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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

KSC Tech Transfer News, Volume 5, No. 1

In October 2011, the White House released a presidential memorandum titled "Accelerating Technology Transfer and Commercialization of Federal Research in Support of High-Growth Businesses." It emphasized the importance of technology transfer as a driver of successful innovation to fuel economic growth, create jobs, and make U.S. industries more competitive in a global market. In response to this memorandum, NASA developed a 5-year plan for accelerating its own technology transfer activities. This plan outlines key objectives for enhancing NASA's ability to increase the rate, volume, and quality of technology transfers to industry, academia, and other Government agencies. By doing so, we are increasing the economic impact and public benefit of Federal technology investments. In addition, NASA established technology transfer as a key element of one of its Agency High Priority Performance Goals: "Enable bold new missions and make new technologies available to Government agencies and U.S. industry."What does this mean to you? In the broadest sense, NASA defines technology transfer as the utilization of NASA's technological assets- technologies, innovations, unique facilities and equipment, and technical expertise- by public and private sectors to benefit the Nation. So, if your job involves developing new technologies, writing new software, creating innovative ways to do business, performing research, or developing new technical capabilities, you could be contributing to Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) technology transfer activities by creating the technological assets that may one day be used by external partners. Furthermore, anytime you provide technical expertise to external partners, you're participating in technology transfer. The single most important step you can take to support the technology transfer process is to report new technologies and innovations ro the Technology Transfer Office. This is the critical first step in fueling the technology transfer pipeline. This is also a requirement for all Federal employees (see NPD 2091.1 B) and most NASA contractors. Detailed information on when, where, and how ro report new technology is provided on the following page. In addition, it's important that all detailed-oriented discussions about technology between NASA and external partners are documented or that they occur under formal agreements such as Space Act Agreements and Nondisclosure Agreements. Our office can assist you in putting these agreements into place, protecting NASA's interests, and providing the means to accurately measure the Agency's technology transfer activities. Technology transfer is everyone's responsibility. We need your help to ensure that NASA remains the leader in Federal technology transfer, and that the great work done at KSC provides the maximum economic and societal benefit to the Nation.

Buckingham, Bruce↗
NASA NTRS2015

Risky Business

During my internship I worked on two major projects, recommending improvements for the Center's Risk Management Workshop and helping with the strategic planning efforts for Safety and Mission Assurance (S&MA). The risk management improvements is the key project I worked on this semester through my internship, while the strategic planning is the secondary assignment. S&MA Business Office covers both aspects in its delegation, getting both spans some of the work done in the office. A risk is a future event with a negative consequence that has some probability of occurring. Safety and Mission Assurance identifies, analyzes, plans, and tracks risk. The directorate offers the Center a Risk Management Workshop, and part of the ongoing efforts of S&MA is to make continuous improvements to the RM Workshop. By using the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Standard for Risk Management, I performed a gap analysis to make improvements for our materials. I benchmarked the PMI's Risk Management Standard, compared our Risk Management Workshop materials to PMI's standard, and identified any gaps in our material. My major findings were presented to the Business Office of S&MA for a decision on whether or not to incorporate the improvements. These suggestions were made by attending JSC working group meetings, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) panel reviews and various risk review meetings. The improvements provide better understanding of risk management processes and enhanced risk tracking knowledge and skills. Risk management is an integral part of any engineering discipline, getting exposed to this section of engineering will greatly help shape my career in the future. Johnson Space Center is a world leader in risk management processes; learning risk management here gives me a huge advantage over my peers, as well as understanding decision making in the context of risk management will help me to be a well-rounded engineer. Strategic planning is an area I had not previously studied. Helping with the strategic planning efforts in S&MA has taught me how organizations think and function as a whole. S&MA is adopting a balanced scorecard approach to strategic planning. As part of this planning method strategic themes, objectives, and initiatives are formed. I attended strategic theme team workshops that formed the strategy map for the directorate and gave shape to the plan. Also during these workshops the objectives were discussed and built. Learning the process for strategic planning has helped me better understand how organizations and businesses function, which also helps me to be a more effective employee. Other assignments I had during my internship included completing the Safety and Mission Assurance Technical Excellent Program (STEP) Level 1, as well as doing a two week rotation through the Space Exploration division in S&MA, specifically working with a thermal protection systems (TPS) engineer. While working there, I learned about the Orion capsule and the SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule. I attended meetings to prepare the engineers for the upcoming Critical Design Reviews for both capsules and reviewed test data. Learning risk management, strategic planning, and working in the Space Exploration division has taught me about many aspects of S&MA. My internship at NASA has given me new experiences and taught me numerous subjects that I would have otherwise not learned. This opportunity has expanded my educational horizons and is helping me to become a more useful engineer and employee.

