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At least 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Performance Testing of a Moving Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends to Generate White Hydrogen

The objective of this DOE-funded project by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), Hamilton Maurer International (HMI) and Sotacarbo S.p.A. (Sotacarbo), is to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected pellet recipes in a pilot-scale updraft moving-bed gasifier. The testing provides relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to be able to successfully use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. In particular, the effects of the waste plastics on feedstock development (i.e., blending and pelletizing) and the resulting products (i.e., syngas compositions, organic condensate production, and ash characteristics) are a focus. The gasifier is Hamilton Mauer International, Inc. (HMI)’s moving-bed gasifier, which has been proven capable of gasifying nearly all coal ranks. It has also shown the ability in prior testing work to gasify wood chips. However, mixtures of these fuels with plastic wastes had not yet been prepared and gasified together. The feedstocks were prepared by California Pellet Mill (CPM) under contract to HMI. The technical tasks for this research project included: • Feed Procurement and Preparation: Nine different feedstocks were prepared from varying compositions of PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and car fluff waste plastics. Fuel pellets were produced by California Pellet Mill (CPM) and shipped to Sotacarbo’s test facility in Italy. • Test Plan Development: A test plan was created to define the test runs to be performed. The test plan detailed the different tests that were run, instrumentation used, extractive samples taken, and relevant figures of merit. • Gasifier Testing: Tests were performed in the pilot-scale gasifier at Sotacarbo using nine different fuel feedstocks generated from varying mixtures of coal, biomass, and plastic wastes. The testing provides information on gasification reaction efficiency/performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design. This task will also included work to reassemble the gasifier at Sotacarbo and perform a baseline 100% coal run. • Data Analysis and Reporting: Review of the data, determination of figures of merit, and interpretation of the results was reported. The results can be used to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends. The tri-fuel pelletizing conducted at CPM and gasification testing results from Sotacarbo’s 30mm up draft moving bed gasifier are significant. Providing data for an established gasifier to help accelerate its updated design to be able to accommodate feedstocks composed of coal, biomass, and plastic waste. This should ultimately lead to development and commercialization of a lower cost, white hydrogen generation system.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2023

Performance Testing of a Moving-Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends to Generate White Hydrogen

The objective of this DOE-funded project by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), Hamilton Maurer International (HMI) and Sotacarbo S.p.A. (Sotacarbo), is to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected pellet recipes in a pilot-scale updraft moving-bed gasifier. The testing provides relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to be able to successfully use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. In particular, the effects of the waste plastics on feedstock development (i.e., blending and pelletizing) and the resulting products (i.e., syngas compositions, organic condensate production, and ash characteristics) are a focus. The gasifier is Hamilton Mauer International, Inc. (HMI)’s moving-bed gasifier, which has been proven capable of gasifying nearly all coal ranks. It has also shown the ability in prior testing work to gasify wood chips. However, mixtures of these fuels with plastic wastes had not yet been prepared and gasified together. The feedstocks were prepared by California Pellet Mill (CPM) under contract to HMI. The technical tasks for this research project included: • Feed Procurement and Preparation: Nine different feedstocks were prepared from varying compositions of PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and car fluff waste plastics. Fuel pellets were produced by California Pellet Mill (CPM) and shipped to Sotacarbo’s test facility in Italy. • Test Plan Development: A test plan was created to define the test runs to be performed. The test plan detailed the different tests that were run, instrumentation used, extractive samples taken, and relevant figures of merit. • Gasifier Testing: Tests were performed in the pilot-scale gasifier at Sotacarbo using nine different fuel feedstocks generated from varying mixtures of coal, biomass, and plastic wastes. The testing provides information on gasification reaction efficiency/performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design. This task will also included work to reassemble the gasifier at Sotacarbo and perform a baseline 100% coal run. • Data Analysis and Reporting: Review of the data, determination of figures of merit, and interpretation of the results was reported. The results can be used to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends. The tri-fuel pelletizing conducted at CPM and gasification testing results from Sotacarbo’s 30mm up draft moving bed gasifier are significant. Providing data for an established gasifier to help accelerate its updated design to be able to accommodate feedstocks composed of coal, biomass, and plastic waste. This should ultimately lead to development and commercialization of a lower cost, white hydrogen generation system.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Gasification of Mixed Blends of Coal, Biomass, and Plastic Waste

