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Absolute acceleration measurements on STS-50 from the Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE)Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE) data on Space Transportation System (STS)-50 have been examined in detail during a 2-day time period. Absolute acceleration levels have been derived at the OARE location, the orbiter center-of-gravity, and at the STS-50 spacelab Crystal Growth Facility. During the interval, the tri-axial OARE raw telemetered acceleration measurements have been filtered using a sliding trimmed mean filter in order to remove large acceleration spikes (e.g., thrusters) and reduce the noise. Twelve OARE measured biases in each acceleration channel during the 2-day interval have been analyzed and applied to the filtered data. Similarly, the in situ measured x-axis scale factors in the sensor's most sensitive range were also analyzed and applied to the data. Due to equipment problem(s) on this flight, both y- and z-axis sensitive range scale factors were determined in a separate process using orbiter maneuvers and subsequently applied to the data. All known significant low-frequency corrections at the OARE location (i.e., both vertical and horizontal gravity-gradient, and rotational effects) were removed from the filtered data in order to produce the acceleration components at the orbiter center-of-gravity, which are the aerodynamic signals along each body axis. Results indicate that there is a force being applied to the Orbiter in addition to the aerodynamic forces. The OARE instrument and all known gravitational and electromagnetic forces have been reexamined, but none produces the observed effect. Thus, it is tentatively concluded that the orbiter is creating the environment observed. At least part of this force is thought to be due to the Flash Evaporator System.
Document ID
19950028461
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Blanchard, Robert C.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Nicholson, John Y.
(ViGYAN, Inc. Hampton, VA, United States)
Ritter, James R.
(Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Co., Hampton, VA United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Microgravity Science and Technology
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0938-0108
Subject Category
Materials Processing
Accession Number
95A60060
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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