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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

On the performance of Trellis coded modulation with octal phase shift keying over the TDRSS channel

As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration moves into the 21st century with programs like Space Station Freedom, a manned mission to Mars, and the new Landsat mission, transmission demands on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) will very likely exceed the available bandwidth. The Manual Lujan, Jr. Center for Space Telemetering and Telecommunications Systems (CSTTS) at New Mexico State University (NMSU) is studying techniques for increasing the data rate capabilities of TDRSS. These techniques include the use of advanced bandwidth efficient modulation formats to increase the data rate that can be sustained in a TDRSS transponder and the use of lossless bandwidth compression of the data to be transmitted to lower the data rate required from the user spacecraft. Based upon current technology the most promising bandwidth efficient modulation technique is Trellis Coded Modulation (TCM) operating with Octal Phase shift Keying (8PSK). Trellis Coded Modulation coding with 8PSK carrier modulation has the capability to increase the data rate which can be transmitted through the TDRSS spacecraft by a factor of 2 to 2.5 times that available with todays coded QPSK systems with only a small penalty in link performance relative to the existing systems. However, before NASA can safely employ TCM coding it is necessary to prove that this complex format can perform on the real TDRSS link as it does in labs and simulation studies. This proof-of-concept test over a live satellite channel was the objective of the construction and testing performed under this task of the NMSU NASA grant referenced above. In conjunction with NASA, NMSU's CSTTS has constructed a system to test a new candidate TDRSS modulation scheme, TCM 8PSK, that can enhance the information throughput of the TDRSS spacecraft. The test system for this project which was constructed over a period of 18 months by NMSU consisted of two racks of commercial and univeristy-designed and -built equipment. This project has included modifications of an existing White Sands Ground Terminal (WSGT) High Rate QPSK Demodulator to demodulate 8PSK as well as the construction of other support hardware. Also, two TCM codecs (coder/decoders) have been constructed to implement two levels of bandwidth efficiency. One was designed and built by the research team at NMSU while the other was created by the University of Notre Dame with the University of South Australia. The NMSU codec achieves a 2-to-1 increase in data rate per unit bandwidth with a coding gain relative to QPSK of about 3dB. The Notre Dame/South Australia codec achieves a 2.5-to-1 increase in data rate per unit of occupied bandwidth and a coding gain of about 2dB.

Osborne, William P.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Chemical and Isotopic Study of Lab-formed Carbonates Under Cryogenic and Hydrothermal Conditions

Aqueous environments on early Mars were probably relatively short-lived and localized, as evidenced by the lack of abundant secondary minerals detected by the TES instrument. In order to better understand the aqueous history of early Mars we need to be able to interpret the evidence preserved in secondary minerals formed during these aqueous events. Carbonate minerals, in particular, are important secondary minerals for interpreting past aqueous environments as illustrated by the carbonates preserved in ALH84001. Carbonates formed in short-lived, dynamic aqueous events often preserve kinetic rather than equilibrium chemical and isotopic processes, and predicting the behavior of such systems is facilitated by empirical data.

Niles, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS2014

On the Correlation of Specific Film Thickness and Gear Pitting Life

The effect of the lubrication regime on gear performance has been recognized, qualitatively, for decades. Often the lubrication regime is characterized by the specific film thickness defined as the ratio of lubricant film thickness to the composite surface roughness. It can be difficult to combine results of studies to create a cohesive and comprehensive dataset. In this work gear surface fatigue lives for a wide range of specific film values were studied using tests done with common rigs, speeds, lubricant temperatures, and test procedures. This study includes previously reported data, results of an additional 50 tests, and detailed information from lab notes and tested gears. The dataset comprised 258 tests covering specific film values [0.47 to 5.2]. The experimentally determined surface fatigue lives, quantified as 10-percent life estimates, ranged from 8.7 to 86.8 million cycles. The trend is one of increasing life for increasing specific film. The trend is nonlinear. The observed trends were found to be in good agreement with data and recommended practice for gears and bearings. The results obtained will perhaps allow for the specific film parameter to be used with more confidence and precision to assess gear surface fatigue for purpose of design, rating, and technology development.

