Abstract: A deployment system for a deployable truss structure particularly adapted to space applications which has high structural efficiency and can be remotely operated in a controlled, sequential manner. The truss in its deployed configuration exhibits a "diamond" cross section. Each of the four sides of the structure is essentially a "Warren" truss. Diagonals on the opposite sides of each diamond incorporate a mid-span hinge and the other two diagonals are rigid tubes. When packaged, all elements of the truss are folded so that they are parallel to one another and contained between two guide rails. The guide rails are located on either side of the diamond truss. The horizontal strut connection points or nodes are fitted with rollers that are locked in the guide rails for movement therealong. The deployment initially lifts upright truss members to the vertical position, forming the basic diamond shape of the truss.

Abstract: A time shared transceiver laser system which may be rapidly switched between two subsystems while using the full power of the laser beam and which also generates a local oscillator beam required for coherent detection. A method of time sharing and for generating the local oscillator is disclosed.

Abstract: A removable and replaceable locating pin adapted to locate a workpiece on a tooling fixture for machining thereof. The locating pin includes a locator pin having various illustrated configurations is adapted to cooperate with a workpiece for positioning the workpiece in various directions of restraint. The locating pin is provided with manually actuatable locking means that permits easy adjustment or removal of the specific locator pin as a particular machining operation may require. Flexibility of the set up of the tooling for machining of a workpiece is enhanced.

Abstract: A superconducting coil having an elongated longitudinally extending first hollow metallic housing and adapted to provide a cooling passage of liquid helium therein. At least one superconducting metallic conductor is disposed within the housing which is surrounded with an electrical and thermal insulating material. An elongated second metallic housing surrounds the inner insulated structure and is adapted to be mechanically connected to similar structure when arranged into a coil structure having a predetermined configuration. A method of manufacture is also disclosed as well as how the novel integrated coil and case structure is advantageously employed in an improved fusion reactor structure and Magneto Hydrodynamic Magnet Structure.

Abstract: A solid fuel rocket in which the rocket casing acts as a warhead. Solid propellant rocket motors require relatively heavy cases to contain the 1000-2000 psi combustion pressure needed for efficient performance. This casing can be used as a fragmentation warhead by forming longitudinal grooves in the elongated rocket casing, causing the casing to fracture along the grooves and allowing the pressure within the casing to disperse the fragments. The resulting strip-like fragments are particularly useful against "soft" equipment targets, such as anti-vehicle and anti-radar applications. Several different methods for rupturing the case along spaced, parallel longitudinal lines are disclosed. This system eliminates the need for a separate warhead including case and explosive at the cost of a slight increase in propellant case thickness and weight.

Abstract: A lightweight single layer microstrip membrane antenna for space radar applications which, in an exemplary application, is adapted to be furled on a spool and carried into space by a space shuttle orbiter where it is easily unfurled to form an antenna. The membrane antenna includes gore sections which are connected by metal mesh members that are folded in the furling process to avoid folding of the gore sections. The metal mesh members may also act as primary power busses for suitable transmit/receive antenna modules that are connected to series strings. Current regulators and zener diodes are connected in the strings of antenna modules to provide for continued operation of the antenna in the event of failure of antenna modules.

Abstract: A non-scanning heterodyne optical imaging sensor which utilizes a multi-frequency coherent light source to provide a plurality of points of different frequencies on a single detector on which the image of an object is also projected. Each point acts as a local oscillator which is sensed/filtered to construct the image of the object without mechanical scanning.

Abstract: A method of making a thin gallium arsenide solar cell having a reflecting back surface and coplanar electrical contacts. A photovoltaic cell comprising gallium arsenide is produced in a self-supporting thickness by conventional methods. A pattern of contact lines and a bus contact are formed on the front surface of the cell and a transparent coverslide is bonded thereover. The back of the cell is chemically etched away until the minimum effective thickness is reached, then etching in the bus contact region is continued until the bus is exposed. Any stop-etch material used to prevent excessive etching of the cell material is removed and a reflective contact material is applied to the back of the cell. The resulting solar cell is light in weight and both front and back connections can be made from the back of the cell, making it particularly suitable for use in space-based arrays.

Abstract: A non-contact measurement system for determining the contour of an electrically conductive surface relative to a fixed reference point comprising a support arm journaled at one end to a bearing providing a fixed reference point and adapted to extend toward a conductive surface having a contour to be determined and a non-contact probe coupled to the support arm by a precision lead screw driven by a stepper motor which moves the probe either toward or away from the surface and which generates an electrical signal indicative of its axial position from an initial reference position. Control circuitry coupled to the stepper motor is operable to direct the stepper motor to extend the probe toward the surface until it reaches a predetermined distance from the surface.

Abstract: A two-piece hinge which is spring biased in both its folded position and in its unfolded or deployed position to provide built-in deployment power for structural members and which is provided with trigger/locking mechanisms which are held in an unlocked position when the hinge and the structural members are in their folded position and which triggers and releases the locking mechanisms to lock the hinge in its unfolded or deployed position for positive locking capability. Two trigger-locking mechanisms are used for redundancy.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin composites are molded and cured in a system using controlled elastomeric tooling to apply molding pressure only after temperature has been increased to a selected point. A composite material to be molded and cured is typically placed between a fixed mold surface and a movable reaction block. A container is mounted on a fixed support behind the block in a manner permitting movement toward the block. The container has an interior base generally parallel to the block and an upstanding edge extending toward the block. A pad of an elastomeric material having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion is retained in the container by the edges. The pad extends beyond the edges into contact with the block. A gap of selected size lies between the pad and the container base. As the assembly is heated during molding, the pad expands into the gap without exerting significant pressure on the block.

