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NASA NTRS2015

Correlating Mineralogy and Amino Acid Contents of Milligram-Scale Murchison Carbonaceous Chondrite Samples

Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, have been found to be indigenous in most of the carbonaceous chondrite groups. The abundances of amino acids, as well as their structural, enantiomeric and isotopic compositions differ significantly among meteorites of different groups and petrologic types. This suggests that there is a link between parent-body conditions, mineralogy and the synthesis and preservation of amino acids (and likely other organic molecules). However, elucidating specific causes for the observed differences in amino acid composition has proven extremely challenging because samples analyzed for amino acids are typically much larger ((is) approximately 100 mg powders) than the scale at which meteorite heterogeneity is observed (sub mm-scale differences, (is) approximately 1-mg or smaller samples). Thus, the effects of differences in mineralogy on amino acid abundances could not be easily discerned. Recent advances in the sensitivity of instrumentation have made possible the analysis of smaller samples for amino acids, enabling a new approach to investigate the link between mineralogical con-text and amino acid compositions/abundances in meteorites. Through coordinated mineral separation, mineral characterization and highly sensitive amino acid analyses, we have performed preliminary investigations into the relationship between meteorite mineralogy and amino acid composition. By linking amino acid data to mineralogy, we have started to identify amino acid-bearing mineral phases in different carbonaceous meteorites. The methodology and results of analyses performed on the Murchison meteorite are presented here.

Burton, Aaron, S.↗

NASA NTRS2016

How We Can Constrain Aerosol Type Globally

In addition to aerosol number concentration, aerosol size and composition are essential attributes needed to adequately represent aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI) in models. As the nature of ACI varies enormously with environmental conditions, global-scale constraints on particle properties are indicated. And although advanced satellite remote-sensing instruments can provide categorical aerosol-type classification globally, detailed particle microphysical properties are unobtainable from space with currently available or planned technologies. For the foreseeable future, only in situ measurements can constrain particle properties at the level-of-detail required for ACI, as well as to reduce uncertainties in regional-to-global-scale direct aerosol radiative forcing (DARF). The limitation of in situ measurements for this application is sampling. However, there is a simplifying factor: for a given aerosol source, in a given season, particle microphysical properties tend to be repeatable, even if the amount varies from day-to-day and year-to-year, because the physical nature of the particles is determined primarily by the regional environment. So, if the PDFs of particle properties from major aerosol sources can be adequately characterized, they can be used to add the missing microphysical detail the better sampled satellite aerosol-type maps. This calls for Systematic Aircraft Measurements to Characterize Aerosol Air Masses (SAM-CAAM). We are defining a relatively modest and readily deployable, operational aircraft payload capable of measuring key aerosol absorption, scattering, and chemical properties in situ, and a program for characterizing statistically these properties for the major aerosol air mass types, at a level-of-detail unobtainable from space. It is aimed at: (1) enhancing satellite aerosol-type retrieval products with better aerosol climatology assumptions, and (2) improving the translation between satellite-retrieved aerosol optical properties and species-specific aerosol mass and size that are tracked in aerosol transport and climate models used to assess aerosol forcing and its anthropogenic components. This presentation will summarize where we stand on the development of the SAM-CAAM concept.

DARF↗

NASA NTRS2016

Suomi-NPP Mission On-Orbit Experience with Toroid Ball Bearing Retainers Under Unidirectional and Reversing Motion

The Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) instrument scan system on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) spacecraft has experienced several randomly occurring increased torque 'events' since its on-orbit activation in November 2011. Based on a review of on-orbit telemetry data and data gathered from scan mechanism bearing life testing on the ground, the conclusion was drawn that some degradation of Teflon toroid ball retainers was occurring in the instrument Scan Drive Mechanism. A life extension program was developed and executed on-orbit with very good results to date. The life extension program consisted of reversing the mechanism for a limited number of consecutive scans every day.