The objective of this DOE-funded project by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), Hamilton Maurer International (HMI) and Sotacarbo S.p.A. (Sotacarbo), is to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected pellet recipes in a pilot-scale updraft moving-bed gasifier. The testing provides relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to be able to successfully use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. In particular, the effects of the waste plastics on feedstock development (i.e., blending and pelletizing) and the resulting products (i.e., syngas compositions, organic condensate production, and ash characteristics) are a focus. The gasifier is Hamilton Mauer International, Inc. (HMI)’s moving-bed gasifier, which has been proven capable of gasifying nearly all coal ranks. It has also shown the ability in prior testing work to gasify wood chips. However, mixtures of these fuels with plastic wastes had not yet been prepared and gasified together. The feedstocks were prepared by California Pellet Mill (CPM) under contract to HMI. The technical tasks for this research project included: • Feed Procurement and Preparation: Nine different feedstocks were prepared from varying compositions of PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and car fluff waste plastics. Fuel pellets were produced by California Pellet Mill (CPM) and shipped to Sotacarbo’s test facility in Italy. • Test Plan Development: A test plan was created to define the test runs to be performed. The test plan detailed the different tests that were run, instrumentation used, extractive samples taken, and relevant figures of merit. • Gasifier Testing: Tests were performed in the pilot-scale gasifier at Sotacarbo using nine different fuel feedstocks generated from varying mixtures of coal, biomass, and plastic wastes. The testing provides information on gasification reaction efficiency/performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design. This task will also included work to reassemble the gasifier at Sotacarbo and perform a baseline 100% coal run. • Data Analysis and Reporting: Review of the data, determination of figures of merit, and interpretation of the results was reported. The results can be used to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends. The tri-fuel pelletizing conducted at CPM and gasification testing results from Sotacarbo’s 30mm up draft moving bed gasifier are significant. Providing data for an established gasifier to help accelerate its updated design to be able to accommodate feedstocks composed of coal, biomass, and plastic waste. This should ultimately lead to development and commercialization of a lower cost, white hydrogen generation system.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
NASA NTRS1993

Solar simulator for solar dynamic space power system testing

Planned vacuum tank testing of a solar dynamic space power system requires a solar simulator. Several solar simulators were previously built and used for vacuum tank testing of various space systems. However, the apparent solar subtense angle, i.e., the angular size of the apparent sun as viewed from the experiment, of these solar simulators is too large to enable testing of solar dynamic systems. A new design was developed to satisfy the requirements of the solar dynamic testing. This design provides 1.8 kW/m(sup 2) onto a 4.5M diameter test area from a source that subtends only 1 deg, full cone angle. Key features that enable this improved performance are (1) elimination of the collimating mirror commonly used in solar simulators to transform the diverging beam into a parallel beam; (2) a redesigned lamp module that has increased efficiency; and (3) the use of a segmented reflective surface to combine beams from several individual lamp modules at the pseudosun. Each segment of this reflective surface has complex curvature to control the distribution of light. By developing a new solar simulator design for testing of the solar dynamic system instead of modifying current designs, the initial cost was cut in half, the efficiency was increased by 50 percent reducing the operating costs by one-third, and the volume occupied by the solar simulator was reduced by a factor of 10.

Jefferies, Kent S.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Performance Testing of a Moving-Bed Gasifier Using Coal, Biomass, and Waste Plastic Blends with Washed and Unwashed Legacy Coals and Other Waste Fuels to Generate White Hydrogen

