Space Technology Laboratories Research Articles

Clifford V. Heer

Clifford V. Heer

From the historian-designing the United States' initial 'deep-space networks': choices for the Pioneer lunar-probe attempts of 1958-9

To support the series of early Pioneer lunar-probe attempts by the US Air Force and US Army, Ramo-Wooldridge's Space Technology Laboratories (STL) and Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) designed two separate networks of ground stations in 1958-9. Since the probes were means of restoring international prestige to the US, and thus were scheduled to be launched within a year of authorization, both networks had to be installed on a crash basis. The differences between the two initial networks in terms of antenna design, operating frequency, and location are described, and it is shown how the extra months afforded to JPL due to the later launches of the Army probes allowed its engineers to design and install the first elements of a system that evolved within a few years into NASA's Deep Space Network.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Information extraction from thematic mapper data

The Landsat-4 spacecraft, launched on July 9, 1982, is equipped with a new electro-optical sensor expected to advance the remote sensing capabilities of Earth resources satellites. An experimental instrument, the thematic mapper (TM), provides data in seven discrete energy bands with greatly improved spectral, spatial and radiometric resolution, relative to previous Landsat satellite systems. Scientists at NASA, National Space Technology Laboratories (NSTL), Earth Resources Laboratory (ERL) conducted an evaluation of Landsat-4 TM data, soon after its launch, to examine the potential of this new electro-optical sensor for providing improved information for renewable resources and land cover studies. Investigations of TM data included forested wetland, urban and agricultural land covers using a scene of data collected over Arkansas and Tennessee on August 22, 1982. Standard digital information extraction techniques were employed, and the classification accuracies achieved with a single date TM data set exceeded a 90% correct confidence level. While only spectral analysis techniques were utilized for this initial evaluation, the results clearly indicate the improved performance provided by the experimental TM sensor over previous Earth observing capabilities.

Unpredictable/Unsimulatable?

George Bekey has been involved in simulation since 1950, when he started graduate work at UCLA (BSEE, UC Berkeley, 1950) and worked as a research assistant on the UCLA mechanical differential analyzer and ac network analyzer. He was in charge of those two machines from 1952-54, when he was inducted into the U.S. Army and spent two years "simulating an enlisted man. After discharge he did analog computer simula tions with Beckman Instruments in Richmond, Califor nia, and subsequently organized and directed a Beckman analog simulation center in Los Angeles. In 1958 George joined TRW (Thompson Romo Woolridge, the Space Technology Laboratories) and was named head of its Analysis and Simulation Center, where he was responsible for hybrid computers. After receiving his PhD from UCLA in 1962, he spent another year at TRW simulating manned space vehicles before joining the USC faculty, where he has been since 1963. For the last eight or ten years he has continued his simulation activities, but now with digital computers and digital simulation languages. He is primarily interested in mathematical models of biological sys tems, manual and automatic control, and system iden tification-as well as backpacking in the High Sierras.

A compact image intensifier system for an image converter camera

An image intensifier system is described which is similar in size to the normal film camera used with the Space Technology Laboratories (TRW/STL) camera, and can be fitted directly in its place. The system makes use of Mullard image intensifier units type XX 1052, has a stage gain of 50 and a resolution of 12 line pairs per mm limited by the film used and the image converter camera. The design allows the cascading of further units until the signal-to-noise ratio becomes unacceptably low.

Preliminary report on detection of electrostatic ion waves in the magnetosphere

The Lockheed-Aerospace P11 satellite (1964-45A) launched into a polar eccentric orbit on August 15, 1964, included in its payload a VLF electric field experiment supplied by TRW Space Technology Laboratories. Measurements in the frequency range 1.7 to 14.5 kc/s reveal that the indicated background rarely falls below 10−3 volt/m and that sustained field enhancements with E ≃ 20–100 mv/m are generally detected in regions where energetic electrons are precipitated from the Van Allen belts. The experiment is described; some early results are presented; and an interpretation in terms of electrostatic ion waves is given. The possibility that large-amplitude ion waves cause diffusion across L shells and magnetospheric electron acceleration is also discussed.

A covariant formulation of classical electrodynamics for charges of finite extension: John S. Nodvik, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, and Consultant, Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., Redondo Beach, California

A covariant formulation of classical electrodynamics for charges of finite extension: John S. Nodvik, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, and Consultant, Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., Redondo Beach, California

Interaction of micrometeorites with gaseous targets

Experiments have been conducted on the interaction of simulated micrometeoroids with gaseous targets Iron spheres from 0 5 to 2 0 ju in diameter were accelerated to speeds up to 7 km/sec in the Space Technology Laboratories (STL) electrostatic accelerator Oxygen, argon, and air were used as target gases Gas pressures ranged from 1 to 2 mm Hg, which insured that conditions for free molecular flow were realized Values of the drag coefficient F and the heat-transfer coefficient X were determined In this paper, X is defined as the fraction of particle kinetic energy converted to internal energy and is applicable only for solid particles The i esults are consistent with a value of T nearly equal to one for all of the gases The values of X depended upon the gas used and ranged from 0 8 to about 1 0

Digital-Computer Processing of Telemetered Vibration Data

The Titan II vehicle employs an on board spectrum analyzer for the study of vibration spectra measured in flight. The output of this analyzer is telemetered to the ground in digital form. This paper discusses the programming of a small digital computer for the processing and analysis of the received data. Particular emphasis is placed upon the direct use of an in-expensive computer by the engineer studying the data for on-line visual-data presentation, semiautomatic and manual editing, and computation. Program block diagrams. as well as some particular examples of the data, are presented. [This work was supported by the Titan Program, Office of Space Technology Laboratories, Inc.]

