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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

Foam on Tile Impact Modeling for the Space Shuttle Program

Following the breakup of the Space Shuttle Columbia during reentry a NASA-wide investigation team was formed to examine the probable damage inflicted on Orbiter Thermal Protection System (TPS) elements by impact of External Tank insulating foam projectiles. Our team was to apply rigorous, physics-based analysis techniques to help determine parameters of interest for an experimental test program, utilize validated codes to investigate the full range of impact scenarios, and use analysis derived models to predict aero-thermal-structural responses to entry conditions. We were to operate on a non-interference basis with the j Team, and were to supply significant findings to that team and to the Orbiter Vehicle Engineering Working Group, being responsive to any solicitations for support from these entities. The authors formed a working sub-group within the larger team to apply the Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics code SPHC to the damage estimation problem. Numerical models of the LI-900 TPS tiles and of the BX-250 foam were constructed and used as inputs into the code. Material properties needed to properly model the tiles and foam were obtained from other working sub-groups who performed tests on these items for this purpose. Two- and three- dimensional models of the tiles were constructed, including the glass outer layer, the densified lower layer of LI-900 insulation, the Nomex felt Strain Isolation Pad (SIP) mounting layer, and the underlying aluminum 2024 vehicle skin. A model for the BX-250 foam including porous compression, elastic rebound, and surface erosion was developed. Code results for the tile damage and foam behavior were extensively validated through comparison with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) foam-on-tile impact experiments carried out in 1999. These tests involved small projectiles striking individual tiles and small tile arrays. Following code and model validation we simulated impacts of larger ET foam projectiles on the TPS tile systems used on the wings of the orbiter. Tiles used on the Wing Acreage, the Main Landing Gear Door, and the Carrier Panels near the front edge of the wing were modeled. Foam impacts shot for the CAB investigation were modeled, as well as impacts at larger angles, including rapid rotation of the projectile, and with varying foam properties. General results suggest that foam impacts on tiles at about 500 mph could cause appreciable damage if the impact angle is greater than about 20 degrees. Some variations of the foam properties, such as increased brittleness or increased density could increase damage in some cases. Rapid (17 rps) rotation failed to increase the damage for the two cases considered. This does not rule out other cases in which the rotational energy might lead to an increase in tile damage, but suggests that in most cases rotation will not be an important factor. Similar models will be applied for other impacting materials, other velocities, and other geometries as part of the Return to Flight process.

Stellingwerf, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Multilateral Research Opportunities in Ground Analogs

The global economy forces many nations to consider their national investments and make difficult decisions regarding their investment in future exploration. International collaboration provides an opportunity to leverage other nations' investments to meet common goals. The Humans In Space Community shares a common goal to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration within and beyond Low Earth Orbit. Meeting this goal requires efficient use of limited resources and International capabilities. The International Space Station (ISS) is our primary platform to conduct microgravity research targeted at reducing human health and performance risks for exploration missions. Access to ISS resources, however, is becoming more and more constrained and will only be available through 2020 or 2024. NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) is actively pursuing methods to effectively utilize the ISS and appropriate ground analogs to understand and mitigate human health and performance risks prior to embarking on human exploration of deep space destinations. HRP developed a plan to use ground analogs of increasing fidelity to address questions related to exploration missions and is inviting International participation in these planned campaigns. Using established working groups and multilateral panels, the HRP is working with multiple Space Agencies to invite International participation in a series of 30- day missions that HRP will conduct in the US owned and operated Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) during 2016. In addition, the HRP is negotiating access to Antarctic stations (both US and non-US), the German :envihab and Russian NEK facilities. These facilities provide unique capabilities to address critical research questions requiring longer duration simulation or isolation. We are negotiating release of international research opportunities to ensure a multilateral approach to future analog research campaigns, hoping to begin multilateral campaigns in the latter facilities by 2017. Collaborative use of analog facilities and shared investment in the development of spaceflight countermeasures through multilateral campaigns or missions that leverage the global scientific community will focus high quality research and provide sufficient power to accelerate the development of countermeasures and drive sound recommendations for exploration missions. This panel will provide an overview of efforts to encourage and facilitate multilateral collaboration in analog missions or campaigns and describe the facilities currently under consideration to reach the common goal of enabling safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration.

