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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Increasing Cognitive Ability/Reserve Using Software – Pilot (ICARUS-Pilot)

Background: This research study was competitively awarded under the 2022 JSC Innovation Charge Account (ICA) program administered by NASA Johnson Space Center’s Joint Technology Working Group. Study period of performance was May through September 2022, with a maximum allowed procurement budget of $10K. The study sought to quantify and assess the potential benefit of using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) cognitive training software to improve cognitive performance in an astronaut-like terrestrial population. Methods: Five volunteer research participants were recruited from the JSC employee population to mimic certain demographic characteristics of the NASA astronaut population (age, education/discipline). Participant cognitive performance was assessed before and after executing eighteen sessions of remote cognitive training executed nominally three times per week using six exercises within an adaptive app-based COTS software package (BrainHQ, Posit Science) on study-provided tablets. Pre- and post-training cognitive performance was measured using internal assessments in BrainHQ as well as Cognition Test Battery (CTB) version ISS B01 v3 (3.0.9-201710021500), an independent software test developed specifically for NASA and used currently in research studies on astronauts. BrainHQ exercises were posited to map well or partially to several CTB sub-tests. Participants provided feedback on their study experience formally via semi-structured interview at the conclusion of testing and informally throughout the study if they encountered issues. Results: The enrolled ICARUS-Pilot study participants generally matched Artemis crew demographic characteristics. Four of five participants have completed study training and assessment activities as of the writing of this abstract. These test participants complied well with desired training session frequency and duration yielding an average cumulative active training duration of 15 hours over an average of 45 days; participants showed 78% average improvement in metric performance for the six trained exercises, with an associated overall 33%ile ranking increase against performance of the entire BrainHQ subscribing population for internal pre/post assessment, agreeing with post-study survey self-reported performance increases. CTB overall feedback scoring, not corrected for learning effects, showed an average of 19% performance improvement across its 10 performance measures over the training period for the completed participants. Detailed analyses will be conducted once participant data collection for the study is complete and the resulting dataset is fully populated. Discussion: These preliminary results provide a positive trend for the effectiveness of the training approach, but further analysis will be needed to establish significance, investigate far transfer, and suggest the needed participant pool size for subsequent efforts to achieve statistically significant outcomes given similar results. The pilot study has already been helpful by allowing the study team to learn a great deal about the capabilities and limitations of the COTS software package that will be reflected in future proposals along with revised timelines for study execution and test participant management. From participant feedback, one common thread regarding the COTS training was that it felt overly repetitive – future proposals should reassess overall training duration, available levels for each trained exercise, and the behavior of the BrainHQ internal scheduler in determining which exercises should be trained and for how long. If the final analysis of this feasibility study ultimately supports it, the study team will recommend further investigation to fully evaluate this potential countermeasure and optimize its implementation. Future proposals would cite this feasibility study’s outcome and would seek to refine the training protocol and obtain statistically significant results for cognitive performance increases as well as retention data.

cognitive training↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Electron Bombardment on Dione: Surface Compositional Effects and Temperature Abnormalities