Bruegman, Otto↗

NASA NTRS2016

Construction of a Matched Global Cloud and Radiance Product from LEO/GEO and EPIC Observations to Estimate Daytime Earth Radiation Budget from DSCOVR

With the launch of the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), new estimates of the daytime Earth radiation budget can be computed from a combination of measurements from the two Earth-observing sensors onboard the spacecraft, the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Radiometer (NISTAR). Although these instruments can provide accurate top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiance measurements, they lack sufficient resolution to provide details on small-scale surface and cloud properties. Previous studies have shown that these properties have a strong influence on the anisotropy of the radiation at the TOA, and ignoring such effects can result in large TOA-flux errors. To overcome these effects, high-resolution scene identification is needed for accurate Earth radiation budget estimation. Selected radiance and cloud property data measured and derived from several low earth orbit (LEO, including NASA Terra and Aqua MODIS, NOAA AVHRR) and geosynchronous (GEO, including GOES (east and west), METEOSAT, INSAT-3D, MTSAT-2, and HIMAWARI-8) satellite imagers were collected to create hourly 5-km resolution global composites of data necessary to compute angular distribution models (ADM) for reflected shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) radiation. The satellite data provide an independent source of radiance measurements and scene identification information necessary to construct ADMs that are used to determine the daytime Earth radiation budget. To optimize spatial matching between EPIC measurements and the high-resolution composite cloud properties, LEO/GEO retrievals within the EPIC fields of view (FOV) are convolved to the EPIC point spread function (PSF) in a similar manner to the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Single Scanner Footprint TOA/Surface Fluxes and Clouds (SSF) product. Examples of the merged LEO/GEO/EPIC product will be presented, describing the chosen radiance and cloud properties and details of how data from the multi-satellite measurements are selected.

Duda, David P.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Role of Forcing Uncertainty and Background Model Error Characterization in Snow Data Assimilation

Accurate specification of the model error covariances in data assimilation systems is a challenging issue. Ensemble land data assimilation methods rely on stochastic perturbations of input forcing and model prognostic fields for developing representations of input model error covariances. This article examines the limitations of using a single forcing dataset for specifying forcing uncertainty inputs for assimilating snow depth retrievals. Using an idealized data assimilation experiment, the article demonstrates that the use of hybrid forcing input strategies (either through the use of an ensemble of forcing products or through the added use of the forcing climatology) provide a better characterization of the background model error, which leads to improved data assimilation results, especially during the snow accumulation and melt-time periods. The use of hybrid forcing ensembles is then employed for assimilating snow depth retrievals from the AMSR2 (Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2) instrument over two domains in the continental USA with different snow evolution characteristics. Over a region near the Great Lakes, where the snow evolution tends to be ephemeral, the use of hybrid forcing ensembles provides significant improvements relative to the use of a single forcing dataset. Over the Colorado headwaters characterized by large snow accumulation, the impact of using the forcing ensemble is less prominent and is largely limited to the snow transition time periods. The results of the article demonstrate that improving the background model error through the use of a forcing ensemble enables the assimilation system to better incorporate the observational information.

assimilation↗

NASA NTRS2019

Exo-C: A Dedicated Probe-scale Space Mission for Coronagraphic Imaging and Spectroscopy of Exoplanetary Systems

"Exo-C", the Exoplanet Coronagraph, is a concept for a dedicated probe-scale (< $1B) space mission optimized for direct imaging of exoplanetary systems. It was the product of a detailed mission study carried in 2013-2015 under the sponsorship of the NASA Astrophysics Division. Exo-C was designed to be capable of spectrally characterizing 1-2 dozen nearby exoplanets in reflected visible light, discovering previously undetected planets, and imaging structure in hundreds of circumstellar disks. It would obtain unique science results on planets down to super-Earth size and serve as a technology pathfinder toward an eventual flagship-class mission to find and characterize habitable Earth-like exoplanets. Key design elements are an unobscured telescope aperture, an internal coronagraph with deformable mirrors for precise wavefront control, and an orbit and observatory design chosen for high thermal stability. ExoC’s telescope aperture, orbit, mission lifetime, and spacecraft bus are all comparable to those of the highly successful Kepler mission. Much of the needed technology development (precision pointing, wavefront sensing and correction, high contrast integral field spectroscopy, detector flight readiness) has been advanced by the WFIRST Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) project over the past several years. Mission performance, mass, power, and cost estimates have also benefited from detailed work by the WFIRST CGI team. A Cost and Technical Evaluation (CATE) was performed in 2015 by the Aerospace Corporation. Today Exo-C is a backup option to WFIRST CGI. It could nominally be implemented within seven years from project start. This white paper summarizes the study final report, with updates on performance and technical readiness as of spring 2019.

