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The Integrated Solar Array and Reflectarray Antenna (ISARA) mission will demonstrate a reflectarray antenna that increases downlink data rates for Cube- Sats from the existing baseline rate of 9.6 kilobits per second (kbps) to more than 100 megabits per second (Mbps). The ISARA spacecraft is slated for launch no earlier than Dec. 1, 2015.
The NASA Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) mission is a constellation of small satellites carrying state-of-art microwave temperature and humidity sounders with 12 channels between 91 GHz and 205 GHz frequency. Including TROPICS-pathfinder, launched on 30 June 2021, five TROPICS satellites operate and provide temperature and humidity data to NWP and atmospheric retrieval communities. This study evaluates the quality of radiance data from these five satellites. It assesses data impacts on NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) global NWP analysis and forecasts while seeking answers to the following key questions: 1. What information do TROPICS satellites bring to NWP analysis? 2. How will TROPICS data assimilation affect NWP forecasts, including tropical cyclone analysis and forecasts? 3. What are the benefits of having multiple TROPICS satellites in NWP forecasts? 4. What are the weaknesses regarding instrument stability, consistency, and data quality of these CubeSats? 5. Can multiple TROPICS make similar impacts as conventional MW sensors such as ATMS or GPM Microwave Imager (GMI)? The sensitivities of each TROPICS channel to temperature, water vapor, cloud, and precipitation are examined in various weather conditions. Results from observing system experiments assimilating TROPICS radiance are used for evaluation metrics, including forecast skills and fit to other observations such as radiosondes and microwave and infrared sounders. Finally, the lessons learned from using these cube satellite radiance data in the GEOS atmospheric data assimilation system are shared.
The first high-resolution neutron protein structure of perdeuterated rubredoxin from Pyrococcus furiosus ( Pf Rd) determined using the new IMAGINE macromolecular neutron crystallography instrument at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is reported. Neutron diffraction data extending to 1.65 Å resolution were collected from a relatively small 0.7 mm 3 Pf Rd crystal using 2.5 d (60 h) of beam time. The refined structure contains 371 out of 391, or 95%, of the D atoms of the protein and 58 solvent molecules. The IMAGINE instrument is designed to provide neutron data at or near atomic resolution (1.5 Å) from crystals with volume <1.0 mm 3 and with unit-cell edges <100 Å. Beamline features include novel elliptical focusing mirrors that deliver neutrons into a 2.0 × 3.2 mm focal spot at the sample position with full-width vertical and horizontal divergences of 0.5 and 0.6°, respectively. Variable short- and long-wavelength cutoff optics provide automated exchange between multiple-wavelength configurations (λ min = 2.0, 2.8, 3.3 Å to λ max = 3.0, 4.0, 4.5, ~20 Å). These optics produce a more than 20-fold increase in the flux density at the sample and should help to enable more routine collection of high-resolution data from submillimetre-cubed crystals. Notably, the crystal used to collect these Pf Rd data was 5–10 times smaller than those previously reported.
Gamma-ray is a good probe of dark matter (DM) particles in the Universe. We search for the DM annihilation signals in the direction of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) using 7.5 year Fermi-LAT pass 8 data. Similar to Pshirkov et al. (2016), we find that there is residual excess emission from the direction of M31 if only the galactic disk as traced by the far infrared emission is considered. Adding a point-like source will improve the fitting effectively, although additional slight improvements can be found if an extended component such as a uniform disk or two bubbles is added instead. Taking the far infrared disk plus a point source as the background model, we search for the DM annihilation signals in the data. We find that there is strong degeneracy between the emission from the galaxy and that from 10s GeV mass DM annihilation in the main halo with quark final state. However, the required DM annihilation cross section is about 10{sup −25}–10{sup −24} cm{sup 3}s{sup −1}, orders of magnitude larger than the constraints from observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies, indicating a non-DM origin of the emission. If DM subhalos are taken into account, the degeneracy is broken. When considering the enhancement from DM subhalos, the constraints on DM model parameters are comparable to (or slightly weaker than) those from the population of dwarf spheroidal galaxies. We also discuss the inverse Compton scattering component from DM annihilation induced electrons/positrons. For the first time we include an energy dependent template of the inverse Compton emission (i.e., a template cube) in the data analysis to take into account the effect of diffusion of charged particles. We find a significant improvement of the constraints in the high mass range of DM particles after considering the inverse Compton emission.