gears↗
NASA NTRS2015

On the Correlation of Specific Film Thickness and Gear Pitting Life

The effect of the lubrication regime on gear performance has been recognized, qualitatively, for decades. Often the lubrication regime is characterized by the specific film thickness defined as the ratio of lubricant film thickness to the composite surface roughness. It can be difficult to combine results of studies to create a cohesive and comprehensive dataset. In this work gear surface fatigue lives for a wide range of specific film values were studied using tests done with common rigs, speeds, lubricant temperatures, and test procedures. This study includes previously reported data, results of an additional 50 tests, and detailed information from lab notes and tested gears. The dataset comprised 258 tests covering specific film values (0.47 to 5.2). The experimentally determined surface fatigue lives, quantified as 10-percent life estimates, ranged from 8.7 to 86.8 million cycles. The trend is one of increasing life for increasing specific film. The trend is nonlinear. The observed trends were found to be in good agreement with data and recommended practice for gears and bearings. The results obtained will perhaps allow for the specific film parameter to be used with more confidence and precision to assess gear surface fatigue for purpose of design, rating, and technology development.

gears↗
DOE OSTI2022

An April Fools’ Day read from Lab history Famed physicist Richard Feynman’s safecracking, cipher-creating sense of play

Richard Feynman was fresh out of Princeton University’s doctoral program when recruited to assist in the creation of the atomic bomb at Los Alamos. In 1943, Lab director J. Robert Oppenheimer wrote that the 24-year-old was, “by all odds the most brilliant young physicist here, and everyone knows this.” Feynman attempted to live and examine life in a state of play and, as such, it’s only fitting to take a look back at the Nobel Prize winning scientist’s years at the wartime Lab as April Fools’ Day approaches.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
NASA NTRS2002

STS-111 Flight Day 6 Highlights

The sixth day of STS-111 flight begins with a live shot of the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Dan Bursch Flight Engineer is shown inside the U.S. Lab Destiny. Astronaut Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Carl Walz installed the Mobile Remote Servicer Base System (MBS). The MBS latch is attached to the bar of the Mobile Transporter of the International Space Station. A transfer of supplies is shown inside the U.S. Lab Destiny. Mission Specialists Philippe Perrin and Commander Ken Cockrel talk to the media about EVA training.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2018

Orion Optical Navigation Progress Toward Exploration Mission 1

Optical navigation of human spacecraft was proposed on Gemini and implemented successfully on Apollo as a means of autonomously operating the vehicle in the event of lost communication with controllers on Earth. The Orion emergency return system utilizing optical navigation has matured in design over the last several years, and is currently undergoing the final implementation and test phase in preparation for Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) in 2019. The software development is past its Critical Design Review, and is progressing through test and certification for human rating. The filter architecture uses a square-root-free UDU covariance factorization. Linear Covariance Analysis (LinCov) was used to analyze the measurement models and the measurement error models on a representative EM-1 trajectory. The Orion EM-1 flight camera was calibrated at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) electro-optics lab. To permanently stake the focal length of the camera a 500 mm focal length refractive collimator was used. Two Engineering Design Unit (EDU) cameras and an EDU star tracker were used for a live-sky test in Denver. In-space imagery with high-fidelity truth metadata is rare so these live-sky tests provide one of the closest real-world analogs to operational use. A hardware-in-the-loop test rig was developed in the Johnson Space Center Electro-Optics Lab to exercise the OpNav system prior to integrated testing on the Orion vehicle. The software is verified with synthetic images. Several hundred off-nominal images are also used to analyze robustness and fault detection in the software. These include effects such as stray light, excess radiation damage, and specular reflections, and are used to help verify the tuning parameters chosen for the algorithms such as earth atmosphere bias, minimum pixel intensity, and star detection thresholds.

