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Mission Overview and Status IGARSS Conference

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission is a strategic climate continuity mission that was defined in the 2010 document Responding to the Challenge of Climate and Environmental Change: NASA’s Plan for Climate-Centric Architecture for Earth Observations and Applications from Space (referred to as the “Climate Initiative”). Scheduled for launch in January 2024, the PACE mission represents NASA’s next investment in ocean biology, clouds, and aerosol data records [1]. PACE will extend the high quality ocean ecological, ocean biogeochemical, cloud, and aerosol particle data records begun by NASA in the 1990s, building on the exceptional heritages of the Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The PACE project office at NASA’s GSFC is responsible for the satellite development, launch and operations. The NASA Headquarters PACE Program Science office is responsible for supporting the science data processing system and assembling competed community science teams, which will include field-based vicarious calibration and data product validation efforts to support the PACE Project Science team. The mission is planned for launch into a Sun synchronous polar orbit at 676.5 km with an inclination of 98 degrees and a 1 pm local ascending node crossing time. The PACE observatory is comprised of three instruments, an Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) and two polarimeters, the Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter 2 (HARP2) and the Spectro-Polarimeter for Exploration (SPEXone). The OCI is the primary instrument on the observatory and is being developed at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The OCI is a hyperspectral scanning radiometer designed to measure spectral radiances from the ultraviolet to shortwave infrared (SWIR) to enable advanced ocean color and heritage cloud and atmospheric aerosol science [2]. The HARP2 and SPEXone are complimentary instruments on the PACE observatory, acquired outside of GSFC. The HARP2 is multi-spectral, wide swath (supporting atmospheric correction of OCI), and hyper-angular, with capabilities for cloud science that exceed what is capable from OCI alone. The SPEXone is narrow swath, multi-angular, and hyperspectral, with capabilities for atmospheric aerosol science that exceed what can be accomplished with OCI. NASA Headquarters directed the mission development to be guided by a Design-to-Cost (DTC) process. All elements of the mission, other than the cost, are in the DTC trade space. At the heart of the DTC process are the mission studies, performed across all the mission elements. The mission studies were used to define appropriate approaches within and across elements while maximizing science capabilities at a high cost confidence. Mission baseline requirements development is also embedded within the DTC process, as these requirements were not established at the onset of the mission concept development. Baseline mission requirements are a product of the mission studies and are defined by the project office as part of the DTC process. At the time of this writing, OCI, HARP2 and SPEXone are integrated onto the PACE spacecraft, creating the PACE observatory. The instruments and spacecraft subsystems are undergoing combined functional performance testing in preparation for observatory-level environmental testing prior to shipment to the launch site. Here, we will provide an update on science capabilities and observatory readiness for its early 2024 launch.

remote sensing↗

NCSP Nuclear Data Program [Slides]

This talk covers wide-ranging information on the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) Data Program. The Lecture includes slides on the history and mission of the NCSP along with charts and graphs on budgets from 2005 onwards. This lecture additionally mentions NCSP critical assemblies, differential experiments, and data measurements and evaluation work. The talk concludes with a gaze into NCSP benefits and successes.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Development and Calibration of a Field-Deployable Microphone Phased Array for Propulsion and Airframe Noise Flyover Measurements

A new aeroacoustic measurement capability has been developed consisting of a large channelcount, field-deployable microphone phased array suitable for airframe noise flyover measurements for a range of aircraft types and scales. The array incorporates up to 185 hardened, weather-resistant sensors suitable for outdoor use. A custom 4-mA current loop receiver circuit with temperature compensation was developed to power the sensors over extended cable lengths with minimal degradation of the signal to noise ratio and frequency response. Extensive laboratory calibrations and environmental testing of the sensors were conducted to verify the design's performance specifications. A compact data system combining sensor power, signal conditioning, and digitization was assembled for use with the array. Complementing the data system is a robust analysis system capable of near real-time presentation of beamformed and deconvolved contour plots and integrated spectra obtained from array data acquired during flyover passes. Additional instrumentation systems needed to process the array data were also assembled. These include a commercial weather station and a video monitoring / recording system. A detailed mock-up of the instrumentation suite (phased array, weather station, and data processor) was performed in the NASA Langley Acoustic Development Laboratory to vet the system performance. The first deployment of the system occurred at Finnegan Airfield at Fort A.P. Hill where the array was utilized to measure the vehicle noise from a number of sUAS (small Unmanned Aerial System) aircraft. A unique in-situ calibration method for the array microphones using a hovering aerial sound source was attempted for the first time during the deployment.