Saturn’s icy moons are composed primarily of water ice with minor other “contaminants,” such as CO2 ice, and a dark component thought to be organics, hematite and/or metallic Fe [1]. The space weathering process of electron bombardment is expected to be particularly important on the surfaces of Saturn’s inner moons (Mimas, Tethys, Dione, and Rhea), as they orbit within Saturn’s inner magnetosphere. Terrains exhibiting thermal anomalies (i.e., colder temperatures in the day and warmer temperatures at night than surrounding areas) correspond to regions of high energy electron bombardment [2; 3; 4; 5]. Energetic electrons impact the surfaces, sintering ice grains together, and this process becomes more effective for increasing particle energies [6]. Solar UV radiation, cosmic rays, dust in-fall, and cold plasma particles trapped in Saturn’s magnetic field also play an important role in altering the nature and the structure of the native surface ices by the implantation of contaminants, ionization, sputtering, and dissociation of water ice molecules [7]. Additionally, CO2 could be sourced from irradiation of dark organic material [8]. Many of these surface alterations are observable in Cassini’s Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) spectra [9]. We used similar methodologies as have been employed in previous works [e.g., 10] to derive surface temperatures from Cassini’s Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS), which helped to isolate areas where space weathering due to electron bombardment is more predominant. The subtle changes in VIMS spectra were investigated using machine learning techniques. We present here our results for Dione. [1] Clark, R. N., et al. (2012) Icarus, 218, 831–860 [2] Howett, C. J. A., et al. (2020) Icarus, 113745 [3] Nordheim, T. A., et al. (2017) Icarus, 286, 56-68 [4] Paranicas, C., et al. (2012) Planetary and Space Science, 61, 60–65 [5] Paranicas, C., et al. (2014) Icarus, 234, 155–161 [6] Schaible, M. J., et al. (2016) Icarus, 0, 1–13 [7] Baragiola, R. A., et al., (2013) Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol. 356. Springer [8] Mennella, V., et al. (2006) The Astrophysical Journal, 643(2), 923 [9] Scipioni, F., et al. (2017) Icarus, 290, 183-200 [10] Howett, C. J. A., et al. (2014) Icarus, 241, 239-247

C L Young↗
NASA NTRS1991

A comet among the near-earth asteroids?

Using available optical and radar observations, orbital solutions have been computed for 12 near-earth asteroids identified as possible extinct comets. For 10 of these objects, there is no evidence for the nongravitational effects that might indicate residual outgassing activity. For 1862 Apollo and 1566 Icarus, the inclusion of cometlike nongravitational effects in their equations of motion significantly reduces their RMS residuals and flattens their systematic residual trends. For Icarus in particular, the determined radial nongravitational parameter retains the same value when different datasets are employed and the predictive capability of the orbits is improved. While these results do not prove that 1566 Icarus is a comet masquerading as an asteroid, future apparitions of this object should be monitored for possible cometlike activity.

Yeomans, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Extending the McDonald Observatory Serendipitous Survey of UV/Blue Asteroid Spectra

Moderate resolution asteroid spectra in the 350 - 650 nm spectral range acquired randomly over many years (Cochran and Vilas, Icarus v 127, 121, 1997) identified absorption features in spectra of some of the asteroids. A feature centered at 430 nm was identified in the spectra of some low-albedo asteroids (C class and subclass), similar to the feature identified by Vilas et al. (Icarus, v. 102, 225,1993) in other low-albedo asteroid spectra and attributed to a ferric iron spin-forbidden transition in iron alteration minerals such as jarosite. Features at 505 nm and 430 nm were identified in the spectrum of 4 Vesta. The 505-nm feature is highly diagnostic of the amount and form of calcium in pyroxenes. This suggested further research on the sharpness and spectral placement of this feature in the spectra of Vesta and Vestoids (e.g., Cochran and Vilas, Icarus v. 134, 207, 1998). In 1997 and 1998, additional UV/blue spectra were obtained at the 2.7-m Harlan J. Smith telescope with a facility cassegrain spectrograph. These included spectra of low-albedo asteroids, the R-class asteroid 349 Dembowska, and the M-class asteroid 135 Hertha. These spectra will be presented and identified features will be discussed.

Vilas, Faith↗
NASA NTRS2003

Multi-Wavelength Analysis of Asteroids: A Search for Evidence of Space Weathering

This work has resulted in the publication of an article in the planetary science journal Icarus. Further work was presented at the 2003 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC), and is in the process of being written up as an article for submission to Icarus or Meteoritics and Planetary Science. The Icarus article and the LPSC abstract are included on the following pages.

