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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Extending the Duration of Crewed Stays on the Lunar Surface

NASA’s Artemis missions aim to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo Program. Unlike the Apollo missions, Artemis missions will take advantage of pre-emplaced assets on the lunar surface to support crewed exploration, science, and utilization. Although the initial Artemis surface missions are intended to keep crew on the lunar surface for durations ranging from several days to several weeks, crewed stays of longer periods may provide additional support toward NASA’s Moon to Mars Objectives, including long-term exploration and continuous human lunar presence. If mission durations are extended beyond the expected few weeks, the elements and concepts of operation for the lunar architecture will need to be capable of supporting that extension. This paper uses an integrated systems analysis perspective to examine the architectural considerations of extending the duration of human missions on the lunar surface. By identifying these key architectural considerations, this paper offers insight into how elements and operations might meet the demands of potential future mission concepts. This paper does not recommend changes to NASA’s lunar architecture, and it does not evaluate whether any mission concepts affect the relative satisfaction of the Moon to Mars Objectives. However, if crew do remain on the surface for progressively longer periods of time, the functions and capabilities provided by the assets supporting the crew may need to adjust to support the needs of those missions. The functions and capabilities identified as key to enable such extended duration missions include power generation and storage, logistics delivery, radiation mitigation, provision of medical and exercise capability, abort from the lunar surface, maintenance, and the provision of pressurized volume. For example, the medical capabilities available to the crew may become more extensive, and habitable elements may need to change to support longer crewed periods (and shorter quiescent periods). In some cases, these changes may be accomplished through alterations to use cases, operational changes, or the evolution of lunar surface elements, but in other cases, new elements may be preferable. By identifying key considerations for the functions and capabilities of notional lunar surface elements as the length of each crewed mission is extended from several days to continuous human presence on the Moon, this paper assesses how the elements of NASA’s lunar architecture might support the extension of mission durations. In addition, this analysis can help inform future evaluation of whether such extended duration missions improve NASA’s ability to address its Moon to Mars Objectives.

Garrett M. Carman↗
DOE OSTI2024

CORSAIR: A Framework for Human Mobility Prediction through Visit Characterization and Spatial Behavior Modeling

The rapid advancement of location acquisition technologies has led to the daily collection of vast amounts of mobile trajectory data, facilitating in-depth research on human mobility and enabling more accurate mobility prediction models. However, existing methodologies often fall short in capturing the intricate dynamics of human navigation and spatial behavior. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the multifaceted relationships between individuals and their environments, considering the diverse influences of personal preferences and experiences. Some places hold sentimental value and are visited frequently, while others serve as transient points of passage. To model these differences, we introduce CORSAIR, a novel visit characterization framework that leverages visitation patterns and dwell times to delineate an individual’s relationship with specific places. CORSAIR classifies visits into seven distinct types: casual, occasional, routine, special, anchor, important, and resettling. Also, we show that explicitly recognizing these distinct visit types and incorporating nuanced visit intents into mobility prediction models leads to a substantial improvement in prediction accuracy. This distinction allows for more precise modeling of the individual’s transitions, enhancing the personalization and relevance of location-based services. Our findings suggest that a deeper understanding of the complexities of individual-environment interactions is crucial for developing effective predictive tools in mobility research.

Amichi, Licia [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000177631394)↗
DOE OSTI2020

SMART Mobility. Mobility Decision Science Capstone Report

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Systems and Modeling for Accelerated Research in Transportation (SMART) Mobility Consortium is a multiyear, multi-laboratory collaborative, managed by the Energy Efficient Mobility Systems Program of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vehicle Technologies Office, dedicated to further understanding the energy implications and opportunities of advanced mobility technologies and services. The first three-year research phase of SMART Mobility occurred from 2017 through 2019, and included five research pillars: Connected and Automated Vehicles, Mobility Decision Science, Multi-Modal Freight, Urban Science, and Advanced Fueling Infrastructure. A sixth research thrust integrated aspects of all five pillars to develop a SMART Mobility Modeling Workflow to evaluate new transportation technologies and services at scale. This report summarizes the work of the Mobility Decision Science Pillar. The Mobility Decision Science Pillar sought to fill gaps in existing knowledge about the human role in the mobility system including travel decision-making and technology adoption in the context of future mobility. The objective was to study how underlying preferences, needs, and contextual factors might constrain or hasten future transportation system scenarios. For information about the other Pillars and about the SMART Mobility Modeling Workflow, please refer to the relevant pillar’s Capstone Report.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS1992

