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At least 109 records · Page 6

Curating NASA's Past, Present, and Future Astromaterial Sample Collections

The Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office at NASA Johnson Space Center (hereafter JSC curation) is responsible for curating all of NASA's extraterrestrial samples. JSC presently curates 9 different astromaterials collections in seven different clean-room suites: (1) Apollo Samples (ISO (International Standards Organization) class 6 + 7); (2) Antarctic Meteorites (ISO 6 + 7); (3) Cosmic Dust Particles (ISO 5); (4) Microparticle Impact Collection (ISO 7; formerly called Space-Exposed Hardware); (5) Genesis Solar Wind Atoms (ISO 4); (6) Stardust Comet Particles (ISO 5); (7) Stardust Interstellar Particles (ISO 5); (8) Hayabusa Asteroid Particles (ISO 5); (9) OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Coupons and Witness Plates (ISO 7). Additional cleanrooms are currently being planned to house samples from two new collections, Hayabusa 2 (2021) and OSIRIS-REx (2023). In addition to the labs that house the samples, we maintain a wide variety of infra-structure facilities required to support the clean rooms: HEPA-filtered air-handling systems, ultrapure dry gaseous nitrogen systems, an ultrapure water system, and cleaning facilities to provide clean tools and equipment for the labs. We also have sample preparation facilities for making thin sections, microtome sections, and even focused ion-beam sections. We routinely monitor the cleanliness of our clean rooms and infrastructure systems, including measurements of inorganic or organic contamination, weekly airborne particle counts, compositional and isotopic monitoring of liquid N2 deliveries, and daily UPW system monitoring. In addition to the physical maintenance of the samples, we track within our databases the current and ever changing characteristics (weight, location, etc.) of more than 250,000 individually numbered samples across our various collections, as well as more than 100,000 images, and countless "analog" records that record the sample processing records of each individual sample. JSC Curation is co-located with JSC's Astromaterials Research Office, which houses a world-class suite of analytical instrumentation and scientists. We leverage these labs and personnel to better curate the samples. Part of the cu-ration process is planning for the future, and we refer to these planning efforts as "advanced curation". Advanced Curation is tasked with developing procedures, technology, and data sets necessary for curating new types of collections as envi-sioned by NASA exploration goals. We are (and have been) planning for future cu-ration, including cold curation, extended curation of ices and volatiles, curation of samples with special chemical considerations such as perchlorate-rich samples, and curation of organically- and biologically-sensitive samples.

Zeigler, R. A.↗

LongRunMIP - Motivation and Design for a Large Collection of Millennial-Length AO-GCM Simulations

LongRunMIP is the first collection of millennial-length simulations of complex coupled climate models and enables investigations of how these models equilibrate in response to radiative perturbations.We present a model intercomparison project, LongRunMIP, the first collection of millennial-length (1000+ year) simulations of complex coupled climate models with a representation of ocean, atmosphere, sea ice, and land surface, and their interactions. Standard model simulations are generally only a few hundred years long. However, modeling the long-term equilibration in response to radiative forcing perturbation is important for understanding many climate phenomena, such as the evolution of ocean circulation, time-and temperature-dependent feedbacks, and the differentiation of forced signal and internal variability. The aim of LongRunMIP is to facilitate research into these questions by serving as an archive for simulations that capture as much of this equilibration as possible. The only requirement to participate in LongRunMIP is to contribute a simulation with elevated, constant CO2 forcing that lasts at least 1000 years. LongRunMIP is a MIP of opportunity in that the simulations were mostly performed prior to the conception of the archive without an agreed-upon set of experiments. For most models, the archive contains a preindustrial control simulation and simulations with an idealized (typically abrupt) CO2 forcing. We collect 2D surface and top-of-atmosphere fields, and 3D ocean temperature and salinity fields. Here, we document the collection of simulations and discuss initial results, including the evolution of surface and deep ocean temperature and cloud radiative effects. As of summer 2019, the collection includes 50 simulations of 15 models by 10 modeling centers. The data of LongRunMIP are publicly available. We encourage submission of more simulations in the future.