Hendrix, Amanda↗
NASA NTRS2017

Development of an Unstructured, Three-Dimensional Material Response Design Tool

A preliminary verification and validation of a new material response model is presented. This model, Icarus, is intended to serve as a design tool for the thermal protection systems of re-entry vehicles. Currently, the capability of the model is limited to simulating the pyrolysis of a material as a result of the radiative and convective surface heating imposed on the material from the surrounding high enthalpy gas. Since the major focus behind the development of Icarus has been model extensibility, the hope is that additional physics can be quickly added. The extensibility is critical since thermal protection systems are becoming increasing complex, e.g. woven carbon polymers. Additionally, as a three-dimensional, unstructured, finite-volume model, Icarus is capable of modeling complex geometries as well as multi-dimensional physics, which have been shown to be important in some scenarios and are not captured by one-dimensional models. In this paper, the mathematical and numerical formulation is presented followed by a discussion of the software architecture and some preliminary verification and validation studies.

Material Response Model↗
NASA NTRS2017

Development of a Three-Dimensional, Unstructured Material Response Design Tool

A preliminary verification and validation of a new material response model is presented. This model, Icarus, is intended to serve as a design tool for the thermal protection systems of re-entry vehicles. Currently, the capability of the model is limited to simulating the pyrolysis of a material as a result of the radiative and convective surface heating imposed on the material from the surrounding high enthalpy gas. Since the major focus behind the development of Icarus has been model extensibility, the hope is that additional physics can be quickly added. This extensibility is critical since thermal protection systems are becoming increasing complex, e.g. woven carbon polymers. Additionally, as a three-dimensional, unstructured, finite-volume model, Icarus is capable of modeling complex geometries. In this paper, the mathematical and numerical formulation is presented followed by a discussion of the software architecture and some preliminary verification and validation studies.

Thermal Protection System↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NSCOR for Evaluating Risk Factors and Biomarkers for Adaptation and Resilience to Spaceflight: Emotional Valence and Social Processes in ICC/ICE Environments

Space exploration class missions, such as a mission to Mars, will require optimization of human performance, adaptability, and resilience. This NASA Specialized Center of Research (NSCOR) utilizes the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework to identify biological and behavioral markers of individual social adaptation and emotional resilience (as well as vulnerability) to spaceflight-relevant stressors such as living in extended isolation. The overarching goal of this NSCOR is to obtain novel information to help identify biomarkers of individuals who are resilient and/or adaptable to the stressors of isolated, confined, and controlled (ICC) and isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments.A total of N=90 healthy adult astronaut surrogates are being studied in three spaceflight-analog environments: (1) n=40 healthy adults in the Isolation and Confinement Analog Research Unit (ICARUS), an ICC at the University of Pennsylvania, during 7-day missions, for a target total of 280 subject days; (2) n=32 healthy adult astronaut surrogates studied in NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA), an ICC at Johnson Space Center during 45-day missions, for a target total of 2,112 subject days; and (3) n=18 healthy adults in the Alfred-Wegener-Institute’s Neumayer Station III, an ICE in Antarctica, during 14-month missions, for a target total of 7,560 subject days. Dr. Nindl’s Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh is analyzing a priori selected protein biomarkers in blood, saliva, and urine. Complementary rodent models of exposure to early life stressors, confinement, and isolation are being evaluated at Dr. Hensch’s Laboratory to further validate the neurobehavioral and biological findings from the human studies.Given the inconsistency and varied definition of resilience/adaptation in the scientific literature, the NSCOR team developed a composite resilience/adaptation measure that reflects the most relevant outcomes to resilience/adaptation across psychosocial and neurobehavioral functions, as well as neurocognitive and spaceflight-relevant operational performance. To achieve this, group consensus was attained from subject matter experts to produce a rank-order of importance for each input variable. The final resilience/adaptation score included 36 variables that were collected across spaceflight analogs. As of 10/1/2021, the NSCOR project acquired data on n=27 subjects at ICARUS, n=16 at HERA, and n=18 at Neumayer. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed data acquisition at ICARUS and HERA.Among subjects studied to date, 99% of neural and neurobehavioral data (e.g., neuroimaging for structure and function, behavioral measures) as well as blood, saliva, and urine for biochemical assays have been acquired. For rodent models, Dr. Hensch’s laboratory has established biochemical and behavioral parameters reflecting confinement stress in social networks of mice for comparison to stress responses in the human spaceflight analog environments.Group social behaviors were measured with a Social Network Analysis (SNA) approach to define objective parameters associated with sociability and its plasticity by sex. This analytic approach may help identify a network of individuals who are more effective teammates or more likely to generate new social relationships. Data acquisition, biomarker assessment, and data quality control will continue through September 2022.