Abstract: Disclosed is an expandable panel and truss structure capable of being stowed in a storage container (canister) for transportation into space and deployed to form structures such as antennas, solar panels or similar space or terrestial structures. The antenna formed comprises the panels stored as hinged pairs (sets) folded in accordian-like fashion together with the expandable trusses and other devices necessary for antenna space operation, such as attitude control and antenna feed. The panel sets are deployed from the canister to form a toroidal ring, circular in cross-section when deployed, for supporting the antenna lens and to form a feed support boom utilizing the canister as part of the antenna structure. The canister is connected to the ring and support boom in the deployed state by the expandable trusses. A fully automatic system is included for deploying the antenna and for holding the antenna structure in its deployed state.

Abstract: A method of detecting and analyzing normal zones in a superconducting coil which involves generating a signal representative of the real power dissipated within the superconducting coil after the background noise and transient conditions within the coil have been accounted for. The power signal is integrated with respect to time to provide a signal proportional to the total energy dissipated within the superconductor which is then compared against a critical reference signal so that a quench signal is generated to immediately disconnect the superconducting coil when the reference signal is exceeded and to allow the coil to discharge its energy into an external device to prevent coil damage. An exemplary circuit for implementing the method is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for testing nonlinear axicons utilizing holographic interferometry with simple, low cost, optical elements and with a new technique illuminating the entire surface under test.A similar method and apparatus are also disclosed as useful in testing plane or convex mirrors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting propagating normal zones in a superconducting coil or magnet by monitoring the energy consumed by the magnet/coil per unit time and comparing that value with a previously recorded or stored value of energy consumed per unit time. The monitoring is done outside the cryostat and external quench detection circuitry configurations are disclosed for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for merging electrons and ions in a neutralizer region where both are of equal intensity and velocity and directing the beam at a target to be destroyed. The region for merging the beams comprises a plurality of circular electrodes formed in a convex overlapping configuration with circular apertures for receiving ions from a ion source. A separate set of accelerator-decelerator electrodes is positioned to merge the electron beam into the ions in the beam merging region. After the beam leaves the beam merging region it enters an elongated axial magentic field which compresses the beam as it is directed to an object to be destroyed.This device may be housed in a satellite capable of being transported into space and moved within a kill radius of an object. The beam density is determined by the choice of ion species and by merging the beams in a low interaction energy environment.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet arrangement having a sealed cryogenic environment utilizing liquid helium, a superconducting coil immersed in the liquid helium, a constant current power supply exterior of the cryogenic environment and connected to the coil by leads cooled by varying helium boil off and an electrical shunt connect across the magnet. Variations in the helium boil off are compensated by exposing the shunt to and cooling it by the same helium boil off or by exposing negative temperature coefficient device to such flow or by a combination of such methods.

Abstract: An automated assembly, maintenance, and repair system for the construction of a large space structure. The space structure comprises a plurality of trusses and truss junctions that in turn are made up of a plurality of individual struts and nodes. The truss assemblies are progressively built by an assembler trolley as the trolley crawls along the constructed truss. The trolley comprises a forward crawler and a rear crawler joined by an articulated coupler. The crawlers are carried along the structure by belt transports incorporating grippers that engage the truss structure at the nodes. Manipulator arms for strut and node assembly are located on the forward crawler, and the majority of control, power, and communication systems are located in the rear crawler. Cargo canisters filled with component parts for constructing the space structure are carried by the forward crawler. The space structure configuration is determined by the arrangement of the individual struts and nodes during the assembly process.

Abstract: An automated assembly, maintenance, and repair system for the construction of a large space structure. The space structure comprises a plurality of trusses and truss junctions that in turn are made up of a plurality of individual struts and nodes. The truss assemblies are progressively built by an assembler trolley as the trolley crawls along the constructed truss. The trolley comprises a forward crawler and a rear crawler joined by an articulated coupler. The crawlers are carried along the structure by belt transports incorporating grippers that engage the truss structure at the nodes. Manipulator arms for strut and node assembly are located on the forward crawler, and the majority of control, power, and communication systems are located in the rear crawler. Cargo canisters filled with component parts for constructing the space structure are carried by the forward crawler. The space structure configuration is determined by the arrangement of the individual struts and nodes during the assembly process.

Abstract: An automated assembly, maintenance, and repair system for the construction of a large space structure. The space structure comprises a plurality of trusses and truss junctions that in turn are made up of a plurality of individual struts and nodes. The truss assemblies are progressively built by an assembler trolley as the trolley crawls along the constructed truss. The trolley comprises a forward crawler and a rear crawler joined by an articulated coupler. The crawlers are carried along the structure by belt transports incorporating grippers that engage the truss structure at the nodes. Manipulator arms for strut and node assembly are located on the forward crawler, and the majority of control, power, and communication systems are located in the rear crawler. Cargo canisters filled with component parts for constructing the space structure are carried by the forward crawler. The space structure configuration is determined by the arrangement of the individual struts and nodes during the assembly process.