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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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DOE OSTI2014

THE NEW ONLINE METADATA EDITOR FOR GENERATING STRUCTURED METADATA

Nobody is better suited to “describe” data than the scientist who created it. This “description” about a data is called Metadata. In general terms, Metadata represents the who, what, when, where, why and how of the dataset [1]. eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is the preferred output format for metadata, as it makes it portable and, more importantly, suitable for system discoverability. The newly developed ORNL Metadata Editor (OME) is a Web-based tool that allows users to create and maintain XML files containing key information, or metadata, about the research. Metadata include information about the specific projects, parameters, time periods, and locations associated with the data. Such information helps put the research findings in context. In addition, the metadata produced using OME will allow other researchers to find these data via Metadata clearinghouses like Mercury [2][4]. OME is part of ORNL’s Mercury software fleet [2][3]. It was jointly developed to support projects funded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). OME’s architecture provides a customizable interface to support project-specific requirements. Using this new architecture, the ORNL team developed OME instances for USGS’s Core Science Analytics, Synthesis, and Libraries (CSAS&L), DOE’s Next Generation Ecosystem Experiments (NGEE) and Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program, and the international Surface Ocean Carbon Dioxide ATlas (SOCAT).Researchers simply use the ORNL Metadata Editor to enter relevant metadata into a Web-based form. From the information on the form, the Metadata Editor can create an XML file on the server that the editor is installed or to the user’s personal computer. Researchers can also use the ORNL Metadata Editor to modify existing XML metadata files.As an example, an NGEE Arctic scientist use OME to register their datasets to the NGEE data archive and allows the NGEE archive to publish these datasets via a data search portal (http://ngee.ornl.gov/data). These highly descriptive metadata created using OME allows the Archive to enable advanced data search options using keyword, geo-spatial, temporal and ontology filters. Similarly, ARM OME allows scientists or principal investigators (PIs) to submit their data products to the ARM data archive.How would OME help Big Data Centers like the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center (ORNL DAAC)?The ORNL DAAC is one of NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) data centers managed by the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project. The ORNL DAAC archives data produced by NASA's Terrestrial Ecology Program. The DAAC provides data and information relevant to biogeochemical dynamics, ecological data, and environmental processes, critical for understanding the dynamics relating to the biological, geological, and chemical components of the Earth's environment. Typically data produced, archived and analyzed is at a scale of multiple petabytes, which makes the discoverability of the data very challenging. Without proper metadata associated with the data, it is difficult to find the data you are looking for and equally difficult to use and understand the data.OME will allow data centers like the NGEE and ORNL DAAC to produce meaningful, high quality, standards-based, descriptive information about their data products in-turn helping with the data discoverability and interoperability. Useful Links:USGS OME: http://mercury.ornl.gov/OME/NGEE OME: http://ngee-arctic.ornl.gov/ngeemetadata/ARM OME: http://archive2.ornl.gov/armome/Contact: Ranjeet Devarakonda (devarakondar@ornl.gov)References:[1] Federal Geographic Data Committee. Content standard for digital geospatial metadata. Federal Geographic Data Committee, 1998.[2] Devarakonda, Ranjeet, et al. "Mercury: reusable metadata management, data discovery and access system." Earth Science Informatics 3.1-2 (2010): 87-94.[3] Wilson, B. E., Palanisamy, G., Devarakonda, R., Rhyne, B. T., Lindsley, C., & Green, J. (2010). Mercury Toolset for Spatiotemporal Metadata.[4] Pouchard, L. C., Branstetter, M. L., Cook, R. B., Devarakonda, R., Green, J., Palanisamy, G., ... & Noy, N. F. (2013). A Linked Science investigation: enhancing climate change data discovery with semantic technologies. Earth science informatics, 6(3), 175-185.