Maria Rugenstein↗

Operation of the Urine Collection and Pretreatment System in the ISS US Segment Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC)

The US Segment Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC)provides the capability to collect crew urine for subsequent delivery to the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA). Urine collection in the WHC is accomplished with the urine collection and pretreatment system designed by RSC “Energia” and NIICHIMMASH and integrated into the WHC by Boeing and NASA. The WHC was installed in the US Laboratory Module in November 2008 and later transferred to the Node 3 in February 2010.As of February 1st 2021, the WHC has collected 25855 liters of pretreated urine. The system collects urine from astronauts, adds required pretreatment chemicals to maintain chemical and microbial control of the urine, and delivers the pretreated urine to the Urine Processor Assembly. This paper will summarize the twelve years of operation of the WHC on ISS, significant anomalies, and lessons learned from its operation.

D Layne Carter↗

The NASA Biological Institutional Scientific Collection (NBISC): Tissue and Microbe Biospecimens to Advance Space Research

The NASA Biological Institutional Scientific Collection (NBISC) is a biorepository of non-human biospecimens from NASA-funded spaceflight investigations and correlative ground studies. The collection has its roots in the 1960s through collaborations by NASA Ames Research Center with other NASA centers, universities, and international space agencies by sharing non-human biospecimens from spaceflight and space-relevant ground experiments. These collaborations have advanced the field of space exploration by helping to maximize the data gained from spaceflight and other NASA-funded experiments. NBISC coordinates closely with the Biospecimen Sharing Program (BSP) which is responsible for organized sample collection from spaceflight and ground rodent experiments. In 2022 NBISC partnered with HRP’s Biospecimen and Tissue Sharing Collection (BTSC) Program to also archive samples from HRP’s Space Radiation Element-funded studies which primarily involve rodents exposed to various radiation protocols at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) and other analog facilities. To date, more than fifty thousand biospecimens from BTSC have been transferred to NBISC for distribution to the community. In 2023, NBISC embarked on a new Space Biology funded endeavor to create the Space Microbial Culture Collection (SMCC) which will serve as a central repository for microbial isolates associated with space flight, gravitational, and space radiation research. This presentation will highlight several success stories of analyses carried out using archived NBISC samples received by researchers in recent years and will detail the process for proposing and receiving samples from NBISC, BTSC and SMCC. Making available these 150,000+ unique biospecimens to the scientific research community, NBISC not only serves as a repository for storing and distributing non-human biospecimens, but also acts as a resource to enable new discoveries that will benefit NASA and humankind.

NBISC↗

The NASA Biological Institutional Scientific Collection (NBISC): Tissue and Microbe Biospecimens to Advance Space Research

The NASA Biological Institutional Scientific Collection (NBISC) is a biorepository of non-human biospecimens from NASA-funded spaceflight investigations and correlative ground studies. The collection has its roots in the 1960s through collaborations by NASA Ames Research Center with other NASA centers, universities, and international space agencies by sharing non-human biospecimens from spaceflight and space-relevant ground experiments. These collaborations have advanced the field of space exploration by helping to maximize the data gained from spaceflight and other NASA-funded experiments. NBISC coordinates closely with the Biospecimen Sharing Program (BSP) which is responsible for organized sample collection from spaceflight and ground rodent experiments. In 2022 NBISC partnered with HRP’s Biospecimen and Tissue Sharing Collection (BTSC) Program to also archive samples from HRP’s Space Radiation Element-funded studies which primarily involve rodents exposed to various radiation protocols at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) and other analog facilities. To date, more than fifty thousand biospecimens from BTSC have been transferred to NBISC for distribution to the community. In 2023, NBISC embarked on a new Space Biology funded endeavor to create the Space Microbial Culture Collection (SMCC) which will serve as a central repository for microbial isolates associated with space flight, gravitational, and space radiation research. This presentation will highlight several success stories of analyses carried out using archived NBISC samples received by researchers in recent years and will detail the process for proposing and receiving samples from NBISC, BTSC and SMCC. Making available these 150,000+ unique biospecimens to the scientific research community, NBISC not only serves as a repository for storing and distributing non-human biospecimens, but also acts as a resource to enable new discoveries that will benefit NASA and humankind.

