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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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At least 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Evaluation testing of a portable vapor detector for Part-Per-Billion (PPB) level UDMH and N2H4

Trace level detection of hydrazine (N2H4), monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) has been receiving increased attention over the past several years. In May 1995 the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) lowered their acceptable threshold limit value (TLV) from 100 parts-per-billion (ppb) to 10 ppb. Several types of ppb-level detectors are being developed by the United States Air Force (USAF) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMSC). A breadboard version of a portable, lightweight hydrazine detection sensor was developed and produced by Giner Corp. for the USAF. This sensor was designed for ppb level UDMH and N2H4 vapor detection in near real-time. This instrument employs electrochemical sensing, utilizing a three electrode cell with an anion-exchange polymer electrolyte membrane as the only electrolyte in the system. The sensing, counter and reference electrodes are bonded to the membrane forming a single component. The only liquid required to maintain the sensor is deionized water which hydrates the membrane. At the request of the USAF SMSC, independent testing and evaluation of the breadboard instrument was performed at NASA's Toxic Vapor Detection Laboratory (TVDL) for response to ppb-level N2H4 and UDMH and MMH. The TVDL, located at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has the unique ability to generate calibrated sample vapor streams of N2H4, UDMH, and MMH over a range from less than 10 ppb to thousands of parts per million (ppm) with full environmental control of relative humidity (0-90%) and temperature (0-50 C). The TVDL routinely performs these types of tests. Referenced sensors were subjected to extensive testing, including precision, linearity, response/recovery times, zero and span drift, humidity and temperature effects as well as ammonia interference. Results of these tests and general operation characteristics are reported.

Curran, Dan↗
NASA NTRS1988

Environment Monitor

Viking landers touched down on Mars equipped with a variety of systems to conduct automated research, each carrying a compact but highly sophisticated instrument for analyzing Martian soil and atmosphere. Instrument called a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) had to be small, lightweight, shock resistant, highly automated and extremely sensitive, yet require minimal electrical power. Viking Instruments Corporation commercialized this technology and targeted their primary market as environmental monitoring, especially toxic and hazardous waste site monitoring. Waste sites often contain chemicals in complex mixtures, and the conventional method of site characterization, taking samples on-site and sending them to a laboratory for analysis is time consuming and expensive. Other terrestrial applications are explosive detection in airports, drug detection, industrial air monitoring, medical metabolic monitoring and for military, chemical warfare agents.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2003

Multi-scale variation in spatial heterogeneity for microbial community structure in an eastern Virginia agricultural field

To better understand the distribution of soil microbial communities at multiple spatial scales, a survey was conducted to examine the spatial organization of community structure in a wheat field in eastern Virginia (USA). Nearly 200 soil samples were collected at a variety of separation distances ranging from 2.5 cm to 11 m. Whole-community DNA was extracted from each sample, and community structure was compared using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) DNA fingerprinting. Relative similarity was calculated between each pair of samples and compared using geostatistical variogram analysis to study autocorrelation as a function of separation distance. Spatial autocorrelation was found at scales ranging from 30 cm to more than 6 m, depending on the sampling extent considered. In some locations, up to four different correlation length scales were detected. The presence of nested scales of variability suggests that the environmental factors regulating the development of the communities in this soil may operate at different scales. Kriging was used to generate maps of the spatial organization of communities across the plot, and the results demonstrated that bacterial distributions can be highly structured, even within a habitat that appears relatively homogeneous at the plot and field scale. Different subsets of the microbial community were distributed differently across the plot, and this is thought to be due to the variable response of individual populations to spatial heterogeneity associated with soil properties. c2003 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

NASA Discipline Life Support Systems↗
NASA NTRS1993

Mars Relays Satellite Orbit Design Considerations for Global Support of Robotic Surface Missions

This paper discusses orbit design considerations for Mars relay satellite (MRS)support of globally distributed robotic surface missions. The orbit results reported in this paper are derived from studies of MRS support for two types of Mars robotic surface missions: 1) the mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) mission, which in its current definition would deploy a global network of up to 16 small landers, and 2)a Small Mars Sample Return (SMSR) mission, which included four globally distributed landers, each with a return stage and one or two rovers, and up to four additional sets of lander/rover elements in an extended mission phase.

