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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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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Transcriptomic Changes in Seedlings from Seeds Exposed to Simulated Space Radiation

Outside the protection of Earth’s magnetic field, living organisms are constantly exposed to space radiation that consists of energetic protons and other heavier charged particles. With the goal of manned Mars exploration, the production of fresh crop during long duration space missions can be beneficial for meeting astronauts’ nutritional and psychological needs. In our study, we not only evaluated plant/fruit morphometrics and edible fresh mass, but also analyzed transcriptomic changes in seedlings from seeds of three plant species (Arabidopsis, mizuna, and tomato) exposed to simulated Galactic Cosmic Rays(GCR) and solar particle events(SPE). The radiation experiments were performed in the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) facility at Brookhaven National Lab (BNL). 10-day Arabidopsis seedlings were exposed acutely (~240 cGy/hr) to simulated GCR scenarios of combined ions including protons, helium, oxygen, titanium, and/or iron ions at 40 or 80 cGy. Seeds of Arabidopsis, mizuna, and tomato were exposed to 40 or 80 cGy simulated GCR (dry seeds) or SPE (imbibed seeds) at lower dose rates(20-26 cGy/hr). Seedlings from control and irradiated seeds were then collected in RNAlater at similar growth stages with true leaves emerged. Total RNA was isolated and analyzed via Illumina whole transcriptome sequencing technology. Plant species-specific bioinformatics revealed transcriptional biomarkers and signaling pathways induced by simulated space radiation that were found to be dose, dose-rate, and species dependent. DNA damage response, stress signaling, and metabolic pathways are among the most significant changes. These data highlight some critical insights on the mechanisms of how plants respond and adapt to the space radiation environment and provide a molecular basis for crop selection and refinement in deep space exploration.

Anirudha Dixit↗
NASA NTRS1977

Search for gamma-ray bursts with coincident balloon flights

Dual balloon experiments were flown at separations of over 1,500 km in an attempt to determine whether cosmic gamma-ray bursts could be detected in the size region of 10 to the -7th power to several times 10 to the -6th power erg per sq cm, that is, below the apparent bend in the size spectrum of Vela events as described by Strong and Klebesadel. Fluctuations of the counting rates of photons above 150 keV with temporal structures from microseconds to several minutes were compared in order to detect coincident or associated responses from the two instruments. No coincident gamma-ray burst events were detected. Associated counting rate increases were detected, presenting a background, event-confusing problem for any single gamma-ray burst instrument beneath the earth's trapped radiation.

Cline, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Modelling, simulation and sounding of cometary nuclei; Proceedings of the International Workshop, Cagliari, Italy, May 28-30, 1991

The present workshop on the modeling, simulation, and sounding of cometary nuclei discusses the Rosetta comet-nucleus sample return mission, the importance of comet models in the design of the Rosetta mission, the challenge of sample acquisition in a cometary environment, and a simulation of Rosetta on-comet operations. Attention is given to HST observations of the inner coma of Comet Levy 1990c, cometary coma particulate modeling for the Rosetta mission aphelion rendezvous, recent gas flux modeling and applications of cometary nuclei, and the 3D time-dependent modeling of comet nucleus surface layers. Topics addressed include models of cometary nuclei and future space mission, the composition of cometary materials, experiments with cometary analogs at the DLR, and crust formation in cometary analogs. Also considered are gaseous products from VUV photolysis of cometary solids, cosmic ray modification of organic cometary matter as simulated by cyclotron irradiation, and KOSI comet simulation experiments.

Source record↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

AMMPER: a user-friendly agent-based model that recapitulates simple metabolic responses of yeast to deep-space radiation

For humans venturing to deep space, radiation exposure poses a major health risk. Fundamental research into the biological effects of space radiation are essential for enabling exploration, and the first experimental organisms we send to deep space will be microbial. Yet there are many ways in which microorganisms are likely to experience the effects of high-energy particle radiation (such as Galactic Cosmic Rays) differently from multicellular animals, partly due to the simple fact that microbes are small and unicellular-- less likely to get hit in the first place, and less likely to communicate damage between cells. Computational modeling can aid in designing experiments and predicting the biological effects of radiation, but thus far particle radiation models have not focused on microbes. Here we present the latest developments in AMMPER, the Agent-based Model for Microbial Populations Exposed to Radiation. Originally written in 2021, AMMPER is a Python-based model that incorporates radiation track data from NASA's RITRACKS software and simulates the growth, damage, and death of yeast cells in 3D. It is now freely available as an open-source package on NASA's GitHub repository. Recent improvements include the ability to simulate the dynamics of alamarBlue, a color-changing redox dye commonly used to track metabolic activity in microbial spaceflight experiments. We demonstrate that a simple blue-pink-clear transition model is able to recapitulate key features observed in empirical data from ground studies. AMMPER also includes a new graphical user interface and introductory tutorial to facilitate ease of use by a wider audience. AMMPER can help us to understand how spatially heterogeneous particle radiation damage at the single-cell level can translate to growth differences at the population level, ultimately allowing us to better interpret experiments using microbes as model organisms and how well their results apply to humans.

