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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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Student presentation to the University of Toledo Engineering School Note: Slide 33 is accompanied by the attached mp4 video with run time of 37 secs.
Growing fresh, nutritious, palatable produce for crew consumption during spaceflight may provide health-promoting, bioavailable nutrients and enhance the astronaut dietary experience as we move toward longer-duration missions. Tending plants may also serve as a countermeasure for crew psychological stresses associated with spaceflight. However, requirements to support consistent growth of a variety of nutritious crops under spaceflight environmental conditions remain unclear. This study explores the potential to grow crops for consumption on the International Space Station (ISS) using the Veggie vegetable-production system. Mizuna mustard was grown during VEG-04 studies in 2019, and human and plant data from those tests continue to be analyzed. Tomato plants will be grown for the VEG-05 experiment, and preflight definition studies are underway to ascertain the best hardware and operations for growing this fruiting crop. The variety of tomato selected for this study is ‘Red Robin’, a compact cherry tomato. Plants will be grown under two different red: blue lighting treatments using the Veggie units on ISS, and the impact of spectral quality on plant growth and yield, nutrient content, organoleptic acceptability, and microbial composition of the tomatoes will be assessed. Preliminary testing with this crop helped to identify responses to different analog types of growth hardware including both plant pillows and Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS) units, and current testing is focusing on flight-like versions of this hardware. Challenges with fertilizer salts leaching out into the plant wicks and burning the stems of tomato were observed in earlier tests, so amended fertilizer and wick configurations have been developed. Crew procedures including plant thinning, watering, height adjustment with respect to lighting, and pollination are being validated. VEG-05 will be the first test of tomato fruit production on ISS. Lessons learned during preparation and implementation of the VEG-04 mizuna test for watering, and a separate ISS investigation with peppers (PH-04) in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) in terms of fertilizer, plant wicks, and pollination, will be adapted for this experiment. This research was co-funded by the Human Research Program and Space Biology (MTL#1075) in the ILSRA 2015 NRA call. Note: Presentation is a video formatted mp4 with a run time of 3 mins. 24 secs.
An unsteady pressure-sensitive paint (uPSP) system has been developed to provide time-resolved pressure measurements in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). Obtaining these measurements necessitated the development of environmental enclosures to protect the high-speed camera and ultraviolet lights required for uPSP from the harsh environment present during tunnel operation. Since the facility main drive was non-functioning during the testing window, performance of the uPSP system was demonstrated using an impinging jet with a passive oscillator attachment to provide unsteady flow with a known frequency independent of amplitude. Measurements were obtained for tunnel pressures ranging from 565 to 2116 psf, and model angles of attack between -4 degrees and 4 degrees. Results indicate that the system is capable of measuring surface pressure differentials on the order of 0.01 psi at full scale with a camera frame rate of at least 10 kHz. Spectral analysis shows that the fundamental frequency of the oscillating jet is captured by the uPSP system, as are the second and third harmonics. Dynamic mode decomposition highlights the dominant coherent spatial structures of the surface pressure, along with the associated frequency and growth rate of each mode, allowing for a de-noised reconstruction of the uPSP measurements. The experimental campaign outlined within this report also confirmed compatibility of the uPSP system with the TDT facility data acquisition system, and verified the successful integration with existing processing capabilities within the NASA advanced supercomputing environment. Note: this presentation is an MP4 video with sound, color with a run time of 10 minutes 37 seconds.
NASA’s Air Traffic Management-Exploration (ATM-X) UAM Airspace Subproject is conducting research that evolves UAM airspace towards a highly automated and operationally flexible system of the future. The complexity of UAM airspace evolution requires a plan to effectively organize, integrate, and communicate NASA’s research and development. The planning tool, called the UAM airspace research roadmap, or just roadmap, is key to the execution of NASA’s UAM airspace research over the next ten years. Implemented through Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodology, the roadmap will help to prioritize and coordinate research efforts, and to integrate results that build towards NASA’s research goals of evolving UAM airspace for integration of UAM operations into the National Airspace System (NAS). This paper presents an overview of on-going MBSE efforts to meet these overarching goals. Note: Included mp4 video of presentation included in record, runtime 9 mins 57 secs.
Note: Presentation is accompanied by an mp4 video of the given talk with a run time of 9 mins 47 secs.