FGDC CSDGM↗
NASA NTRS1995

Stratospheric Ozone Intercomparison Campaign (STOIC) 1989: Overview

The NASA Upper Atmosphere Research Program organized a Stratospheric Ozone Intercomparison Campaign (STOIC) held in July-August 1989 at the Table Mountain Facility (TMF) of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The primary instruments participating in this campaign were several that had been developed by NASA for the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change: the JPL ozone lidar at TMF, the Goddard Space Flight Center trailer-mounted ozone lidar which was moved to TMF for this comparison, and the Millitech/LaRC microwave radiometer. To assess the performance of these new instruments, a validation/intercomparison campaign was undertaken using established techniques: balloon ozonesondes launched by personnel from the Wallops Flight Facility and from NOAA Geophysical Monitoring for Climate Change (GMCC) (now Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory), a NOAA GMCC Dobson spectrophotometer, and a Brewer spectrometer from the Atmospheric Environment Service of Canada, both being used for column as well as Umkehr profile retrievals. All of these instruments were located at TMF and measurements were made as close together in time as possible to minimize atmospheric variability as a factor in the comparisons. Daytime rocket measurements of ozone were made by Wallops Flight Facility personnel using ROCOZ-A instruments launched from San Nicholas Island. The entire campaign was conducted as a blind intercomparison, with the investigators not seeing each others data until all data had been submitted to a referee and archived at the end of the 2-week period (July 20 to August 2, 1989). Satellite data were also obtained from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE 2) aboard the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite and the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) aboard Nimbus 7. An examination of the data has found excellent agreement among the techniques, especially in the 20- to 40-km range. As expected, there was little atmospheric variability during the intercomparison, allowing for detailed statistical comparisons at a high level of precision. This overview paper summarizes the campaign and provides a 'road map' to subsequent papers in this issue by the individual instrument teams which will present more detailed analysis of the data and conclusions.

Margitan, J. J.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Demonstration of Vaisala Prototype Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) Field Campaign Report

Continuous water vapor profiling within the atmospheric boundary layer is a major unmet measurement requirement for improving weather analysis and prediction. Humidity profile information can be used in mesoscale numerical models for severe weather prediction, flash flood prediction, energy management, and other applications. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility has conducted several experiments at its Southern Great Plains (SGP) observatory in North Central Oklahoma to test and develop techniques for tropospheric water vapor measurements (Turner et al. 2016). This campaign concentrated on a new compact water vapor DIAL (DIfferential Absorption Lidar) instrument that the instrument manufacturer Vaisala has recently developed using a ceilometer-type telescope design (Dabberdt 2016, Roininen,2017). The DIAL system uses eye-safe class 1M semiconductor laser sources in the sub-micron wavelength range. The instrument reports water vapor mixing ratio profiles up to 3000 m within the atmospheric boundary layer, or up to the cloud base, whichever is lower. The purpose of the campaign was to test the Vaisala DIAL prototype (Figure 1) in high-humidity convective conditions at the ARM SGP site, comparing measurements against other instrumentation at the site (Münkel and Roininen 2017). Comparisons were made against Raman lidar and RS92 radiosonde observations of water vapor mixing ratio profiles. The same DIAL prototype has previously been tested in campaigns in Central and Northern Europe (Roininen et al. 2016). The ARM campaign was a collaboration between Vaisala and researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The DIAL was located next to the Raman lidar at the ARM SGP site (Figure 2). Two Vaisala employees visited the site for the installation work, which was carried out on May 15, 2017.

Southern Great Plains, Raman lidar, planetary boun↗
DOE OSTI2025

Delving into the depths of NGC 3783 with XRISM

The 2024 X-ray/UV observation campaign of NGC 3783, led by XRISM, revealed the launch of an ultrafast outflow (UFO) with a radial velocity of 0.19c (57 000 km s −1 ). This event is synchronized with the sharp decay, within less than half a day, of a prominent soft X-ray/UV flare. Accounting for the look-elsewhere effect, the XRISM Resolve data alone indicate a low probability of 2 × 10 −5 that this UFO detection is due to random chance. The UFO features narrow H-like and He-like Fe lines with a velocity dispersion of ∼1000 km s −1 , suggesting that it originates from a dense clump. Beyond this primary detection, there are hints of weaker outflow signatures throughout the rise and fall phases of the soft flare. Their velocities increase from 0.05c to 0.3c over approximately three days, and they may be associated with a larger stream in which the clump is embedded. The radiation pressure is insufficient to drive the acceleration of this rapidly evolving outflow. The observed evolution of the outflow kinematics instead closely resembles that of solar coronal mass ejections, implying magnetic driving and, conceivably, reconnection near the accretion disk as the likely mechanisms behind both the UFO launch and the associated soft flare.