yeast↗
NASA NTRS1982

Development of the cosmic ray techniques

It has been found that most advances of cosmic-ray physics have been directly related to the development of observational techniques. The history of observational techniques is discussed, taking into account ionization chambers, refinements applied to ionization chambers to make them suitable for an effective use in the study of cosmic radiation, the Wulf-type electrometer, the electrometer designed by Millikan and Neher, the Geiger-Mueller counter, the experiment of Bothe and Kolhoerster, the coincidence circuit, and a cosmic-ray 'telescope'. Attention is given to a magnetic lens for cosmic rays, a triangular arrangement of Geiger-Mueller counters used to demonstrate the production of a secondary radiation, a stereoscopic cloud-chamber photograph of showers, the cloud-chamber picture which provided the first evidence of the positive electron, and arrangements for studying photon components, mu-mesons, and air showers.

Rossi, B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Source spectral index of heavy cosmic ray nuclei

From the energy spectra of the heavy nuclei observed by the French-Danish experiment on HEAO-3, the source spectra of the mostly primary nuclei (C, O, Ne, Mg, Si, Ca and Fe) in the framework of an energy dependent leaky box model (Engelmann, et al., 1985) were derived. The energy dependence of the escape length was derived from the observed B/C and sub-iron/iron ratios and the presently available cross sections for C and Fe on H nuclei (Koch-Miramond, et al., 1983). A good fit to the source energy spectra of all these nuclei was obtained by a power law in momentum with an exponent gamma = -2.4+0.05 for the energy range 1 to 25GeV/n (Engelmann, et al., 1985). Comparison with data obtained at higher energy suggested a progressive flattening of these spectra. More accurate spectral indices are sought by using better values of the escape length based on the latest cross section measurements (Webber 1984, Soutoul, et al., this conference). The aim is also to extend the analysis to lower energies down to 0.4GeV/n (kinetic energy observed near Earth), using data obtained by other groups. The only nuclei for which a good data base is possessed in a broad range of energies are O and Fe, so the present study is restricted to these two elements.

Engelmann, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Issues in deep space radiation protection

The exposures in deep space are largely from the Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) for which there is as yet little biological experience. Mounting evidence indicates that conventional linear energy transfer (LET) defined protection quantities (quality factors) may not be appropriate for GCR ions. The available biological data indicates that aluminum alloy structures may generate inherently unhealthy internal spacecraft environments in the thickness range for space applications. Methods for optimization of spacecraft shielding and the associated role of materials selection are discussed. One material which may prove to be an important radiation protection material is hydrogenated carbon nanofibers. c 2001. Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

short duration↗
NASA NTRS2016

Evaluating Galactic Cosmic Ray Environment Models Using RaD-X Flight Data

Galactic cosmic rays enter Earth's atmosphere after interacting with the geomagnetic field. The primary galactic cosmic rays spectrum is fundamentally changed as it interacts with Earth's atmosphere through nuclear and atomic interactions. At points deeper in the atmosphere, such as at airline altitudes, the radiation environment is a combination of the primary galactic cosmic rays and the secondary particles produced through nuclear interactions. The RaD-X balloon experiment measured the atmospheric radiation environment above 20 km during 2 days in September 2015. These experimental measurements were used to validate and quantify uncertainty in physics-based models used to calculate exposure levels for commercial aviation. In this paper, the Badhwar-O'Neill 2014, the International Organization for Standardization 15390, and the German Aerospace Company galactic cosmic ray environment models are used as input into the same radiation transport code to predict and compare dosimetric quantities to RaD-X measurements. In general, the various model results match the measured tissue equivalent dose well, with results generated by the German Aerospace Center galactic cosmic ray environment model providing the best comparison. For dose equivalent and dose measured in silicon, however, the models were compared less favorably to the measurements.

Norman, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS2007

All-Particle Spectrum Measured by the ATIC Experiment

The Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter (ATIC), a balloon-borne experiment, is designed to investigate the composition and energy spectra of cosmic rays of charge Z = 1 to 26 over the energy range - 10(exp 11) - 10(exp 14) ev. The instrument consists of a silicon matrix charge detector, plastic-scintillator strip hodoscopes interleaved with graphite interaction targets, and an 18 radiation length deep, fully active bismuth germanate (BGO) calorimeter. ATIC has had two successful long duration balloon (LDB) flights launched from McMurdo Station, Antarc't'ica in 2000 and 2002. In this paper, we present the all-particle spectrum extracted from data collected during the ATIC flights, and compare it with results from other experiments at both lower and higher energies.

