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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Analysis of Spacecraft Materials Discrimination Using Color Indices for Remote Sensing for Space Situational Awareness

The increasing number of space missions have resulted in an augmented density of artificial objects positioned in orbital domains near Earth. Knowing the material composition of the resident space object can be of value in object identification and risk assessment using remote sensing techniques. To perform this task, it is increasingly imperative to optically characterize spacecraft materials to identify unique material-specific spectroscopic markers. In this work, a variety of materials frequently utilized by the aerospace industry in spacecraft design and construction were analyzed using reflectance spectroscopy. The collected data provide a spectral characterization baseline for modern-day and historical spacecraft materials. The color index was computed for standard astronomical and suggested theoretical filter passbands and compared to each other in their capability to discriminate materials belonging to different classes. The color index was calculated from reflectance spectra of common spacecraft materials in their pristine, as-received conditions that fell under different family groupings. Different color-index combinations were studied using color-color diagrams. Visual and quantitative analysis of the color-color diagrams were used to evaluate the possibility of discriminating materials from one another by means of optical measurements. Results of the analysis show that polyimide and photovoltaic materials are most easy to discriminate from all other materials via color indices using different filter passbands evaluated in this study.

spectral reflectance↗
NASA NTRS2010

Development of Metallic Sensory Alloys

Existing nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies are inherently limited by the physical response of the structural material being inspected and are therefore not generally effective at the identification of small discontinuities, making the detection of incipient damage extremely difficult. One innovative solution to this problem is to enhance or complement the NDE signature of structural materials to dramatically improve the ability of existing NDE tools to detect damage. To address this need, a multifunctional metallic material has been developed that can be used in structural applications. The material is processed to contain second phase sensory particles that significantly improve the NDE response, enhancing the ability of conventional NDE techniques to detect incipient damage both during and after flight. Ferromagnetic shape-memory alloys (FSMAs) are an ideal material for these sensory particles as they undergo a uniform and repeatable change in both magnetic properties and crystallographic structure (martensitic transformation) when subjected to strain and/or temperature changes which can be detected using conventional NDE techniques. In this study, the use of a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) as the sensory particles was investigated.

Wallace Terryl A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Preparation and evaluation of advanced electrocatalysts for phosphoric acid fuel cells

Results are presented for hydrogen oxidation and hydrogen oxidation poisoned by carbon monoxide at levels between 0 and 30%. Due to the high activities that are now being observed for our platinum based electrocatalysts, the hydrogen concentrations were reduced to 10% levels in the gas supplies. Perturbation techniques were used to determine that a mechanism for the efficient operation of our porous gas diffusion electrodes is diffusion of the carbon monoxide out of the electrode structure through the electrolyte film on the electro-catalyst. A survey of the literature on platinum group materials (PGM) was carried out so that an identification of successful electrocatalysts could be made. Two PGM electrocatalysts were prepared and performance data for hydrogen oxidation in hot phosphoric acid in the presence of high carbon monoxide concentrations showed that they matched the best platinum on carbon electrocatalysts but with an electrocatalyst cost that was half of the platinum catalyst cost.

Stonehart, P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The OSTA-1 scientific payload - Scientific results from the second flight of the Shuttle

The qualification, operation, and results from the first Office of Science and Technology Assessment payload, flown on board the second Shuttle mission, are detailed. Among the experiments were a Shuttle Imaging Radar-A, which recorded 1000 m of 70 mm film of 50 km swaths of the earth's land and ocean surface. The multispectral IR radiometer permitted the acquisistion of 400,000 ten-channel spectral over the wavelength interval 0.5-2.35 microns, including rock and soil identifications which are correlated with economically significant geologic materials. The ocean color experiment involved an eight channel optical mechanical scanner to detect ocean water color changes due to the presence of phytoplankton. Air pollution was measured by radiometer in the 4.50-4.83 micron regions, and an asymmetry in CO concentration was found between the northern and sourthern hemispheres. Only five seconds of surface and meteorological data were collected by the FILE package, while the one successfully used film cassette on a lightning recording experiment revealed discharges among convective storm systems. A rerunning of unsuccessful experiments and new instrumentation for future Shuttle missions are indicated.

