools of internal communication at do‐it‐yourself retailer Homebase and at Premier Custodial Group, which provides services in prisons, immigration centres and secure training centres, as well as electronic monitoring, prisoner‐escort and custody services.Design/methodology/approachContains information provided by the Homebase head of on‐shelf availability, and by the Premier corporate HR manager, who each played key roles in compiling their respective guides.FindingsPoints out that the Homebase guides will become the definitive reference point for the retailer's 18,000 UK employees. The guides are expected to increase productivity and customer‐service levels. Shows that the Premier guides were produced to fill a void after employee feedback highlighted the need for more HR information to be available in the workplace.Practical implicationsShows that, even in the age of electronic communication, there is still an important role for concise, well‐produced, hard‐copy information.Originality/valueDemonstrates, in the Homebase example, the importance of kindling employees' interest in the guides through a series of imaginative launch events. Highlights, in the Premier example, the importance of partnering with the Prison Service Union in the production of the guides.

Promoting Sexual Responsibility among Young People in Zimbabwe

A 1997-98 multimedia campaign promoted sexual responsibility among young people in Zimbabwe while strengthening their access to reproductive health services by training providers. Baseline and follow-up surveys each involving approximately 1400 women and men aged 10-24 were conducted in 5 campaign and 2 comparison sites. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess exposure to the campaign and its impact on young peoples reproductive health knowledge and discussion safer sexual behaviors and use of services. The campaign reached 97% of the youth audience. Awareness of contraceptive methods increased in campaign areas but general reproductive health knowledge changed little. As a result of the campaign 80% of the respondents had discussions about reproductive health--with friends (72%) siblings (49%) parents (44%) teachers (34%) or partners (28%). In response to the campaign young people in campaign areas were 2.5 times as likely as those in comparison sites to report saying no to sex 4.7 times as likely to visit a health center and 14.0 times as likely to visit a youth center. Contraceptive use at last sex rose significantly in campaign areas (from 56% to 67%). Launch events leaflets and dramas were the most influential campaign components. The more components respondents were exposed to the more likely were to take action in response. A multimedia approach increases the reach and impact of reproductive health interventions directed to young people. Building community support for behavior change also is essential to ensure that young people find approval for their actions and have access to services. (authors)

Causal processing and schizotypy

Schlottmann and Shanks (1992), using a task based on Michotte (1963) launch events, demonstrated a dissociation in the use of contingency and contiguity cues in making causal decisions; specifically that judgements of necessity showed a greater influence of contingency cues, while perceived causality ratings were influenced solely by contiguity cues. The present study used the same paradigm to test a prediction derived from Hemsley (1994); that schizophrenic subjects, and, following a dimensional approach ( Claridge, 1987), highly schizotypal controls, will rely more on moment-by-moment perceptions (contiguity) than learnt regularity (contingency) in causal processing and that this would be manifested as a reduced influence of contingency compared to contiguity (compared to subjects low in schizotypy) on judged necessity ratings. Thirty nonpsychiatric Ss grouped as high or low schizotypy according to a median split of scores on the O–LIFE questionnaire (Mason, Claridge and Jackson, 1995) completed the task. Performance was not in line with prediction, but schizotypy did appear to influence performance on perceived causality ratings; a speculative explanation for this and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Lunar and Martian Meteorite Delivery Services

Launch mechanisms for lunar and martian meteorites have been investigated, by integrating physical modeling constraints, geochemical cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) constraints, and petrologic constraints. The potential source region for lunar meteorites is remarkably small compared to the final crater volume. CRE constraints indicate that most launches start at depths of ≤3.2 m, and cratering theory implies derivation of suitably accelerated objects from a subvolume with diameter only about 0.3× the final crater diameter. The shallow depth provenance is probably related to shock-wave interference, enhanced by the lunar regolith's extremely low compressional wave velocity. CRE constraints alone imply that four to five separate launch events are represented among the eight well-studied lunar meteorites. Most of the lunar meteorites are regolith breccias, which tend to show only limited compositional diversity within any kilometer-scale region of the Moon. Several others are polymict breccias, which also show relatively subdued compositional diversity, compared to igneous rocks. The observed diversity among these samples in terms of abundances of mare basalt and KREEP, and in Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratio, implies that among eight well-studied lunar meteorites only two potential source crater pairings are plausible: between Asuka-881757+Y-793169 (most probable) and between Y-793274+EET875721. Altogether, these eight lunar meteorites apparently represent at least six separate source craters, including three in the past 10 5 years and five in the past 10 6 years. CRE constraints imply that SNC meteorites are launched from systematically greater depths than lunar meteorites. SNCs are also systematically bigger, and all nine well-studied SNCs are uncommonly young (by martian standards) mafic igneous rocks. Comparison between Viking and Apollo results reveals that rocks the size of common meteorites are remarkably scarce in the martian regolith, probably due to pervasive weathering. A plausible explanation for these trends is that most old, small, and shallow rocks on Mars have been weakened by a two-stage process of brecciation followed by pervasive weathering, to the point where they seldom survive the stresses of spallation off the planet. The scarcity of source-crater pairing among the lunar meteorites implies that these objects can be launched from craters much smaller than previously estimated and tends to support the suggestion of Rabinowitz (1993, Astrophys. J. 407, 412-427) that present-day cratering rates for the Earth-Moon region may be higher than previously estimated.

Evidence for a distinction between judged and perceived causality.

Two experiments investigated Michotte's launch event, in which successive motion of two objects appears to evoke an immediate perception that the first motion caused the second, as in a collision. Launching was embedded in event sequences where a third event (a colour change of the second object) was established as a competing predictor of the second motion, in an attempt to see whether subjects' learning of alternative predictive relationships would influence their causal impressions of launch events. In Experiment 1 subjects saw launch events in which temporal contiguity at the point of impact was varied so that an impact itself did not reliably predict when the second object would move. Half of these scenes, however, contained a colour change of the second object which did reliably predict when it would move. In accordance with Michotte's theory, subjects' ratings of the degree of perceived causality were not affected by the colour change. In Experiment 2 subjects saw scenes that contained launch events with or without temporal contiguity and a colour change. These were interspersed with events in which a colour change alone did or did not precede the second motion. Thus, movement of the second object was either contingent on or independent of the impact. Subjects repeatedly (a) rated perceived causality in single launch events and (b) judged the necessity of collisions for movement in the overall set of events. These responses dissociated, in that ratings of type (a) showed only a substantial contiguity effect, whereas judgements of type (b) showed both a contingency and a much smaller contiguity effect. These results appear to support a distinction between judged and perceived causality and are discussed with respect to Michotte's theory of direct causal perception.