Yarbrough, Katherine↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimizing Alabama’s CO 2 Storage in Shelby County (Project OASIS) - Deliverable Task 7: Risk Assessment

The “Optimizing Alabama’s CO 2 Storage in Shelby County: Project OASIS” CarbonSAFE Phase II Project seeks to build on regional data sets that demonstrate that the subsurface within Shelby County, Alabama has the potential to store commercial volumes of CO 2 safely, permanently, and economically. The primary target CO 2 Storage Complex is the deep Ketona Dolomite located within a 140 square mile area of the Valley and Ridge Region of Alabama. This deep saline reservoir is beneath a confining system encompassing at least 6,500 ft of shales and other low permeability sediments. Project OASIS drilled a deep stratigraphic test well to confirm the geological properties of the confining system and storage reservoir(s) within the Storage Complex. The geological data was incorporated into numerical models to establish the areal extent of the CO 2 plume and help design the storage site and its monitoring system. The project is managed by the Southern States Energy Board (SSEB), an interstate compact organization consisting of governors and state legislative leaders from sixteen southern states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as an appointee by the President of the United States. The organizational compact provides it with access to state government organizations and legislatures. The Board also maintains an Associate Members program comprised of energy resource companies, utilities, trade groups, academic R&D science and technology experts and energy consultants. Further, the SSEB staff is experienced in managing and coordinating complex energy and environmental programs, from research programs to full-scale design and demonstrations of new and innovative technologies. Project OASIS is a public-private partnership of six entities with multiple principal investigators (PIs). SSEB’s Lead PI and Co-PI are responsible for all aspects of project performance in accordance with the DOE-NETL Cooperative Agreement. SSEB has issued subgrants to Advanced Resources International, Inc., Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, Crescent Resource Innovation, and Oklahoma State University. Advanced Resources International, Inc., issued subgrants to Baker Hughes and Loudon Technical Services for field services

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS1991

Center for Space Power, Texas A and M University

Johnson Controls is a 106 year old company employing 42,000 people worldwide with $4.7 billion annual sales. Though we are new to the aerospace industry we are a world leader in automobile battery manufacturing, automotive seating, plastic bottling, and facilities environment controls. The battery division produces over 24,000,000 batteries annually under private label for the new car manufacturers and the replacement market. We are entering the aerospace market with the nickel hydrogen battery with the help of NASA's Center for Space Power at Texas A&M. Unlike traditional nickel hydrogen battery manufacturers, we are reaching beyond the space applications to the higher volume markets of aircraft starting and utility load leveling. Though space applications alone will not provide sufficient volume to support the economies of scale and opportunities for statistical process control, these additional terrestrial applications will. For example, nickel hydrogen batteries do not have the environmental problems of nickel cadmium or lead acid and may someday start your car or power your electric vehicle. However you envision the future, keep in mind that no manufacturer moves into a large volume market without fine tuning their process. The Center for Space Power at Texas A&M is providing indepth technical analysis of all of the materials and fabricated parts of our battery as well as thermal and mechanical design computer modeling. Several examples of what we are doing with nickel hydrogen chemistry to lead to these production efficiencies are presented.

Jones, Ken↗
DOE OSTI2021

Jet Fuel Production at the Pittsburgh Airport: GTL via Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

The Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)—with the Allegheny County Airport Authority (which manages PIT)—has established itself as a leader in resiliency by becoming the first major United States (U.S.) airport to have a self-sustaining microgrid, providing electricity, heating, and cooling for airport operations. The microgrid is powered by natural gas and solar power produced on the airport property and was completed in Summer 2021. This study examines the feasibility of producing jet fuel at the airport to provide a secure supply of aviation fuel, furthering PIT’s ability to weather supply disruptions and operate self-sufficiently. Gas-to-liquids (GTL) is a commercially available technology that converts natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons, including synthetic jet fuel. A GTL facility at PIT could convert natural gas from onsite wells to jet fuel, effectively doubling the onsite fuel stores in the event of a supply disruption. Moreover, GTL provides a pathway to renewable jet fuel production and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the aviation sector, particularly if renewable natural gas (RNG) is used as a feedstock or other renewable energy sources are used for energy inputs. This study has found that it would be technically feasible to construct and operate a GTL facility on PIT’s property. The approximately 6,000-barrel per day (BPD) facility evaluated would produce nearly 70 million (MM) gallons (gal) of synthetic jet fuel per year, which could supplant nearly all (85 percent) current jet fuel consumption at PIT. Given the current blend limitation of 50 percent Fischer-Tropsch fuels by volume, the plant would have excess production capacity available for the United States Air Force (USAF) Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station and the USAF 171st Air Refueling Wing co-located at the airport.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Increasing Diversity in Energy Efficiency Professions: JUMP into STEM