Robitics Mars↗
NASA NTRS2024

Investigating Hydrothermally Altered Basalts in Long Valley, California: Potential Analog for Altered Basalts on Mars

The Long Valley Caldera in California is a well-studied geological site, but its potential as a Mars analog is relatively unexplored. The caldera shows evidence of hydrothermal activity and alteration of basalt units, but prior research has not focused on this. Understanding alteration trends and geochemical signatures in basalt could prove useful in our understanding of Martian geology. Research on Mars has shown alteration trends, but the exact mechanisms behind these, such as the influence of water, heat, and other environmental factors, remain enigmatic. We identified a single basalt flow in Long Valley Caldera, California, that uniquely houses both fumarolic and hydrothermal alteration regimes. By sampling throughout the basalt unit (Fig. 1), we aim to characterize the connections between types, degrees, and durations alteration mechanisms, along with the resultant mineral phases and textures, to better understand rover and orbital data of Mars basalts.

Mars↗
NASA NTRS2023

Fire Station #1 Area, SWMU 116 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Site Assessment Progress Report Kennedy Space Center, Florida

This Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Site Assessment (SA) Progress Report (SAPR) discusses the investigation activities and findings for the Fire Station #1 (FS1) Area (formerly known as Fire Station #4) located at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida (Figure 1-1). This site has been designated Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 116 under KSC’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program. This PFAS SA is being managed under SWMU 116 as the fire station was identified as a potential source of PFAS to the environment. This PFAS SAPR was prepared by Tetra Tech, Inc., for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract 80KSC019D0011-80KSC019F0070. This is the first progress report to document on-going SA activities; supplemental progress reports will be provided as additional data is collected. During the SA, a total of six soil, 48 groundwater direct push technology (DPT), eight groundwater monitoring well, and one surface water sample were collected between October 2021 and March 2022. The samples were analyzed for 28 PFAS compounds using the Department of Defense Quality Systems Manual-compliant Method. SA sample results were used along with historical results to evaluate the extent of PFAS impacts to the environment in the FS1 Area. Data generated to date and prior results were screened against the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) May 2022 Tap Water Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) for groundwater and residential RSLs for soil (hazard quotient of 0.1). Surface water results were screened against the State of Florida Human Health Surface Water Screening Levels (SWSLs). Overall, results from the SA showed exceedances of the applicable screening criteria for soil, groundwater and surface water. Considering the current and historical dataset, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is the prevalent PFAS compound, which is indicative of AFFF releases. Based on results of the SA, additional groundwater DPT and surface water sampling should be considered, focused on evaluating surface water bodies in the southeast portion of the Industrial Area, which discharge into the Banana River. Additionally, installation of monitoring wells should be considered to evaluate the interaction between groundwater and surface water in the FS1 Area.

PFAS↗
NASA NTRS2016

Supply Warehouse#3, SWMU 088 Operations, Maintenance, and Monitoring Report Kennedy Space Center, Florida

This document presents the findings, observations, and results associated with Operations, Maintenance, and Monitoring (OM&M) activities of Corrective Measures Implementation (CMI) activities conducted at Supply Warehouse #3 (SW3) located at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida from October 8, 2015, to September 12, 2016, and performance monitoring results for semi-annual sampling events conducted in March and September 2016. The primary objective of SW3 CMI is to actively decrease concentrations of trichloroethene (TCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) to less than Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Natural Attenuation Default Concentrations (NADCs), and the secondary objective is to reduce TCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE), trans-1,2-dichloroethene (tDCE), 1,1-dichloroethene (11DCE), and VC concentrations to less than FDEP Groundwater Cleanup Target Levels (GCTLs). The SW3 facility has been designated Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 088 under KSC's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program. Based on the results to date, the SW3 air sparging (AS) system is operating at or below the performance criteria as presented in the 2008 SW3 Corrective Measures Implementation (CMI) Work Plan and 2009 and 2012 CMI Work Plan Addenda. Since the start of AS system operations on December 19, 2012, through the September 2016 groundwater sampling event, TCE concentrations have decreased to less than the GCTL in all wells within the Active Remediation Zone (ARZ), and VC results remain less than NADC but greater than GCTL. Based on these results, team consensus was reached at the October 2016 KSC Remediation Team (KSCRT) meeting to continue AS system operations and semi-annual performance monitoring of volatile organic compounds in March 2017 at ten monitoring wells at select locations, and in September 2017 at four monitoring wells at select locations to reduce VC concentrations to below GCTL. Additionally, surface water samples will be collected at locations SW0001, SW0002, and SW0003 during both the March and September 2017 events. Team consensus was also reached at the October 2017 KSCRT meeting to continue with operation and maintenance (O&M) of the AS system at SW3.

