Engineering topics

Benjamin Greene

Publications and source records attributed to Benjamin Greene.

4 records

NASA NTRS2024

Crowd-Sourced Technology Challenge for Improving Visual Color Detection of Hydrazine and Monomethylhydrazine Vapors in Spacecraft Environments

NASA currently uses a visual colorimetric detection method for potential hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine (MMH), or unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) contamination in the International Space Station. Astronauts exposed to propellants or their residues during extravehicular activities may transfer contaminants into the airlock. The colorimetric detection method employs the Contamination Detection Kit (CDK), which uses a potassium tetrachloroaurate redox reaction with the propellant hydrazine vapors and a color comparison card to determine airborne concentrations. Seeking ideas for improvement, the NASA Tournament Lab (NTL) crowdsourced a way to tackle the challenge of detecting hydrazine and MMH vapors using colorimetric detection methods. This Rid the Rocket competition drew over 200 participants and 20 submissions from around the world proposing innovative ways to develop a new chemical colorimetric detection method for hydrazine and MMH vapors on spacecraft. Using a phased approach to evaluate contestants, NASA eventually narrowed the field to five finalists from the United States, Romania, Taiwan, and India. Concept papers and hardware submissions were judged on feasibility, creativity, and ability to detect hydrazine and MMH vapors before being sent to the NASA White Sands Test Facility for laboratory evaluation. Finalists employed variations of sampling methods and color-detection chemistry using a variety of sampling pumps and indicator pads or solutions—including those employing potassium or hydrogen tetrachloroaurate, para -dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (PDAB), and modifiers including sodium metasilicate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide—to enhance gold nanoparticle formation and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) resulting in visual blue to purple color development. This paper presents a summary of the crowdsourced submissions and results of laboratory testing.

Crowd-Sourced↗

NASA NTRS2024

Lessons Learned from Particulate Characterization Laboratory Anomalies

The White Sands Test Facility chemistry laboratory provides quality control for cleanroom operations including cleanliness verification of aerospace hardware by particulate counts and non-volatile residue determinations, particulate counts for liquid hypergolic propellants, gaseous helium and nitrogen propellant pressurizing agents used for ground support equipment and flight test article valve actuation, gaseous oxygen primarily used for component testing, and deionized water for refurbished propellant hardware flushing. Cleanliness verification includes particulate counts and non-volatile residue determinations to industry standard, NASA, and program specifications and levels. Particulate counts are typically to customer-specified specifications and levels including JPR 5322.1H (2016) Levels 50 and 100, Orion (MPCV 70156. Revision H (2018)) Level 100, RPTSTD-8070-0001 Revision 3 (2022), and IEST-STD-CC1246E (2013) Levels 50 and 100. The laboratory issues high pressure filter holders containing membrane filters to test operations personnel, who collect samples by flowing the required volumes of fluid through the filter holder, and the filter holder is returned to the lab for counting. A passing particulate count is required before testing may proceed. Rapid data reduction and issuing of reports indicating a pass or fail of the particulate specification are required. Corrective action and resampling invariably occurs if a sample fails. Consequently, the laboratory must maintain the highest degree of reliability to facilitate quality data used to decide if testing may proceed. Experience and continual improvements have enabled reliability. However, anomalies attributed to lab processes and hardware including filter holders, membranes, and Petri dishes have been encountered. This paper presents a summary of problems, solutions, successes, and lessons learned from particle counting experience for over 35 years.

Lessons Learned↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

History of NASAâ€™s Odor Assessment (Test 6)

NASA's Odor Assessment (Test 6) for nonmetallic materials and assembled articles for spacecraft has evolved since the Apollo program in 1966 to meet various habitable spacecraft nonmetallic programmatic requirements. The purpose of Test 6 is to determine if the odor from a material or assembled article is objectionable or revolting on an odor-characteristic scale of 0 to 4. Samples of the toxicity-screened test atmosphere from a conditioned specimen container are administered to an Odor Panel of qualified human research subject volunteers using a syringe and mask, and are assigned a scored odor characteristic of undetectable (0), barely detectable (1), easily detectable (2), objectionable (3), or revolting (4). The odor from a material or assembled article is objectionable or revolting if an average rating of 2.5 or higher is assigned by an Odor Panel. This manuscript presents the history of Test 6, beginning with the Apollo spacecraft nonmetallic materials selection guidelines and test requirements from 1966, in which tests were performed in oxygen atmospheres, and follows the odor test through Skylab, Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and Orion nonmetals testing, and acceptance requirements.

Benjamin Greene↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

High Risk Spacecraft Materials Offgassing

NASA-STD-6001B, Determination of Offgassed Products (Test 7), provides the offgassing characteristics under standardized conditions for materials and assembled articles to be located within habitable spacecraft environments. Experience with Test 7 has found certain material types to be of higher risk for offgassing undesirable compounds aboard spacecraft than others. Formaldehyde and acrolein are historically high T value offgassed components of the offgassed compound target list because they have low spacecraft maximum allowable concentration (SMAC) values assigned by the JSC Toxicology Group. Carbon disulfide, benzene, acrylonitrile, and furan are additional target compounds of concern due to their lower thresholds of toxicity as determined by the JSC Toxicology Group. Materials offgassing siloxanes are also of concern due to their degradation effects on environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) components and performance. Spacecraft materials and articles defined in this manuscript as high risk were identified after examining and condensing data for these compounds of concern from approximately 3000 tests performed over 30 years. Summaries of high risk material and article types based on highest Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) T values are also presented. Historical analysis shows high risk components are produced largely from test materials and articles in the general categories of electronic/powered components, foams, paints/coatings/films, adhesives/tapes, epoxy/resins, liquids/gels, Nomex® with surface treatments, markers/pens/inks, dry film lubricants, thermoplastics, hygiene items (deodorants, lip balms), and silicone rubber. These data are intended to be a resource for spacecraft materials and processes managers, designers, and toxicologists. High risk materials and articles intended for use aboard spacecraft should be tested in accordance with NASA-STD-6001B Test 7.

Vanessa D Buchanan↗