Corbin, Barbara J.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Fostering Multilateral Involvement in Analog Research

International collaboration in space flight research is an effective means for conducting investigations and utilizing limited resources to the fullest extent. Through these multilateral collaborations mutual research questions can be investigated and resources contributed by each international partner to maximize the scientific benefits to all parties. Recently the international partners embraced this approach to initiate collaborations in ground‐based space flight analog environments. In 2011, the International Analog Research Working Group was established, and later named the International Human Space Flight Analog Research Coordination Group (HANA). Among the goals of this working group are to 1) establish a framework to coordinate research campaigns, as appropriate, to minimize duplication of effort and enhance synergy; 2) define what analogs are best to use for collaborative interests; and 3) facilitate interaction between discipline experts in order to have the full benefit of international expertise. To accomplish these goals, HANA is currently engaged in developing international research campaigns in ground‐based analogs. Plans are being made for an international solicitation for proposals to address research of common interest to all international partners. This solicitation with identify an analog environment that will best accommodate the types of investigations requested. Once selected, studies will be integrated into a campaign and implemented at the analog site. Through these combined efforts, research beneficial to all partners will be conducted efficiently to further address human risks of space exploration.

Cromwell, Ronita L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

GL4U: Training the next generation of bioinformaticians, one omics datatype at a time

Spaceflight modifies gene expression in every organism examined to date, including humans. Understanding how these gene expression changes affect physiology is crucial for the development of countermeasures to enable long-duration manned missions. NASA’s GeneLab project provides researchers open access to multi-omics data, including genetic and gene expression data, from spaceflight experiments that can be mined to understand the effects of spaceflight on biological systems. To ensure new knowledge generation through data re-use, it is important to maximize the number of scientists who utilize GeneLab data. Training students on the GeneLab platform is the best way to create long-term adopters of this NASA database and its tools. Turning students into future instructors and advocates will also accelerate the dissemination of these data and tools to the broader scientific community. Therefore, in collaboration with the GeneLab Educational Working Group (EWG), GeneLab has created GeneLab for Colleges and Universities (GL4U). GL4U provides space biology-relevant training in bioinformatics to the next generation of scientists through direct and indirect approaches. The GeneLab team plans to host two annual data processing bootcamps, one for college-level students (direct) and one for college educators (indirect – training of trainers), in which participants learn to analyze GeneLab’s space-relevant omics data. During the bootcamp, educators will receive materials and training to enable them to run the bootcamp at their home institutions or alternatively to adapt the content to implement within existing courses, thereby extending the reach of this initiative. The GL4U direct training pilot program was conducted in June 2021 in collaboration with USRA and San Jose State University (SJSU). During the pilot, SJSU students participated in a week-long bootcamp consisting of space biology-specific lectures and hands-on instruction using Jupyter Notebooks to analyze RNA sequence data. This pilot demonstrates the capacity of GL4U for training young scientists and encouraging data re-use.

Jonathan Matthew Galazka↗
NASA NTRS2003

Abstract of talk for Silicon Valley Linux Users Group

The use of Linux for research at NASA Ames is discussed.Topics include:work with the Atmospheric Physics branch on software for a spectrometer to be used in the CRYSTAL-FACE mission this summer; work on in the Neuroengineering Lab with code IC including an introduction to the extension of the human senses project,advantages with using linux for real-time biological data processing,algorithms utilized on a linux system, goals of the project,slides of people with Neuroscan caps on, and progress that has been made and how linux has helped.

Clanton, Sam↗
DOE OSTI2021

Porphyrin Aerogel Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Anion-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Platinum group metal (PGM)-free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction have shown high oxygen reduction reaction activity in alkaline media. In order to further increase the power density of anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs), PGM-free catalysts need to have a high site density to reach high current densities. In this work, synthesis, characterization, and utilization of heat-treated iron porphyrin aerogels are reported as cathode catalysts in AEMFCs. The heat treatment effect is thoroughly studied and characterized using several techniques, and the best performing aerogel is studied in AEMFC, showing excellent performance, reaching a peak power density of 580 mW cm –2 and a limiting current density of as high as 2.0 A cm –2 , which can be considered the state-of-the-art for PGM-free based AEMFCs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterization of SimulCam, a standoff Raman system for scientific support of SuperCam operations on Mars

During the development activities of SuperCam Calibration Target, target intended for one of the two first Raman instruments to be deployed on another planetary body, our group developed a laboratory instrument that could simulate to some extent the Raman capabilities of one of such instruments and could provide data with similar quality. The use of this kind of laboratory instruments has demonstrated its utility in the evaluation of potential calibration targets or anticipating the science outcome that an instrument could provide. The present work describes our laboratory setup to support SuperCam, evaluating similarities between both instruments, despite of differences in the hardware. Evaluation of data gathered by SuperCam on Mars and the availability of one replica of SuperCam’s Calibration Target allowed the comparison on the same set of targets, demonstrating how similar Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) could be achieved from both instruments. The higher energy per pulse on SimulCam is compensated by a greater analytical footprint and the use of smaller collection optics. The results show how spectra obtained at representative distances of SuperCam are comparable. Operational principles are also comparable in terms of time resolution, and close in terms of spectral resolution. This similarity has allowed different science support works using SimulCam data, as well as the support to Mars detections using our setup. We provide examples of this support that will be shared with the community in different papers, as well as examples of possible operations activities that could benefit from experiments performed with SimulCam. We show how this setup can complement the two laboratory replicas in Los Alamos and Toulouse in providing support data to different experiments.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Oxadiazole derivatives as stable anolytes for >3 V non-aqueous redox flow battery