Humphreys, William M., Jr.↗

Data for "RT-EZ: A Golden Gate Assembly Toolkit for Streamlined Genetic Engineering of Rhodotorula toruloides"

For economic and sustainable biomanufacturing, the oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula toruloides has emerged as a promising platform for producing biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other valuable chemicals. However, genetic manipulation of R. toruloides has been limited by its high GC content and the lack of a replicating plasmid, necessitating gene integration into the genome of the yeast. To address these challenges, we developed the RT-EZ ( R. toruloides Efficient Zipper) toolkit, a versatile tool based on Golden Gate assembly, designed to streamline R. toruloides engineering with improved efficiency and flexibility. The RT-EZ toolkit simplifies vector construction by incorporating new features such as bidirectional promoters and 2A peptides, color-based screening using RFP, and sequences optimized for both Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) and easy linearization, enabling straightforward selection and transformation. Notably, the RT-EZ kit can be used to construct an expression cassette with four different genes in one assembly reaction, significantly improving vector construction speed and efficiency. The utility of the RT-EZ toolkit was demonstrated through the successful synthesis of arachidonic acid in R. toruloides by coexpressing fatty acid elongases and desaturases. This result underscores the potential of the RT-EZ toolkit to advance synthetic biology in R. toruloides , providing a streamlined method for addressing genetic engineering challenges in the yeast.

gene editing↗

Delta L: An Apparatus for Measuring Macromolecule Crystal Growth Rates in Microgravity

Strongly diffracting high quality macromolecule crystals of suitable volume are keenly sought for X-ray diffraction analysis so that high-resolution molecular structure data can be obtained. Such data is of tremendous value to medical research, agriculture and commercial biotechnology. In previous studies by many investigators microgravity has been reported in some instances to improve biological macromolecule X-ray crystal quality while little or no improvement was observed in other cases. A better understanding of processes effecting crystal quality improvement in microgravity will therefore be of great benefit in optimizing crystallization success in microgravity. In ground based research with the protein lysozyme we have previously shown that a population of crystals grown under the same solution conditions, exhibit a variation in X-ray diffraction properties (Judge et al., 1999). We have also observed that under the same solution conditions, individual crystals will grow at slightly different growth rates. This phenomenon is called growth rate dispersion. For small molecule materials growth rate dispersion has been directly related to crystal quality (Cunningham et al., 1991; Ristic et al., 1991). We therefore postulate that microgravity may act to improve crystal quality by reducing growth rate dispersion. If this is the case then as different, Materials exhibit different degrees of growth rate dispersion on the ground then growth rate dispersion could be used to screen which materials may benefit the most from microgravity crystallization. In order to assess this theory the Delta L hardware is being developed so that macromolecule crystal growth rates can be measured in microgravity. Crystal growth rate is defined as the change or delta in crystal size (defined as a characteristic length, L) over time; hence the name of the hardware. Delta L will consist of an optics, a fluids, and a data acquisition sub-assemblies. The optics assembly will consist of a video microscope camera mounted on three axis computer controlled translation stages. The fluids assembly consists of macromolecule and precipitant reservoirs, a temperature controlled growth cell and waste container, The data acquisition is achieved by using a frame-gabber, with images being stored on a hard drive. In operation, macromolecule and precipitant solution will be injected into the temperature controlled growth cell. As macromolecule crystals grow, the video microscope camera controlled by the translation stages, will be used to locate and record images of individual crystals, returning to the same crystals at specific time intervals. The images will be stored on the hard drive and used to calculate the crystal growth rate. To prevent vibrations interfering in the crystal growth rate measurements (Snell et al., 1997) Delta L will be used in connection with the Glovebox Integrated Microgravity Isolation Technology (g-LIMIT) inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Judge, Russell A.↗