D F Dinges↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Combined CFD/Material Response Analysis of 3MDCP Arcjet Experiments

The Mars Sample Return Earth Entry System (MSR-EES) project has selected 3-D Woven Mid-Density Carbon Phenolic (3MDCP) as the baseline thermal protection system (TPS) material for the capsule that will return Martian soil samples to Earth sometime in the 2030’s. A series of experiments in the NASA Ames AHF and IHF arcjets will be used to characterize the performance of 3MDCP and to develop and refine material response models for it. The test objectives for these experiments include obtaining in-depth and surface temperature data, mass loss and surface recession measurements, and char depth measurements. To provided pre- and post-test support for the arcjet experiments, a combined CFD/material response was performed using the DPLR and Icarus code. Pre-and post-test analysis on the 3MDCP arcjet experiments was performed using the DPLR CFD and Icarus material response codes. The codes were not tightly coupled, but boundary condition data required by Icarus (e.g., heat transfer coefficients and surface pressures), were extracted from the CFD solutions. This poster shows comparisons between DPLR/Icarus and the experimental data taken during arcjet experiment AHF-348 where 4-inch diameter iso-q models made from 3MDCP were tested in the 12-inch nozzle of the AHF arcjet. This poster also includes a top-level overview of the CFD/material response arcjet simulation process. Best-practices for running CFD solutions of arcjet experiments including how to determine the inflow conditions for the CFD solution from the arc heater settings are discussed. The required inputs to the material response solver are presented, as well as a discussion of how they can be extracted from the CFD solution.

thermal protection systems↗
NASA NTRS2015

Asteroid (90) Antiope: Another Icy Member of the Themis Family?

Many members of the Themis family show evidence of hydration in the form of oxidized iron in phyllosilicates (Florczak, M. et al. [1999]. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 134, 463–471), and OH-bearing minerals (Takir, D., Emery, J.P. [2012]. Icarus 219, 641–654). The largest member, (24) Themis, has H2O ice covering its surface (Campins, H. et al. [2010]. Nature 464, 1320–1321; Rivkin, A.S., Emery, J.P. [2010]. Nature 464, 1322–1323). We have investigated the second largest Themis-family asteroid, (90) Antiope, which Castillo-Rogez and Schmidt (Castillo-Rogez, J.C., Schmidt, B.E. [2010]. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37, L10202) predict to have a composition that includes water ice and organics. We obtained 2–4-lm spectroscopy of (90) Antiope in 2006 and 2008, and we find an absorption in the 3-lm region clearly present in our 2008 spectrum and likely in our 2006 spectrum. Both spectra have rounded, bowl-shaped absorptions consistent with those ascribed to water ice as in the spectrum of Asteroid (24) Themis. We also present and compare Spitzer 8–12-lm mid-infrared spectra of (24) Themis and (90) Antiope. We find that (90) Antiope is lacking a ‘‘fairy castle’’ dusty surface, which is in contrast to (24) Themis, other Themis family members (Licandro, J. et al. [2012]. Astron. Astrophys. 537, A73), and Jupiter Trojans (e.g. Emery, J.P., Cruikshank, D.P., Van Cleve, J. [2006]. Icarus 182, 496–512). We conclude that the surface structure of (90) Antiope is most similar to Cybele Asteroid (121) Hermione (Hargrove, K.D. et al. [2012]. Icarus 221, 453–455).