Effective utilization of energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar requires the development of long duration energy storage (LDES) systems that can accommodate intermittent energy accrual. One option under investigation is the use of a redox flow battery (RFB). A significant amount of work has explored aqueous RFB systems with a variety of inorganic and organic carriers. However, moving to a nonaqueous solvent such as acetonitrile (MeCN) for RFB provides a much larger electrochemical window, which could lead to increased energy density if properly utilized. Here, in this work, we investigate a series of 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (DiPhenOx) derivatives as anolytes for a redox flow battery. DiPhenOx has a low voltage redox event that, while reversible by cyclic voltammetry, was determined to be irreversible during bulk electrolysis. To improve cycling performance, we introduced various ester and cyano groups to the phenyl rings of DiPhenOx using molecular engineering. We characterized these derivatives spectroscopically and electrochemically to assess their feasibility for flow battery applications. The ester derivatives with the best cycling performance were tested in a flow cell vs. ferrocene, 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)benzene (DBBB) and thianthrene, which resulted in ~2 V, ~3 V and ~3 V redox flow batteries, respectively.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fine-Tuning of Pt Dispersion on Al 2 O 3 and Understanding the Nature of Active Pt Sites for Efficient CO and NH 3 Oxidation Reactions

Fine-tuning the dispersion of active metal species on widely used supports is a research hotspot in the catalysis community, which is vital for achieving a balance between the atomic utilization efficiency and the intrinsic activity of active sites. In this work, using bayerite Al(OH) 3 as support directly or after precalcination at 200 or 550 °C, Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalysts with distinct Pt dispersions from single atoms to clusters (ca. 2 nm) were prepared and evaluated for CO and NH 3 removal. Richer surface hydroxyl groups on AlO x (OH) y support were proved to better facilitate the dispersion of Pt. However, Pt/Al 2 O 3 with relatively lower Pt dispersion could exhibit better activity in CO/NH 3 oxidation reactions. Further reaction mechanism study revealed that the Pt sites on Pt/Al 2 O 3 with lower Pt dispersion could be activated to Pt 0 species much easier under the CO oxidation condition, on which a higher CO adsorption capacity and more efficient O 2 activation were achieved simultaneously. Compared to Pt single atoms, PtO x clusters could also better activate NH 3 into –NH 2 and –HNO species. The higher CO adsorption capacity and the more efficient NH 3 /O 2 activation ability on Pt/Al 2 O 3 with relatively lower Pt dispersion well explained its higher CO/NH 3 oxidation activity. This study emphasizes the importance of avoiding a singular pursuit of single-atom catalyst synthesis and instead focusing on achieving the most effective Pt species on Al 2 O 3 support for targeted reactions. Finally, this approach avoids unnecessary limitations and enables a more practical and efficient strategy for Pt catalyst fabrication in emission control applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Deletion of Re -citrate synthase allows for analysis of contributions of tricarboxylic acid cycle directionality to the growth of Heliomicrobium modesticaldum

ABSTRACT Heliomicrobium modesticaldum,a phototrophic member of the phylum Firmicutes and family Clostridiales, possesses most of the enzymes specific to the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle, except for the key enzyme, ATP-citrate lyase. It is thought to utilize a split TCA cycle when growing on pyruvate as a carbon source, in which the oxidative TCA (oTCA) direction generates most of the 2-ketoglutarate, but some can be produced in the reductive direction. Although a typicalSi-citrate synthase gene is not found in the genome, it was suggested that gene HM1_2993, annotated as homocitrate synthase, actually encodesRe-citrate synthase, which would function as the initial enzyme of the oTCA cycle. We deleted this gene to test this hypothesis and, if true, see what effect severing access to the oTCA cycle would have on this organism. The endogenous CRISPR-Cas system was used to replace the open reading frame with a selectable marker. The deletion mutants could grow on pyruvate but were unable to grow phototrophically on acetate + CO 2 as carbon source. Growth on acetate could be rescued by the addition of different electron sources (formate or ascorbate), suggesting that the oTCA cycle is used to oxidize acetate to generate electrons required to drive the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA. The deletion mutants were capable of growing in acetate minimal media without additional organic supplements beyond formate, demonstrating that the rTCA cycle can be employed to support sufficient 2-ketoglutarate production in this organism, unlike citrate synthase mutants in several chemoheterotrophic organisms utilizing the oTCA cycle. IMPORTANCE Heliobacteria are a unique group of phototrophic bacteria that are obligate anaerobes and possess a rudimentary system to use light as a source of energy. They do not make oxygen or fix carbon dioxide. Here, we explore their fundamental carbon metabolism to understand the role and operation of the central TCA cycle. This work shows both the role and operation of this cycle under different growth modes and explains how these organisms can obtain electrons to drive their biosynthetic metabolism. This foundational knowledge will be crucial in the future when attempts are made to use this organism as a platform for oxygen-sensitive synthesis of compounds in an anaerobe that can use light as its energy source.