REPORT↗
NASA NTRS1990

Correlations between environmental parameters and nuclear activity

The occurrence and quantitative properties of Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 galaxies as a function of the galaxy environment were studied in a systematic way. For this investigation the authors selected from the Catalogue of Quasars and Active Nuclei (Veron & Veron, 1989) all Seyfert galaxies with the following properties: (1) m sub V less than or equal to 15; (2) listed classification as Sey 1, Sey 2, or Sey 3; (3) v sub rad less than or equal to 20,000 km s(sup -1). This results in a sample size of 242 Seyfert galaxies. For all these objects their galaxy environment was inspected on plates. The vicinity of each sample Seyfert galaxy was searched for companion galaxies out to at least 0.5 Mpc. Lacking redshift information, the authors adopted as a companion galaxy any galaxy in this area having a size between 20 and 200 percent of the Seyfert galaxy size. As an important environmental parameter for Seyfert activity, the authors consider the galaxy density within an environment of 500 kpc radius. They distinguish four density classes: D1: no companion (isolated Seyfert); D2: 1 companion; D3: 2 to 5 companions (group); and D4: less than or equal to 6 companions (dense group). The distribution of the various Seyfert classes among these density classes is listed in tabular form, both in absolute numbers and in percentages (given in brackets). From these statistics the environments of Sey 1, Sey 2, and Sey 3 galaxies do not differ in general with the exception that among the isolated galaxies the Seyfert 1 galaxies dominate conspicuously. No significant dependence of morphological type (de Vaucouleurs T-type) on density class is observed both for Sey 1 and Sey 2 galaxies. On the basis of an extensive search of the Seyfert literature the authors also investigated the dependence of the intrinsic parameters of the sample Seyfert galaxies on density class.

Kollatschny, W.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Remote monitoring of environmental particulate pollution - A problem in inversion of first-kind integral equations

The determination of the microstructure, chemical nature, and dynamical evolution of scattering particulates in the atmosphere is considered. A description is given of indirect sampling techniques which can circumvent most of the difficulties associated with direct sampling techniques, taking into account methods based on scattering, extinction, and diffraction of an incident light beam. Approaches for reconstructing the particulate size distribution from the direct and the scattered radiation are discussed. A new method is proposed for determining the chemical composition of the particulates and attention is given to the relevance of methods of solution involving first kind Fredholm integral equations.

Fymat, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Environmental Effects on the Metallicities of Early-Type Galaxies

In this multi-year project to investigate the metal enrichment of early-type galaxies, we have used ROSAT, ASCA and now Chandra observations to study samples of galaxies. We have published two papers and a third paper that incorporates Chandra archival observations is nearing completion. Below, we briefly describe our findings. Our first paper "SN IA Enrichment in Virgo Early-type Galaxies from ROSAT and ASCA Observations" was published in the Astrophysical Journal (vol 539, 603) reported on the properties of nine X-ray bright elliptical galaxies in the Virgo cluster observed by ROSAT and ASCA. We measured iron abundance gradients as a function of radius in three galaxies. We found that the magnesium and silicon abundance gradients were in general flatter than those of iron. We suggest this is due to a metallicity dependence in the metal production rates of SN Ia's. We calculate SN Ia rates in the center of these galaxies that are comparable to those measured optically. Our second paper "ASCA Observations of Groups at Radii of Low Overdensity: Implications for Cosmic Preheating" also was published in the Astrophysical Journal (vol 578, 74). This paper reported on the ASCA spectroscopy of nine groups of galaxies. We found that the entropy profile in groups is driven by nongravitational heating processes, and could be explained by a short period of preheating by galactic winds. The third paper (in preparation) uses a sample of about 200 galaxies from both ROSAT and Chandra observations. In this paper we characterize both the nuclear and the extended X-ray emission for this sample. We will use these observations to determine the "on-time" of the X-ray emitting AGN and the fraction of "fossil groups" as well as to investigate how large AGN outbursts can sweep the galaxy of its hot ISM, thus leading to changes in the ISM metal enrichment.

Oliversen, Ronald J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Criteria for evaluation of reflective surface for parabolic dish concentrators

Commercial, second surface glass mirror are emphasized, but aluminum and metallized polymeric films are also included. Criteria for sealing solar mirrors in order to prevent environmental degradation and criteria for bonding sagged or bent mirrors to substrate materials are described. An overview of the technical areas involved in evaluating small mirror samples, sections, and entire large gores is presented. A basis for mirror criteria was established that eventually may become part of inspection and evaluation techniques for three dimensional parabolic reflective surfaces.