Biospecimen↗

The Collection, Usage, and Preliminary Examination of the Apollo Sample Suite: Lessons for Artemis

Apollo Sample Collection and Usage: From 1969 to 1972 there were six Apollo missions to the surface of the Moon during which the astronauts collected 382 kg of rock and regolith (~2200 samples). The samples collected fall into these general categories: rocks (~66% by mass), rake samples (~4%), bulk regolith (~24%), and specialty regolith (deep drill cores, drive tubes, sealed bulk regolith) samples (~6%). In each category there are a variety of different subtypes available for study, e.g., among the bulk regolith samples there are also skim, trench, and (partially) shaded regolith samples each sampling unique types or depths of regolith. This variety of subsamples has enabled a multitude of different studies over the past 55 years (>3400 individual requests). We are still averaging ~50 unique requests and have allocated >500 individual Apollo samples annually for the past 10 years (2020 excepted). Looking at the 4,675 non-ANGSA (Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis) samples allocated over the past 10 years, the proportions of allocated samples do not precisely align with the abundance (by mass) of those samples withing the collection: Rock (69.4 %); Rake (10.8 %); Bulk Regolith (15.5 %); Drive Tube (3.3 %); Core/Specialty (1.0 %). Apollo Preliminary Examination (PE): The PE process differs significantly for the various sample types enumerated above; we focus on regolith and rock samples here. During the Apollo mission era, the PE process evolved over the course of the missions; below is what was done for the Apollo 17 mission. For regolith samples, the PE process was: (1) documented bags containing regolith are opened, photographed, and described; (2) large rocks are removed and treated separately; (3) 25% to 33% of the bulk soil is scooped out, weighed, and stored in reserve; (4) the remaining sample is sieved to produce the size fractions <1, 1- 2, 2-4, and 4-10 mm, all of which are weighed. For rock samples, the process is: (1) removing rocks from the container(s) it came back from the Moon in; (2) rematching any materials that spalled off the rock to their original location; (3) numbering, weighing, and basic photographic documentation; (4) dusting with a gentle N2 gas jet; (5) Orthogonal photography; (6) detailed description of the textures and features of the rock; (7) rock modelling and measurement; (8) stereophotography; (9) determination of the orientation of the rock on the lunar surface. Drive tubes and deep drill cores were not characterized during PE beyond an initial weight and a sketch of the interior tube materials derived from 2D medical X-ray images. Catalogs: The ongoing utility of the Apollo samples is enabled by the robust cataloguing process for the samples [3-5], which allows the scientific community to accurately request samples uniquely suited to their proposed studies. A common misconception, however, is the amount of detail that goes into the initial catalog (e.g., [6]) for a collection from the preliminary examination (PE) period, versus what goes into the catalogs that come later in the life cycle of the samples from that mission (e.g., [7]). The only required data for a PE catalog is a weight, a basic photograph, and a description of the nature of the sample. Artemis PE: Over the past few years, the ongoing ANGSA project studied previously unopened Apollo 17 double drive tube samples 73001/2 [1], and a PE of the drive tubes was done. The PE took the existing core dissection process (developed during PE of Apollo cores in the 1970s, 1980s), and modernized it [7]. The main lesson from the ANGSA PE relative to future missions was that the physical work done during PE of lunar samples has not changed much over the past 5 decades. The use of “modern” technology during PE (e.g., XCT; multispectral analyses) resulted in an enhanced initial understanding of the 73001 and 73002 drive tubes, but greatly increased the time required. The lessons learned from recent astromaterial PEs (e.g., ANGSA and OREx) are important to consider when planning for Artemis, but the unique nature of the Artemis Campaign means many lessons learned from these mission will not be applicable. Given the time constraints (6 months) and likely number of samples that will be returned by Artemis (>200), the Artemis PE catalog will necessarily look much more like [4] than [6].

