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Characterization of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment radiometers

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) scanning radiometers were used to measure the earth's radiation fields during the period November 1984 through February 1990. The ERBE radiometric packages were placed into orbit aboard the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) and the NOAA-9 and NOAA-10 spacecraft platforms. In each radiometric package, thermistor bolometers were used as detection elements for the broadband total (0,2 - 50,0 microns), shortwave (0,2 - 5,0 microns), and longwave (5,0 - 50,0 microns) spectral regions. Flight calibration facilities were built into each of the spacecraft radiometric packages. The flight facilities consisted of black bodies, tungsten lamps, and silicon photodiodes. The black bodies and tungsten lamps were found to be reliable at precision levels approaching 0,5 percent over a five-year period. The photodiodes were found to degrade more than 2 percent during the first year in orbit. In this paper, the flight calibration systems for the ERBE scanning radiometers are described along with the resultant measurements.

Lee, R. B., III↗

Interannual Variability in Surface LW Fluxes Over the Tropical Oceans As Seen in ISCCP-FD and GEWEX SRB Data Sets

One notable aspect of Earth s climate is that although the planet appears to be very close to radiative balance at top-of-atmosphere (TOA), the atmosphere itself and underlying surface are not. Profound exchanges of energy between the atmosphere and oceans, land and cryosphere occur over a range of time scales. Recent evidence from broadband satellite measurements suggests that even these TOA fluxes contain some detectable variations. Our ability to measure and reconstruct radiative fluxes at the surface and at the top of atmosphere is improving rapidly. In this work we will evaluate two recently released estimates of radiative fluxes, focusing primarily on surface estimates. The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project FD radiative flux profiles are available from mid-1 983 to near present and have been constructed by driving the radiative transfer physics from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) global model with ISCCP clouds and TOVS (TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder)thermodynamic profiles. Fu!l and clear sky SW and LW fluxes are produced. A similar product from the NASA/GEWEX Surface Radiation Budget Project using different radiative flux codes and thermodynamics from the NAS/Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS-1) assimilation model makes a similar calculation of surface fluxes. However this data set currently extends only through 1995. Significant differences in both interannual variability as well as trends are found between among these data sets. For radiative fluxes these differences are traced to TOVS thermodynamic soundings used to drive the ISCCP-FD calculations. Errors in near surface temperature and precipitable water cascade into ISCCP upward and downward IR flux components, demonstrably affecting interannual variability. Revised estimates of clear-sky fluxes over ocean are made using statistical algorithms and water vapor from the (SSM/I) Special Sensor Microwave Imager. These calculations show strong near-surface water vapor feedback over the tropical oceans in association with SST changes. However, it is also shown that ISCCP longwave cloud forcing, common to both the ISCCP-FD and GEWEX SRB retrievals, is the main driver of a long-term decrease in net LW flux to the surface during the near-20 year period covered by these revised estimates.

Robertson, F. R.↗

Long-range Transport of Asian Dust Storms: A Satellite/Surface Perspective on Societal and Scientific Influence

Among the many components contributing to air pollution, airborne mineral dust plays an important role due to its biogeochemical impact on the ecosystem and its radiative forcing effect on the weather/climate system. As much as one-third to half of the global dust emissions, estimated about 800 Tg, are introduced annually into Earth's atmosphere from various deserts in China. Asian dust storm outbreaks are believed to have persisted for hundreds and thousands years over the vast territory of north and northwest China, but not until recent decades that many studies reveal the compelling evidence in recognizing the importance of these eolian dust particles for forming Chinese Loess Plateau and for biogeochemical cycling in the North Pacific Ocean to as far as in the Greenland ice-sheets through long-range transport. The Asian dust and air pollution aerosols can be detected by its colored appearance on current Earth observing satellites and its evolution monitored by satellite and surface network. In this paper, we will demonstrate the capability of a new satellite algorithm, called Deep Blue, to retrieve aerosol properties, particularly but not limited to, over bright-reflecting surfaces such as urban areas and deserts. Recently, many field campaigns were designed and executed to study the compelling variability in spatial and temporal scale of both pollution-derived and naturally occurring aerosols, which often exist in high concentrations over eastern Asia and along the rim of the western Pacific. We will provide an overview of the outbreak of Asian dust storms, near source/sink and their evolution along transport pathway, from space and surface observations. The climatic effects and societal impacts of the Asian dusts will be addressed in depth. (to be presented in the International Workshop on Semi-Arid Land Surface-