Holt, Greg N.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Quick Look Report of Godiva U233 shot March 2022 Data Collection Activities

This report discussing the March 2022 irradiation of U233 on the Godiva critical assembly using burst mode and subsequent analysis of the fission products starting at 65 minutes post irradiation, and ending 12 days later. The Short-Lived Fission Product Yield (SLFPY) project is one of many efforts under the Nuclear Physics Multi-Lab and related Venture Project. The objective of the SLFPY project is to provide improved measurements of fission product yields for select nuclides. The SLFPY project consists of measurement and analysis campaigns. To produce fission data, samples of actinide material are irradiated in a high-flux neutron environment. These samples are quickly placed in front of a detection system where both gamma singles and coincidence spectra are collected as a function of time. Gamma spectroscopy is performed on the irradiated material on site near the irradiation facility, starting as soon as feasible after the irradiation and continuing for 7 days or longer. Following the data collection, time-dependent fission yield analyses are performed using gamma-ray spectroscopy. This document summarizes the measurement campaign performed March 21 - April 4, 2022 where sub-gram quantities of 233 U nitrate (UO 2 (NO 3 ) 2 ) were irradiated in the Godiva reactor. The Godiva burst #2076 conducted under experiment IER 504 had a temperature change of +156 degrees Celsius, lasted 13.32 microseconds, and had a reactivity of $\$$1.089. The targets consisted of uranium oxide solution deposited in a quartz tube and packed with quartz wool. The flame-sealed quartz ampoules were used to contain the uranium samples for the irradiation and count activities. On March 22, 2022, at 10:27:00 a.m. the three uranium ampoules, along with a witness foil pack, were irradiated in the Godiva critical assembly using burst mode operations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1992

Hey! What's Space Station Freedom?

This video, 'Hey! What's Space Station Freedom?', has been produced as a classroom tool geared toward middle school children. There are three segments to this video. Segment One is a message to teachers presented by Dr. Jeannine Duane, New Jersey, 'Teacher in Space'. Segment Two is a brief Social Studies section and features a series of Presidential Announcements by President John F. Kennedy (May 1961), President Ronald Reagan (July 1982), and President George Bush (July 1989). These historical announcements are speeches concerning the present and future objectives of the United States' space programs. In the last segment, Charlie Walker, former Space Shuttle astronaut, teaches a group of middle school children, through models, computer animation, and actual footage, what Space Station Freedom is, who is involved in its construction, how it is to be built, what each of the modules on the station is for, and how long and in what sequence this construction will occur. There is a brief animation segment where, through the use of cartoons, the children fly up to Space Station Freedom as astronauts, perform several experiments and are given a tour of the station, and fly back to Earth. Space Station Freedom will take four years to build and will have three lab modules, one from ESA and another from Japan, and one habitation module for the astronauts to live in.

Vonehrenfried, Dutch↗
NASA NTRS1978

Crossed beam studies of O/-/ + D2 yields OD/-/ + D

Using the crossed-beam machine EVA measurements have been conducted of the product angular and energy distributions of the reaction O(-) + D2 yields OD(-) + D in the relative energy range of 1.2-4.7 eV (5.7-23.1 eV LAB). Below 2.5 eV the product distribution is centered about the center of mass, indicating a long-lived complex. Above 2.5 eV the distribution slowly moves forward. Most of the available energy goes into internal energy of the products.

Johnson, S. G.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Use of Convolutional Neural Network Image Classification and High-Speed Ion Probe Data Toward Real-Time Detonation Characterization in a Water-Cooled Rotating Detonation Engine

As rotating detonation engines (RDEs) progress in maturity, the importance of monitoring advancements toward development of active control becomes more critical. Experimental RDE data processing at time scales which satisfy real-time diagnostics will likely require the use of machine learning. This study aims to develop and deploy a novel real-time monitoring technique capable of determining detonation wave number, direction, frequency, and individual wave speeds throughout experimental RDE operational windows. To do so, the diagnostic integrates image classification by a convolutional neural network (CNN) and ionization current signal analysis. Wave mode identification through single-image CNN classification bypasses the need to evaluate sequential images and offers instantaneous identification of the wave mode present in the RDE annulus. Here, real-time processing speeds are achieved due to low data volumes required by the methodology, namely one short-exposure image and a short window of sensor data to generate each diagnostic output. The diagnostic acquires live data using a modified experimental setup alongside Pylon and PyDAQmx libraries within a python data acquisition environment. Lab-deployed diagnostic results are presented across varying wave modes, operating conditions, and data quality, currently executed at 3–4 Hz with a variety of iteration speed optimization options to be considered as future work. These speeds exceed that of conventional techniques and offer a proven structure for real-time RDE monitoring. The demonstrated ability to analyze detonation wave presence and behavior during RDE operation will certainly play a vital role in the development of RDE active control, necessary for RDE technology maturation toward industrial integration.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Microscopic Measurement: Need for Nuclear Material Sample Specimen Characterization Capability