J Gross↗

Validation and Uncertainty Estimates for MODIS Collection 6 "Deep Blue" Aerosol Data

The "Deep Blue" aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrieval algorithm was introduced in Collection 5 of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) product suite, and complemented the existing "Dark Target" land and ocean algorithms by retrieving AOD over bright arid land surfaces, such as deserts. The forthcoming Collection 6 of MODIS products will include a "second generation" Deep Blue algorithm, expanding coverage to all cloud-free and snow-free land surfaces. The Deep Blue dataset will also provide an estimate of the absolute uncertainty on AOD at 550 nm for each retrieval. This study describes the validation of Deep Blue Collection 6 AOD at 550 nm (Tau(sub M)) from MODIS Aqua against Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data from 60 sites to quantify these uncertainties. The highest quality (denoted quality assurance flag value 3) data are shown to have an absolute uncertainty of approximately (0.086+0.56Tau(sub M))/AMF, where AMF is the geometric air mass factor. For a typical AMF of 2.8, this is approximately 0.03+0.20Tau(sub M), comparable in quality to other satellite AOD datasets. Regional variability of retrieval performance and comparisons against Collection 5 results are also discussed.

MODIS collection 6↗

OSIRIS-REx Touch-and-Go (TAG) Mission Design for Asteroid Sample Collection

The Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission is a NASA New Frontiers mission launching in September 2016 to rendezvous with the near-Earth asteroid Bennu in October 2018. After several months of proximity operations to characterize the asteroid, OSIRIS-REx flies a Touch-And-Go (TAG) trajectory to the asteroid's surface to collect at least 60 g of pristine regolith sample for Earth return. This paper provides mission and flight system overviews, with more details on the TAG mission design and key events that occur to safely and successfully collect the sample. An overview of the navigation performed relative to a chosen sample site, along with the maneuvers to reach the desired site is described. Safety monitoring during descent is performed with onboard sensors providing an option to abort, troubleshoot, and try again if necessary. Sample collection occurs using a collection device at the end of an articulating robotic arm during a brief five second contact period, while a constant force spring mechanism in the arm assists to rebound the spacecraft away from the surface. Finally, the sample is measured quantitatively utilizing the law of conservation of angular momentum, along with qualitative data from imagery of the sampling device. Upon sample mass verification, the arm places the sample into the Stardust-heritage Sample Return Capsule (SRC) for return to Earth in September 2023.

OSIRIS-REX TOUCH-AND-GO (TAG) MISSION DESIGN FOR A↗

Virtual Collections: An Earth Science Data Curation Service

The role of Earth science data centers has traditionally been to maintain central archives that serve openly available Earth observation data. However, in order to ensure data are as useful as possible to a diverse user community, Earth science data centers must move beyond simply serving as an archive to offering innovative data services to user communities. A virtual collection, the end product of a curation activity that searches, selects, and synthesizes diffuse data and information resources around a specific topic or event, is a data curation service that improves the discoverability, accessibility, and usability of Earth science data and also supports the needs of unanticipated users. Virtual collections minimize the amount of the time and effort needed to begin research by maximizing certainty of reward and by providing a trustworthy source of data for unanticipated users. This presentation will define a virtual collection in the context of an Earth science data center and will highlight a virtual collection case study created at the Global Hydrology Resource Center data center.