Taranik, J. V.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Mapping Environmental Contaminants at Ray Mine, AZ

Airborne Visible and InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data was collected over Ray Mine as part of a demonstration project for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Advanced Measurement Initiative (AMI). The overall goal of AMI is to accelerate adoption and application of advanced measurement technologies for cost effective environmental monitoring. The site was selected to demonstrate the benefit to EPA in using advanced remote sensing technologies for the detection of environmental contaminants due to the mineral extraction industry. The role of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in this pilot study is to provide data as well as performing calibration, data analysis, and validation of the AVIRIS results. EPA is also interested in developing protocols that use commercial software to perform such work on other high priority EPA sites. Reflectance retrieval was performed using outputs generated by the MODTRAN radiative transfer model and field spectra collected for the purpose of calibration. We are presenting advanced applications of the ENVI software package using n-Dimensional Partial Unmixing to identify image-derived endmembers that best match target materials reference spectra from multiple spectral libraries. Upon identification of the image endmembers the Mixture Tuned Match Filter algorithm was applied to map the endmembers within each scene. Using this technique it was possible to map four different mineral classes that are associated with mine generated acid waste.

McCubbin, Ian↗
NASA NTRS1997

Oxygen Compatibility Screening Tests in Oxygen-Rich Combustion Environment

The identification and characterization of oxygen-rich compatible materials enables full-flow, staged combustion designs. Although these oxygen-rich designs offer significant cost, performance, and reliability benefits over existing systems, they have never been used operationally by the United States. If these systems are to be realized, it is critical to understand the long-term oxidative stability in high-temperature, high-pressure, oxygen-rich combustion environments. A unique facility has been constructed at the NASA Lewis Research Center to conduct tests of small-scale rocket engine materials and subcomponents in an oxygen-rich combustion environment that closely approximates a full-scale rocket engine. Thus, a broad range of advanced materials and concepts can be screened in a timely manner and at a relatively low cost.

Eckel, Anerew J.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Volume of Impact Melt Generated by the Formation of the South Pole-Aitken Basin

The South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA) is the largest, deepest, and oldest identified basin on the Moon and as such contains surfaces that are unique due to their age, composition, and depth of origin in the lunar crust [1-5] (Figure 1). SPA has been a target of intense interest as an area for robotic sample return in order to determine the age of the basin and the composition and origin of its interior [6-8]. In response to this interest there have been several efforts to estimate the likely provenance of regolith material within central SPA [9-12]. These model estimates suggest that, despite the formation of basins and craters following SPA, the regolith within SPA is dominated by locally derived material. An assumption of these models has been that the locally derived material is primarily SPA impact-melt as opposed to local basement material (e.g. unmelted lower crust). However, the definitive identification of SPA derived impact melt on the basin floor, either by remote sensing [5, 13] or via photogeology [2, 14] is extremely difficult due to the number of subsequent impacts and volcanic activity [4].

Petro, Noah E.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Comparing and Reconciling Traditional Field and Photogeologic Mapping Techniques: Lessons from the San Francisco Volcanic Field, Arizona

Cartographic products and - specifically - geologic maps provide critical assistance for establishing physical and temporal frameworks of planetary surfaces. The technical methods that result in the creation of geologic maps vary depending on how observations are made as well as the overall intent of the final products [1-3]. These methods tend to follow a common linear work flow, including the identification and delineation of spatially and temporally discrete materials (units), the documentation of their primary (emplacement) and secondary (erosional) characteristics, analysis of the relative and absolute age relationships between these materials, and the collation of observations and interpretations into an objective map product. The "objectivity" of a map is critical cross comparison with overlapping maps and topical studies as well as its relevance to scientific posterity. However, the "accuracy" and "correctness" of a geologic map is very subject to debate. This can be evidenced by comparison of existing geologic maps at various scales, particularly those compiled through field- and remote-based mapped efforts. Our study focuses on comparing the fidelity of (1) "Apollo-style" geologic investigations, where typically non-geologist crew members follow static traverse routes established through pre-mission planning, and (2) "traditional" field-based investigations, where geologists are given free rein to observe without preplanned routes. This abstract summarizes the regional geology wherein our study was conducted, presents the geologic map created from traditional field mapping techniques, and offers basic insights into how geologic maps created from different tactics can be reconciled in support of exploratory missions. Additional abstracts [4-6] from this study discuss various exploration and science results of these efforts.

Skinner, J. A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Composites for Advanced Drive Systems

With the desire for increased power/weight for advanced drive system configurations, the investigation of materials, like composites is being explored to determine the feasibility of integration into advanced drive systems. This area of research directly aligns with the vision of the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) Project, which is to enable a generation of vertical lift vehicles that can achieve aggressive goals in the areas of high speed, high efficiency, high performance, low noise, and low emissions.Composite materials are lightweight, especially when comparing to the metallic materials commonly utilized in rotorcraft drive systems. By integrating composite materials into the drive system, the potential for improvements to power/weight exists as well as other potential benefits such as reductions in vibration and/or noise. Each of these areas of potential benefit will largely influence the overall performance and reliability of future vertical lift vehicles. Prior NASA research has been performed that developed a prototype hybrid double helical bull gear which was successfully demonstrated (LaBerge, Kelsen E.; Handschuh, Robert F.; Roberts, Gary; Thorp, Scott;, 2016) and current NASA research is being performed to optimize the hybrid gear design.While the potential benefits of composite materials in vertical lift drive systems mentioned above are highly desirable, many challenges exist that need to be addressed. To address the benefits and challenges with the integration of composite materials in advanced vertical lift drive systems, the identification of advanced drive system configurations and technical challenges is required. For this project, Bell Helicopter Textron identified an advanced drive system configuration and provided conceptual designs for this advanced drive system configuration, identified technical challenges, and provided recommendations as to how those challenges can be overcome.