Karl R. Stapelfeldt↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

UV Laser Development for In Situ Planetary Lander Instruments

Mass and Raman spectrometers represent progressive analytical platforms for future in situ lander missions to explore the surface chemistry of planetary bodies across the Solar System. Europa, the Moon, and Mars are some of the primary targets for future NASA missions to search for extraterrestrial life and potentially habitable environments beyond Earth, further our understanding of the timing and formation of the Solar System and identify potentially viable economic resources such as water and/or valuable metal assets. The CORALS (Characterization of Ocean Residues And Life Signatures) and CRATER (Characterization of Regolith And Trace Economic Resources) instruments are UV laser-enabled OrbitrapTM mass spectrometers currently under development for prospective lander missions to Europa and the Moon, respectively. The Raman Mass Spectrometer (RAMS) is a dual wavelength (UV and visible) laser enabled hybrid instrument that incorporates laser desorption/ ionization mass spectrometry (LDMS) and micro-Raman microspectroscopy imaging (μRS) into a compact instrument package for multiple planetary missions to the inner and outer Solar System. The Pulse Laser Ablation Sampling and Mass Analysis (PLASMA) instrument combines a multi-wavelength laser (deep-UV to near-IR), plasma source, and collision cell with a heritage quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) to enable high precision trace element analyses for a future Lunar lander instrument. We report on the advancement of four compact, robust, and high technology readiness level (TRL) solid state lasers operating at wavelengths 213 nm, 266 nm, 515 nm, 532 nm and 1064 nm that serve as the sampling and ionization sources, for the CRATER, CORALS, RAMS and PLASMA investigations.

Molly Fahey↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

On-Orbit Performance of the NOAA-21 Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS)

The Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) instrument provides sounding measurements of Earth’s atmosphere to collect temperature and water vapor data for NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program. ATMS is a total-power passive microwave radiometer with 22 channels spanning a frequency range from 22 to 183 GHz. A general description of the ATMS instrument is detailed in [1]. Three ATMS units are currently on-orbit. The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) unit was launched in 2011 and the NOAA-20 (previously JPSS-1) unit was launch in 2017. Both SNPP and NOAA-20 ATMS units are currently operational and the data is used for numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. The NOAA-21 (formerly JPSS-2) ATMS unit was launched on November 10, 2022 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California [2]. The ATMS instrument began generating radiance data on November 21, 2022. At the time of this abstract NOAA-21 ATMS is currently completing on-orbit commissioning and checkout activities; it is expected that the commissioning activities will be complete by the IGARSS 2023 conference. This paper will focus on the on-orbit performance of the NOAA-21 ATMS instrument based on measurements and activities from the commissioning period. Comparisons will be made to specifications and to expected performance based on pre-launch test activities. Pre-launch JPSS-2 (NOAA-21) ATMS performance is detailed in [4]. Additionally, the NOAA-21 performance will be compared to the on-orbit performance of the SNPP and NOAA-21 ATMS units. The post-launch performance of SNPP ATMS is detailed in [1][5][6][7]. The post-launch performance of NOAA-20 ATMS is detailed in [5][7][8]. On-orbit performance is evaluated through data collects from nominal mission operations as well as specific post-launch tests and spacecraft maneuvers. Nominal mission operations can be used to evaluate parameters such as instrument thermal stability, Noise Equivalent Delta Temperature (NEDT)/radiometric sensitivity, geolocation, inter-channel noise correlation, striping, and radiometric bias and stability. Shortly after instrument activation, the instrument thermal stability as measured from onboard temperature sensors is evaluated to demonstrate stable and steady-state behavior. Methods for computing NEDT are described in [9][10][11]. Passive geolocation measurements are performed using the coastline inflection point (CIP) method, described in [8][12]. The striping index, used as a metric to quantify striping, is the ratio of along-track variance to cross-track variance of the observed brightness temperature [4][8][14]. Inter-channel noise correlation has been previously reported for SNPP and NOAA-20 [1][8]. Dedicated post-launch tests and spacecraft maneuvers are utilized during the commissioning phase for further evaluation of on-orbit instrument performance. These activities provide information on the optimal space view selection, noise power spectral density (PSD), gain stability, scan bias, interference from onboard transmitters, reflector emissivity, active geolocation, and radiometric bias and stability detection methods. The optimal space view selection is used to determine which of ATMS space view sectors is preferred for minimizing contamination of the space view [1]. Point and stare testing is used to generate noise PSD and gain stability information, as described in [1][8]. Spacecraft roll and pitch maneuvers allow the ATMS to view different zones, including deep space, and the data can be used to provide information on scan biases and antenna sidelobe contamination [1][8]. The pitch maneuver can also be used to assess interference from onboard Ka-band transmitters and reflector emissivity [8]. Active geolocation is evaluated as a method for geolocation, described in [15].