Astronomy and AstroPhysics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Pair Cascades in Magnetar Magnetospheres

Resonant inverse Compton scattering (RICS) of soft thermal photons by relativistic particles on closed magnetic field loops has been proposed to explain the hard emission observed up to and beyond 200 keV from magnetars. If particles injected at the base of the loops have Lorentz factors ≳10 2 , the RICS spectra will be attenuated by both one-photon pair production and photon splitting in the ultrastrong magnetar fields, producing additional spectral components from pair synchrotron radiation and split photons that produce further generations of pairs and split photons. We investigate such cascades initiated by the primary injected electrons through a Monte Carlo simulation, and study the cascade spectra and pair distributions. For most observer angles, the pair synchrotron and split-photon spectra dominate the RICS primary spectra and produce complex polarization signals. In particular, the synchrotron spectra are highly polarized with degree 40%–80%, are softer than the RICS spectra, and may account for the high polarization of some magnetar spectra observed by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer above 3 keV.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2000

The DC-8 Submillimeter-Wave Cloud Ice Radiometer

An airborne radiometer is being developed to demonstrate the capability of radiometry at submillimeter-wavelengths to characterize cirrus clouds. At these wavelengths, cirrus clouds scatter upwelling radiation from water vapor in the lower troposphere. Radiometric measurements made at multiple widely spaced frequencies permit flux variations caused by changes in scattering due to crystal size to be distinguished from changes in cloud ice content. Measurements at dual polarizations can also be used to constrain the mean crystal shape. An airborne radiometer measuring the upwelling submillimeter-wave flux should then able to retrieve both bulk and microphysical cloud properties. The radiometer is being designed to make measurements at four frequencies (183 GHz, 325 GHz, 448 GHz, and 643 GHz) with dual-polarization capability at 643 GHz. The instrument is being developed for flight on NASA's DC-8 and will scan cross-track through an aircraft window. Measurements with this radiometer in combination with independent ground-based and airborne measurements will validate the submillimeter-wave radiometer retrieval techniques. The goal of this effort is to develop a technique to enable spaceborne characterization of cirrus, which will meet a key climate measurement need. The development of an airborne radiometer to validate cirrus retrieval techniques is a critical step toward development of spaced-based radiometers to investigate and monitor cirrus on a global scale. The radiometer development is a cooperative effort of the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, Swales Aerospace, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is funded by the NASA Instrument Incubator Program.

Walter, Steven J.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) Preparation for MISSE-11 Launch