The Surveillance, Fabrication, and Off-Site Operations team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is beginning an update to the nuclear material machining lab in Superblock. Plutonium and other nuclear materials tend to accelerate the aging process for equipment and machines that would otherwise be maintainable for long lives. They have their lifespans shortened from deteriorated seals, embrittled polymer components, accelerated corrosion, and damage to electronics from exposure to radioactive materials. The cost of installation of equipment into a glove box (GB) tends to outstrip the cost of the equipment itself. Due to the magnification of cost, the historical approach to equipment installs has been to purchase and install the highest-quality and most robust equipment available to maximize time between failures and updates. To make room for the installation of a new lathe, the inspection GB is being moved to a different location within the machining lab. As part of the overall effort, the equipment within the inspection GB is being revisited. Current measurement capabilities are antiquated and starting to become problematic due to age. Advances in metrology are sought for more comprehensive characterization of scientific samples. This document aims to identify several options for the replacement of current measurement equipment and identify a system for purchase and eventual installation. The intention is not to select the cheapest system, but rather to identify a system that best meets the needs of both the operators and principal investigators (PI). Following the convention of the SYSM-5620 Design Thinking and System Engineering, it was determined that a laser confocal measurement system from Keyence is the most suitable option for our programmatic need. Form factor, capability, and maintainability were considered. Along with stakeholder input, to ensure the best decision for the Nuclear Material Technology Program.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2005

Modeling Chemical and Isotopic Variations in Lab Formed Hydrothermal Carbonates

Chemical and mineralogical data (e.g. [1]) from Mars suggest that the history of liquid water on the planet was more sporadic in nature than long-lived. The non-equilibrium chemical and isotopic compositions of the carbonates preserved in the martian meteorite ALH84001 are direct evidence of ancient secondary minerals that have not undergone significant diagenesis or stabilization processes typical of long-lived aqueous systems on Earth. Thus secondary minerals and sediments on Mars may primarily record the characteristics of the aqueous environment in which they formed without being significantly overprinted by subsequent diagenetic processes during burial.

Niles, P. B.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Early Career Paths at Los Alamos National Laboratory

We represent a selection of early career staff at LANL with backgrounds in mathematics. There are many possible paths to a position at LANL. The lab has very active graduate research and postdoctoral programs, and it is not uncommon for graduate students to become postdocs, who can then be “converted” to staff. Conversion from being a postdoc is not the only route to a position at LANL, nor is it a guarantee, but most of us did postdocs here before becoming staff. Being a postdoc here also gives you an idea of whether you’d like living in northern New Mexico, a rugged, beautiful, and somewhat remote area. It is important to say here that citizenship is not a requirement for many of the positions at the lab. The lab historically and currently welcomes investigators from all over the world. LANL offers a broad spectrum of mathematical challenges that are largely problem driven. Particularly to those who feel that academic mathematics can be stove-piped, with a focus on deep but not necessarily broad expertise, the LANL environment gives the flexibility to move and grow in many different directions. The lab encourages a team-based approach to problems, which not only enhances the breadth of our approach to solving problems, but also gives team members access to new fields. From the outside (academia), however, it can be difficult to see how fields map between academia and the lab. This is one of the reasons that having interaction with the lab as a graduate student or postdoc can be helpful in understanding if the environment would be a good match for you. An important advantage of working at the lab is our high visibility both in academia, as well as in industry and the government. Because of its mission-driven projects, LANL, and more broadly the Department of Energy Laboratories, help set research directions that are picked up by researchers in academia. For this reason, many lab staff have worked at LANL for a number of years, then have transferred into academia after having set the agenda for their field of expertise. Below, we will share some of our experiences, opinions, and reflections in order to give the reader a feel for our own early career experiences.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Transport Mechanisms of Hydrogen Gas and Ions in Poly(potassium acrylate) Electrolytes