Edward Kim↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

OCI Geolocation Evaluation and Refinement Using Landsat Control Points

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission is NASA’s next investment in ocean biology, clouds, and aerosol data records. A key feature of PACE is the inclusion of an advanced satellite radiometer, Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), a global mapping radiometer that combines multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing. The geolocation processing is performed for OCI using spacecraft navigation data and an instrument geometry model. To evaluate the geolocation accuracy for OCI and develop refinements to the processing methods, control point matching using Landsat data has been implemented as a step in the operational processing of OCI data at the Science Data Segment. This processing provides between 200 and 300 high-quality matchups per day with good global and geometric distribution, allowing rapid evaluation of the OCI geolocation accuracy. The results provided an early indication of the overall quality of the geolocation processing and of specific aspects needing improvement. A standard set of granules was identified to support rapid implementation and testing of geolocation refinements, and this approach has been highly successful in improving the geolocation processing accuracy to meet the science requirements. The evaluation will continue throughout the mission to ensure the ongoing accuracy of geolocation. This paper describes the control point matching methodology, the approach to development of the geolocation processing refinements, and the recent results.

PACE↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

OCI Geolocation Evaluation and Refinement Using Landsat Control Points

PACE↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Earth Science Division’s Commitment to Increasing Safety in the Field

NASA's Earth Science Division (ESD) has led and supported field campaign research over many decades focused on advancing fundamental research, testing new instrument technologies, and promoting career development. ESD field campaign research is conducted over a wide range of projects that vary in size, science focus area, location, platform type, and people. ESD leadership has created a task team to address campaign physical and mental safety, with the goal of providing all participants in NASA field campaign research with an environment that promotes research, safety, inclusivity, and a positive experience. Building on resources that have been developed both within and outside NASA, we report on the task team’s accomplishments and near-term plans, including the recent establishment of a best practices document and guidelines for the development of “agreement of behaviors” document for field teams. We also describe progress in the development of an online training module for field campaign participation, the incorporation of campaign safety language in forthcoming NASA ROSES solicitations, and outreach activities. Finally, we report on recent joint interactions with the NASA Planetary Science Division’s Ethics in Fieldwork team.

Ocean-based measurements↗

DOE OSTI2024

Experimental Study on Flow Condensation of Low Global Warming Potential Refrigerants in a Micro-fin Aluminum Tube

This study investigates the dynamic shifts in refrigerant technologies driven by environmental regulations, particularly emphasizing low global warming potential (GWP). Moreover, there is a rising trend in the adoption of aluminum tubes with internal axial micro-fin structures in heat exchangers to reduce costs. The research focuses on the condensation process within an expanded axial micro-fin aluminum tube with a 5.96 mm fin-tip diameter. Various refrigerants are analyzed, including both single compounds (R-32, R-1234yf, R-1234ze(E)) and zeotropic mixtures (R-454B, R-454C, R-455A). Experimental procedures cover a range of condensation temperatures (35~45 °C), reduced pressures (0.21~0.55), and mass fluxes (150~350 kg/(m² s)), providing crucial data on heat transfer coefficients (HTC) and frictional pressure gradient (FPG). This data is particularly significant for high-glide refrigerants and is instrumental in the design of advanced air conditioning and refrigeration systems aimed at mitigating global warming.