Data↗

A Preliminary Study on the Use of a NASA Developed Coatings Technology for Protecting Natural Science Collections from Molecular Contaminants

Many museum conservators and collection managers are faced with the challenge of molecular contaminants that can promote the degradation of specimens on display in exhibits or in cabinets at storage facilities. This has prompted the need to explore innovative techniques to alleviate the presence of chemical species that originate from atmospheric off-gassing of materials or cross-contamination among collection items. For example, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) has tackled this problem for many years, specifically targeting contaminants, such as mercury vapor, at its Museum Support Center (MSC) storage facility in Suitland, Maryland. Similarly, the presence of molecular contaminants poses a significant threat for NASA science and exploration missions. The deposition of chemical species on sensitive surfaces can degrade the performance and operational lifetime of satellites, telescopes, and instruments. As a result, a sprayable zeolite-based coatings technology was designed to passively capture molecular contaminants and reduce the risks associated with material outgassing in vacuum environments for aerospace applications. This technology, called the Molecular Adsorber Coating (MAC), was developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). MAC has been extensively used during thermal vacuum chamber testing of various spaceflight hardware and components, such as for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The coating is also planned to fly aboard upcoming NASA missions to address on-orbit outgassing concerns within instrument and laser cavities. Recently, the MAC technology was evaluated as a possible solution for protecting the Smithsonian Institution's natural science specimens, specifically its mineral ore and botany collections at the MSC storage facility. The initial year-long study between NASA GSFC and NMNH involved investigating the effectiveness of the MAC technology in capturing molecular contaminants that are present within the collections and storage cabinets at ambient, non-vacuum conditions. The work included sample fabrication, installation and retrieval efforts, testing efforts and associated challenges, preliminary findings, and future plans for the multi-year project.

conservation↗

N20 VIIRS RSB Calibration Algorithms and Results: Collection 2.0

The NOAA-20 (N20) satellite, previously the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 satellite, was launched on November 18, 2017. One of the five major scientific instruments aboard the satellite is the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). VIIRS scans the Earth’s surface in 22 spectral bands, 14 of which are the reflective solar bands (RSBs) with band center wavelengths from 0.412 to 2.25μm. VIIRS regularly performs on-orbit radiometric calibration of its RSBs, primarily through the observations of the onboard solar diffuser (SD). The on-orbit change of the SD’s bidirectional reflectance distribution function, known as the H-factor, is determined by the onboard SD stability monitor (SDSM). Since the H-factor exhibits angular dependence, obtaining the H-factor along the SD to the telescope direction is a challenge for the NOAA-20 VIIRS. Recently, Collection 2.0 of the NASA Land Science Investigator-led Processing Systems (SIPS) products were released. As a part of this reprocessing effort, we made two major improvements in the N20 VIIRS RSB radiometric calibration. One is the improved SD and SDSM attenuation screen transmittance functions, obtained by using calibration data collected during both the yaw maneuver and a small portion of regular orbits, resulting in a higher quality H-factor for the SDSM view. Another is the use of the H-factor for the telescope view, derived from the H-factor for the SDSM view, by using the results for the SNPP VIIRS. In June 2019, we delivered a set of mission-long N20 VIIRS Collection 2.0 RSB radiometric calibration look-up-tables. These tables have been employed by the NASA Land SIPS group to reprocess the entire time series of the NOAA-20 VIIRS products. In this paper, we discuss the Collection 2.0 NOAA-20 VIIRS RSB calibration algorithms and results.

N20 VIIRS↗

Electron collection theory for a D-region subsonic blunt electrostatic probe

Blunt probe theory for subsonic flow in a weakly ionized and collisional gas is reviewed, and an electron collection theory for the relatively unexplored case, Deybye length approximately 1, which occurs in the lower ionosphere (D-region), is developed. It is found that the dimensionless Debye length is no longer an electric field screening parameter, and the space charge field effect can be negelected. For ion collection, Hoult-Sonin theory is recognized as a correct description of the thin, ion density-perturbed layer adjacent the blunt probe surface. The large volume with electron density perturbed by a positively biased probe renders the usual thin boundary layer analysis inapplicable. Theories relating free stream conditions to the electron collection rate for both stationary and moving blunt probes are obtained. A model based on experimental nonlinear electron drift velocity data is proposed. For a subsonically moving probe, it is found that the perturbed region can be divided into four regions with distinct collection mechanisms.