The dusty surfaces of the Moon, Mars, and various asteroids present a significant challenge to NASA’s manned and unmanned space exploration efforts. The fine, electrostatically charged dust is difficult to remove and has resulted in vision obscuration, false instrument readings, contamination, elevated temperatures, performance reduction, and equipment failure. To alleviate these problems, NASA KSC’s Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory (ESPL) is developing active dust mitigation systems for solar system exploration and in situ resource utilization (ISRU). Part of KSC’s Swamp Works system, the lab emphasizes fast-paced, hands-on, cost-effective, and collaborative innovation. The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) is an ESPL technology being developed to prevent dust accumulation on space components. It consists of a dielectric substrate embedded with parallel electrodes which, when applied with high voltage out-of-phase waveforms, produce a traveling electric field wave that scatters dust particles from its surface via dielectrophoretic and electrostatic forces. The EDS is currently fully functional and has been tested for scalability and endurance in reduced gravity/pressure flight. Next, it will be part of the May 2019 Materials International Space Station Experiment-11 (MISSE-11) payload, which will test small shield samples for performance durability with exposure to the harsh space environment. The summer objective was to test EDS functionality before active and passive dust shield samples launch on MISSE-11, in order to screen for good flight/control samples as well as to compare pre-flight and post-flight clearing efficiencies. I imaged glass and Kapton shields of 2-phase and 3-phase electrode configurations with the Keyence VHX-5000 digital microscope to check for damage before and after all testing for a qualitative pre-flight baseline; helped with vacuum testing of high-voltage shield breakdown; assembled shields and wires using Electrobond 004 silver epoxy; and helped with vacuum and cryogenic dust clearance testing of assembled EDS systems. I learned CAD (computer-aided design) and 3D printing skills to create parts for a shaker table/motor assembly, which will allow for repeatable experiments by evening out EDS dust distribution in a consistent manner prior to dust scattering testing. I will also be improving the interfacing with Alpha Space’s prototype Data Communications Unit (DCU), a payload component to control power to the EDS and store data, by mapping the DCU structure upon power-up and writing shell scripts to improve various processes. Finally, I also CADed and 3D-printed plastic supports for three different geometries of the Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP), a project that aims to use high voltage electrodes to charge and filter out dust from the Martian atmosphere drawn for ISRU devices. This work on dust mitigation technologies will help to support future robotic and human space exploration missions, including NASA’s Journey to Mars; the EDS has especially significant applications to spacecraft solar panels, thermal radiators, viewports, and astronaut visors. This opportunity has also allowed me to become more familiar with various lab equipment and hardware testing, develop key modeling skills in SolidWorks, explore past and present components critical to America’s space program, work with inspiring peers and mentors, and ascertain my dream of working permanently for NASA.

space↗
DOE OSTI2014

Bright microwave pulses from PSR B0531+21 observed with a prototype transient survey receiver

Recent discoveries of transient radio events have renewed interest in time-variable astrophysical phenomena. Many radio transient events are rare, requiring long observing times for reliable statistical study. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Deep Space Network (DSN) tracks spacecraft nearly continuously with 13 large-aperture, low system temperature radio antennas. During normal spacecraft operations, the DSN processes only a small fraction of the pre-detection bandwidth available from these antennas; any information in the remaining bandwidth, e.g., from an astronomical source in the same antenna beam as the spacecraft, is currently ignored. As a firmware modification to the standard DSN tracking receiver, we built a prototype receiver that could be used for astronomical transient surveys. Here, we demonstrate the receiver's utility through observations of bright pulses from the Crab pulsar and describe attributes of potential transient survey observations piggybacking on operational DSN tracks.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2018

1-Watt Radioisotope Power System for Small Spacecraft

A variety of mission concepts have been studied by NASA and the U. S. Department of Energy that would utilize low power Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) for small probes, landers, rovers, and communication repeaters. These missions would contain science measuring instruments that could be distributed across planetary surfaces for operation in temporarily or permanently shadowed regions. High efficiency dynamic RPS could be mission enabling for science measurements on the moon, such as collecting real-time, event-based, or cumulative space radiation measurements including primary galactic cosmic rays (GCR), solar particle events (SPE), and secondary particles liberated during atmospheric and/or surface reactions. Small RPS would use fractional versions of the General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) or Light Weight Radioisotope Heater Units (LWRHU), to heat the power conversion technologies. Capable of three to four times higher conversion efficiency than static technologies, dynamic RPS would provide an equal amount of power using less fuel or more power using an equal amount of fuel. Providing spacecraft with more power could decrease duty cycling of basic functions and increase the quality and abundance of science data. Low power Stirling convertors are being developed at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) to provide future micro spacecraft with electrical power by converting heat from one or more LWRHUs. An initial concept would convert eight Watts of heat to one Watt of electrical power output for science instruments and communication. The initial design, called Small Stirling Technology Exploration Power (smallSTEP), is 11 cm diameter X 32 cm long, weighs around 3 kg, and could be used to charge batteries or capacitors for higher power burst usage. Development of the 1-watt RPS includes maturation of a Stirling engine and linear alternator, an electronics controller, and an evacuated metal foil insulation package. Test hardware and facilities are being prepared for initial demonstration of the subassemblies in a laboratory environment.