Poly(potassium acrylate) (PAAK) in high concentration KOH solutions is a promising electrolyte for use in alkaline zinc batteries. Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the transport mechanisms of hydrogen gas and zincate ions through both KOH solutions and PAAK solutions with comparable concentrations of KOH. Hydrogen molecules do not interact with the ions or the polymer, and simply diffuse through the system. Furthermore, their diffusion constant decreases with both increasing KOH concentration and when in the polymer, due to the increased viscosity of the solution. By contrast, zincate ions form long-lived clusters with the PAAK chains which significantly slow their diffusion.

Batteries↗
DOE OSTI2024

Machine Learning and Data Science to Advance Laboratory Earthquake Prediction and Illuminate the Mechanics of Precursors to Failure

Earthquakes represent one of our greatest natural hazards and in recent years human induced seismicity is adding to the threat. Even a modest improvement in the ability to forecast devastating large earthquakes or smaller shallow events associated with fluid injection could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars. Current efforts to forecast earthquakes are limited by knowledge of earthquake physics and hampered by a lack of reliable lab or field observations. However, recent work has provided a critical opportunity for advancement. We have found: 1) clear and consistent precursors prior to earthquake-like failure in the laboratory and 2) that lab earthquakes can be predicted using machine learning (ML). These works show that stick-slip failure events –the lab equivalent of earthquakes– are preceded by a cascade of micro-failure events that radiate elastic energy in a manner that foretells catastrophic failure. Remarkably, ML predicts the fault zone stress state, the failure time and in some cases the magnitude of lab earthquakes. In addition, the observations include clear precursors to failure in the form of changes in fault zone properties prior to lab earthquakes. Precursors have been observed in previous laboratory studies but their origin is poorly understood and their possible connection to ML based earthquake prediction is unknown. The work conducted under our project has dramatically expanded these efforts. We have developed an integrated data science approach to illuminate the physics of earthquake precursors and lab earthquake prediction. Our work has accelerated the development of ML, artificial intelligence (AI), and related data science approaches by providing massive data sets that are tightly connected to critical scientific problems and by bringing together leading subject matter experts and data scientists. Earthquake physics involves phenomena that are far from equilibrium. Our work has leveraged data science methods to illuminate these phenomena and investigate how they relate to earthquake prediction. In addition to a large database with many types of labeled events that is available to everyone, our work has advanced the fundamental understanding of seismic forecasting, earthquake physics, and fault rheology

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

“Hybridizing heat-integrated 3D printed modules with mass manufacturable, low pressure drop fiber sorbents” (Final Report)

The overall objective of this proposal was to research, develop, and evaluate a modular direct air capture (DAC) system that is simple and scalable. This system was based on the adsorption of CO 2 into commercial polyamines supported by porous fiber sorbents, which can be produced at kilometer per hour scales using our pre-pilot spinning line. We have housed these fiber materials in novel 3D printed modular housing systems that provide easy-to-manufacture and localized heat integration and flow control. This hybridization of fiber sorbent technology with modular housing provided several advantages that led to lower air pressure drops, higher sorbent productivity, as well as ease of manufacturing and assembly unrivaled by existing and emerging heat integrated contactor designs. The modular housing was fabricated with the following features, at a minimum: (i) a tapered air intake to reduce pressure drop related to entrance effects, (ii) a structured network of heat transfer channels to enable localized cooling and heating during adsorption and desorption, respectively, and (iii) low pressure drop supports for the fiber sorbents. This hybrid manufacturing approach provides a facile method for taking fiber sorbents from lab scale to pilot scale as it dramatically simplifies the fabrication of heat integrated contactor structures.

42 ENGINEERING↗