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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Experiment for Cryogenic Large-aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM)

Submillimeter and far-IR spectroscopy provides insight into galaxy evolution through atomic and molecular line emission. The EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM) is a cryogenic balloon-borne instrument designed to carry out an intensity mapping to measure the cumulative redshifted line emission from carbon monoxide and singly-ionized carbon to probe star formation in windows from the present to z=3.5. During this time, the rate of star formation dropped dramatically, while dark matter continued to cluster. Intensity mapping permits a blind and complete survey of emitting gas through statistics of cumulative brightness fluctuations. EXCLAIM achieves high sensitivity using a cryogenic telescope coupled to six integrated spectrometers with spectral resolving power R = 512 and employing kinetic inductance detectors. Here we summarize the status of the mission.

Maryam Rahmani↗
NASA NTRS2021

TESS Data Release Notes: Sectors 1 – 36, Multi-sector Search, DR53

These Data Release Notes provide information on the processing and export of data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). This data release is a combined, multi-sector transit search only. The underlying data products from individual observing sectors have been previously released. The data products included in this data release are the Data Validation (DV) reports, time series, and associated xml files for the threshold crossing events (TCEs) found by searching a combined data set including data from multiple observing sectors. These data products were generated by the TESS Science Processing Operations Center (SPOC, Jenkins et al., 2016) at NASA Ames Research Center from data collected by the TESS instrument, which is managed by the TESS Payload Operations Center (POC) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The format and content of these data products are documented in the Science Data Products Description Document (SDPDD)1. The SPOC science algorithms are based heavily on those of the Kepler Mission science pipeline, and are described in the Kepler Data Processing Handbook (Jenkins, 2020)2. The Data Validation algorithms are documented in Twicken et al. (2018) and Li et al. (2019). The TESS Instrument Handbook (Vanderspek et al., 2018) contains more information about the TESS instrument design, detector layout, data properties, and mission operations. The TESS Mission is funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

TESS↗
NASA NTRS2020

Polarization Sensing in Digital Holographic Microscopy

Digital holographic microscopy is well suited to the search for microbial species due in part to its intrinsic stability, volumetric imaging capability, and sensitivity to very dilute samples. This is all done with a system having no moving parts, making it additionally attractive for flight instrumentation. Our devices have been field tested on several occasions, and have demonstrated robustness to extreme conditions. When bacteria are alive and moving, they are easy to detect. However, some measurements are subtler. Can we distinguish between a live yet nonmotile species and a mineral, for instance? To provide another method of discrimination, we have added the ability to measure object polarization. This will allow us to characterize the sample by polarization state without any sacrifice in the spatial or temporal resolution (< 1um at 15 Hz). This snapshot polarization sensing is a new method for characterizing the sample under test. In this paper, we will describe the instrument design, the laboratory tests, and demonstrate its performance with live bacteria and crystalline samples.

Wallace, James↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Experiment for Cryogenic Large-aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM)

Submillimeter and far-IR spectroscopy provides insight into galaxy evolution through measurement of atomic and molecular line emission. The EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM) is a cryogenic balloon-borne instrument designed to carry out intensity mapping to measure the cumulative redshifted line emission from carbon monoxide and singly-ionized carbon to probe star formation in windows from the present to z=3.5. During this time, the rate of star formation dropped dramatically, while dark matter continued to cluster. Intensity mapping permits a blind and complete survey of emitting gas through statistics of cumulative brightness fluctuations. EXCLAIM achieves high sensitivity using a cryogenic telescope coupled to six integrated spectrometers with spectral resolving power R=512 and employing microwave kinetic inductance detectors. Here we summarize the status of the mission.

Maryam Rahmani↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA): Current plans and prospects for quantum sensing in future space-based gravitational wave observatories

ESA’s third large class mission is a space-based gravitational wave observatory with NASA as a partner. This talk will describe the current plans for this mission, including the expected science, the instrument design, and a schedule for the development and launch. The noise floor of the system will be described and opportunities for improvement, including possible applications os quantum sensing and measurement techniques.