Wilson, Scott↗
NASA NTRS2008

NASA Glenn Research Center's Materials International Space Station Experiments (MISSE 1-7)

NASA Glenn Research Center (Glenn) has 39 individual materials flight experiments (>540 samples) flown as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) to address long duration environmental durability of spacecraft materials in low Earth orbit (LEO). MISSE is a series of materials flight experiments consisting of trays, called Passive Experiment Carriers (PECs) that are exposed to the space environment on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). MISSE 1-5 have been successfully flown and retrieved and were exposed to the space environment from one to four years. MISSE 6A & 6B were deployed during the STS-123 shuttle mission in March 2008, and MISSE 7A & 7B are being prepared for launch in 2009. The Glenn MISSE experiments address atomic oxygen (AO) effects such as erosion and undercutting of polymers, AO scattering, stress effects on AO erosion, and in-situ AO fluence monitoring. Experiments also address solar radiation effects such as radiation induced polymer shrinkage, stress effects on radiation degradation of polymers, and radiation degradation of indium tin oxide (ITO) coatings and spacesuit fabrics. Additional experiments address combined AO and solar radiation effects on thermal control films, paints and cermet coatings. Experiments with Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) seals and UltraFlex solar array materials are also being flown. Several experiments were designed to provide ground-facility to in-space calibration data thus enabling more accurate in-space performance predictions based on ground-laboratory testing. This paper provides an overview of Glenn s MISSE 1-7 flight experiments along with a summary of results from Glenn s MISSE 1 & 2 experiments.

deGroh, Kim K.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha′apai Volcano Impact Model Observation Comparison (HTHH-MOC) project: experiment protocol and model descriptions

The 2022 Hunga volcanic eruption injected a significant amount of water vapor and a moderate amount of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, causing observable responses in the climate system. We have developed a model–observation comparison project to investigate the evolution of volcanic water and aerosols and their impacts on atmospheric dynamics, chemistry, and climate, using several state-of-the-art chemistry climate models. The project goals are (1) to evaluate the current chemistry–climate models to quantify their performance in comparison to observations and (2) to understand atmospheric responses in the Earth system after this exceptional event and investigate the potential impacts in the projected future. To achieve these goals, we designed specific experiments for direct comparisons to observations, for example from balloons and the Microwave Limb Sounder satellite instrument. Experiment 1 consists of two sets of free-running ensemble experiments from 2022 to 2031: one with fixed sea-surface temperatures and sea ice and one with coupled ocean. These experiments will help to understand the long-term evolution of water vapor and aerosols; quantify HTHH effects on stratospheric and mesospheric temperatures, dynamics, and transport; understand the impact of dynamic changes on ozone chemistry; quantify the net radiative forcings; and evaluate any surface climate impact. Experiment 2 is a nudged-run experiment from 2022 to 2023 using observed meteorology. To allow participation of more climate models with varying complexities of aerosol simulation, we include two sets of simulations in Experiment 2: Experiment 2a is designed for models with internally generated aerosol, while Experiment 2b is designed for models using prescribed aerosol surface area density. This experiment will help to analyze H 2 O and aerosol evolution, quantify the net radiative forcings, understand the impacts on mid-latitude and polar O 3 chemistry, and allow close comparisons with observations.

Zhu, Yunqian [Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (Unit↗
NASA NTRS2011

A Panchromatic Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer for the NASA Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events Mission