LATTICE structures are increasingly used in product design across different industries, including the Department of Energy (DOE), due to their high strength and lightweight properties. These structures possess qualities such as high stiffness, energy absorption, large surface area, and structural support. To ensure lattice structures' quality and symmetry, it is crucial to have defect-free structures. However, in some cases, traditional non-destructive evaluation methods may not be practical due to encasing lattice structures in material. To analyze the lattice structures' quality, this project will employ CT imaging to gain access to the encased structures and perform a detailed analysis of each section. Three 3D printed complex lattice cubes were created, with two exposed and one encased in material, for this project. The CT X-ray cabinet will be used to scan all three cubes, and the data collected will be reconstructed and evaluated using complex interpretation software. This analysis will allow for a detailed examination of the structure's porosity, inclusions, cracks, wall thickness, and symmetry in each section.
The WFIRST coronagraphic instrument (CGI) will demonstrate exoplanet spectroscopy using an integral field spectrograph (IFS). The CGI IFS, being designed and built at Goddard Space Flight Center, has a spectral resolution of R50 and is designed to accommodate a 20% bandpass spanning 600- 970 nm. The IFS is principally targeting the abundance of Methane features, with the primary coronagraph band being centered around 770nm. Key to the performance estimates are the achievable signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios and the stability of the microspectra over the course of tens and hundreds of hours. As a technology demonstration for CGI, the ability to close a wavefront control loop around the IFS, maintain a stable dark hole, and provide time resolved data that simultaneously spans spatial and spectral dimensions are crucial demonstrations for future observatories. The IFS is optimized both for coronagraphs and science observations with a potential future starshade. We highlight how the long duration observations, and requirements for both starshades and coronagraphs drive the IFS requirements and the calibrations required both onorbit and on the ground. We also provide further detail on the optomechanical design, its stability based on thermal and structural predictions, anticipated performance, and operations concept of the CGI IFS. The impact of these performance metrics are projected into simulated data products, demonstrating cube extraction of noisy images and the subsequent planet spectrum that can be extracted from them. These demonstrations and performance predictions are key to future missions such as LUVOIR and HabEx, whose principal science case relies on efficient spectroscopy of exoplanets.
Data submission for WFIP2 at Vansycle Ridge (Oregon). Vertical-profiling lidar data from a Wind Cube v2, included 10-minute averages of wind speed and wind direction up to 200 m. Data collected during WFIP2.
Purpose: Treatment plans for the TomoTherapy unit are produced with a planning system that is integral to the unit. The authors have produced an independent dose calculation system, to enable plans to be recalculated in three dimensions, using the patient's CT data. Methods: Software has been written using MATLAB. The DICOM-RT plan object is used to determine the treatment parameters used, including the treatment sinogram. Each projection of the sinogram is segmented and used to calculate dose at multiple calculation points in a three-dimensional grid using tables of measured beam data. A fast ray-trace algorithm is used to determine effective depth for each projection angle at each calculation point. Calculations were performed on a standard desktop personal computer, with a 2.6 GHz Pentium, running Windows XP. Results: The time to perform a calculation, for 3375 points averaged 1 min 23 s for prostate plans and 3 min 40 s for head and neck plans. The mean dose within the 50% isodose was calculated and compared with the predictions of the TomoTherapy planning system. When the modified CT (which includes the TomoTherapy couch) was used, the mean difference for ten prostate patients, was -0.4% (range -0.9% to +0.3%). With the original CT (which included the CT couch), the mean difference was -1.0% (range -1.7% to 0.0%). The number of points agreeing with a gamma 3%/3 mm averaged 99.2% with the modified CT, 96.3% with the original CT. For ten head and neck patients, for the modified and original CT, respectively, the mean difference was +1.1% (range -0.4% to +3.1%) and 1.1% (range -0.4% to +3.0%) with 94.4% and 95.4% passing a gamma 4%/4 mm. The ability of the program to detect a variety of simulated errors has been tested. Conclusions: By using the patient's CT data, the independent dose calculation performs checks that are not performed by a measurement in a cylindrical phantom. This enables it to be used either as an additional check or to replace phantom measurements for some patients. The software has potential to be used in any application where one wishes to model changes to patient conditions.
