The Ames Research Center has major basic and applied research responsibilities in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, materials, structures, guidance and control, space sciences, environmental biology, life detection, life synthesis, human factors, and fundamental physics and chemistry; project management of unmanned spaceflight projects (scientific probes and satellites); and the development of scientific-experiment payloads for spaceflight projects managed at Ames and elsewhere. Specific examples of the Center's activities include research in simulation techniques; gas dynamics at extreme speeds; studies of the configuration, stability, structures, and guidance and control systems of aeronautical and space vehicles; and biomedical and biophysical research. The Center has flight project management responsibility for the Pioneer and Biosatellite projects. Pioneer provides scientific observations of phenomena in interplanetary space from an unmanned pacecraft, and the Biosatellite project explores the biological effects of the space environment n primates and other organisms. The Center also has management responsibility for the operation f large high-altitude aircraft to conduct airborne scientific experiments in astronomy. SURVEY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES Conducted By THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION For The 823 824 The physical plant comprises 34 major technical facilities and laboratories, including 15 major wind tunnels collectively capable of simulating the aerodynamic and thermal conditions of velocities from subsonic through Mach 50; guidance, control and motion simulators; together with laboratories and environmental simulation apparatus for physical and life sciences research in the areas of materials and structures, solar and geophysical phenomena, life synthesis, life detection, and life environmental factors. Some of the more significant facilities are listed below: Ballistic Range, Hypervelocity Biosatellite Centrifuge Bioscience Laboratory Structural Dynamics Laboratory Systems Engineering Facility Wind Tunnel, Helium, Hypersonic Flight and Guidance Simulation Laboratory Wind Tunnel, Hypersonic, 3.5 foot Adventures in Research; History of Ames Research Center 1940-1965, SP 4302; Manual for Users of the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel Facilities, 1956 NASA Facts - Ames Research Center, July 1968 NASA Technical Facilities Catalog, Vols I and II, NHB 8800.5, March 1967 NASA Research and Technology Program Digest, Flash Index, FY 1969, March 1969 Recruiting Brochure, Ames Research Center, January 1968 Research Facilities Summary Volume I - Guns and Ranges, NASA-Ames Research Center, Research Facilities Summary Volume II - Wind Tunnels, Subsonic, Transonic, and Supersonic, P. O. ADDRESS: Physical Sciences Laboratory, Electro-Magnetic Section, P.O. Box 548 The Antenna Test Range is operated under a facilities use contract with NASA, administered by the Goddard Space Flight Center. The principal work conducted at the Range for NASA is the measurement of radiation patterns on all types of antennas such as the Nimbus satellite antennas, pointing accuracy of the Gemini rendezvous radar, sounding rocket antennas, ground tracking and wide band antennas. A. ADDITIONAL COSATI CODES: SURVEY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES Conducted By THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION For The FEDERAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 825 The Range is located on approximately six (6) square miles of Government property at Las Cruces, New Mexico. There are four (4) Ranges, which vary in size as follows: a 100 foot model range, a 150 foot, a 375 foot, and a 3,000 foot range. The standard operating frequency range is from 36Mc 12000 Mc without any equipment modifications. The Range has the capability of conduct ing simultaneous power contour plots automatically on any two of the above ranges. Each of the four ranges has an equipment package which includes the following main items: Antenna Pattern Receiver Log Polar Recorder Polar Model Range Polar Model Range Extension Polar Pattern Receiver Polar Positioner Polar Receiver Head In addition to the above, there is an antenna assembly group that consists of a 28 foot antenna dish, five (5) 10 foot parabolic reflectors, a six (6) foot parabolic reflector, three (3) four foot parabolic reflectors, plus necessary antenna towers. 9. COMMENT AND PUBLICATION REFERENCES: Antenna Radiation Pattern Measuring Research Instrument, 1963, H. W. Haas |