Source record↗

X-Ray Induced Chemical Reaction Revealed by In Situ X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning X-Ray Microscopy in 15 nm Resolution

The detection sensitivity of synchrotron-based X-ray techniques has been largely improved due to the ever-increasing source brightness, which has significantly advanced ex situ and in situ research for energy materials such as lithium-ion batteries. However, the strong beam–material interaction arising from the high beam flux can substantially modify the material structure. The beam-induced parasitic effect inevitably interferes with the intrinsic material property, making the interpretation of the experimental results difficult and requiring comprehensive assessments. Here, we present a quantitative study of the beam effect on an electrode material Ag 2 VO 2 PO 4 using four different X-ray characterization methods with different radiation dose rates. The material system exhibits interesting and reversible radiation-induced thermal and chemical reactions, further evaluated under electron microscopy to illustrate the underlying mechanism. Further, the work will provide a guideline for using synchrotron X-rays to distinguish the intrinsic behavior from extrinsic structure change of materials induced by X-rays.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Space-qualified Chalcogenide Materials through ISS MISSE Exposure —From Property to Application

In March 2021, twenty-four samples of various phase change materials (PCMs - Ge2Sb2Te5, Ge2Sb2Se4Te1, and Sb2Se3) along with metasurface optical components comprised of these PCMs, were delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE-14) test campaign [1]. Although PCMs have previously been noted for their resilience to various forms of radiation [2], they had not been tested in a realistic space environment until this exposure campaign with joint NASA and MIT collaboration. During the six-month total open exposure time in low earth orbit (LEO), high-resolution cameras scanned and captured photographs of the samples to detect changes as a function of time along with on-orbit measured temperature, UV radiation, total atomic oxygen fluence, and total ionizing radiation doses. The samples were returned to NASA Langley Research Center in March 2022 for post-flight characterization. This duplicated the preflight characterization (i.e., material composition and crystallinity that limits switching speed, index contrast, loss, etc.) conducted before launch. The space sector has witnessed tremendous growth within the past decade—not only from government agencies but also entrants from the private sector. Future growth in the capabilities of Earth observation, deep space, and planetary surface missions using miniaturized spacecraft platforms can only be sustained by innovations in the design of remote sensors and other sub-systems. Active metasurface optics with enhanced tunability and reconfigurability continues to redefine the boundaries of optical science [3]. The introduction of PCM technology and associated optical devices will help to accelerate the adoption of new architectures for reduced size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) platforms in space.Here we introduce results obtained from the MISSE-14 mission related to space qualification of PCM-based optic devices and constituent materials. We then discuss our recent work developing active integrated photonic devices and metasurface optics based on PCMs for space applications. This includes tunable and reconfigurable optical metasurface devices to support NASA space communication and LIDAR applications. PCMs are quickly becoming interesting photonics materials but questions related to mission suitability remain, particularly in regard to key properties like figures-of-merit (FOM, Δn/Δk), glass forming temperatures, and phase transition speeds. This talk will describe efforts to afford researchers the ability to have access to cost-effective data on exposure-induced changes to PCM fundamental physical and optical properties to assess their utility for space applications. The MISSE-14 sample exposure campaign allows a complete understanding of the limitations of the PCMs for various space-based electronic and optoelectronic applications.

Chalcogenide Phase change material↗

AU Microscopii in the Far-UV Observations in Quiescence, During Flares, and Implications for AU Mic b and c

High-energy X-ray and ultraviolet(UV)radiation from young stars impacts planetary atmospheric chemistry and mass loss. The active∼22 Myr M dwarf AU Mic hosts two exoplanets orbiting interior to its debris disk. Therefore, this system provides a unique opportunity to quantify the effects of stellar X-ray and UV irradiation on planetary atmospheres as a function of both age and orbital separation. In this paper, we present over 5 hr of far-UV (FUV)observations of AU Mic taken with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS; 1070-1360Å) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We provide an itemization of 120 emission features in the HST/COS FUV spectrum and quantify the flux contributions from formation temperatures ranging from 104 to 107K. We detect 13 flares in the FUV white-light curve with energies ranging from 1029 to 1031erg s. The majority of the energy in each of these flares is released from the transition region between the chromosphere and the corona. There is a 100×increase influx at continuum wavelengths λ<1100 Å in each flare, which may be caused by thermal Bremsstrahlung emission. We calculate that the baseline atmospheric mass-loss rate for AU Mic b is∼108 g s−1, although this rate can be as high as∼1014 g s−1during flares with Lflare 10-33 erg s−1. Finally, we model the transmission spectra for AU Mic b and c with a new panchromatic spectrum of AU Mic and motivate future JWST observations of these planets.