This paper summarizes the design and development of the Panchromatic Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (PanFTS) for the NASA Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Mission. The PanFTS instrument will advance the understanding of the global climate and atmospheric chemistry by measuring spectrally resolved outgoing thermal and reflected solar radiation. With continuous spectral coverage from the near-ultraviolet through the thermal infrared, this instrument is designed to measure pollutants, greenhouse gases, and aerosols as called for by the U.S. National Research Council Decadal Survey; Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond1. The PanFTS instrument is a hybrid instrument based on spectrometers like the Tropospheric Emissions Spectrometer (TES) that measures thermal emission, and those like the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) that measure scattered solar radiation. Simultaneous measurements over the broad spectral range from IR to UV is accomplished by a two sided interferometer with separate optical trains and detectors for the ultraviolet-visible and infrared spectral domains. This allows each side of the instrument to be independently optimized for its respective spectral domain. The overall interferometer design is compact because the two sides share a single high precision cryogenic optical path difference mechanism (OPDM) and metrology laser as well as a number of other instrument systems including the line-of-sight pointing mirror, the data management system, thermal control system, electrical system, and the mechanical structure. The PanFTS breadboard instrument has been tested in the laboratory and demonstrated the basic functionality for simultaneous measurements in the visible and infrared. It is set to begin operations in the field at the California Laboratory for Atmospheric Remote Sensing (CLARS) observatory on Mt. Wilson measuring the atmospheric chemistry across the Los Angeles basin. Development has begun on a flight size PanFTS engineering model (EM) that addresses all critical scaling issues and demonstrates operation over the full spectral range of the flight instrument which will show the PanFTS instrument design is mature.

Imaging spectrometer(↗
NASA NTRS2001

Physical and biological studies with protons and HZE particles in a NASA supported research center in radiation health

NASA has established and supports a specialized center for research and training (NSCORT) to specifically address the potential deleterious effects of HZE particles on human health. The NSCORT in radiation health is a joint effort between Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Colorado State University (CSU). The overall scope of research encompasses a broad range of subjects from microdosimetric studies to cellular and tissue responses to initial damage produced by highly energetic protons and heavy charged particles of the type found in galactic cosmic rays (GCR) spectrum. The objectives of the microdosimetry studies are to determine the response of Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC) to cosmic rays using ground based accelerators. This includes evaluation of energy loss due to the escape of high-energy delta rays and increased energy deposition due to the enhanced delta ray production in the wall of the detector. In this report major results are presented for 56Fe at 1000, 740, 600 and 400 MeV/nucleon. An assessment of DNA repair and early development of related chromosomal changes is extremely important to our overall understanding of enhanced biological effectiveness of high LET particle radiation. Results are presented with respect to the fidelity of the rejoining of double strand breaks and the implications of misrejoining. The relationship between molecular and cytogenetic measurements is presented by studying damage processing in highly heterochromatic supernumerary (correction of sypernumerary) X chromosomes and the active X-chromosome. One of the important consequences of cell's inability to handle DNA damage can be evaluated through mutation studies. Part of our goal is the assessment of potential radioprotectors to reduce the mutation yield following HZE exposures, and some promising results are presented on one compound. A second goal is the integration of DNA repair and mutation studies. Results are presented on a direct comparison of initial double strand breaks induction, the time course and fidelity of double strand break rejoining, cell killing and mutation induction in the same human model system. In order to understand the carcinogenic potential of protons and HZE particles, the role of damaged microenvironment in this process must be understood. In this project it has been postulated that radiation affects the microenvironment, which then modifies cell interactions in a manner conducive to neoplastic progression. Both TGF-beta and FGF-2 are important components of microenvironment. A recent result on the assessment of the role of FGF-2 and its cross-talk with TGF-beta as a function of radiation quality is presented. Theoretical modeling has so far played a central role in analyzing and integrating experimental data on repair and mutation studies and predicting new phenomena. The integrated NSCORT program also provides a broad training experience for students and postdoctoral fellows in space radiation health.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗
DOE OSTI2024

Pu-238 Production Progress at Idaho National Laboratory From December 2022 to December 2023

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has an ongoing effort to produce Pu-238 for NASA deep space missions. Recent work at INL has consisted of irradiation of Pu 238 production targets in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), generating more than an estimated 400 grams of Pu-238 heat source material between March and October 2023. Additionally, INL began qualifying Pu-238 production targets with a higher loading of Np-237 to further increase the production of Pu-238 production in later years. INL has also updated the analysis as a result of operational changes at ATR. One instance was updating the analysis to enable a single Pu-238 production target to be run in ATR’s South Flux Trap (SFT), rather than the previous seven production targets, to make use of a spare target from a discontinued design. Higher lobe powers in ATR were also analyzed due to potential changes in planned lobe powers.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Pu-238 Production Progress at INL From December 2022 to December 2023