The Wind Cube v2 is a vertically-profiling, remote sensing instrument based on pulsed Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) technology that provideshigh quality wind measurements on par with an IEC calibrated meteorological mast. The instrument uses four radial laser beams (0, 90, 180, 270° in the azimuth, scan angle 28° from zenith) and one vertically (V) orientated beam to measure flow characteristics from 40 m up to 290 m above ground level at 12 user-programmable heights (Figure 1). Lidar creates a “virtual” meteorological tower whereby the characteristics of the wind in the lower part of the planetary boundary layer are sampled. It takes roughly 4 seconds to complete a full conical scan, followed by the 5thbeam (V) pointed in the vertical position. The underlying principle of pulsed lidar measurements of wind is the use of optical heterodyne (coherent) detection, in which laser pulses are transmitted into the atmosphere and scattered off of naturally-occurring small dust particles or aerosols entrained in the ambient flow field (Figure 2). Radial velocity is proportional to Doppler frequency shift. In simple to moderately complex terrain wind speed accuracy is 0.1 m/s, wind direction accuracy is 1.5°.
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The Imager for Mars Pathfinder Super Pan image cubes were combined using Superresolution to produce a data set with a factor of two higher spatial resolution than the starting products. The data product is presented.
Science Activity Planner (SAP) DownlinkBrowser is a computer program that assists in the visualization of processed telemetric data [principally images, image cubes (that is, multispectral images), and spectra] that have been transmitted to Earth from exploratory robotic vehicles (rovers) on remote planets. It is undergoing adaptation to (1) the Field Integrated Design and Operations (FIDO) rover (a prototype Mars-exploration rover operated on Earth as a test bed) and (2) the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission. This program has evolved from its predecessor - the Web Interface for Telescience (WITS) software - and surpasses WITS in the processing, organization, and plotting of data. SAP DownlinkBrowser creates Extensible Markup Language (XML) files that organize data files, on the basis of content, into a sortable, searchable product database, without the overhead of a relational database. The data-display components of SAP DownlinkBrowser (descriptively named ImageView, 3DView, OrbitalView, PanoramaView, ImageCubeView, and SpectrumView) are designed to run in a memory footprint of at least 256MB on computers that utilize the Windows, Linux, and Solaris operating systems.
We report light scattering particles can appear in environmentally-exposed pieces of plastic scintillator materials, leading to decreased scintillation light output. In this work, 1” cubes of commercially-available plastic scintillators were aged hydrothermally at temperatures between 25–55 °C, and 0%–100% relative humidity (R.H.), and the mass uptake and degree of light scattering were measured after cooling below the aging temperature. A correlation was found between moisture mass uptake and degree of light scattering, and the fogging phenomenon was found to be reversible upon moisture desorption. Additionally, variable temperature light scattering studies revealed a correlation between the temperature of fog onset and moisture mass uptake in hydrothermally-aged 1” scintillator cubes. The fog onset data was further used in a local weather-based model to predict the appearance of light scattering in deployed radiation portal monitor panels, and the model was validated with several specimens collected from retired portal panels. Together, the results quantitatively characterize the observed environmental aging of plastic scintillator radiation portal panels, give insight to deployed panel lifetime as a function of environment, and pave the way for future developments in environmentally-stable radiation portal monitors.