Adina D Feinstein↗

Probing UV-sensitive Pathways for CN and HCN Formation in Protoplanetary Disks with the Hubble Space Telescope

The UV radiation field is a critical regulator of gas-phase chemistry in surface layers of disks around young stars. In an effort to understand the relationship between photocatalyzing UV radiation fields and gas emission observed at infrared and submillimeter wavelengths, we present an analysis of new and archival Hubble Space Telescope (HST), Spitzer, ALMA, IRAM, and SMA data for five targets in the Lupus cloud complex and 14 systems in Taurus-Auriga. The HST spectra were used to measure Lyα and far-UV (FUV) continuum fluxes reaching the disk surface, which are responsible for dissociating relevant molecular species (e.g., HCN, N{sub 2}). Semi-forbidden C ii] λ2325 and UV-fluorescent H{sub 2} emission were also measured to constrain inner disk populations of C{sup +} and vibrationally excited H{sub 2}. We find a significant positive correlation between 14 μm HCN emission and fluxes from the FUV continuum and C ii] λ2325, consistent with model predictions requiring N{sub 2} photodissociation and carbon ionization to trigger the main CN/HCN formation pathways. We also report significant negative correlations between submillimeter CN emission and both C ii] and FUV continuum fluxes, implying that CN is also more readily dissociated in disks with stronger FUV irradiation. No clear relationships are detected between either CN or HCN and Lyα or UV-H{sub 2} emission. This is attributed to the spatial stratification of the various molecular species, which span several vertical layers and radii across the inner and outer disk. We expect that future observations with the James Webb Space Telescope will build on this work by enabling more sensitive IR surveys than were possible with Spitzer.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The ONR-602 experiment and investigation of particle precipitation near the equator

The global precipitation of radiation belt particles at low altitude was investigated, using the ONR-602 experiment on board U.S. Air Force mission S81-1. A combination of a main telescope, beginning analysis at a few MeV/nucleon, and a monitor system, giving results below 1 MeV/nucleon, was designed for measuring particle phenomena characterized by almost any energy spectrum. The monitor provides an indication of the presence of the particles at low energy, while the main telescope gives detailed flux and composition data for the higher energy events. Results of the instrument performance analysis indicate that, at the equator, the monitor telescope has the peak efficiency for particles of about 90 deg pitch angles. The large opening angle of 75 deg makes it possible to detect omnidirectional flux of quasi-trapped particles. The high-energy cosmic-ray background count is found to be very insignificant. It is demonstrated that the particle counting rates for the low-energy threshold have been almost entirely due to protons.

Miah, M. A.↗

Graphical Analysis of B-737 Airplane Pathloss Data for GPS and Evaluation of Coupling Mitigation Techniques

The use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) onboard commercial airliners is considered to be desirable for many passengers, However, the possibility of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) caused by these devices may affect flight safety. PEDs may act as transmitters, both intentional and unintentional, and their signals may be detected by the various navigation and communication radios onboard the aircraft. Interference Pathloss (IPL) is defined as the measurement of the radiated field coupling between passenger cabin locations and aircraft communication and navigation receivers, via their antennas. This paper first focuses on IPL measurements for GPS, taken on an out-of-service United Airlines B-737-200. IPL pattern symmetry is verified by analyzing data obtained on the windows of the Port as well as the Starboard side of the aircraft. Further graphical analysis is performed with the door and exit seams sealed with conductive tape in order to better understand the effects of shielding on IPL patterns. Shielding effects are analyzed from window data for VHF and LOC systems. In addition the shielding benefit of applying electrically conductive film to aircraft windows is evaluated for GPS and TCAS systems.