The objective of this effort, primarily funded by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), and led by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), with support by Hamilton Maurer International (HMI) and Sotacarbo S.p.A. (Sotacarbo), has been to qualify coal, biomass, and plastic waste blends based on performance testing of selected fuel pellet compositions in a pilot-scale updraft moving-bed (UDMB) gasifier. The testing provided relevant data to advance the commercial-scale design of the moving-bed gasifier to be able to successfully use these feedstocks to produce hydrogen. In particular, the effects of waste plastics on feedstock development (i.e., blending and pelletizing) and the resulting products (i.e., syngas compositions, organic condensate production, and ash characteristics) are the focus. The gasifier used for testing is HMI’s moving-bed gasifier, which has been proven capable of gasifying nearly all coal ranks. It has also shown the ability in prior testing work to gasify wood chips (biomass). However, mixtures of these fuels with plastic wastes have not been prepared and gasified together. The three feedstocks were densified and pelletized by California Pellet Mill (CPM) to meet the feedstock size required by Sotacarbo’s 30mm ID UDMB gasifier, under contract to HMI. The technical tasks and results from this two-year research project included: (1) Feed Procurement and Preparation: Nine different tri-fuel pellets were prepared from varying compositions of fresh mined PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and car fluff waste plastics. Tri-fuel pellets were produced by CPM and shipped to Sotacarbo’s test facility in Carbonia, Sardinia, Italy. (2) Test Plan Development: A test plan was created to define the test runs to be performed. The test plan detailed the different UDMB gasification tests to be performed in Sotacarbo’s 12-inch ID pilot scale gasifier, the process monitoring instrumentation used, and the extractive samples recovered for analysis of the total gasification process mass and energy balance. (3) Gasifier Testing: Nine different gasification runs were performed in the pilot-scale gasifier at Sotacarbo using nine different fuel feedstock compositions generated from varying mixtures of PRB coal, biomass, and plastic wastes. The testing generated performance data on gasification reaction efficiency and performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design. This task also included work to refurbish and reassemble the pilot gasifier at Sotacarbo and perform a baseline 100% PRB coal run. (4) Data Analysis and Reporting: Review of the data, determination of figures of merit, and interpretation of the results are reported in the project’s final report, published in March 2024. The results show that all tri-fuel pellets gasified well and maintained structural integrity throughout the gasification process. The syngas generated can be shifted to hydrogen by using commercial syngas shifting technologies. (5) High Fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Simulation: The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) team performed CFD simulations of the UDMB gasifier for two of the tri-fuel pellets gasified in Sotacarbo’s pilot scale gasifier. The kinetic mechanisms for the pyrolysis of each constituent, PRB coal, corn stover biomass, and waste plastics are based on thermogravimetric analysis performed by Sotacarbo. The gasification model was validated by comparing the predicted syngas composition at the exit of the gasifier with the measured syngas composition. In addition, the reactor’s measured internal temperature profile agreed well with the predicted internal reactor temperature profile. These results validate that the model can be used to predict the performance of the updraft moving bed gasifier for different feedstocks and operating conditions. This paper summarizes the results of the completed work in which the pelletizing procedure was validated to ensure the viability of the tri-fuel pellets for the gasification runs performed at Sotacarbo’s 30 mm UDMB gasifier. The gasification performance data from this series of nine runs will enable modeling of a full-scale HMI industrial scale gasifier supporting both combined heat and power, and Hydrogen production from coal (both fresh mined and legacy) combined with various biomass and waste plastics. Additionally, plans and progress on a follow-up project, being executed by the same project team, will be presented. In this project, a total of twenty (20) different feedstocks are being prepared from varying compositions of biomass (both woody biomass and corn stover) with a mixture of legacy coal waste, plastic waste, and refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The testing will provide information on gasification reaction efficiency/performance, yielding relevant data for models used to scale up the gasifier design to 50 megawatt electric (MWe) (equivalent hydrogen production). Tests will also be performed on a bench-scale fluidized-bed gasifier for comparison purposes. The results of this testing will be used to specify the range of feedstock blends that can be successfully gasified as well as quantify gasifier outputs based on specific blends.