We present new spectral line observations of the CH{sub 3}CN molecule in the accretion disk around the massive protostar IRAS 20126+4104 with the Submillimeter Array, which, for the first time, measure the disk density, temperature, and rotational velocity with sufficient resolution (0.″37, equivalent to ∼600 au) to assess the gravitational stability of the disk through the Toomre- Q parameter. Our observations resolve the central 2000 au region that shows steeper velocity gradients with increasing upper state energy, indicating an increase in the rotational velocity of the hotter gas nearer the star. Such spin-up motions are characteristics of an accretion flow in a rotationally supported disk. We compare the observed data with synthetic image cubes produced by three-dimensional radiative transfer models describing a thin flared disk in Keplerian motion enveloped within the centrifugal radius of an angular-momentum-conserving accretion flow. Given a luminosity of 1.3 × 10{sup 4} L {sub ⊙}, the optimized model gives a disk mass of 1.5 M {sub ⊙} and a radius of 858 au rotating about a 12.0 M {sub ⊙} protostar with a disk mass accretion rate of 3.9 × 10{sup −5} M {sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}. Our study finds that, in contrast to some theoretical expectations, the disk is hot and stable to fragmentation with Q > 2.8 at all radii which permits a smooth accretion flow. These results put forward the first constraints on gravitational instabilities in massive protostellar disks, which are closely connected to the formation of companion stars and planetary systems by fragmentation.
During atmospheric entry of planetary probes, the thermal protection system (TPS) of the probe is exposed to high temperatures under low pressures. In these conditions, carbonous TPS materials undergo gasification in the Knudsen regime leading to mass loss and wall recession called ablation. This work aims to improve the understanding of materiaVenvironment interactions through a study of the coupling between carbon dioxide transport in the Knudsen regime, heterogeneous oxidation of carbon, and sutface recession. A 3D Monte-Carlo simulation tool is used for this study. The fibrous architecture of the materiils, consisting of high porosity random array of carbon fibers, is numerically reproduced on a 3D Cartesian grid. Mass transport in the Knudsen regime from the boundary layer to the surface, and inside this porous material is simulated by random walk. A reaction probability is used to simulate the heterogeneous oxidation reaction. The surface recession is followed by front tracking using a simplified marching cube approach. The output data of the simulations are ablation velocity and dynamic evolution of the material porosity. A parametric study is carried out to analyze the material behavior as a function of Knudsen number for the porous media (length of the mean free path compared to the mean pore diameter) and the intrinsic reactivity of the carbon fibers. The results enable extrapolation of laboratory experimental data to actual entry conditions.
During atmospheric entry of planetary probes, the thermal protection system (TIPS) of the probe is exposed to high temperatures under low pressures. In these conditions, carbonous fibrous TIPS materials may undergo oxidation leading to mass loss and wall recession called ablation. This work aims to improve the understanding of material/environment interactions through a study of the coupling between oxygen transport in the Knudsen regime, heterogeneous oxidation of carbon, and surface recession. A 3D Random Walk Monte Carlo simulation tool is used for this study. The fibrous architecture of a model material, consisting of high porosity random array of carbon fibers, is numerically represented on a 3D Cartesian grid. Mass transport in the Knudsen regime from the boundary layer to the surface, and inside this porous material is simulated by random walk. A reaction probability is used to simulate the heterogeneous oxidation reaction. The surface recession of the fibers is followed by front tracking using a simplified marching cube approach. The output data of the simulations are ablation velocity and dynamic evolution of the material porosity. A parametric study is carried out to analyze the material behavior as a function of Knudsen number for the porous media (length of the mean free path compared to the mean pore diameter) and the intrinsic reactivity of the carbon fibers. The model is applied to Stardust mission reentry conditions and explains the unexpected behavior of the TIPS material that underwent mass loss in volume.
Demagnetization temperature of a linear alternator (LA) can be accurately predicted through an analytical Maxwell model. The M-H characteristics of the alternator magnets must be known. Vendor data are given for cube-shaped magnets, and the shape of a LA magnet may affect its magnetic properties. At GRC, M-H data are directly measured for each LA magnet. This method was validated using TDC alternator tests on the Alternator Test Rig. The analytical Maxwell modeling was utilized on a different style linear alternator to predict demagnetization temperatures for the Advanced Stirling Convertor.
CuBe is Tetraauricupride structured and crystallizes in the cubic Pm-3m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. Be is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to eight equivalent Cu atoms. All Be–Cu bond lengths are 2.33 Å. Cu is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to eight equivalent Be atoms.