SCALE 6.2.4 Validation for Light Water Reactor Decay Heat Analysis

Energy release from the decay of radionuclides in nuclear fuel after its discharge from reactor is a critical parameter for design, safety, and licensing analyses of used nuclear fuel storage, transportation, and repository systems. Well-validated computational tools and nuclear data are essential for decay heat prediction. This paper summarizes the validation of the SCALE nuclear analysis code system version 6.2.4, used with ENDF/B-VII.1 libraries, for decay heat analysis of light water reactor used fuel. The experimental data used for validation include full-assembly decay heat measurements that cover assembly burnups of 5 to 51 GWd/tonne U, cooling times after discharge in the 2- to 27-year range, and initial fuel enrichments up to 4 wt% 235U. The comparison between calculated (C) and experimental (E) decay heat showed very good agreement, with an average C/E over all considered measurements of 1.006 (σ = 0.016) for pressurized water reactor and 0.984 (σ = 0.077) for boiling water reactor assembly measurements. The effect of using assembly-average versus axially varying modeling data on the calculated decay heat, important to thermal analyses for used fuel transportation and storage systems, is discussed.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Meta-assembler

Machine-independent cross-assembler program can produce object modules for variety of computers. Program is capable of being reconfigured by data set supplied at assembly time.

Hodges, B. C.↗

Phase Function Determination in Support of Orbital Debris Size Estimation

To recover the size of a space debris object from photometric measurements, it is necessary to determine its albedo and basic shape: if the albedo is known, the reflective area can be calculated; and if the shape is known, the shape and area taken together can be used to estimate a characteristic dimension. Albedo is typically determined by inferring the object s material type from filter photometry or spectroscopy and is not the subject of the present study. Object shape, on the other hand, can be revealed from a time-history of the object s brightness response. The most data-rich presentation is a continuous light-curve that records the object s brightness for an entire sensor pass, which could last for tens of minutes to several hours: from this one can see both short-term periodic behavior as well as brightness variations with phase angle. Light-curve interpretation, however, is more art than science and does not lend itself easily to automation; and the collection method, which requires single-object telescope dedication for long periods of time, is not well suited to debris survey conditions. So one is led to investigate how easily an object s brightness phase function, which can be constructed from the more survey-friendly point photometry, can be used to recover object shape. Such a recovery is usually attempted by comparing a phase-function curve constructed from an object s empirical brightness measurements to analytically-derived curves for basic shapes or shape combinations. There are two ways to accomplish this: a simple averaged brightness-versus phase curve assembled from the empirical data, or a more elaborate approach in which one is essentially calculating a brightness PDF for each phase angle bin (a technique explored in unpublished AFRL/RV research and in Ojakangas 2011); in each case the empirical curve is compared to analytical results for shapes of interest. The latter technique promises more discrimination power but requires more data; the former can be assembled in its essentials from fewer measurements but will be less definitive in its assignments. The goal of the present study is to evaluate both techniques under debris survey conditions to determine their relative performance and, additionally, to learn precisely how a survey should be conducted in order to maximize their performance. Because the distendedness of objects has more of an effect than their precise shape in calculating a characteristic dimension, one is interested in the techniques discrimination ability to distinguish between an elongated rectangular prism and a short rectangular prism or cube, or an elongated cylinder from a squat cylinder or sphere. Sensitivity studies using simulated data will be conducted to determine discrimination power for both techniques as a function of amount of data collected and range (and specific region) of phase angles sampled. Empirical GEODSS photometry data for distended objects (dead payloads with solar panels, rocket bodies) and compact objects (cubesats, calibration spheres, squat payloads) will also be used to test this discrimination ability. The result will be a recommended technique and data collection paradigm for debris surveys in order to maximize this type of discrimination.