Jeff Livas↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

P52D-1583 - Further Improvements to Constraints on Titan’s Atmospheric n-Butane, via Ground-Based Observations

We have acquired high spectral resolution ground-based observations of Titan in the mid-infrared from NASA Infrared Telescope Facility’s Texas Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph instrument , designed to constrain the abundances of new molecules within Titan’s atmosphere. The target molecule for this work, n-butane (n-C H ), though predicted by photochemical models of Titan’s atmosphere , has never been detected. Using the NEMESIS radiative transfer code , we retrieved a disk-averaged temperature profile for Titan by modeling CH emission in the 1248 cm region. Using this temperature profile, we then retrieved disk-averaged profiles of ethene (C H ), propane (C H ), and propene (C H ) in the 956 and 965 cm regions, which are also home to the strong and vibrational features of n-butane. We used an n-butane pseudoline list from JPL in order to systematically introduce a range of n-butane mixing ratios into the model, to constrain the molecule’s abundance based on the model’s changing fit to the data. We derive 3-confidence upper limits at an altitude of 150 km of 48 and 31 ppb for n-butane, via the and bands in the 956 and 965 cm regions, respectively. These are significantly tighter upper limits when compared to the ~300 ppb upper limit found in our recent work which used the same methodology but on much lower resolution limb data collected by the Cassini spacecraft. Upper limits on gas abundances are important for continued improvement of photochemical models of Titan’s atmosphere, which is understood to be an important analog for the prebiotic Earth atmosphere . They are also important for understanding the composition of Titan’s lakes and seas, which are likely to contain these larger hydrocarbons . Finally, as larger molecules like C ’s are thought to be able to serve as formation sites for building haze particles, constraining their abundances is important for understanding the process of haze formation at Titan and at Earth Ref: [1] J. H. Lacy, et al., PASP, 2002. [2] Y.L. Yung, et al., ApJS, 1984. [3] M. Dobrijevic, et al., Icarus, 2021. [4] P. G. J. Irwin et al., JQSRT, 2008. [5] K. Sung, et al., JQSRT, 2020. [6] B. L. Steffens, et al., PSJ, 2022. [7] Clarke & Ferris, Origins Life Evol. Biosphere, 1997. [8] D. Cordier, et al., ApJ, 2008. [9] D. B. Curtis, et al., JPCA, 2005.

Brendan Steffens↗
NASA NTRS2022

A Comparative Evaluation of Snowflake Particle Shape Estimation Techniques Used By the Precipitation Imaging Package (PIP), Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera (MASC), and Two-Dimensional Video Disdrometer (2DVD)

Measurements of snowflake particle shape are important for studying snow microphysics. While a number of instruments exist that are capable of measuring particle shape, this study focuses on the measurement techniques of three digital video disdrometers: the Precipitation Imaging Package (PIP), the Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera (MASC), and the Two-Dimensional Video Disdrometer (2DVD). To gain a better understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of these instruments and to provide a foundation upon which comparisons can be made between studies using data from different instruments, we perform a comparative analysis of the shape measurement algorithms employed by each of the three instruments by applying the algorithms to snowflake images captured by PIP during the ICE-POP 2018 field campaign. Our analysis primarily focuses on the measurement of the aspect ratio of either the particle itself, in the case of PIP and MASC, or of the particle bounding box, in the case of PIP and 2DVD. Both PIP and MASC use shape-fitting algorithms to measure aspect ratio. While our analysis of the MASC aspect ratio suggests that the measurements are reliable, our findings indicate that both the ellipse and rectangle aspect ratios produced by PIP underperformed considerably due to the shortcomings of the PIP shape-fitting techniques. We also demonstrate that reliable measurements of aspect ratio can be retrieved from PIP by reprocessing the raw PIP images using either the MASC ellipse-fitting algorithm or a tensor-based ellipse-fitting algorithm. Because of differences in instrument design, 2DVD produces measurements of particle horizontal and vertical extent rather than length and width. Furthermore, the 2DVD measurements of particle horizontal extent can be contaminated by horizontal particle motion. Our findings indicate that, although the correction technique used to remove the horizontal motion contamination performs remarkably well with snowflakes despite being designed for use with raindrops, the 2DVD measurements of particle horizontal extent are less reliable than those measured by PIP.

Charles N Helms↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

BOLT II Roughness-Side Flight Results

An initial review of the roughness data from the BOLT II flight is provided. The BOLT II roughness experiment was designed to investigate discrete trips in flight based on the diamond configuration, which has been shown to be an efficient vortex generator and boundary layer trip from extensive ground-based testing. There were three trip locations chosen for the flight test and their size (height and width) were tailored to the local boundary layer thickness, but all three were expected to trip at the same time or flight condition. Details about the flight vehicle design, instrumentation, and best estimated trajectory are discussed. The present paper is limited to only a review and analysis of the thermocouple data. Boundary layer transition onset times are derived from the thermocouple analysis, thus allowing an initial assessment of the performance of these discrete trips. Since the three trips were sized to trip the boundary layer at the same time, based on a previous wind tunnel study, the present analysis indicates that they performed as expected.