Bouquet, F.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Preliminary ECLSS waste water model

A preliminary waste water model for input to the Space Station Freedom (SSF) Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Water Processor (WP) has been generated for design purposes. Data have been compiled from various ECLSS tests and flight sample analyses. A discussion of the characterization of the waste streams comprising the model is presented, along with a discussion of the waste water model and the rationale for the inclusion of contaminants in their respective concentrations. The major objective is to establish a methodology for the development of a waste water model and to present the current state of that model.

Carter, Donald L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Earth benefits from NASA research and technology. Life sciences applications

This document provides a representative sampling of examples of Earth benefits in life-sciences-related applications, primarily in the area of medicine and health care, but also in agricultural productivity, environmental monitoring and safety, and the environment. This brochure is not intended as an exhaustive listing, but as an overview to acquaint the reader with the breadth of areas in which the space life sciences have, in one way or another, contributed a unique perspective to the solution of problems on Earth. Most of the examples cited were derived directly from space life sciences research and technology. Some examples resulted from other space technologies, but have found important life sciences applications on Earth. And, finally, we have included several areas in which Earth benefits are anticipated from biomedical and biological research conducted in support of future human exploration missions.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2000

On-Orbit Calibration of ADEOS OCTS with an AVIRIS Underflight

The Ocean Color Temperature Scanner (OCTS) onboard the Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (ADEOS) was launched on August 17, 1996. Calibration of OCTS is required for use of the on-orbit measured data for retrieval of physical properties of the ocean. In the solar reflected portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, OCTS measures images with nominally 700-m spatial resolution through eight multispectral bands. The objective of this research was to establish the absolute radiometric calibration of OCTS on orbit through an underflight by the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). AVIRIS is a NASA earth-observing imaging spectrometer designed, built and operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). AVIRIS acquires data from 20-km altitude on a NASA ER-2 aircraft, above most of the Earth's atmosphere. AVIRIS measures the solar reflected spectrum from 370 nm to 2500 nm through 224 contiguous spectral channels. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the spectral channels is nominally 10-nm. AVIRIS spectra are acquired as images of 11 km by up to 800 km extent with 20-m spatial resolution. The high spectral resolution of AVIRIS data allows direct convolution to the spectral response functions of the eight multispectral bands of OCTS. The high spatial resolution of AVIRIS data allows for spatial re-sampling of the data to match the ADEOS sensors spatial resolution. In addition, the AVIRIS high spatial resolution allows assessment of the scaling effects due to environmental factors of thin cirrus clouds, sub-pixel cloud cover, white caps, ocean foam, sun-glint, and bright-target adjacency. The platform navigation information recorded by AVIRIS allows calculation of the position and observation geometry of each spectrum for matching to the OCTS measurement. AVIRIS is rigorously characterized and calibrated in the laboratory prior to and following the flight season. The stability and repeatability of AVIRIS calibration have been validated through an extensive series of inflight calibration experiments. In the OCTS portion of the spectrum, using pre-and post-flight runway calibrations of AVIRIS coupled with the on-board calibrator an absolute calibration accuracy of better than 3% spectral, 2% radiometric and 5% spatial has been achieved. An analogous satellite underflight calibration experiment was performed with AVIRIS and the Optical Sensor (OPS) onboard the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS).

Green, Robert O.↗
NASA NTRS1998

On-Orbit Calibration of ADEOS OCTS with an AVIRIS Underflight

The Ocean Color Temperature Scanner (OCTS) onboard the Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (ADEOS) was launched on August 17, 1996. Calibration of OCTS is required for use of the on-orbit measured data for retrieval of physical properties of the ocean. In the solar reflected portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, OCTS measures images with nominally 700-m spatial resolution through eight multispectral bands. The objective of this research was to establish the absolute radiometric calibration of OCTS on orbit through an underflight by the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). AVIRIS is a NASA Earth-observing imaging spectrometer designed, built and operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). AVIRIS acquires data from 20-km altitude on a NASA ER-2 aircraft, above most of the Earth's atmosphere. AVIRIS measures the solar reflected spectrum from 370 nm to 2500 nm through 224 contiguous spectral channels. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the spectral channels is nominally 10-nm. AVIRIS spectra are acquired as images of 11 km by up to 800 km extent with 20-m spatial resolution. The high spectral resolution of AVIRIS data allows direct convolution to the spectral response functions of the eight multispectral bands of OCTS. The high spatial resolution of AVIRIS data allows for spatial re-sampling of the data to match the ADEOS sensors spatial resolution. In addition, the AVIRIS high spatial resolution allows assessment of the scaling effects due to environmental factors of thin cirrus clouds, sub-pixel cloud cover, white caps, ocean foam, sun-glint, and bright-target adjacency. The platform navigation information recorded by AVIRIS allows calculation of the position and observation geometry of each spectrum for matching to the OCTS measurement. AVIRIS is rigorously characterized and calibrated in the laboratory prior to and following the flight season. The stability and repeatability of AVIRIS calibration have been validated through an extensive series of inflight calibration experiments. In the OCTS portion of the spectrum, using pre- and post-flight runway calibrations of AVIRIS coupled with the on-board calibrator an absolute calibration accuracy of better than 3% spectral, 2% radiometric, and 5% spatial, has been achieved. An analogous satellite underflight calibration experiment was performed with AVIRIS and the Optical Sensor (OPS) onboard the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS).