Jafri, Madiha J.↗

ALMA Observations of the Molecular Gas in the Debris Disk of the 30 Myr Old Star HD 21997

The 30 Myr old A3-type star HD 21997 is one of the two known debris dust disks having a measurable amount of cold molecular gas. With the goal of understanding the physical state, origin, and evolution of the gas in young debris disks, we obtained CO line observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Here, we report on the detection of (12)CO and (13)CO in the J = 2-1 and J = 3-2 transitions and C(18)O in the J = 2-1 line. The gas exhibits a Keplerian velocity curve, one of the few direct measurements of Keplerian rotation in young debris disks. The measured CO brightness distribution could be reproduced by a simple star+disk system, whose parameters are r(sub in) < 26 AU, r(sub out) = 138 +/- 20 AU, Stellar M = 1.8 +0.5/−0.2 Solar M, and i = 32. Deg. 6 +/- 3 deg..1. The total CO mass, as calculated from the optically thin C(18)O line, is about (4-8) ×10(exp −2 ) Solar M, while the CO line ratios suggest a radiation temperature on the order of 6-9 K. Comparing our results with those obtained for the dust component of the HD 21997 disk from ALMA continuum observations by Moor et al., we conclude that comparable amounts of CO gas and dust are present in the disk. Interestingly, the gas and dust in the HD 21997 system are not colocated, indicating a dust-free inner gas disk within 55 AU of the star. We explore two possible scenarios for the origin of the gas. A secondary origin, which involves gas production from colliding or active planetesimals, would require unreasonably high gas production rates and would not explain why the gas and dust are not colocated. We propose that HD 21997 is a hybrid system where secondary debris dust and primordial gas coexist. HD 21997, whose age exceeds both the model predictions for disk clearing and the ages of the oldest T Tauri-like or transitional gas disks in the literature, may be a key object linking the primordial and the debris phases of disk evolution.

molecular gas↗

An approach for spent nuclear fuel containment integrity verification using gas tagging

Verification of containment integrity is required for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) managed by the commercial nuclear industry and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), especially after extended storage. Certain SNF storage systems, such as the DOE road-ready dry storage system, hold several packaged containments within a welded over-canister. These packaged containments are called Department of Energy Standard Canisters (DOESCs). DOESC leakage identification is challenging because their containment boundary cannot be accessed for testing and their contents (i.e., SNF and fill gas) are often similar. There are concerns that this could result in costly characterization and repackaging operations of DOE road-ready dry storage systems if compromised DOESCs are suspected. Here, to address these concerns, this paper presents an approach for applying a gas tagging process using xenon to uniquely identify compromised inaccessible containments following extended storage. The containments considered for this application are seven DOESCs, each packaged within a single over-canister. Two different SNF loading configurations from the Advanced Test Reactor and Fort Saint Vrain nuclear power plant are considered. These configurations are used to represent research reactor aluminum-clad spent nuclear fuel (ASNF) and TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) SNF types. Results for this application show that for ASNF and TRISO type fuels for which the selected fuels are representative, the volume of taggant required at loading is determined primarily by the lower detection limit and leak rate of taggant from a compromised DOESC, rather than the amount of fission-generated xenon in the loaded fuel. While the application presented is suited for larger leaks, smaller leaks could be detected by modifying certain design parameters. This gas tagging approach can also be applied to other DOE containments and advanced reactor SNF storage systems.

07 - ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Variable energy X-ray fluorescence source

Here we detail the design of a variable energy, x-ray fluorescence source using a low activity (1.8×10 6 dpm) 99 Tc β source that irradiates thin foils. By rotating the source among foils of Ti, Zn, Nb, Ag, and Au, the device produces x rays between 4 and 70 keV at a rate near 1 Hz. When the source is placed in a storage position, the external radiation is non-detectable. The design of the shielding and rotation mechanism permits use in vacuum and at liquid nitrogen temperature. The design is intended for the study of the low energy response to radiation impinging upon Ge detector surfaces. The source will be useful for understanding the detector response in large-scale Ge arrays such as MAJORANA and LEGEND.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Development and Airborne Demonstration of the Concurrent Artificially-Intelligent Spectrometry and Adaptive Lidar System: Advancing Lidar Capabilities for the STV Observing System