Wai-Kwong Lai, T.↗

ERTS-1 data collection system: Status and performance

The Data Collection System flown on the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) relays earth resources data from remotely located in-situ sensors to Goddard Space Flight Center. Data is received at Goddard at least twice each day from every sensor installation and is distributed to users (who operate the sensors and transmitters) by mail and teletype. The system consists of a data formatting and transmitting unit, called the Data Collection Platform (DCP), a receiver and a retransmitter aboard ERTS-1; and receiving, demodulating and decoding equipment located at the Goldstone, California and Goddard data acquisition stations. Data is transmitted from the data acquisition stations to the ERTS Control Center at Goddard, then to the NASA (ERTS) Data Processing Facility (NDPF) where it is processed and distributed to users. Experience to date indicates that the design of the ERTS-1 Data Collection System is adequate for operational use for 50% of the users and, with minor modifications, could meet the requirements of 75%. Some users will have to augment the system by other data collection techniques to meet their operational requirements.

Painter, J. E.↗

Magellan - A balloon-borne collection technique for large cosmic dust particles

The paper describes a balloon-borne system for collecting large (50 to a few hundred micrometers in the major dimension) solid particles falling through the atmosphere at an altitude of about 30 km which are postulated to be fragments of larger cosmic particles or bodies which disintegrate on entering the atmosphere. The major component of the system is the collection surface - a funnel, 7.2 m in diameter, fabricated from mylar, 12 microns thick, and lightly coated with aluminum. Also described is the sample collector, which collects the particles gathered in the apex of the cone. Two successful flights of short duration using zero-pressure balloons have been achieved. Some examples of particles collected are shown. Mg, Al, Si, S, K, Ca, Ti, and Fe have been detected in these particles by energy dispersive X-ray analysis.

Wlochowicz, R.↗

United States data collection activities and requirements, volume 1

The potential market for a data collection system was investigated to determine whether the user needs would be sufficient to support a satellite relay data collection system design. The activities of 107,407 data collections stations were studied to determine user needs in agriculture, climatology, environmental monitoring, forestry, geology, hydrology, meteorology, and oceanography. Descriptions of 50 distinct data collections networks are described and used to form the user data base. The computer program used to analyze the station data base is discussed, and results of the analysis are presented in maps and graphs. Information format and coding is described in the appendix.

Hrin, S.↗

Collection efficiency measurements for solar cell research

A system was established for measuring absolute, spectral collection efficiency that is well suited to solar cell research and development. Determination of spectral collection efficiency involves measurements of the incident photon intensity, the device reflection coefficient, and the cell short circuit current. A monochromatic photon flux is obtained with a high intensity Bausch and Lomb monochromator, and an Epply thermopile detector is used to measure incident intensity. Normal incidence reflectivity measurements are achieved with a prism type beam splitter. The experimental approach is discussed, measurements of the reflectivity of evaporated silver films are considered. Collection efficiency measurements of silicon solar cells are presented, and collection efficiency studies of Cu20 solar cells are discussed.

Hampton, H. L.↗

Collection and analysis of cometary dust during a rendezvous mission

An experimental program has been undertaken to investigate and develop methods for high-efficiency collection of dust particles during a rendezvous mission with a preselected comet. A laboratory apparatus has been designed and tested for acceleration of fine particles (0.1 to 100 microns) to velocities of 0.5 to 50 m/s. Tests of collection efficiency are being conducted under vacuum and with control of substrate temperature. Collection materials include filters, plastic films, metal foils, liquid metals, and sticky organic compounds. Results to date indicate that only certain materials will be adequate to meet collection requirements.

Clark, B. C.↗

Plasma collection by high voltage spacecraft at low earth orbit

A computer model of the three-dimensional sheath formation and plasma current collection by high voltage spacecraft has been developed. By using new space charge density and plasma collection algorithms, it is practical to perform calculations for large, complex spacecraft. The model uses NASCAP compatible objects and geometries. Results indicate that ion focusing observed in the laboratory during high voltage collection experiments is probably due to voltage gradients on the collecting surfaces.

Katz, I.↗