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology↗
NASA NTRS1994

(abstract) Follow-on Missions for the Pluto Spacecraft

The Pluto Fast Flyby mission development baseline consists of 2 identical spacecraft (120 - 165 kg) to be launched to Pluto/Charon in the late 1990s. These spacecraft are intended to fly by Pluto and Charon in order to perform various remote-sensing scientific investigations and have a mission development cost less than $400M (FY92$) through launch plus 30 days. The long-life (6 - 10 years) mission duration and lightweight design make the Pluto spacecraft a good candidate for a number of other flyby missions to objects in the outer Solar System, and some of these were investigated by JPL in cooperation with NASA Code SL's (Solar System Exploration) Outer Planets Science Working Group (OPSWG) in 1993. The JPL team looked at what it would mean to fly one of these missions (if a third spacecraft were available) in terms of flight time, spacecraft modifications, and science payload resources; the OPSWG recommended science investigation modifications for the different targets based on the available resources. The missions could, in many cases, utilize less capable launch vehicles, thereby reducing life-cycle cost of the mission. Examples of the sort of targets which were investigated and looked attractive in terms of flight time are: Uranus, Neptune, Uranus/Neptune dual-mission, Trojan asteroids (624 Hektor, 617 Patroclus, others), 5145 Pholus (the reddest object known in the solar system), and Kuiper Belt objects (i.e., 1992 QB1) . This paper will present the results of this investigation in terms of potential science return, performance, and the potential for life-cycle cost reductions through inheritance from Pluto Fast Flyby .

Pluto Charon flyby follow-on missions↗
DOE OSTI2026

Onboard Transit Survey - Philadelphia Regional - 2012

The main purpose of the survey was to gather current data on how the transit system was being used in 2010. The survey asked passengers a series of questions about their household characteristics and the trip that they were making on the day of the survey. The survey was conducted in three phases between December 2010 and December 2011. Close to 1.1 million unlinked trips are made on an average weekday on all 140 routes systemwide. The survey results suggest several different populations of users. At the low end of the economic spectrum are passengers who really have no other transit option besides public transit. There is also a group of passengers that appear to be somewhat better off financially. They could be categorized as middle-income households, and many of these passengers may have other options for transportation, but they choose to take public transit because it makes sense for them from a financial or time-savings standpoint. Finally, there may be a smaller group of passengers who may live and work downtown in relatively high-paying positions. These passengers can afford to take a taxi but choose to ride transit because of its convenience.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Outdoor Lighting Accelerator: Lighting the Way Forward (Final Report)

This final report outlines the work performed by DOE’s Better Buildings Outdoor Lighting Accelerator, through which cities, states, and regional groups explored best practice approaches to improve the way communities apply advanced outdoor lighting technologies in parking lots and highways. It describes the related work of participants, including designing regional bonding authorities or joint purchasing programs, financing streetlight upgrades, and more.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS2010

Design of a Lunar Quick-Attach Mechanism to Hummer Vehicle Mounting Interface

This report presents my work experiences while I was an intern with NASA (National Aeronautic and Space Administration) in the Spring of2010 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida as a member of the NASA USRP (Undergraduate Student Research Program) program. I worked in the Surface Systems (NE-S) group during the internship. Within NE-S, two ASRC (Arctic Slope Regional Corporation) contract engineers, A.J. Nick and Jason Schuler, had developed a "Quick-Attach" mechanism for the Chariot Rover, the next generation lunar rover. My project was to design, analyze, and possibly fabricate a mounting interface between their "Quick-Attach" and a Hummer vehicle. This interface was needed because it would increase their capabilities to test the Quick Attach and its various attachments, as they do not have access to a Chariot Rover at KSC. I utilized both Pro Engineer, a 3D CAD software package, and a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) known as a FAROarm to collect data and create my design. I relied on hand calculations and the Mechanica analysis tool within Pro Engineer to perform stress analysis on the design. After finishing the design, I began working on creating professional level CAD drawings and issuing them into the KSC design database known as DDMS before the end of the internship.