Human behavior and human performance: Psychomotor demands

The results of several experiments are presented in abstract form. These studies are critical for the interpretation and acceptance of flight based science to be conducted by the Behavior and Performance project. Some representative titles are as follow: External audio for IBM/PC compatible computers; A comparative assessment of psychomotor performance (target prediction by humans and macaques); Response path (a dependent measure for computer maze solving and other tasks); Behavioral asymmetries of psychomotor performance in Rhesus monkey (a dissociation between hand preference and skill); Testing primates with joystick based automated apparatus; and Environmental enrichment and performance assessment for ground or flight based research with primates;

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2014

NASA's Controlled Environment Agriculture Testing for Space Habitats

NASA and other space agencies have an interest in using plants for human life support in space. The plants could provide food and O2 for the humans, while removing CO2 and helping purify wastewater. Studies to date have shown that a wide range of crops can be grown in controlled environment conditions envisioned for space. Light is a critical factor both for crop productivity and system power costs, and recent improvements in LEDs make them a preferred lighting option for space. Because space systems would be tightly closed, issues such as ethylene build-up and management must be considered. Ultimately, the costs and reliability of biological life support options must be compared with more conventional life support approaches. Findings to date suggest that about 20-25 sq. meters of crops could supply the O2 for one human, while about 50 sq. meters would be required for food (dietary calories).

Bioregenerative↗
NASA NTRS2004

Generation of Electrical Power from Stimulated Muscle Contractions Evaluated

This project is a collaborative effort between NASA Glenn Research Center's Revolutionary Aeropropulsion Concepts (RAC) Project, part of the NASA Aerospace Propulsion and Power Program of the Aerospace Technology Enterprise, and Case Western Reserve University's Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Center. The RAC Project foresees implantable power requirements for future applications such as organically based sensor platforms and robotics that can interface with the human senses. One of the goals of the FES Center is to develop a totally implantable neural prosthesis. This goal is based on feedback from patients who would prefer a system with an internal power source over the currently used system with an external power source. The conversion system under investigation would transform the energy produced from a stimulated muscle contraction into electrical energy. We hypothesize that the output power of the system will be greater than the input power necessary to initiate, sustain, and control the electrical conversion system because of the stored potential energy of the muscle. If the system can be made biocompatible, durable, and with the potential for sustained use, then the biological power source will be a viable solution.

Lewandowski, Beth↗
NASA NTRS2005

Operational behavioral health and performance resources for international space station crews and families

The Behavioral Health and Performance Section (BHP) at NASA Johnson Space Center provides direct and indirect psychological services to the International Space Station (ISS) astronauts and their families. Beginning with the NASA-Mir Program, services available to the crews and families have gradually expanded as experience is gained in long-duration flight. Enhancements to the overall BHP program have been shaped by crewmembers' personal preferences, family requests, specific events during the missions, programmatic requirements, and other lessons learned. The BHP program focuses its work on four areas: operational psychology, behavioral medicine, human-to-system interface, and sleep and circadian. Within these areas of focus are psychological and psychiatric screening for astronaut selection as well as many resources that are available to the crewmembers, families, and other groups such as crew surgeon and various levels of management within NASA. Services include: preflight, in flight, and postflight preparation; training and support; resources from a Family Support Office; in-flight monitoring; clinical care for astronauts and their families; and expertise in the workload and work/rest scheduling of crews on the ISS. Each of the four operational areas is summarized, as are future directions for the BHP program.