A long-term approach to achieving equity in the energy efficiency industry is to increase the overall diversity of the professionals who work in the field. Building science professionals have a direct impact on energy efficiency policy and programs, as many become leaders within the industry. Buildings are used every day by almost all members of U.S. society, so diversity in building science professionals is critical to better understanding the behaviors and needs of the full spectrum of building occupants. Many groups of people, including minorities and women, are underrepresented in the industry. The industry needs to attract a wide range of current college and university students to careers in building science, so that many perspectives are included in the clean energy transition. The JUMP into STEM student competition addresses this need by inspiring students from diverse backgrounds to use creative ideation to solve real-world building science problems. Student teams - comprising an interdisciplinary mix of majors and underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) - respond to one of three buildings-related challenges. Diversity is encouraged through challenge design, competition guidelines, and evaluation criteria for the submission. Winners of the competition are awarded paid building science internships, a gateway to a career in this field. The competition has an advisory panel of diversity experts and a professor team that includes representation from minority-serving institutions. This paper presents the JUMP into STEM approach to fostering diversity and creative ideation on technical challenges and discusses outcomes from the 2019 and 2020 competitions.

buildings↗
DOE OSTI2022

ECP Software Technology Capability Assessment Report V3.0

The Exascale Computing Project (ECP) Software Technology (ST) focus area is responsible for (1) developing critical software capabilities that will enable the successful execution of ECP applications and (2) providing key components of a productive and sustainable exascale computing ecosystem that will position the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the broader high-performance computing (HPC) community with a firm foundation for future extreme-scale computing capabilities. This ECP ST Capability Assessment Report (CAR) provides an overview and assessment of current ECP ST capabilities and activities, giving stakeholders and the broader HPC community information that can be used to assess ECP ST progress and plan their own efforts accordingly. ECP ST leaders commit to updating this document on regular basis (every 6–12 months). Highlights from this version of the report are presented here. This version of the CAR contains the following updates relative to the previous revision: (1) This report highlights the progress with the Extreme-scale Scientific Software Stack (E4S) efforts. In particular, this report discusses how E4S continues to gain traction as a first-class entity in the HPC ecosystem, enabling new conversations with users, facilities, vendors, other US agencies, and international partners. (2) The several-page summaries of each ECP Level 4 project were updated to reflect recent progress and next steps (Section 4). Of particular note are the experiences of our teams on early-access systems for Frontier. (3) The E4S is described further. E4S is now updated via quarterly releases. E4S is the primary integration and delivery vehicle for ECP ST capabilities (Section 2.1.1). (4) The ECP ST software development kit (SDK) effort further refined its groupings (Section 2.1.2). The ECP ST focus area represents the key bridge between exascale systems and the scientists developing applications that will run on those platforms. ECP ST efforts contribute to approximately 70 software products (Section 2.1.3) in six technical areas (Table 1). Since publishing the previous revision of the CAR, the team has continued to evolve the product dictionary of official product names, which enables more rigorous mapping of ECP ST deliverables to stakeholders (Section 2.1.4).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS2020

Marshall Space Flight Center Research and Technology Report 2019

Today, our calling to explore is greater than ever before, and here at Marshall Space Flight Center—we make human deep space exploration possible. A key goal for Artemis is demonstrating and perfecting capabilities on the Moon for technologies needed for humans to get to Mars. This year’s report features 10 of the Agency’s 16 Technology Areas, and I am proud of Marshall’s role in creating solutions for so many of these daunting technical challenges. Many of these projects will lead to sustainable in-space architecture for human space exploration that will allow us to travel to the Moon, on to Mars, and beyond. Others are developing new scientific instruments capable of providing an unprecedented glimpse into our universe. NASA has led the charge in space exploration for more than six decades, and through the Artemis program we will help build on our work in low Earth orbit and pave the way to the Moon and Mars. At Marshall, we leverage the skills and interest of the international community to conduct scientific research, develop and demonstrate technology, and train international crews to operate further from Earth for longer periods of time than ever before— first at the lunar surface, then on to our next giant leap, human exploration of Mars. While each project in this report seeks to advance new technology and challenge conventions, it is important to recognize the diversity of activities and people supporting our mission. This report not only showcases the Center’s capabilities and our partnerships, it also highlights the progress our people have achieved in the past year. These scientists, researchers and innovators are why Marshall and NASA will continue to be a leader in innovation, exploration, and discovery for years to come.