Hu, Yifeng↗

DOE OSTI2025

Analysis of SPND Material Candidates for Real-Time Neutron Spectrum Monitoring Poster

The future of the nuclear industry will be shaped by advanced reactor designs requiring innovative instrumentation for safe operation. A key area of innovation is the ability to accurately and reliably monitor the neutron energy spectrum during operations, which would also enhance the experimental capabilities of existing research reactors. To address this need, our research focuses on the potential use of Self-Powered Neutron Detectors (SPNDs) for real-time neutron spectrum monitoring. We investigated various candidate materials for SPNDs by evaluating their energy-dependent reaction rates. Promising materials were further modeled using MCNP to determine the free electron production per neutron across the neutron energy spectrum, approximating their energy-dependent signal sensitivity. Our findings identified Samarium (Sm) and Gadolinium (Gd) as top candidates for thermal neutrons, Hafnium (Hf) and Thulium (Tm) for epithermal neutrons, and Tantalum (Ta) for fast neutrons. These materials will undergo future experimental validation to confirm the modeled responses and assess their feasibility for real-time neutron spectrum measurements.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗

NASA NTRS1977

Global sensing of gaseous and aerosol trace species using automated instrumentation on 747 airliners

The Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) by NASA is collecting and analyzing data on gaseous and aerosol trace species in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Measurements are obtained from automated systems installed on four 747 airliners flying global air routes. Advances were made in airborne sampling instrumentation. Improved instruments and analysis techniques are providing an expanding data base for trace species including ozone, carbon monoxide, water vapor, condensation nuclei and mass concentrations of sulfates and nitrates. Simultaneous measurements of several trace species obtained frequently can be used to uniquely identify the source of the air mass as being typically tropospheric or stratospheric. A quantitative understanding of the tropospheric-stratospheric exchange processes leads to better knowledge of the atmospheric impact of pollution through the development of improved simulation models of the atmosphere.

Perkins, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Development of contamination requirements for spaceborne optical instrumentation

High performance satellites and critical surfaces aboard advanced long-life spacecraft require effective contamination control measures to maintain performance stability and to ensure data accuracy. Contamination is said to exist and be of concern if a spacecraft or launch vehicle produced material interferes with the intended performance of a surface or sensor. This paper will discuss the development of contamination requirements for spaceborne optical instrumentation. In addition, a comparison of instrument contamination requirements to measured instrument degradation levels for mission activities will be presented. If maintained, these requirements ensure against undesirable instrument degradation due to the contamination environment created by fabrication, launch, mission activities, ambient atmosphere and the instruments themselves.

Hansen, Patricia A.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Development of simulation techniques suitable for the analysis of air traffic control situations and instrumentation

A terminal area simulation is described which permits analysis and synthesis of current and advanced air traffic management system configurations including ground and airborne instrumentation and new and modified aircraft characteristics. Ground elements in the simulation include navigation aids, surveillance radars, communication links, air-route structuring, ATC procedures, airport geometries and runway handling constraints. Airborne elements include traffic samples with individual aircraft performance and operating characteristics and aircraft navigation equipment. The simulation also contains algorithms for conflict detection, conflict resolution, sequencing and pilot-controller data links. The simulation model is used to determine the sensitivities of terminal area traffic flow, safety and congestion to aircraft performance characteristics, avionics systems, and other ATC elements.

Source record↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Advances in Design Capabilities for Planetary Missions from the NASA Entry Systems Modeling and Instrumentation Portfolio