Green, Robert O.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Surface, Water and Air Biocharacterization - A Comprehensive Characterization of Microorganisms and Allergens in Spacecraft Environment

A Comprehensive Characterization of Microorganisms and Allergens in Spacecraft (SWAB) will use advanced molecular techniques to comprehensively evaluate microbes on board the space station, including pathogens (organisms that may cause disease). It also will track changes in the microbial community as spacecraft visit the station and new station modules are added. This study will allow an assessment of the risk of microbes to the crew and the spacecraft. Research Summary: Previous microbial analysis of spacecraft only identify microorganisms that will grow in culture, omitting greater than 90% of all microorganisms including pathogens such as Legionella (the bacterium which causes Legionnaires' disease) and Cryptosporidium (a parasite common in contaminated water) The incidence of potent allergens, such as dust mites, has never been systematically studied in spacecraft environments and microbial toxins have not been previously monitored. This study will use modern molecular techniques to identify microorganisms and allergens. Direct sampling of the ISS allows identification of the microbial communities present, and determination of whether these change or mutate over time. SWAB complements the nominal ISS environmental monitoring by providing a comparison of analyses from current media-based and advanced molecular-based technologies.

Pierson, Duane L.↗
NASA NTRS2011

The NASA Experience

Projects assigned to: (1) Testing, fixing, and procuring enclosure systems and components for Kennedy Ground Controls Systems at launch pad B. (2) Organizational spreadsheets for all subsystems involved in the project. (Procurement, parts lists, drawings, purchase requests, etc) (3) Resolve is a project devoted to the lunar rover that will sample lunar soil in an effort to remove the moister and separate the metal from the oxygen to produce drinkable water. I helped with the humidity environmental generator for the experiment (moister detector).

Ramos, Alberto↗
NASA NTRS2017

Erosion Results of the MISSE 8 Polymers Experiment After 2 Years of Space Exposure on the International Space Station

Polymers and other oxidizable materials on the exterior of spacecraft in the low Earth orbit (LEO) space environment can be eroded due to reaction with atomic oxygen (AO). Therefore, in order to design durable spacecraft, it is important to know the LEO AO erosion yield (E(sub y), volume loss per incident oxygen atom) of materials susceptible to AO reaction. A spaceflight experiment, called the Polymers Experiment, which contained 42 samples, was developed to determine the effect of solar exposure on the AO E(sub y) of fluoropolymers flown in ram, wake, or zenith orientations. The Polymers Experiment was exposed to the LEO space environment on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment 8 (MISSE 8) mission. The MISSE 8 mission included samples flown in a zenith/nadir orientation for 2.14 years in the MISSE 8 Passive Experiment Container (PEC), and samples flown in a ram/wake orientation for 2.0 years in the Optical Reflector Materials Experiment-III (ORMatEIII) tray. The experiment included Kapton H (Registered Trademark) witness samples for AO fluence determination in each orientation. This paper provides an overview of the MISSE 8 mission, a description of the flight experiment with details on the polymers flown, the characterization techniques used, the AO fluence for each exposure orientation, and the LEO E(sub y) results. The E(sub y) of Teflon fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) samples flown in ram, wake, and zenith orientations have been compared, and the E(sub y) was found to be highly dependent on orientation and therefore environmental exposure. The FEP E(sub y) was found to directly correlate with the solar exposure/AO fluence ratio showing the effect of solar radiation and/or heating due to solar exposure on FEP erosion. In addition, back-surface carbon painted FEP (C-FEP) flown in the zenith orientation had a significantly higher E(sub y) than clear FEP or Al-FEP further indicating that heating has a significant impact on the erosion of FEP. This experiment provides valuable LEO flight data on the erosion of Teflon FEP, a commonly used spacecraft thermal insulation.

Teflon↗