Observations of the Van Allen radiation regions during August and September 1959: 5. Visual auroras, high-altitude X-ray bursts, and simultaneous satellite observations

The measurements made in the outer trapped radiation region by the University of Minnesota ionization chamber and Geiger counter and the scintillation counter furnished by Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., aboard the Explorer 6 earth satellite during the August 16, 1959, magnetic storm are studied. The variations in the detector rates are correlated with the visual aurora recorded by all-sky cameras and with high-altitude X-ray bursts observed by balloon-borne detectors. An increase in radiation observed at a geocentric range of 42,000 km simultaneously with the occurrence of a visual aurora on the electron shell connecting with the satellite measurements suggests that the aurora is associated with a disturbance extending over many degrees of longitude and out to large ranges. Furthermore, a rapid decrease in the Geiger counter rate coincident with a strong low-latitude aurora at Fargo, North Dakota, indicates that energetic radiation is either precipitated out of the outer zone during strong auroras or decelerated by a perturbation of the earth's magnetic field accompanying the aurora. Frequent observations of rate variations at the outer edge of the trapped radiation and at apogee point out the great instability there that results in the frequent discharge of radiation into the atmosphere observed by balloon-borne detectors at the high latitudes connecting with the region. The close correlation of outer-zone intensity variations and solar phenomena indicates that the energy involved in the dynamics of the trapping region has a solar origin.

Pitch angle distributions and mirror point densities in the outer radiation zone

A method is presented for the calculation of the equatorial pitch angle distribution (unidirectional intensity distribution) of trapped radiation from the count rate of an omnidirectional detector along a line of force. An expression is derived for the calculation of the mirror point density from the equatorial pitch angle distribution. The method is applied to data obtained from the Space Technology Laboratories scintillation counter and the University of Chicago proportional counter on the Explorer VI satellite. The results from the scintillation counter show a relative absence of electrons with pitch angles of 90° during quiet periods, a sharp increase in such particles shortly after a sudden commencement magnetic storm, and restoration of the prestorm distribution at a higher intensity level after the storm. The results from the proportional counter are qualitatively similar with the exception of the apparent deficiency of 90° pitch angles during quiet periods, which does not appear.

Optimal Mesh Size in the Numerical Integration of an Ordinary Differential Equation

article Free Access Share on Optimal Mesh Size in the Numerical Integration of an Ordinary Differential Equation Author: D. Morrison Space Technology Laboratories, Los Angeles, California Space Technology Laboratories, Los Angeles, CaliforniaView Profile Authors Info & Claims Journal of the ACMVolume 9Issue 1Jan. 1962 pp 98–103https://doi.org/10.1145/321105.321115Published:01 January 1962Publication History 18citation324DownloadsMetricsTotal Citations18Total Downloads324Last 12 Months7Last 6 weeks1 Get Citation AlertsNew Citation Alert added!This alert has been successfully added and will be sent to:You will be notified whenever a record that you have chosen has been cited.To manage your alert preferences, click on the button below.Manage my Alerts New Citation Alert!Please log in to your account Save to BinderSave to BinderCreate a New BinderNameCancelCreateExport CitationPublisher SiteeReaderPDF

On Least Squares Solutions of Linear Equations

article Free AccessOn Least Squares Solutions of Linear Equations Author: E. E. Osborne Space Technology Laboratories, Los Angeles, California Space Technology Laboratories, Los Angeles, CaliforniaView Profile Authors Info & Claims Journal of the ACMVolume 8Issue 4pp 628–636https://doi.org/10.1145/321088.321100Published:01 October 1961Publication History 21citation615DownloadsMetricsTotal Citations21Total Downloads615Last 12 Months18Last 6 weeks1 Get Citation AlertsNew Citation Alert added!This alert has been successfully added and will be sent to:You will be notified whenever a record that you have chosen has been cited.To manage your alert preferences, click on the button below.Manage my AlertsNew Citation Alert!Please log in to your account Save to BinderSave to BinderCreate a New BinderNameCancelCreateExport CitationPublisher SiteeReaderPDF

Missile simulation on an electronic digital computer

A large-scale digital computer can be a powerful and useful tool to a systems engineer for evaluating and studying proposed guided missile systems. As mathematical models for each of the subsystems are developed, they can be programmed and checked independently. When operating, they can be combined into a computer program capable of simulating the complete missile system under the expected flight conditions. Several applications of missile simulation programs are presented along with a generalized description of the methods that are employed to produce computer programs at the Space Technology Laboratories.