Grismore, David A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Radar clutter suppression

I have been working on something called clutter, which is an amount of “noise” caused by the surrounding environment in a radar system photo or image. The radar system is called “synthetic aperture radar” or SAR. Our group is trying to clarify the photo and hence data of an SAR image by removing clutter (and noise) from the photograph. This is done by utilizing advanced signal processing techniques and the MATLAB programming language on our computer.

Evans, Bradley [External Affiliation]↗
NASA NTRS1993

Definition of spacecraft standard interfaces by the NASA Space Assembly and Servicing Working Group (SASWG)

The purpose of the NASA Space Assembly and Servicing Working Group (SASWG) is to study enabling technologies for on-orbit spacecraft maintenance and servicing. One key technology required for effective space logistics activity is the development of standard spacecraft interfaces, including the 'Basic Set' defined by NASA, the U.S. Space Command, and industry panelists to be the following: (1) navigation aids; (2) grasping, berthing, and docking; and (3) utility connections for power, data, and fluids. Draft standards have been prepared and referred to professional standards organizations, including the AIAA, EIA, and SAE space standards committee. The objective of the SASWG is to support these committees with the technical expertise required to prepare standards, guidelines, and recommended practices which will be accepted by the ANSI and international standards organizations, including the ISO, IEC, and PASC.

Radtke, Robert↗
NASA NTRS1999

Viscous Design of TCA Configuration

The goal in this effort is to redesign the baseline TCA configuration for improved performance at both supersonic and transonic cruise. Viscous analyses are conducted with OVERFLOW, a Navier-Stokes code for overset grids, using PEGSUS to compute the interpolations between overset grids. Viscous designs are conducted with OVERDISC, a script which couples OVERFLOW with the Constrained Direct Iterative Surface Curvature (CDISC) inverse design method. The successful execution of any computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based aerodynamic design method for complex configurations requires an efficient method for regenerating the computational grids to account for modifications to the configuration shape. The first section of this presentation deals with the automated regridding procedure used to generate overset grids for the fuselage/wing/diverter/nacelle configurations analysed in this effort. The second section outlines the procedures utilized to conduct OVERDISC inverse designs. The third section briefly covers the work conducted by Dick Campbell, in which a dual-point design at Mach 2.4 and 0.9 was attempted using OVERDISC; the initial configuration from which this design effort was started is an early version of the optimized shape for the TCA configuration developed by the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group (BCAG), which eventually evolved into the NCV design. The final section presents results from application of the Natural Flow Wing design philosophy to the TCA configuration.

Krist, Steven E.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Early Transition and Use of VIIRS and GOES-R Products by NWS Forecast Offices

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite, part of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), and the ABI and GLM sensors scheduled for the GOES-R geostationary satellite will bring advanced observing capabilities to the operational weather community. The NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) project at Marshall Space Flight Center has been facilitating the use of real-time experimental and research satellite data by NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) for a number of years to demonstrate the planned capabilities of future sensors to address particular forecast challenges through improve situational awareness and short-term weather forecasts. For the NOAA GOES-R Proving Ground (PG) activity, SPoRT is developing and disseminating selected GOES-R proxy products to collaborating WFOs and National Centers. SPoRT developed the a pseudo-Geostationary Lightning Mapper product and helped in the transition of the Algorithm Working Group (AWG) Convective Initiation (CI) proxy product for the Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) Spring Experiment,. Along with its partner WFOs, SPoRT is evaluating MODIS/GOES Hybrid products, which brings ABI-like data sets from existing NASA instrumentation in front of the forecaster for everyday use. The Hybrid uses near real-time MODIS imagery to demonstrate future ABI capabilities, while utilizing standard GOES imagery to provide the temporal frequency of geostationary imagery expected by operational forecasters. In addition, SPoRT is collaborating with the GOES-R hydrology AWG to transition a baseline proxy product for rainfall rate / quantitative precipitation estimate (QPE) to the OCONUS regions. For VIIRS, SPoRT is demonstrating multispectral observing capabilities and the utility of low-light channels not previously available on operational weather satellites to address a variety of weather forecast challenges. This presentation will discuss the results of transitioning these products to collaborating WFOs throughout the country.

Fuell, Kevin K.↗