Aug 14 1978
From The Space Library
NASA announced it had flown its quiet short-haul research aircraft (QSRA) to Ames Research Center to begin a flight-research program on design and operation of future quiet short-haul transport. The QSRA [see July 27] had been the first to achieve truly quiet operation of jet aircraft, through high-performance special treatment of the engines and nacelles to restrict landing and takeoff noise to relatively small areas. Operating less noisily than most small private aircraft, the 4-jet QSRA had a 90-decibel noise-impact area, smaller than 1.3km2 (0.5mi2). Scaled up to the equivalent of a 150-passenger aircraft, the 90-decibel noise impact area would be less than 2.6km2 (1mi2), compared to the approximately 78km2 (30mi2) noise impact of comparable-size aircraft.
High performance of the QSRA resulted from a design concept in which four jet engines mounted on top of the wing directed fan air from the engines across the upper surface of the wing and flaps, significantly increasing lift, particularly at lower speeds. Compressed air from the engines, fed through an ejector system, provided boundary-layer control-blowing at the wing leading edges and ailerons, further enhancing lift and control. Future QSRA-derivative aircraft the size of the Boeing 727 transport could carry the same payload at the same speeds but could operate from small airports with short runways (about 1/2 to 1 km [1500 to 3000ft], compared to current requirements for lengths of 1.6km [1mi] or more) and could operate without disturbing surrounding communities. (NASA Release 78-126; DSFC X-Press, Aug 11/78, 2; Av Wk, Aug 14/78, 20)
NASA announced that Dr. Lo I. Yin, a scientist at GSFC, had demonstrated his invention of a hand-held x-ray device at the annual convention of the National Medical Association in Washington, D.C. The Lixiscope (low-intensity x-ray imaging scope), a gun-shaped instrument weighing about 0.67kg (1.251b), was powered by a single penlight 2.7v battery and a small radioactive source. Although Dr. Yin had not claimed his invention could replace x-ray equipment, he saw its value in mobility-in military situations or sports, for example. Dr. Yin had done this work under NASA's technology utilization program, aimed at identifying and transferring aerospace technology benefits to the general public. NASA had patented the Lixiscope, and the license would be available at no cost. (NASA Release 78-127)
GSFC reported that 100 representatives from U.S. industry and research institutions had met there to discuss possible applications of the Lixiscope, which had originated out of a need for single-photon imaging in x-ray astronomy. The sensitivity of the Lixiscope was so great that it could significantly reduce the dose of radiation received by a patient. Pulling a trigger on the device would unshield the radioactive source and send into the object being examined a low dosage of x-rays to be absorbed by a phosphor screen that would convert them to visible light. Six companies had applied for a license to manufacture or distribute the Lixiscope, not yet commercially available. NASA had estimated the cost of a mass-produced instrument composed entirely of existing technical components at about $5000. NASA was considering use of the device on the Space Shuttle. (Goddard News, Aug 16/78, 1)
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