We report on the design, build and planned airborne demonstration of a spaceflight-prototype Concurrent Artificially-intelligent Spectrometry and Adaptive Lidar System (CASALS). The CASALS lidar is an Adaptive Wavelength Scanning Lidar (AWSL) operating in push broom mode. The demonstration has three major goals: advance the Technical Readiness Level of the AWSL hardware, validate its measurement performance and mature algorithms and methods needed for the Surface Topography and Vegetation (STV) observing system. AWSL acquires parallel tracks of surface heights by rapidly steering a laser beam across a swath. A 1040nm-centered laser is tuned across 30nm and carved into 2-ns pulses, the pulse energy is fiber amplified and the pulses are dispersed cross-track using a non-mechanical wavelength-to-angle grating. For the spaceflight system the beam will be pointable to 1200 10m footprints across a 7km swath. For the airborne demonstration there will be 256 0.7m footprints across a 110m swath. In both cases the footprints overlap across- and along-track for uniform target illumination. For the airborne demonstration a steering mirror will increase the accessible swath width to 4km. At the receiver, solar radiation is filtered with a narrow-slit grating-spectrometer and the footprints are imaged onto a linear-mode, photon-sensitive HgCdTe APD-array. The received pulses are time-division-multiplexed to a few high-speed analog-to-digital converters to record waveforms. Spaceflight and airborne CASALS are designed to nominally detect 20 photons per pulse and, by averaging 27 overlapping footprints, achieve 2cm flat target range precision and high-quality vegetation structure waveforms The AWSL will be flown in the summer of 2024, along with a Headwall VNIR-SWIR hyperspectral sensor imaging a 4km wide swath, at NEON eddy covariance flux towers in the U.S. mid-Atlantic where high resolution hyperspectral and lidar data, acquired annually, are available for validation.

Guangning Yang↗

Optical radiation associated with gamma-ray bursts

Calculations are made of the approximate characteristics of the reprocessed optical radiation resulting from the absorption of a gamma-ray burst by a nearby star. The overall reprocessing time scale, including contributions from gamma-ray transfer and diffusion of the optical radiation, is estimated. It is noted that diffusive cooling occurs by either a 'self-similar' or a 'transparency' wave of postabsorption stellar surface temperatures greater or less than 10,000 K, respectively. Depending on the combination of stellar and gamma-ray burst properties, the reprocessing time scale can vary from the duration of the gamma-ray burst (approximately 1 s) to the maximum calculated cooling time (approximately 1000 s). Calculations for close binary systems are made of the number of optical photons per square centimeter expected at earth as a function of the observed gamma-ray burst fluences and likely distances. It is predicted that, if all gamma-ray bursters are in close binaries, the number of detections per year by an all sky monitor of 200 photons per sq cm sensitivity will be about 100.

London, R. A.↗

Theoretical studies of the outer envelopes of young stellar objects

With the Monte Carlo code developed by Whitney and Hartmann, a series of models was computed of scattering in disks around young stellar objects. The code calculates scattering by dust, including polarization, in arbitrary geometries. By computing model images, it was found that disk, by themselves, around young stellar objects would be very difficult to detect with present day imaging techniques. In comparing these images to observations of young stellar objects which show diffuse structure, little resemblance was found. A flared disk system will only give high polarization when viewed edge-on, and the position angle is always oriented perpendicular to the disk plane. This suggests that an envelope, perhaps the remnant infalling envelope, must be present to scatter more stellar light than a disk can, and obscure the star at many inclinations. A grid was computed of models of scattering in a disk+envelope system. Evidence is presented that the wind of the pre-main sequence object FU Orionis arises from the surface of the luminous prostellar accretion disk. A disk wind model calculated assuming radiative equilibrium explains the differential behavior of the observed asymmetrical absorption line profiles. The model predicts that strong lines should be asymmetric and blueshifted, while weak lines should be symmetric and doubled peaked due to disk rotation, in agreement with observations.

Hartmann, Lee↗

Studies of Avalanche Photodiodes (APDS) as Readout Devices for Scintillating Fibers for High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy Telescopes