Space Flight↗
NASA NTRS2010

Suggestions for Layout and Functional Behavior of Software-Based Voice Switch Keysets

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) provides communication services for a number of real time environments, including Space Shuttle Propulsion support and International Space Station (ISS) payload operations. In such settings, control team members speak with each other via multiple voice circuits or loops. Each loop has a particular purpose and constituency, and users are assigned listen and/or talk capabilities for a given loop based on their role in fulfilling the purpose. A voice switch is a given facility's hardware and software that supports such communication, and may be interconnected with other facilities switches to create a large network that, from an end user perspective, acts like a single system. Since users typically monitor and/or respond to several voice loops concurrently for hours on end and real time operations can be very dynamic and intense, it s vital that a control panel or keyset for interfacing with the voice switch be a servant that reduces stress, not a master that adds it. Implementing the visual interface on a computer screen provides tremendous flexibility and configurability, but there s a very real risk of overcomplication. (Remember how office automation made life easier, which led to a deluge of documents that made life harder?) This paper a) discusses some basic human factors considerations related to keysets implemented as application software windows, b) suggests what to standardize at the facility level and what to leave to the user's preference, and c) provides screen shot mockups for a robust but reasonably simple user experience. Concepts apply to keyset needs in almost any type of operations control or support center.

Scott, David W.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Dual-action kinase inhibitors influence p38α MAP kinase dephosphorylation

Reversible protein phosphorylation directs essential cellular processes including cell division, cell growth, cell death, inflammation, and differentiation. Because protein phosphorylation drives diverse diseases, kinases and phosphatases have been targets for drug discovery, with some achieving remarkable clinical success. Most protein kinases are activated by phosphorylation of their activation loops, which shifts the conformational equilibrium of the kinase toward the active state. To turn off the kinase, protein phosphatases dephosphorylate these sites, but how the conformation of the dynamic activation loop contributes to dephosphorylation was not known. To answer this, we modulated the activation loop conformational equilibrium of human p38α ΜΑP kinase with existing kinase inhibitors that bind and stabilize specific inactive activation loop conformations. From this, we identified three inhibitors that increase the rate of dephosphorylation of the activation loop phospho-threonine by the PPM serine/threonine phosphatase WIP1. Hence, these compounds are “dual-action” inhibitors that simultaneously block the active site and promote p38α dephosphorylation. Our X-ray crystal structures of phosphorylated p38α bound to the dual-action inhibitors reveal a shared flipped conformation of the activation loop with a fully accessible phospho-threonine. In contrast, our X-ray crystal structure of phosphorylated apo human p38α reveals a different activation loop conformation with an inaccessible phospho-threonine, thereby explaining the increased rate of dephosphorylation upon inhibitor binding. These findings reveal a conformational preference of phosphatases for their targets and suggest a unique approach to achieving improved potency and specificity for therapeutic kinase inhibitors.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2023

X-ray Crystallographic Study of Preferred Spacing by the NF-κB p50 Homodimer on κB DNA

Though originally characterized as an inactive or transcriptionally repressive factor, the NF-κB p50 homodimer has become appreciated as a physiologically relevant driver of specific target gene expression. By virtue of its low affinity for cytoplasmic IκB protein inhibitors, p50 accumulates in the nucleus of resting cells, where it is a binding target for the transcriptional co-activator IκBζ. In this study, we employed X-ray crystallography to analyze the structure of the p50 homodimer on κB DNA from the promoters of human interleukin-6 (IL-6) and neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) genes, both of which respond to IκBζ. The NF-κB p50 homodimer binds 11-bp on IL-6 κB DNA, while, on NGAL κB DNA, the spacing is 12-bp. This begs the question: what DNA binding mode is preferred by NF-κB p50 homodimer? To address this, we engineered a “Test” κB-like DNA containing the core sequence 5'-GGGGAATTCCCC-3' and determined its X-ray crystal structure in complex with p50. This revealed that, when presented with multiple options, NF-κB p50 homodimer prefers to bind 11-bp, which necessarily imposes asymmetry on the complex despite the symmetry inherent in both the protein and its target DNA, and that the p50 dimerization domain can contact DNA via distinct modes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2004

Fact Sheets of CTAS and NASA Decision-Support Tools and Concepts

Distributed Air/Ground (DAG) Traffic Management (TM) is an integrated operational concept in which flight deck crews, air traffic service providers and aeronautical operational control personnel use distributed decision-making to enable user preferences and increase system capacity, while meeting air traffic management (ATM) requirements. It is a possible operational mode under the Free Flight concept outlined by the RTCA Task Force 3. The goal of DAG-TM is to enhance user flexibility/efficiency and increase system capacity, without adversely affecting system safety or restricting user accessibility to the National Airspace System (NAS). DAG-TM will be accomplished with a human-centered operational paradigm enabled by procedural and technological innovations. These innovations include automation aids, information sharing and Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) / ATM technologies. The DAG-TM concept is intended to eliminate static restrictions to the maximum extent possible. In this paradigm, users may plan and operate according to their preferences - as the rule rather than the exception - with deviations occumng eyond the year 2015. Out of a total of 15 concept elements, 4 have been selected for initial sutidies (see Key Elements in sidebar). DAG-TM research is being performed at Ames, Glenn, and Langley Research Centers.