transmission↗
NASA NTRS1991

Solid C triple bond N bearing material on outer solar system bodies

Recent telescopic observations have led to the identification of cyanogroup-containing molecules in the dark surface solids of several D-class asteroids, cometary dusts, and the rings of Uranus, as well as the low-albedo atmosphere of Iapetus. The occurrence of the 2.2-micron overtone of C triple-bond N's stretching fundamental mode in all four classes of small solar system bodies is presently suggested to serve as a diagnostic of both exposure duration and degree of modification of surface materials.

Cruikshank, Dale P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Lunar cartographic dossier, volume 1

The dossier is designed to provide an up to date summary of the extent and quality of cartographic information as well as describing materials available to support lunar scientific investigation and study. It covers the specific photographic, selenodetic and cartographic data considered to be of continuing significance to users of lunar cartographic information. Historical background data is included. Descriptive and evaluative information is presented concerning lunar maps, photomaps and photo mosaics. Discussion comprises identification of series or individual sheet characteristics, control basis, source materials and compilation methodology used. The global, regional and local selenodetic control are described which were produced for lunar feature location in support of lunar mapping or positional study. Further discussion covers the fundamental basis for each control system, number of points produced, techniques employed and evaluated accuracy. Although lunar photography is an informational source rather than a cartographic product, a photography section was included to facilitate correlation to the mapping and control works described. Description of lunar photographic systems, photography and photo support data are presented from a cartographic-photogrammetric viewpoint with commentary on cartographic applications.

Schimerman, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Recent results from Long Duration Exposure Facility materials testing

The overall goals of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) investigations, established by the Materials Special Investigation Group (MSIG) prior to LDEF retrieval, are to provide useful engineering data to people designing and building spacecraft, and secondarily, to obtain data of potential interest to materials researchers. The specific objectives are to support predictions of materials lifetimes under the various low earth orbit (LEO) environments to determine how long the material will physically survive; to estimate the engineering performance lifetimes of these same materials under specific LEO exposures; to identify materials and processes by which given materials degrade; and to provide insights into development of new, more inherently LEO environmentally resistant materials. To achieve the established objectives, two criteria were established to select which materials had the highest priorities for analyses. The first criteria was to examine materials which are still being used on new spacecraft. The second priority was to examine materials with multiple exposure locations on LDEF, because this provided the opportunity to develop predictions on how a material will behave as the exposure environment varies. The goals as defined led to the identification of silverized Teflon (Ag/FEP), chromic acid anodized aluminum, and certain thermal control paints used on LDEF as the material types of highest priority for examination. Ag/FEP was chosen because of an excellent a/e ratio (extremely low), and extensive flight history. Also influencing the decision was the fact that the Hubble Space Telescope uses Ag/FEP as its primary passive thermal control system (and was launched shortly after LDEF retrieval) and that a number of other spacecraft are using or considering this material for use. The various forms of Ag/FEP were used on virtually every side of the LDEF except the earth end. The potential uses of this material, and the location distribution and therefore, exposure conditions, have provided the rationale and opportunity for a comprehensive study of this material.

Pippin, H. Gary↗
NASA NTRS2001

Shielded Heavy-Ion Environment Linear Detector (SHIELD): an experiment for the Radiation and Technology Demonstration (RTD) Mission

Radiological assessment of the many cosmic ion species of widely distributed energies requires the use of theoretical transport models to accurately describe diverse physical processes related to nuclear reactions in spacecraft structures, planetary atmospheres and surfaces, and tissues. Heavy-ion transport models that were designed to characterize shielded radiation fields have been validated through comparison with data from thick-target irradiation experiments at particle accelerators. With the RTD Mission comes a unique opportunity to validate existing radiation transport models and guide the development of tools for shield design. For the first time, transport properties will be measured in free-space to characterize the shielding effectiveness of materials that are likely to be aboard interplanetary space missions. Target materials composed of aluminum, advanced composite spacecraft structure and other shielding materials, helium (a propellant) and tissue equivalent matrices will be evaluated. Large solid state detectors will provide kinetic energy and charge identification for incident heavy-ions and for secondary ions created in the target material. Transport calculations using the HZETRN model suggest that 8 g cm -2 thick targets would be adequate to evaluate the shielding effectiveness during solar minimum activity conditions for a period of 30 days or more.