New gamma ray and charged particle telescope designs based on scintillating fiber arrays could provide low cost, high resolution, lightweight, very large area and multi radiation length instrumentation for planned NASA space exploration. The scintillating fibers low visible light output requires readout sensors with single photon detection sensitivity and low noise. The sensitivity of silicon Avalanche Photodiodes (APDS) matches well the spectral output of the scintillating fibers. Moreover, APDs have demonstrated single photon capability. The global aim of our work is to make available to NASA a novel optical detector concept to be used as scintillating fiber readouts and meeting the requirements of the new generations of space-borne gamma ray telescopes. We proposed to evaluate the feasibility of using RMD's small area APDs ((mu)APD) as scintillating fiber readouts and to study possible alternative (mu)APD array configurations for space borne readout scintillating fiber systems, requiring several hundred thousand to one million channels. The evaluation has been conducted in accordance with the task description and technical specifications detailed in the NASA solicitation "Studies of Avalanche Photodiodes (APD as readout devices for scintillating fibers for High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy Telescopes" (#8-W-7-ES-13672NAIS) posted on October 23, 1997. The feasibility study we propose builds on recent developments of silicon APD arrays and light concentrators advances at RMD, Inc. and on more than 5 years of expertise in scintillating fiber detectors. In a previous program we carried out the initial research to develop a high resolution, small pixel, solid-state, silicon APD array which exhibited very high sensitivity in the UV-VIS spectrum. This (mu)APD array is operated in Geiger mode and results in high gain (greater than 10(exp 8)), extremely low noise, single photon detection capability, low quiescent power (less than 10 (mu)W/pixel for 30 micrometers sensitive area diameter) and output in the 1-5 volt range. If successful, this feasibility study will make possible the development of a scintillating fiber detector with unsurpassed sensitivity, extremely low power usage, a crucial factor of merit for space based sensors and telescopes.

Vasile, Stefan↗

The International Space Station (ISS) Port 1 (P1) External Active Thermal Control System (EATCS) Ammonia Leak

From 2011 to 2017, the crew onboard the International Space Station (ISS) was at risk of dire consequences due to an external ammonia leak. Ammonia is used in the External Active Thermal Control System (EATCS) to cool the pressurized modules and external electrical systems. Engineers at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) initially detected the leak in one of two cooling loops by monitoring the system ammonia inventory decay over time. White flakes seen on High Definition (HD) cameras were also thought to be associated with the leakage but not confirmed. Initially, the leak was small enough that the ammonia inventory and system operations were not in jeopardy. However, the leak began to accelerate to the point where troubleshooting and corrective action were vital to the sustainability of the ISS. Therefore, it became imperative that the leak be located and repaired for ISS operations to continue. No tools were readily available on the ISS to locate such a leak when it was initially detected, however NASA engineers were already in the process of developing a new device for this purpose called the Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL). The RELL is a robotic instrument package with a mass spectrometer and an ion pressure gauge. Initial checkout operations with RELL happened to coincide with the increasing leak, and ammonia vapors were measured around the P1 EATCS Radiator #3 flexible jumper hoses. The leak stopped after the radiator and its flexible hoses were remotely isolated from the loop and the ammonia from the isolated segment was vented to space. Astronauts conducted a spacewalk that successfully removed the hoses, which were returned to ground for further investigation. The purpose of this paper is to review the leak detection and isolation efforts, investigation results, lessons learned and the recovery plan.

Cowan, Darnell T.↗

The International Space Station (ISS) Port 1 (P1) External Active Thermal Control System (EATCS) Ammonia Leak

From 2011 to 2017, the crew onboard the International Space Station (ISS) was at risk of dire consequences due to an external ammonia leak. Ammonia is used in the External Active Thermal Control System (EATCS) to cool the pressurized modules and external electrical systems. Engineers at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) initially detected the leak in one of two cooling loops by monitoring the system ammonia inventory decay over time. White flakes seen on High Definition (HD) cameras were also thought to be associated with the leakage but not confirmed. Initially, the leak was small enough that the ammonia inventory and system operations were not in jeopardy. However, the leak began to accelerate to the point where troubleshooting and corrective action were vital to the sustainability of the ISS. Therefore, it became imperative that the leak be located and repaired for ISS operations to continue. No tools were readily available on the ISS to locate such a leak when it was initially detected, however NASA engineers were already in the process of developing a new device for this purpose called the Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL). The RELL is a robotic instrument package with a mass spectrometer and an ion pressure gauge. Initial checkout operations with RELL happened to coincide with the increasing leak, and ammonia vapors were measured around the P1 EATCS Radiator #3 flexible jumper hoses. The leak stopped after the radiator and its flexible hoses were remotely isolated from the loop and the ammonia from the isolated segment was vented to space. Astronauts conducted a spacewalk that successfully removed the hoses, which were returned to ground for further investigation. The purpose of this paper is to review the leak detection and isolation efforts, investigation results, lessons learned and the recovery plan.

Cowan, Darnell T.↗