Hypersonic↗
NASA NTRS2024

On-Orbit Spatial Performance Characterization for Thermal Infrared Imagers of Landsat 7, 8, and 9, ECOSTRESS and CTI

In this analysis of the spatial resolving power of thermal imagery products we focus on four satellite instruments that are used in research and applications, for example to monitor land surface temperature and derive evapotranspiration. These are thermal imagers on Landsat 7, Landsat 8, and Landsat 9, as well as the ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS). We compiled sets of close-in-time, day-time images of bridges surrounded by open water bodies, captured by each of the satellite imagers during cloud-free moments. Where possible, we also included some images captured by the Compact Thermal Imager (CTI), a technology demonstrator that was co-located with ECOSTRESS on the International Space Station in 2019. Bridges were found to provide a sufficient thermal contrast with the water surface to quantify the line-spread function of satellite-based thermal products. The full-width-at-half-max of a gaussian beam model fitted to this transect quantifies the on-orbit spatial resolution of different imagers. The results show some loss of spatial resolving power in the final product delivered to end-users as compared to the at-sensor characterization of spatial resolution. For Landsat 7, 8 and 9, the spatial resolution of the thermal bands is 1.5 times the ground sampling distance of 60 m and 100 m respectively. For the ECOSTRESS the difference is up to twice the sampling distance of 78 by 69 m2. Since spatial resolution is a main driver for instrument design it is important to understand and communicate this discrepancy between pre-flight design parameters and the characteristics of the surface imagery delivered to the user community. The goal of this research is to facilitate an improved fusion of current and future satellite observations into harmonized products with superior temporal and spatial characteristics.

thermal infrared↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development of the Microcalorimeter Detector for Athena/X-IFU

The X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) will be a microcalorimeter instrument on ESA’s Athena X-ray observatory, set to launch around 2037. Athena recently underwent a reformulation exercise resulting in a simplified X-IFU architecture, with a new baseline configuration featuring fewer pixels and readout channels. Newly developed transition edge sensor pixels that are slower and have reduced magnetic field sensitivity have helped enable the new instrument design whilst maintaining flagship quality science. In this paper, we report on the status and plan for continued development of the X-IFU microcalorimeter array. We describe details of the current pixel architecture and performance specifications. We will present the design of the first full scale microcalorimeter arrays that have the necessary flight like electrical and mechanical interfaces for X-IFU. These arrays will undergo testing in a focal-plane assembly (FPA) Development Model (DM) in Europe later in 2024 and serve as a precursor to the X-IFU Engineering Model detector.

Stephen J Smith↗
NASA NTRS2026

Diamond-Loaded Polyimide Aerogel Scattering Filters and Their Applications in Astrophysical and Planetary Science Observations

Infrared-blocking, aerogel-based scattering filters have a broad range of potential applications in astrophysics and planetary science instruments in the far-infrared, sub-millimeter, and microwave regimes. This paper demonstrates the ability of conductively-loaded, polyimide aerogel filters to meet the mechanical and science instrument requirements for several experiments, including the Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS), the Experiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM), and the Sub-millimeter Solar Observation Lunar Volatiles Experiment (SSOLVE). Thermal multi-physics simulations of the filters predict their performance when integrated into a cryogenic receiver. Prototype filters have survived cryogenic cycling to 4 K with no degradation in mechanical properties. Measurement of total hemispherical reflectance and transmittance, as well as cryogenic tests of the aerogel filters in a full receiver context, allow estimates of the integrated infrared emissivity of the filters. Knowledge of the emissivity will help instrument designers incorporate the filters into future experiments in planetary science, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Kyle R Helson↗
DOE OSTI2021

RELAP5-3D Modeling of High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF)

HTTF at Oregon State University (OSU) Reference: General Atomics? modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor Helium cooled, electrically heated Prismatic graphite blocks in the core and reflectors Alumina ceramic blocks are used to simulate the core and top and bottom reflectors One-fourth scale in length and diameter Most of the coolant channels in the core are full scale Lower pressure compared to the prototype reactor Over 500 instruments Designed primarily to investigate depressurized conduction cooldown (DCC) transients

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Brine Availability Test in Salt, a Heated Borehole Experiment at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, New Mexico, USA - 20233