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS2014

Preliminary Sensorimotor and Cardiovascular Results from the Joint Russian and U.S. Pilot Field Test with Planning for the Full Field Test Beginning with the Year Long Intenational Space Station

Ongoing collaborative research efforts between NASA's Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Laboratories, and the Institute of Biomedical Problems' (IBMP) Sensory-Motor and Countermeasures Laboratories have been measuring functional sensorimotor, cardiovascular and strength responses following bed rest, dry immersion, short duration (Space Shuttle) and long duration (Mir and International Space Station) space flights. While the unloading paradigms associated with dry immersion and bed rest does serve as acceptable flight analogs, testing of crew responses following the long duration flights previously has not been possible until a minimum of 24 hours after landing. As a result, it is not possible to estimate the nonlinear trend of the early (<24 hr) recovery process, nor is it possible to accurately assess the full impact of the decrements associated with long duration flight. To overcome these limitations, both the Russian and U.S. sides have implemented testing at landing site. By joint agreement, this research effort has been identified as the functional Field Test (FT). For practical reasons the FT has been divided into two phases: the full FT and a preliminary pilot version (PFT) of the FT that is reduced in both length and scope. The primary goal of this research is to determine functional abilities in long duration space flight crews beginning as soon after landing as possible (< 2 hr) with one to three immediate follow-up measurements on the day of landing. This goal has both sensorimotor and cardiovascular elements, including evaluations of NASA's new anti-orthostatic compression garment and the Russian Kentavr garment. Functional sensorimotor measurements will include, but are not limited to, assessment of hand/eye coordination, ability to egress from a seated position, walk normally without falling, measurement of dynamic visual acuity, ability to discriminate different forces generated with both the hands and legs, recovery from a fall, a coordinated walk involving tandem heel-to-toe placement, and determination of postural ataxia while standing. The cardiovascular portion of the investigation includes blood pressure and heart rate measurements during a timed stand test in conjunction with postural ataxia testing (quiet stance sway) as well as cardiovascular responses during other functional tasks. In addition to the immediate post-landing collection of data for the full FT, postflight data will be acquired at a minimum of one to three more other times within the 24 hr following landing and continue until functional sensorimotor and cardiovascular responses have returned to preflight normative values. The PFT represents a single trial run comprised of jointly agreed upon subset of tests from the full FT and relies heavily on IBMP's Sensory-Motor and Countermeasures Laboratories for content and implementation. The PFT was first conducted following the September 2013 landing of the Soyuz spacecraft (34S) and again following the landing of Soyuz 35S in November. Testing included: (1) a sit-tostand test, (2) recovery from a fall where the crewmember began in the prone position on the ground and then stood for 3 min while cardiovascular stability was determined and postural ataxia data were acquired, and (3) a tandem heel-to-toe walk test to determine changes in the central locomotor program. Video, cardiovascular parameters (heart rate and blood pressure), data from body-worn inertial sensors and severity of postflight motion sickness were collected for analysis. In summary, the level of functional deficit is expected to be most profound during the acquisition of gravity loads immediately after landing when the demands for crew intervention in response to emergency operations will be greatest. Clearly measureable performance parameters such as ability to perform a seat egress, recover from a fall or the ability to see clearly when walking, and related physiological data (orthostatic responses) are required to provide an evidence base for characterizing programmatic risks and the degree of variability among crewmembers for exploration missions where the crew will be unassisted after landing. Overall, these early functional and related physiological measurements will allow estimation of nonlinear sensorimotor and cardiovascular recovery trends to an accuracy that has not been previously captured in over 50 years of space flight.

Reschke, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Evaluation of nonmetallic thermal protection materials for the manned space shuttle. Volume 1, task 1: Assessment of technical risks associated with utilization of nonmetallic thermal protection system

Technical problems of design and flight qualification of the proposed classes of surface insulation materials and leading edge materials were reviewed. A screening test plan, a preliminary design data test plan and a design data test plan were outlined. This program defined the apparent critical differences between the surface insulators and the leading edge materials, structuring specialized screening test plans for each of these two classes of materials. Unique testing techniques were shown to be important in evaluating the structural interaction aspects of the surface insulators and a separate task was defined to validate the test plan. In addition, a compilation was made of available information on proposed material (including metallic TPS), previous shuttle programs, pertinent test procedures, and other national programs of merit. This material was collected and summarized in an informally structured workbook.