Hejduk, M. D.↗

Evaluation, construction and endurance testing of compression sealed pyrolytic boron nitride slot insulation

A high-temperature statorette, consisting of an iron-27 percent cobalt magnetic lamination stack and nickel-clad silver conductors, was tested with pyrolytic boron nitride slot insulation. Temperatures were measured in each test to determine characteristics of slot linear heat conductance from statorette conductors. Testing was carried out to temperatures of approximately 1500 F in a vacuum environment of 10-8 torr. Three assemblies were built and tested, each having a different room temperature slot clearance. The final statorette assembly was subjected to a 100-hour vacuum aging test at 1400 F followed by 25 thermal cycles. Temperature data from the three assemblies showed that decreasing slot clearance and increasing compression loading did enhance heat transfer. The temperature difference between slot and lamination at 1400 F increased 4 F during the thermal aging and an additional 10 F during the 25 thermal cycles.

Grant, W. L.↗

Delta L: An Apparatus for Measuring Macromolecular Crystal Growth Rates in Microgravity

In order to determine how macromolecule crystal quality improvement in microgravity is related to crystal growth characteristics, is was necessary to develop new hardware that could measure the crystal growth rates of a population of crystals growing under the same solution conditions. As crystal growth rate is defined as the change or delta in a defined dimension or length (L) of a crystal over time, the hardware was named Delta L. Delta L consists of fluids, optics, and data acquisition, sub-assemblies. Temperature control is provided for the crystal growth chamber. Delta L will be used in connection with the Glovebox Integrated Microgravity Isolation Technology (g-LIMIT) inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Delta L prototype hardware has been assembled. This paper will describe an overview of the design of Delta L and present preliminary crystal growth rate data.

Judge, Russell A.↗

Atomic and molecular data for space astronomy - Needs, analysis, and availability; 21st IAU General Assembly, Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 23-Aug. 1, 1991, Selected Papers

The present volume on atomic and molecular spectroscopic data for space astrophysics discusses scientific problems and laboratory data needs associated with the Hubble Space Telescope, atomic data needed for far ultraviolet astronomy with HUT and FUSE and for analysis of EUV and X-ray spectra, and data for observations of interstellar medium with the Hubble Space Telescope. Attention is also given to atomic and molecular data for analysis of IR spectra from ISO and SIRTF, atomic data from the opacity project, sources of atomic spectroscopic data for astrophysics, and summary of current molecular data bases.

Smith, Peter L.↗

Survey of Use Cases and Scenarios on the Open Energy Data Initiative Solar Systems Integration (OEDI SI) Platform

The Open Energy Data Initiative Solar Systems Integration (OEDI SI) Data and Modeling Platform offers a comprehensive set of use cases tailored for power systems analysis. Each use case is centered around a specific power system analysis problem, supported by composite input data and reference algorithms. These composite input datasets are meticulously assembled using OEDI SI's data preprocessing tools, which integrate raw data from various sources. The primary objectives of the OEDI SI Platform include facilitating access to composite input data through widely accepted input/output formats and verified results. This accessibility enables power system network researchers and developers to validate their algorithms and showcase their applications' capabilities to the broader community. Moreover, the platform strives to promote reproducible, robust, replicable, and generalizable solar systems integration research.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Database of Mechanical Properties of Textile Composites

This report describes the approach followed to develop a database for mechanical properties of textile composites. The data in this database is assembled from NASA Advanced Composites Technology (ACT) programs and from data in the public domain. This database meets the data documentation requirements of MIL-HDBK-17, Section 8.1.2, which describes in detail the type and amount of information needed to completely document composite material properties. The database focuses on mechanical properties of textile composite. Properties are available for a range of parameters such as direction, fiber architecture, materials, environmental condition, and failure mode. The composite materials in the database contain innovative textile architectures such as the braided, woven, and knitted materials evaluated under the NASA ACT programs. In summary, the database contains results for approximately 3500 coupon level tests, for ten different fiber/resin combinations, and seven different textile architectures. It also includes a limited amount of prepreg tape composites data from ACT programs where side-by-side comparisons were made.