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has an ongoing effort to produce Pu-238 for NASA deep space missions. Recent work at INL has consisted of irradiation of Pu 238 production targets in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), generating more than an estimated 400 grams of Pu-238 heat source material between March and October 2023. Additionally, INL began qualifying Pu-238 production targets with a higher loading of Np-237 to further increase the production of Pu-238 production in later years. INL has also updated the analysis as a result of operational changes at ATR. One instance was updating the analysis to enable a single Pu-238 production target to be run in ATR’s South Flux Trap (SFT), rather than the previous seven production targets, to make use of a spare target from a discontinued design. Higher lobe powers in ATR were also analyzed due to potential changes in planned lobe powers.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Full Device Evaluation of Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells in Low Earth Orbit Aboard the International Space Station

This study investigates how sustained low Earth orbit (LEO) exposure affects metal halide perovskite (MHP) thin films and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). It examines samples deployed on the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) 15 and 16 missions. Five methylammonium lead iodide (MAPI) thin films are deployed on MISSE-16, each with distinct UV filters to selectively attenuate AM0 spectral bands. While post-flight optical analysis reveals that the least UV-exposed film exhibits the highest emission and lowest non-radiative recombination rate, no clear correlation is observed among the rest, and all MAPI films maintained excellent integrity throughout the mission. MISSE-15 deployed eight PSCs with diverse structures, MHP compositions, and contact materials. Post-flight analysis reveals stable, highly emissive MHPs, but damaged contacts due to ion migration, which caused loss of electrical response. The MISSE missions demonstrate MHPs' suitability for space applications, while highlighting the need for improved interfacial layers and contact materials to enhance charge carrier mobility, prevent ion migration, and improve charge carrier extraction efficiency.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2011

Fluid Line Evacuation and Freezing Experiments for Digital Radiator Concept

The digital radiator technology is one of three variable heat rejection technologies being investigated for future human-rated NASA missions. The digital radiator concept is based on a mechanically pumped fluid loop with parallel tubes carrying coolant to reject heat from the radiator surface. A series of valves actuate to start and stop fluid flow to di erent combinations of tubes, in order to vary the heat rejection capability of the radiator by a factor of 10 or more. When the flow in a particular leg is stopped, the fluid temperature drops and the fluid can freeze, causing damage or preventing flow from restarting. For this reason, the liquid in a stopped leg must be partially or fully evacuated upon shutdown. One of the challenges facing fluid evacuation from closed tubes arises from the vapor generated during pumping to low pressure, which can cause pump cavitation and incomplete evacuation. Here we present a series of laboratory experiments demonstrating fluid evacuation techniques to overcome these challenges by applying heat and pumping to partial vacuum. Also presented are results from qualitative testing of the freezing characteristics of several different candidate fluids, which demonstrate significant di erences in freezing properties, and give insight to the evacuation process.

human space flight↗
DOE OSTI2022

Materials and Fuels Complex FY-22 – FY-26 Five-Year Mission Strategy

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), through its designated mission of advancing innovative nuclear energy solutions, is actively engaged in the research, development, demonstration and deployment of advanced nuclear technology. Key to the success of INL’s mission is the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC), the only complex in the U.S. that hosts a world-class assemblage of facilities, capabilities and instruments for handling, testing, and characterizing nuclear fuel and radioactive materials. Driven by its mission/vision of “Engineering and Experiments that Drive the World’s Nuclear Energy Future,” MFC is at the center of INL’s – and indeed the Department of Energy’s – advanced nuclear technology development initiatives, providing essential capabilities such as research-scale high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel production, reactor demonstration facilities, post-irradiation examination, and transient irradiation testing. Furthermore, MFC provides an ideal environment for test beds that are utilized for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities on used fuel treatment, nuclear non-proliferation, forensics, and nuclear power sources used for space exploration missions conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