Wilkinson, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Guidelines for testing and release procedures

Guidelines and procedures are recommended for the testing and release of the types of computer software efforts commonly performed at NASA/Ames Research Center. All recommendations are based on the premise that testing and release activities must be specifically selected for the environment, size, and purpose of each individual software project. Guidelines are presented for building a Test Plan and using formal Test Plan and Test Care Inspections on it. Frequent references are made to NASA/Ames Guidelines for Software Inspections. Guidelines are presented for selecting an Overall Test Approach and for each of the four main phases of testing: (1) Unit Testing of Components, (2) Integration Testing of Components, (3) System Integration Testing, and (4) Acceptance Testing. Tools used for testing are listed, including those available from operating systems used at Ames, specialized tools which can be developed, unit test drivers, stub module generators, and the use of format test reporting schemes.

Molari, R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Space shuttle orbiter vehicle star tracker test program plan

The development model test program was written to provide guidance for essential star tracker test support to the Space Shuttle Orbiter Program. The program organization included test equipment preparation, prototype baseline/acceptance tests, prototype total performance tests, and prototype special tests. Test configurations, preparation phase, documentation, scheduling, and manpower requirements are discussed. The test program permits an early evaluation of the tracker's performance prior to completion and testing of the final flight models.

Smith, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Shuttle payload minimum cost vibroacoustic tests

This paper is directed toward the development of the methodology needed to evaluate cost effective vibroacoustic test plans for Shuttle Spacelab payloads. Statistical decision theory is used to quantitatively evaluate seven alternate test plans by deriving optimum test levels and the expected cost for each multiple mission payload considered. The results indicate that minimum costs can vary by as much as $6 million for the various test plans. The lowest cost approach eliminates component testing and maintains flight vibration reliability by performing subassembly tests at a relatively high acoustic level. Test plans using system testing or combinations of component and assembly level testing are attractive alternatives. Component testing alone is shown not to be cost effective.

Stahle, C. V.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Aquifer Hydraulic Testing and Characterization Plan for the Ringold Formation Unit A in the Hanford 200-ZP-1 Groundwater Operable Unit and Vicinity

This document presents a plan for testing and characterizing the hydraulic properties of the Ringold Formation, member of Wooded Island – unit A (Rwia) in the 200-ZP groundwater operable unit. The testing approach includes multiple field methods and associated analyses designed to investigate and understand aquifer hydraulic properties over a range of scales. Testing was designed to achieve specific testing objectives identified previously in the 200 ZP-1 Groundwater Operable Unit Ringold Formation Unit A Characterization Sampling and Analysis Plan (Ringold A SAP). The test plan provides necessary technical and operational detail for writing subsequent field test instruction documents specific to each testing location. Hydraulic characterization activities will proceed in a phased manner focusing on areas identified to have knowledge gaps and also critical for remedy modifications and/or selection. These activities are designed to minimize impact to pump-and-treat (P&T) operations and to use existing P&T injection and extraction wells as stress wells, and include use of the new Rwia monitoring wells installed for Ringold A SAP activities. ZP-1 hydraulic testing will include slug testing in new Rwia wells, shutdown-recovery tests in multiple Rwia and composite Ringold Formation member of Wooded Island – unit E (Rwie)-Rwia aquifer test locations, installation of new Automated Water Level Network stations in Rwia monitoring wells, characterization of P&T and barometric responses, identifying the vertical distribution of hydraulic conductivity in the Rwia and Rwie units using electromagnetic borehole flowmeter tests, and single-well tracer testing in select Rwia monitoring wells. Slug testing to be conducted during drilling is described under the Ringold A SAP. The remaining testing activities are to be conducted after well drilling and completion and are described in this test plan.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS2010

Using the Integrated Vehicle Health Management Research Test and Integration Plan Wiki to Identify Synergistic Test Opportunities

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the aviation industry have recognized a need for developing a method to identify and combine resources to carry out research and testing more efficiently. The Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) Research Test and Integration Plan (RTIP) Wiki is a tool that is used to visualize, plan, and accomplish collaborative research and testing. Synergistic test opportunities are developed using the RTIP Wiki, and include potential common resource testing that combines assets and personnel from NASA, industry, academia, and other government agencies. A research scenario is linked to the appropriate IVHM milestones and resources detailed in the wiki, reviewed by the research team members, and integrated into a collaborative test strategy. The scenario is then implemented by creating a test plan when appropriate and the research is performed. The benefits of performing collaborative research and testing are achieving higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL) test opportunities with little or no additional cost, improved quality of research, and increased communication among researchers. In addition to a description of the method of creating these joint research scenarios, examples of the successful development and implementation of cooperative research using the IVHM RTIP Wiki are given.