Asteroids↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Coupled Material Response Simulations of Dragonfly Capsule and DrEAM Reconstruction

Icarus is a three-dimensional, unstructured, finite-volume material response solver developed at NASA Ames Research Center and has been recently used to analyze the material response of the Dragonfly capsule for a variety of problems. Since the Dragonfly capsule will be instrumented in a similar manner to the Mars 2020 and MSL capsules, it is important to assess how our current simulation tools can aid in understanding Dragonfly Entry Aerosciences Measurements (DrEAM). In this presentation, the Ares multi-physics tool that couples Icarus to the flow and radiation physics of the aerothermal environment will be used to better understand how modeling sensitivities might affect environment reconstructions and our understanding of measured data. Ares couples Icarus to the US3D flow solver and NERO, a reduced-order, finite-volume radiation transport solver and uses a customized time-scale management to enable coupled simulations for a large portion of the Dragonfly trajectory. As a result of the coupling, a more accurate and consistent assessment of modelling sensitivities to aerothermal reconstruction can be assessed. For example, the radiometer is sensitive to the quantity of CN in the flow, which is a byproduct of the free-stream methane but also the pyrolysis gas products injected into the boundary layer due to ablation of the heatshield. Ares will be used to conduct a simulation of the full Dragonfly capsule for 50 seconds of the trajectory. The different aerothermal and material response models will be discussed and the key results will be presented in terms of the simulated thermocouple and radiometer measurements on the backshell.

Ablation↗
NASA NTRS2024

Stellar Occultation Observations to Constrain the Stratosphere of Uranus for Aerocapture

Background on Uranus: Voyager 2 (V2) UV stellar and solar occultations at Uranus detected a warm stratosphere and extremely hot thermosphere [1, 2], far in excess of solar irradiance [3, 4] and internal heating [5, 6]. New theories to explain similar heating at Jupiter [7] and Saturn [8] cannot be tested at Uranus due to a dearth of reliable measurements. In [9, 10], we reprocessed 26 archival Earth-based stellar occultations by Uranus (1977-1996), finding stratospheric temperatures (~200 K) warmer than the original (~100 K), but in stark tension with V2 (~300-500 K). In [10], we built a physics-based, 1-D atmospheric model (see Fig 1) that finds a nearly isothermal stratosphere and a dynamic heat sink in the lower thermosphere. Aerocapture: Aerocapture is spacecraft maneuver that uses a single deep dip to enter orbit. It could decrease cruise time and launch mass for a Uranus mission, but the greatest impediment is uncertain stratospheric densities of Uranus [11]. Aims: 1) Observe and process many high S/N Uranus stellar occultations in the next decade; 2) constrain stratospheric densities for aerocapture; 3) better understand the energy balance; 4) determine stratospheric changes since 1996. Upcoming Occultations: We will present our observing plan for the 2025 April Uranus occultation (K mag 8) and discuss the best-in-a-century 2031 event (K mag 4). We will discuss other events in the early 2030s [12] [13], predicted constraints on density, and simulations of aerocapture for UOP. We will discuss the Shadow Chaser, a small satellite concept for observing occultations from Earth orbit [12]. Conclusions: New stellar occultations can vastly improve profiles of the stratosphere of Uranus; this is critical for understanding energy circulation and constraining densities for using aerocapture on UOP. References: [1] Herbert, F. et al. (1987). JGR. [2] Stevens, M. et al. (1993). Icarus. [3] Marley, M. & McKay, C. (1999). Icarus, [4] Li, C. et al. (2018). JQRST. [5] Pearl, J. et al. (1990). Icarus. [6] Melin, H (2020). Nat Astron. [7] O’Donoghue, J. et al. (2021) Nature. [8] Mueller-Wodarg, I. et al. (2019) GRL. [9] Saunders, W. et al. (2023). PSJ. [10] Saunders, W. et al. (2024). PSJ. [11] Report of the Aerocapture Demonstration Relevance Assessment Team (2023). [12] Saunders, W. et al. (2022). P&SS. [13] French, R. & Souami, D. (2023) PSJ.

William Saunders↗