Delbrey, Jerry↗

Assembly of small silica nanoparticles using lipid-tethered DNA ‘bonds’

Single-stranded DNA molecules modified with cholesterol functional groups are physically tethered to silica nanoparticles (diameter 25 nm) that are encapsulated in a lipid bilayer. Such tethering increases the azimuthal mobility of the DNA molecules across the nanoparticle surface and enables nonspecific bonding, eliminating the need for specialized surface chemistries (such as silane or thiol ligands). To induce assembly, double-stranded DNA ‘bridge’ molecules are then added with complementary nucleotides to the DNA ‘anchor’ molecules that are physically tethered to the lipids on the surface of the particles. Assembly is observed to occur at room temperature and without the need for temperature annealing. Using automated liquid handling tools, assemblies are created in high throughput and rapidly characterized using SAXS. It is determined that the relative concentration of DNA-to-silica and the ionic strength of the solution are important parameters that affect the resulting assembly. Analysis of SAXS data is performed using coarse-grained particle dynamics simulations. The results support the spontaneous formation of semi-crystalline particle assemblies by particle condensation, where the interparticle distance is tuned by the sequence of the DNA ‘bridge’ used to link the particles. Crystallinity analysis performed on the resulting simulations, optimized to match SAXS observations, suggest that particle clusters display increased crystallinity in the center of the clusters, but their maximum size remains relatively small (sub-micron) before settling occurs, which limits the extent of crystallization.

Chiang, Huat Thart [Univ. of Washington, Seattle, ↗

Rossi-alpha Analysis of Thermal/Epithermal eXperiments Optimized for Polyethylene Thermal Neutron Scattering

Accurate nuclear data is the foundation for predictive simulations and design of new experimental in the nuclear community. The criticality safety community has particular interest in benchmarking assemblies with thermal neutron data. To address such needs the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) funded the Thermal/Epithermal eXperiments (TEX) campaigns that were to be completed between Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Specifically, analysis of plutonium with a thermal neutron spectrum expands on previous work to help validate thermal scattering law data, which can have larger impacts in thermal applications. The first of these experiments were successfully conducted in 2018, but this paper will focus on the 2021 measurement focused on investigating the the thermal scattering law (TSL) for polyethylene. These experiments were successfully conducted at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) using the Planet vertical lift critical assembly machine. Polethylene plates were layered with trays of Zero Power Physics Reactor (ZPPR) 24 plates in a 12" by 12" square. The ZPPR plates were 2" by 3" by 0.125" bearing weapons grade plutonium. The polyethylene moderator was either 2" or 1.6875" thick. This work builds on the Rossi-alpha calculations done by McKenzie et al. for the same detector-assembly system and will only focus on the Rossi-alpha neutron noise method. This work will aim to further validate the results of the experiment through a novel neutron noise python package. Following similar methodology to the previous analysis, analysis of TEX evaluated the prompt neutron decay constant at delayed critical, $α_{DC}$ using Rossi-alpha for different polyethylene moderator thicknesses. These results will help improve understanding of TSL in critical experiments. Alpha (α), is the prompt neutron decay constant of the measured system and allows for the evaluation of a systems propensity to sustain fission chains via prompt neutrons. The single value description of the assemblies allow for comparison between experiments regardless of composition, geometry, and reflectors/moderators. Rossi-alpha measurements were performed on the polyethylene moderated TEX experiments to estimate $α_{DC}$.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Proceedings of the Workshop for Applied Nuclear Data Activities WANDA 2022

On February 28 – March 4, 2022, the Nuclear Data Interagency Working Group (NDIAWG) hosted the 5-day virtual Workshop for Applied Nuclear Data (WANDA2022) to facilitate interagency collaboration on nuclear data for applications. This year’s focus was nuclear data for space applications, but also included photon reactions and transport, reactions on unstable nuclei, and data adjustment topics. The annual WANDA workshops are planned by the Nuclear Data Working Group (NDWG) with the goal of assembling users and producers of nuclear data to provide input to identify and prioritize nuclear data needs and to suggest solutions to address those needs. The workshop consisted of talks by agency program managers, six topic focused road mapping sessions and a review of NDIAWG-funded projects. More than 350 attendees represented national laboratories, universities, and federal agencies, as well as international organizations and industry. The proceedings presented herein summarize the workshop’s content, highlight important outcomes, and document attendees’ recommendations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