The Brine Availability Tests in Salt is a US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy supported activity as part of the Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition Campaign where we are performing simultaneous heated and control experiments in adjacent horizontal boreholes in the WIPP Salt Disposal Investigation drifts as part of experimental Phase 1. Phase 1a of BATS, a low-cost, small spatial-scale experiment performed in order to design instrumentation and methods for further experimentation in the URL, has been completed (June 2018 - May 2019) and is described elsewhere. In coincidence with multiple physical parameters that will be measured over the duration of the experiment, we will be measuring the liquid and vapor phases of H{sub 2}O as well as its isotopic content (not measured in Phase 1a). Three different forms of water occur in natural salts: as fluid in macro scale (mm size) inclusions, as intergranular free H{sub 2}O and as H{sub 2}O incorporated in hydrous minerals. Each of these forms has potentially different stable isotope signatures and will be influenced differentially by heat induced transport and by interaction with introduced tracers. Continuous measurement of vapor phase H{sub 2}O isotopes during borehole heating will be impacted by several effects: 1) evaporation as liquid brine flows into the borehole and evaporates completely or partially into the dry N{sub 2} stream; 2) steam from dehydration of hydrous minerals, that may enter the borehole; and 3) hydrous minerals that may form in the borehole (preferentially incorporating heavier isotopes). The continuous time series collected over the course of the heating test will be combined with analyses of pre-test and post-test collected samples of test site salt to investigate the contributions of each of the three water types as H{sub 2}O is mobilized due to the effects of heating. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

RELAP5-3D Modeling of the OECD-NEA HTTF Benchmark

HTTF at Oregon State University (OSU) Reference: General Atomics’ modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor Helium cooled, electrically heated (2.2 MW) Prismatic graphite blocks in the core and reflectors Alumina ceramic blocks are used to simulate the core and top and bottom reflectors One-fourth scale in length and diameter Most of the coolant channels in the core are full scale Lower pressure compared to the prototype reactor (0.7 MPa) Over 500 instruments Designed primarily to investigate depressurized (DCC) and pressurized (PCC) conduction cooldown transients

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS2018

Design Limit Loads and Verification Approach for the TESS Observatory

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a NASA Explorer mission. The TESS Observatory is scheduled to launch on Falcon 9 in April 2018. This presentation covers the process used to define and update design limit loads for the observatory, instrument, and components throughout the life of the program. The limit loads that drove the need for a SoftRide isolation system are highlighted. The testing performed to qualify the observatory for launch loads at the instrument and observatory level is also detailed. In addition, exchanges with the launch vehicle provider in terms of loads predictions and hardware for test are discussed along with the associated issues encountered and lessons learned. The loads development and verification success on TESS was a team effort. Orbital ATK is the spacecraft provider, NASA GSFC provides project management and technical oversight, the instrument is managed by MIT Kavli Institute and the instrument cameras are built and tested by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Since the instrument was designed in parallel with the spacecraft, the instrument design limit loads were developed in partnership with NASA and the instrument team. The three teams collaborated on a regular basis starting in the early design phase and continuing through observatory level testing.

Limit Loads↗
NASA NTRS2023

UAM Instrument Flight Procedure Design and Evaluation in the Joby Flight Simulator

NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Campaign (NC) partnered with Joby Aviation to test and evaluate different developmental candidate Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Instrument Flight Procedure (IFP) designs including new departure, enroute, approach and missed approach architectures using Joby’s high-fidelity engineering aircraft simulator. In conjunction with the simulator testing, this effort also evaluated related aspects such as charting, coding, and adherence to flight planning criteria. The test objectives were to assess the safety, efficiency, passenger comfort and noise of the different variations of the developmental IFPs. Safety-related measures include clearance from terrain and vertical obstructions, procedure flyability, and flight path conformance. Efficiency-related measures included time required, airspace volume required, and battery energy required. Passenger comfort and ride quality measures include roll/pitch angles, roll/pitch attitude change rates, and airspeeds prior to aggressive maneuvers, subjective pilot/passenger responses and acceleration forces. The noise impacts of the different IFPs will be interpolated/extrapolated using data from the simulator fed into a separate Joby acoustic software-based tool. Overall, several tradeoffs were identified and characterized between the different variations of the developmental IFP profiles. No single version of the developmental IFP structure scored highest across all measures listed above; rather, different IFP variations proved optimal for different measures, confirming that the best IFP depends on which specific measures are prioritized for a given aircraft, location and operation.

National Campaign↗
NASA NTRS1994

Design of the Optical Communication Demonstrator Instrument Optical System

This paper describes the optical system for the Optical Communication Demonstrator (OCD) instrument. With an aperture of only 4 inches, the OCD instrument is designed to demonstrate the capability of communicating from space to a ground station with a small instrument using optical wavelengths.

Optical↗