Lee, Katharine↗
NASA NTRS2004

DAG-TM Concept Element 11 CNS Performance Assessment: ADS-B Performance in the TRACON

Distributed Air/Ground (DAG) Traffic Management (TM) is an integrated operational concept in which flight deck crews, air traffic service providers and aeronautical operational control personnel use distributed decision-making to enable user preferences and increase system capacity, while meeting air traffic management (ATM) safety requirements. It is a possible operational mode under the Free Flight concept outlined by the RTCA Task Force 3. The goal of DAG-TM is to enhance user flexibility/efficiency and increase system capacity, without adversely affecting system safety or restricting user accessibility to the National Airspace System (NAS). DAG-TM will be accomplished with a human-centered operational paradigm enabled by procedural and technological innovations. These innovations include automation aids, information sharing and Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) / ATM technologies. The DAG-TM concept is intended to eliminate static restrictions to the maximum extent possible. In this paradigm, users may plan and operate according to their preferences - as the rule rather than the exception - with deviations occurring only as necessary. The DAG-TM concept elements aim to mitigate the extent and impact of dynamic NAS constraints, while maximizing the flexibility of airspace operations

Raghavan, Rajesh S.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Usability Study of Two Collocated Prototype System Displays

Currently, most of the displays in control rooms can be categorized as status screens, alerts/procedures screens (or paper), or control screens (where the state of a component is changed by the operator). The primary focus of this line of research is to determine which pieces of information (status, alerts/procedures, and control) should be collocated. Two collocated displays were tested for ease of understanding in an automated desktop survey. This usability study was conducted as a prelude to a larger human-in-the-loop experiment in order to verify that the 2 new collocated displays were easy to learn and usable. The results indicate that while the DC display was preferred and yielded better performance than the MDO display, both collocated displays can be easily learned and used.

Trujillo, Anna C.↗
NASA NTRS2016

A Psychoacoustic Evaluation of Noise Signatures from Advanced Civil Transport Aircraft

The NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation project has been successful in developing and demonstrating technologies for integrated aircraft systems that can simultaneously meet aggressive goals for fuel burn, noise and emissions. Some of the resulting systems substantially differ from the familiar tube and wing designs constituting the current civil transport fleet. This study attempts to explore whether or not the effective perceived noise level metric used in the NASA noise goal accurately reflects human subject response across the range of vehicles considered. Further, it seeks to determine, in a quantitative manner, if the sounds associated with the advanced aircraft are more or less preferable to the reference vehicles beyond any differences revealed by the metric. These explorations are made through psychoacoustic tests in a controlled laboratory environment using simulated stimuli developed from auralizations of selected vehicles based on systems noise assessments.

Rizzi, Stephen A.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Data for A Generalized Platform for Artificial Intelligence-powered Autonomous Protein Engineering

Proteins are the molecular machines of life with numerous applications in energy, health, and sustainability. However, engineering proteins with desired functions for practical applications remains slow, expensive, and specialist-dependent. Here we report a generally applicable platform for autonomous enzyme engineering that integrates machine learning and large language models with biofoundry automation to eliminate the need for human intervention, judgement, and domain expertise. Requiring only an input protein sequence and a quantifiable way to measure fitness, this automated platform can be applied to engineer a wide array of proteins. As a proof of concept, we engineer Arabidopsis thaliana halide methyltransferase (AtHMT) for a 90-foldimprovement in substrate preference and 16-fold improvement in ethyl-transferase activity, along with developing a Yersinia mollaretii phytase (YmPhytase) variant with 26-fold improvement in activity at neutral pH. This is accomplished in four rounds over 4 weeks, while requiring construction and characterization of fewer than 500 variants for each enzyme. This platform for autonomous experimentation paves the way for rapid advancements across diverse industries, from medicine and biotechnology to renewable energy and sustainable chemistry.