Ahn, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Interplanetary charged particle models (1974)

The design of space vehicles for operation in interplanetary space is given, based on descriptions of solar wind, solar particle events, and galactic cosmic rays. A state-of-the-art review is presented and design criteria are developed from experiment findings aboard interplanetary and high-altitude earth-orbiting spacecraft. Solar cells were found to be particularly sensitive. Solar protons may also impact the reliability of electric propulsion systems and spacecraft surfaces, as well as causing interference, detector saturation, and spurious signals. Galactic cosmic-ray impact can lead to similar electronic failure and interference and may register in photographic films and other emulsions. It was concluded that solar wind electron measurements might result from differential charging when shadowed portions of the spacecraft acquired a negative charge from electron impact.

Divine, N.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Recent observations of cosmic ray antiprotons and a critical assessment of the theories of their origin

The models proposed to explain the observed spectrum of cosmic ray antiprotons are reexamined in light of recent results from balloon-borne experiments. It is found that the prediction of modified closed galaxy model fits the observed data very well. Models in which secondary antiprotons are produced in the sources, could be made consistent with the data provided the secondary particles do not suffer considerable adiabatic deceleration. It has been shown that there cannot be any significant contribution to the observed antiprotons, from the evaporation of mini black holes or from the annihilation of dark matter like photinos. The role of extragalactic cosmic rays has been examined critically in the context of the recent data, and they are not the source of cosmic ray antiprotons. However, determination of the energy spectrum of antiprotons at least up to a few tens of GeV would be valuable to provide information on the possible existence of supersymmetric particles and on the modulation of extragalactic cosmic rays while entering the Galaxy.

Stephens, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A measurement of the energy spectra of cosmic rays from 20 to 1000 GeV per amu

A group collaboration was made in the development of the Bristol University Gas Spectrometer number 4 (BUGS 4). The BUGS 4 detector is designed to measure the charge spectrum for species between oxygen and the iron peak as a function of energy per nucleon, between 20 and 1000 GeV/amu. It is particularly concerned with energies above 50 GeV/amu. The high energy component is considerably less affected by propagation through the interstellar medium than the lower energy component and is expected to approach the original charge spectrum of the source more closely. This information allows one to unravel the effects of cosmic ray production, acceleration, and propagation. The detector is described in total detail. The method of estimating the charge and energy of a cosmic ray depends on the energy of the particle. Calculations and experiments lead to the expectation of a nearly constant charge resolution of about 0.2 charge units over the whole energy range except 4.5 less than gamma less than 20. In this band, the experiment is insensitive to energy. A balloon flight is planned in 1993.

Gregory, John C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

LDEF: 69 Months in Space. First Post-Retrieval Symposium, part 2

A compilation of papers from the symposium is presented. The preliminary data analysis is presented of the 57 experiments flown on the LDEF. The experiments include materials, coatings, thermal systems, power and propulsion, science (cosmic ray, interstellar gas, heavy ions, and micrometeoroid), electronics, optics, and life science.

Arlene S. Levine↗
NASA NTRS1992

Second LDEF Post-Retrieval Symposium Abstracts

These abstracts from the symposium represent the data analysis of the 57 experiments flown on the LDEF. The experiments include materials, coatings, thermal systems, power and propulsion, science, (cosmic ray, interstellar gas, heavy ions, micrometeoroids, etc.), electronics, optics, and life science.

Levine, Arlene S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

LDEF: 69 Months in Space. Part 3: Second Post-Retrieval Symposium

Papers presented at the Second Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) Post-Retrieval Symposium are included. The papers represent the data analysis of the 57 experiments flown on the LDEF. The experiments include materials, coatings, thermal systems, power and propulsion, science (cosmic ray, interstellar gas, heavy ions, micrometeoroid, etc.), electronics, optics, and life science.

Levine, Arlene S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

LDEF: 69 Months in Space. Second Post-Retrieval Symposium, part 2

This document is a compilation of papers presented at the Second Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) Post-Retrieval Symposium. The papers represent the data analysis of the 57 experiments flown on the LDEF. The experiments include materials, coatings, thermal systems, power and propulsion, science (cosmic ray, interstellar gas, heavy ions, micrometeoroid, etc.), electronics, optics, and life science.

Levine, Arlene S.↗
NASA NTRS1993

LDEF: 69 Months in Space. Part 1: Second Post-Retrieval Symposium

A compilation of papers presented at the Second Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) Post-Retrieval Symposium is included. The papers represent the data analysis of the 57 experiments flown on the LDEF. The experiments include materials, coatings, thermal systems, power and propulsion, science (cosmic ray, interstellar gas, heavy ions, micrometeoroid, etc.), electronics, optics, and life sciences.

Levine, Arlene S.↗