On Pre-Conditioning of Matrices

article Free AccessOn Pre-Conditioning of Matrices Author: E. E. Osborne Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., Los Angeles, California Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., Los Angeles, CaliforniaView Profile Authors Info & Claims Journal of the ACMVolume 7Issue 4Oct. 1960 pp 338–345https://doi.org/10.1145/321043.321048Published:01 October 1960Publication History 134citation1,026DownloadsMetricsTotal Citations134Total Downloads1,026Last 12 Months76Last 6 weeks16 Get Citation AlertsNew Citation Alert added!This alert has been successfully added and will be sent to:You will be notified whenever a record that you have chosen has been cited.To manage your alert preferences, click on the button below.Manage my AlertsNew Citation Alert!Please log in to your account Save to BinderSave to BinderCreate a New BinderNameCancelCreateExport CitationPublisher SiteeReaderPDF

A Dynamical Determination of the Astronomical Unit by a Least-Squares Fit to the Orbit of Pioneer V.

view Abstract Citations References Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS A Dynamical Determination of the Astronomical Unit by a Least-Squares Fit to the Orbit of Pioneer V. McGuire, J. B. ; Morrison, D. D. ; Wong, L. Abstract Squares Fit to the Orbit of Pioneer V. J. B. McG~i~~, D. D. MORRISON, AND L.WONG, Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., Los Angeles, California (introduced by GUIDO M~~~c~). -The astronomical unit has long eluded precise determination because it enters the two-body Kepler problem as a scale factor, and as a scale factor changes in the size of the astronomical unit do not change any angular measurement. Since angles are the primary measured quantitites of classical astronomy, the astronomical unit does not enter the dynamics and thus the astronomical unit has been determined by geometrical means (i.e., measuring solar parallax). If, however, one is concerned with a three-body problem, the effect of a change in the astronomical unit is to add a secular (i.e., time-increasing) perturbation to the motion. This effect has been utilized by E. K. Rabe (1950, Astron. J. 54, 112) in the so- called dynamical method of astronomical unit determination. It was first suggested by R. C. Booton (1960, Space Technology Laboratories Tech. Rept. 60-0000- 00215) that the orbit of an interplanetary probe could be affected (since it is a three-body problem) by a change in the astronomical unit, and thus the astronomical unit should be measurable by a least- squares fit to the radio Doppler data from such a probe. Previous determinations of the astronomical unit have been made by both dynamical and geometrical means. The most recent of the dynamical measurements is that of Rabe, which has a quoted accuracy of *4~4 parts in 10~. The most recent geometrical measurement is that of Spencer-Jones (1941, Mcm. Roy. Astron. Soc. LXVI, Part II) which has a quoted accuracy of *1.1 parts in 10~. The measured values of the astronomical unit, however, differ by one part in 10~. At the time of writing of this abstract the tracking of the Pioneer V probe is incomplete; thus the accuracy of the measurement of the astronomical unit is as yet unknown. Unfortunately, radio contact with Pioneer V will not be maintained to a sufficient distance from the earth to effect any improvement in the uncertainties in the astronomical unit quoted by Rabe. It is hoped, however, that sufficient accuracy will be attained to lend more weight to either Rabe or the Spencer-Jones value of the astronomical unit. It will be shown that Doppler tracking of an interplanetary probe to a distance of 80000000 miles from the earth could yield a value of the astronomical unit which is competitive in accuracy with Rabe's determination. Supported by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: 1960 DOI: 10.1086/108136 Bibcode: 1960AJ.....65R.493M full text sources ADS |

Numerical Quadrature in Many Dimensions

article Free Access Share on Numerical Quadrature in Many Dimensions Author: David Morrison Space Technology Laboratories, Los Angeles, California Space Technology Laboratories, Los Angeles, CaliforniaView Profile Authors Info & Claims Journal of the ACMVolume 6Issue 2April 1959 pp 219–222https://doi.org/10.1145/320964.320978Published:01 April 1959Publication History 1citation300DownloadsMetricsTotal Citations1Total Downloads300Last 12 Months4Last 6 weeks2 Get Citation AlertsNew Citation Alert added!This alert has been successfully added and will be sent to:You will be notified whenever a record that you have chosen has been cited.To manage your alert preferences, click on the button below.Manage my Alerts New Citation Alert!Please log in to your account Save to BinderSave to BinderCreate a New BinderNameCancelCreateExport CitationPublisher SiteeReaderPDF

Recent Advances in Determination of Radiative Properties of Gases at High Temperatures

After receiving a B.S. degree in Mathematics and Physics from the District of Columbia Teachers' College, the author was employed by the Aerodynamics Section of the National Bureau of Standards. In 1947, he joined the Aerodynamics Department of the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory where he carried out research in propulsion and high temperature gasdynamics. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Buffalo in 1955, and is currently head of the Aerophysics Laboratory, Aero physics Department, Space Technology Laboratories, Inc.