Koelfgen, Syri J.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Terry Turbopump Expanded Operating Band Modeling and Simulation Efforts in Fiscal Year 2021 Extended Period of Performance (Final Report)

This report documents the progress made under the Terry Turbine Expanded Operating Band (TTEXOB) program's modeling and simulation (MODSIM) initiative at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL ). It describes the US Federal Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) extended period-of-performance MODSIM work completed since the closure of FY20 with due reference to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) hybrid milestone 5/6 experimental program. This work, which falls under Milestone 7 of the program, provides a counterpart to the various experiments. The overall TTEXOB program and its milestone-based approach are described in the program's Summary Plan. Details of the individual milestone test plans can be found in the corresponding detailed test plan, e.g. the Milestone 3 and 4 Detailed Test Plan. SNL MODISM is conducted alongside experiments performed at TAMU, and SNL technical staff regularly consults with TAMU on the experimental program. In FY21, MELCOR code models and capabilities were exercised in two different contexts: experimental comparisons to the TAMU ZS-1 and GS-2, and stand-alone analyses of a station black-out (SBO) scenario in a generic boiling water reactor (BWR). Code to experiment comparisons met with fair success when turbine losses were well characterized as for the ZS-1 turbine. Both deterministic and Bayesian calibration processes were used to find a recommended turbine torque multiplier for ZS-1 type turbines. This process could be repeated for GS-2 type turbines if GS-2 losses were better understood. Stand-alone generic BWR SBO calculations revealed that three different modes of self-regulating turbopump behavior may be observed depending on certain modeling parameters and choices having to do with turbine nozzles. Aspects of this predicted behavior may have been observed in TAMU GS-2 experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2006

Reducing Stray Light To Characterize Nirspec Subsystems: The Focal Plane Array And Micro-Shutter Array

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is an infrared, space-based telescope scheduled for launch in 2013. JWST includes four scientific instruments, including the Near Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSpec), which operates in the wavelength range from 0.6 to 5 microns. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is responsible for two NIRSpec subsystems: the detector subsystem, with its focal plane array (FPA), and the micro-shutter subsystem, with its micro-shutter array (MSA). The FPA is comprised of two side-by-side Rockwell Scientific HgCdTe 2kx2k detectors, with detectors and readout electronics optimized for low noise. The MSA is a GSFC developed micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) that serves as a programmable slit mask, allowing NIRSpec to obtain simultaneous spectra of >100 objects in a single field of view. We present the optical characterization test plan of the FPA. The test plan is driven by many requirements: cryogenic operating temperature, a flight-like beam shape, and multi-wavelength photon flux from 1 to 60,000 per second, thus low stray light is critical. We use commercial optical modeling software to predict stray light effects at the FPA. We also present the optical contrast test plan of the MSA. Since each individual shutter element operates in on/off fashion, the most important optical metric is contrast. The MSA structure is designed to minimize stray and scattered light, and the test setup reduces stray light such that the optical contrast requirement is met.

Connelly, Joseph A.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Input Range Testing for the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT)

This document contains a test plan for testing input values to the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT). The plan includes four primary types of information, which rigorously define all tests that should be performed to validate that GMAT will accept allowable inputs and deny disallowed inputs. The first is a complete list of all allowed object fields in GMAT. The second type of information, is test input to be attempted for each field. The third type of information is allowable input values for all objects fields in GMAT. The final piece of information is how GMAT should respond to both valid and invalid information. It is VERY important to note that the tests below must be performed for both the Graphical User Interface and the script!! The examples are illustrated using a scripting perspective, because it is simpler to write up. However, the test must be performed for both interfaces to GMAT.

Hughes, Steven P.↗