The Entry Systems Modeling project (ESM) is supported by both the NASA Space Technology and the Science Mission Directorates and focuses on developing simulation tools and validated models for characterizing the performance of entry systems tailored to planetary destinations across the Solar System. ESM is organized into six technical capability areas that together address all relevant factors related to spacecraft entry, as well as some aspects of descent: Thermal Protection System (TPS) Materials; Aerothermodynamics; Entry & Descent Vehicle Dynamics; Guidance, Navigation, and Control; Vehicle Systems Analysis; and Advanced Tools and Numerical Methods. Development within the capability areas is undertaken explicitly with a focus on transition and infusion to science missions, human exploration missions, and commercial space activities. The present talk details developments that specifically impact science missions, including simulation tool capabilities that aid in mission design and model development to understand entry system performance at a given destination. Examples of the successful infusion and transition of such project outcomes to science missions also are provided. Several simulation tool development efforts within ESM have resulted in new design capabilities for missions. One such outcome is improved toolsets for mission trajectory and concept of operations design. Specifically, an initiative to couple a leading tool for entry, ascent/descent, and orbital trajectory optimization (Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories II or POST2) to those used within the Agency for interplanetary trajectory optimization (Copernicus and Monte) has made substantial progress, with the outcomes to date promising to allow efficient trajectory optimization across mission phases. Additionally, toolchains for the evaluation of vehicle performance during entry and descent have been developed that allow assessment of multi-dimensional aeroheating on detailed vehicle geometries, characterization of deployment and inflation of parachutes, and assessment of vehicle dynamic stability during descent. These capabilities are achieved by coupling diverse sets of physics together – material response, computational fluid dynamics, radiation, and vehicle dynamics – to suitably describe complex entry and descent phenomena. Several model development and validation efforts for specific destinations and entry regimes also are underway within the ESM project. For instance, new experimental capabilities to validate radiation models at low densities/high altitudes recently have been established with project support, specifically the Low-Density Shock Tube (LDST) at the NASA Ames Research Center Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) facility. The LDST is being leveraged to develop improved models of shock layer kinetics and radiation in Titan atmospheres, while future studies will be conducted in the LDST and the existing high velocity shock tube to provide validation data for radiation models of Venus, Ice Giants, and Mars atmospheres. Models describing the aerothermal and thermo-structural performance of Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials has been another focus, with multiscale modeling activities on-going for the two leading TPS materials applicable to a range of entry conditions and science missions: the Phenolic-Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) and woven materials like 3D Mid-Density Carbon Phenolic (3MDCP). A continual effort is made to infuse and transition outcomes from ESM simulation tool and model development activities into relevant science missions. Significant progress has been made on this front, with missions such as Dragonfly, DAVINCI, and Mars Missions benefitting from project outcomes. The groundwork also is being laid to provide insights into forward looking missions to Gas/Ice Giants as well as for potential sample returns.

Justin Haskins↗

DOE OSTI2026

NLR CSP Optical Facilities: Illuminating the Path Forward Through Innovation and Impact: Agreement 38490

This initiative is a multi-faceted project at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) aimed at strengthening its Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Optical Facilities to advance the development of low-cost, high-performance materials for solar and other applications. The project's strategy is built on three pillars: strategic stakeholder engagement, diligent facility maintenance and utilization, and the development of new research capabilities. The overarching goal is to ensure the facilities remain state-of-the-art resources for industry and academia, thereby accelerating the conversion of concentrated sunlight into energy. A key driver of the project is an international Advisory Board, which provides critical guidance on research priorities and industry needs, leading to new collaborations and secured funding. This external engagement, combined with proactive outreach to industry partners, ensures the lab's work remains aligned with real-world challenges, including materials durability and performance certification. Significant efforts in facility maintenance have addressed challenges with aging infrastructure. Notable achievements include the complete refurbishment of the hail-damaged Ultra-Accelerated Weathering System (UAWS) and the successful replacement of a failing 15-year-old Lambda 1050 spectrophotometer with a new-generation model, substantially upgrading material characterization capabilities. These maintenance activities were complemented by achieving a prestigious ISO 9001:2015 certification for the Advanced Optical Materials Labs, formally recognizing the quality and reliability of NLR's measurement capabilities. Despite these successes, challenges remain, including high demand for the High Flux Solar Furnace (HFSF) and intermittent failures of other key instruments. The project has delivered major advancements in research techniques and capabilities. At the Flatirons campus, a new indoor laboratory, was established to house advanced deflectometry and photogrammetry systems for heliostat characterization. For on-sun testing, a novel, actively cooled turning mirror was developed for the HFSF, enabling more realistic testing of particle receivers and components. A collaboration with Virginia Tech successfully demonstrated the high-temperature durability of a new solar absorber coating through extensive cyclic testing. Concurrently, new modeling took place to better predict material degradation on rough, fractal surfaces. In summary, this project has systematically enhanced NLR's CSP Optical Facilities through strategic upgrades, rigorous maintenance, and stakeholder-guided research. By overcoming equipment failures, budgetary constraints, and logistical hurdles, the project has reinforced NLR's role as a central hub for CSP innovation and materials testing. Future work will focus on securing diverse funding, expanding collaborations, and continuing to provide the critical infrastructure needed to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation technologies.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