LMOL, the NASA Langley Mobile Ozone Lidar, is located near NASA’s LaRC steam plant when not deployed in campaigns. The plant produces steam through the incineration of local trash, and its exhaust plume occasionally contains SO2 . SO2 is a known, regulated, pollutant that affects O3 observations in the UV, as is the case with LMOL. In this work, we show how we modified LMOL to detect the plant SO2 plumes and compute its density when the O3 background is stable; we observed densities compatible with what is expected from the typical plume exhaust. The selection of laser lines so that an O3 variation would not get confused with a SO2 detection is explained in details, and a model capable of simulating the Lidar signal with (notably) O3 and SO2 absorption for the validation of the retrieval resolution and uncertainty is presented. Finally, the comparison between the modeled and observed performances of the system is shown: the maximum altitude, resolution, and error in the modeled signal and the observed signals are the same within reasonable margins. This work demonstrates that LMOL is fully capable of working with SO2 . The next step being the addition of an additional laser channel, which is simplified by the tunable aspect of the LMOL laser, to address O3 and SO2 simultaneously, allowing the assessment of SO2 when O3 has variations. Note: This presentation is accompanied by an mp4 video of the given talk.
A Data & Reasoning Fabric (DRF) is envisioned to enable the full potential of air mobility by providing all data and reasoning where they are needed. The DRF provides a marketplace based on an open foundational ecosystem of data and reasoning exchange between the many systems that must seamlessly interplay to manage the complex and dense airspace operations required to achieve advanced air mobility goals. The DRF marketplace is decentralized and will not be owned by any single party. To deliver reference designs and development environments that catalyze broad private and public sector buy-in and self-sustaining development of DRF and associated standards, DRF activities will collaboratively test these technologies, open standards and architectures, and an integrated framework with end-users. Presentation has a run time of 16:58 and is an mp4 attachment included in documents.
An experimental investigation, using microscopic observation and color motion photomicrographs of the action, was conducted to determine the cause of fretting. Glass and other noncorrosive materials, as well as metals, were used as specimens. A very simple apparatus vibrated convex surfaces in contact with stationary flat surfaces at frequencies of 120 cycles or less than one cycle per second, an amplitude of 0.001 inch, and a load of 0.2 pound. The observations and analysis led to the conclusions that fretting was initiated by the loosening, due to the inherent adhesive forces, of finely divided and apparently virgin material, and that its initiation is independent of vibratory motion or high sliding speeds. The fretting of platinum, glass, quartz, ruby, and mica relegated the role of oxidation as a cause to that of a secondary factor. Fretting occurred to clean nonmetals and metals readily, and glass microscope slides and steel balls provide excellent method for visual studies. Video run time 9:54, color and sound (mp4). Available for download for best viewing. Document indicated in video is related in the repository and can also be downloaded for use at https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930083206.
Transporting of Spare Altitude Chamber from Lunar Module (LM) Site to Command Service Module (CSM) Site. The video is broken into three parts: - Part 1: Run time of 21 min., 21 sec.; color; no sound - Part 2: Run time of 17 min., 14 sec.; color; no sound - Part 3: Run time of 18 min., 41 sec.; color, no sound All videos are in the mp4 format.
Video highlighting the products and manufacturing capabilities of the Thermal Protection Facility at Kennedy Space Center which is part of the JSC EA/ES division. This record includes an mp4 video with a run time of 9 min. 13 sec.; in color; with sound.
On February 25, 2026, this NASA Talk was held regarding the Space Shuttle Columbia (Columbia Launch & Recovery). Crew & Thermal System Division (EC) partnered with Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Engineering Directorate (EA) to bring this talk to Johnson Space Center (JSC) centering on what led up to and transpired after the Space Shuttle Columbia accident. Some recovered debris was on exhibit during the talk. Retired NASA Columbia Vehicle Manager Scott Thurston presented this talk. Mr. Thurston brings a wealth of knowledge from his mission experience. This talk was timely and a solemn reminder of the critical importance of diligence, safety, and excellence in our work. EA Director Julie Kramer White welcomed the 400+ center-wide in-person audience, and EC Division Chief Rubik Sheth introduced the speakers. This event was held in the JSC Teague Auditorium, recorded, and executed by the EC in-house STAR Productions team. This record includes an mp4 video presentation with a run time of 36 min. 20 sec.; in color; with sound.
On February 25, 2026, this NASA Talk was held regarding the Space Shuttle Columbia (Columbia Launch & Recovery, Columbia Reconstruction, Investigation, Causes & Key Takeaways). Crew & Thermal System Division (EC) partnered with Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Engineering Directorate (EA) to bring these talks to Johnson Space Center (JSC) centering on what led up to and transpired after the Space Shuttle Columbia accident. Some recovered debris was on exhibit during the talks. NASA Mishap Program Specialist David Erickson presented this talk. Mr. Erickson supports NASA mishap investigations and assists with the development of NASA's new Columbia Learning Center at KSC. This talk was timely and a solemn reminder of the critical importance of diligence, safety, and excellence in our work. EA Director Julie Kramer White welcomed the 400+ center-wide in-person audience, and EC Division Chief Rubik Sheth introduced the speakers. This event was held in the JSC Teague Auditorium, recorded, and executed by the EC in-house STAR Productions team. This record includes an mp4 video with a run time of 32 min. 31 sec.; in color; with sound.