AI/ML↗
NASA NTRS2012

Nuclear Thermal Rocket (Ntr) Propulsion: A Proven Game-Changing Technology for Future Human Exploration Missions

The NTR represents the next evolutionary step in high performance rocket propulsion. It generates high thrust and has a specific impulse (Isp) of approx.900 seconds (s) or more V twice that of today s best chemical rockets. The technology is also proven. During the previous Rover and NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications) nuclear rocket programs, 20 rocket reactors were designed, built and ground tested. These tests demonstrated: (1) a wide range of thrust; (2) high temperature carbide-based nuclear fuel; (3) sustained engine operation; (4) accumulated lifetime; and (5) restart capability V all the requirements needed for a human mission to Mars. Ceramic metal cermet fuel was also pursued, as a backup option. The NTR also has significant growth and evolution potential. Configured as a bimodal system, it can generate electrical power for the spacecraft. Adding an oxygen afterburner nozzle introduces a variable thrust and Isp capability and allows bipropellant operation. In NASA s recent Mars Design Reference Architecture (DRA) 5.0 study, the NTR was selected as the preferred propulsion option because of its proven technology, higher performance, lower launch mass, simple assembly and mission operations. In contrast to other advanced propulsion options, NTP requires no large technology scale-ups. In fact, the smallest engine tested during the Rover program V the 25,000 lbf (25 klbf) Pewee engine is sufficient for human Mars missions when used in a clustered engine arrangement. The Copernicus crewed spacecraft design developed in DRA 5.0 has significant capability and a human exploration strategy is outlined here that uses Copernicus and its key components for precursor near Earth asteroid (NEA) and Mars orbital missions prior to a Mars landing mission. Initially, the basic Copernicus vehicle can enable reusable 1-year round trip human missions to candidate NEAs like 1991 JW and Apophis in the late 2020 s to check out vehicle systems. Afterwards, the Copernicus spacecraft and its 2 key components, now configured as an Earth Return Vehicle / propellant tanker, would be used for a short round trip (approx.18 - 20 months)/short orbital stay (60 days) Mars / Phobos survey mission in 2033 using a split mission approach. The paper also discusses NASA s current Foundational Technology Development activities and its pre-decisional plans for future system-level Technology Demonstrations that include ground testing a small (approx.7.5 klbf) scalable NTR before the decade is out with a flight test shortly thereafter.

Borowski, Stanley K.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Empirical Requirements Analysis for Mars Surface Operations Using the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station

Living and working on Mars will require model-based computer systems for maintaining and controlling complex life support, communication, transportation, and power systems. This technology must work properly on the first three-year mission, augmenting human autonomy, without adding-yet more complexity to be diagnosed and repaired. One design method is to work with scientists in analog (mars-like) setting to understand how they prefer to work, what constrains will be imposed by the Mars environment, and how to ameliorate difficulties. We describe how we are using empirical requirements analysis to prototype model-based tools at a research station in the High Canadian Arctic.

Clancey, William J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

An expert system for fault management assistance on a space sleep experiment

The expert system, Principal Investigator-in-a-box, or [PI], was designed to assist astronauts or other operators in performing experiments outside their expertise. Currently, the software helps astronauts calibrate instruments for a Sleep and Respiration Experiment without contact with the investigator on the ground. It flew on the Space Shuttle missions STS-90 and STS-95. [PI] displays electrophysiological signals in real time, alerts astronauts via the indicator lights when a poor signal quality is detected, and advises astronauts how to restore good signal quality. Thirty subjects received training on the sleep instrumentation and the [PI] interface. A beneficial effects of [PI] and training reduced troubleshooting time. [PI] benefited subjects on the most difficult scenarios, even though its lights were not 100% accurate. Further, questionnaires showed that most subjects preferred monitoring waveforms with [PI] assistance rather than monitoring waveforms alone. This study addresses problems of complex troubleshooting and the extended time between training and execution that is common to many human operator situations on earth such as in power plant operation, and marine exploration.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