NASA Center LaRC↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Trustworthy Machine Learning for Damage Identification in Composites

A challenging opportunity in structural health monitoring of composite materials is using machine learning (ML) methods to classify acoustic emissions (AE) according to the damage mechanism that emitted the signal. Although a wide variety of ML frameworks have been developed, there is a distinct lack of ground truth datasets which has precluded any direct assessment of their accuracy. Here, we present a novel ground truth dataset gathered on simplified unidirectional SiC/SiC composite structures. Herein, AE is collected from minicomposites which are loaded to targeted percentages of the ultimate tensile stress. These minicomposites are then volumetrically imaged with XCT and individual damage events, along with the mechanism, are correlated to AE. We explore the signal features that allow for mechanism discrimination, along with the feasibility of both unsupervised and supervised frameworks for use in the online monitoring of composite structures.

Machine learning, acoustic emission, ceramic matri↗
NASA NTRS1992

Manipulation and identification of objects by magnetic forces

An overview is presented of the results of research and engineering design activities over the past 20 years in the area of identification and manipulation of objects by magnetic forces. The relationship is discussed between the properties of objects and the parameters of magnetic fields, with the view toward being able to create forces for efficient manipulation and identification of different kinds of parts. Some of this information, particularly regarding nonferromagnetic materials, is relatively new and can be used to solve a variety of engineering problems by creating new types of automation systems. Topics covered include identification and orientation of bodies by magnetostatic and electrodynamic forces, electromagnetic recognition and orientation of nonsymmetric parts, and assembly and position control of parts by electromagnetic forces.

Joffe, Benjamin↗
NASA NTRS2012

Elements of Nondestructive Examination for the Visual Inspection of Composite Structures

Visual inspection (VI) of composite structures provides an effective, wide field survey to ensure design and material compliance is maintained for the entire service life of the manufactured component. Visual inspection is one of the most commonly used nondestructive inspection methods to assess surface defects on composites. By applying visual inspection elements, mechanical damage that could affect component residual strength can be identified and a disposition reached before a potentially catastrophic event occurs. This technique is non-contact and applied at all stages of the composite structure s processing and use. Additionally, VI is required to be performed in all service environments until decommission. By following Level I and Level II damage accept/reject criteria set forth in this document, the material review (MR) process can be initiated. This nondestructive evaluation (NDE) method should be complemented with additional NDE methods to best understand the nature of the observed indications. When VI identification is followed by interrogation using effective complimentary NDE methods, the final Material Review Board (MRB) disposition of the component can be effectively achieved. Although elements of the visual inspection method are discussed and expressly required by the various range standards (KNPR 8715.3 and AFSPCMAN 91-710), emphasis should be placed on supporting the interpretation of recorded visual observations. Sound engineering practices and procedures should be applied with the interpretation of nondestructive testing (NDT) results when the residual strength data specific to a vessel design is incomplete or absent.

Tommy B. Yoder↗
NASA NTRS2003

Thermal Analysis of Acicular Shaped Magnetite

We are in the process of developing a database on the thermal properties of well-characterized Martian analog materials in support of future Mars surface missions. The database contains the thermal behaviors of these analog materials under reduced and Earth ambient pressures. Magnetite in planetary materials has received considerable attention in recent years since the identification of fine grain single-domain magnetite in Martian meteorite ALH84001 and their possible link to past life on Mars (i.e., possible biominerals of magnetotactic bacteria). Because of its possible importance to Mars science, we report here the thermal properties of magnetite particles with acicular morphology, i.e., needle-shaped magnetite. Acicular shaped magnetite can be commercially produced from goethite (FeOOH) as the starting material via a H2 reduction process. However, instead of using this process or procedure, we report here on the thermal characterization of acicular magnetite formed under reducing conditions from well-characterized needle-shaped goethite at low temperature in controlled CO-CO2 1-bar atmosphere gas mixing furnaces.

Lauer, H. V., Jr.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Materials-Compliant Containers in Preparation for OSIRIS-REx Sample Return

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) is a spacecraft that collected samples from near-Earth asteroid Bennu in 2020. NASA is expecting OSIRIS-REx to return about 250 grams of Bennu dust particles and rocky material (regolith) in the Sample Return Capsule landing on September 24, 2023.This carbonaceous material is predicted to be rich in water and organic compounds that will provide key information on the solar system's genesis. The NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) curation team is preparing to process the returned regolith and flight hardware to support critical scientific investigations worldwide.

Curation↗