Dankanich, John W.↗
DOE OSTI2026

State of Innovation 2025: Progress in Accelerating Next-Generation Cement and Concrete Technologies

The cement and concrete sectors are entering a decisive period as next-generation technologies advance from laboratory research to demonstration, early deployment, and first-of-a-kind commercial plants. Building on the 2024 State of Innovation report, the 2025 outlook highlights both the rapid acceleration of innovation and the urgent need for coordinated action across the value chain. Venture capital activity into the cement and concrete space stabilized following the record surge of 2022-2023, yet landmark financings, such as Sublime Systems' $200 million round and Terra CO2's $124 million Series B, signal continued investor confidence in companies approaching commercialization. Corporate procurement has become a powerful new catalyst, with Microsoft, Amazon, and CRH (Cement Roadstone Holdings) Ventures providing long-term commitments that underpin the first wave of next-generation cementitious products. The sector is shifting from early-stage experimentation toward the scaling of well-capitalized leaders capable of bridging the critical "capitalization gap." Early innovators continue to expand the toolkit through novel binders, electrochemical cements, biogenic limestone, and carbonate mineralization pathways. Going into 2026, cost competitiveness, durability validation, and scalability enabled by resilient supply chains remain the decisive factors for market adoption. At the 2025 Next Generation Cement and Concrete Critical Technologies Meeting, attendees emphasized dual-track funding strategies that integrate federal grants with private capital as key to enabling market breakthrough. State programs and corporate demand are sustaining momentum, while successful companies increasingly demonstrate both economic value and reduced dependence on imported materials. The National Concrete Pavement Technology Center and others underscored that broad integration of next-generation materials will hinge on standards compatibility, verified field performance, and workforce readiness. Colorado continues to serve as a proving ground through pilot programs that combine supplier training, phased implementation, and real-world data to de-risk innovation and provide replicable models for other regions. The 2025 Cement and Concrete Critical Technologies Workshop reinforced that scaling next-generation materials will require alignment among technology innovation, performance validation, and market demand. Stakeholders must move beyond siloed efforts toward collaborative frameworks that coordinate standards, funding, and infrastructure deployment. As a neutral convener and technical validator, the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) plays a pivotal role in bridging innovation and market adoption through collaborative research, technology validation, and entrepreneurship programs. By uniting innovators, incumbents, policymakers, contractors, and investors, NLR and its partners are helping chart a credible pathway toward widespread commercialization in the decade ahead.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

APS-DPP Distinguished Lecturer in Plasma Physics (DLPP) Program (Final Technical Report)

The final WVU-DLPP-project year has been a transition year on multiple fronts for the DLPP program. The first is a transition from the mode of operations adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic and the second is leadership for the program. During the pandemic, the lecture series went to a virtual format to maintain interactions between our distinguished lecturers and the community of small college and University plasma physics programs with an emphasis on underrepresented groups. Prof. John Foster was especially active with his invited lectures in the remote modality of the DLPPseries. While efforts included zoom calls for speakers to interact with students in addition to the seminar, this approach is much less impactful than face-to-face interactions. As we refresh the group of speakers, the lectures will move back to in person visits. We still retain the virtual option for our lecturers to cope with circumstances and remaining health concerns for individual. We have selected a new cohort of distinguished lecturers. A flyer was sent to a list of college and universities to advertise the DLPP speaker-visit opportunity. We have also drafted a thank you letter to the previous cohort who sustained the program through the pandemic. The other transition is the change in leadership, after the selection of the 2023 DLPPcohort, from Dr. Koepke who has been a staunch champion for the program and done a great job growing its presence, to Dr. Kline the co-chair. Dr. Koepke has been transferring his knowledge and providing excellent guidance in this transition. Over the past year, a best practices document was written as a means to capture not only the core program values, but create a living document that can maintain a continual transfer of information to subsequent leader for the program.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Net-zero Microgrid Program Report: Microrred de la Montaña Feasibility Study (Executive Summary Extended)

This feasibility study provides the technical and economic rationale for the Microrred de la Montaña as a viable solution for supplying reliable and resilient electricity to an underserved region in Puerto Rico – a region that is the first to be disconnected from the grid and the last to be restored, enduring months long outages. It begins the process of the development of the microgrid through conceptual design, engineering, detailed electrical design, implementation, and operation. The Microrred de la Montaña is organized under the governance of the Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña (Cooperativa) which has legal status as a cooperative and power provider under the laws of Puerto Rico. The members are the municipalities of Adjuntas, Jayuya, Lares and Utuado with a combined population of 90,000. These municipalities are in central Puerto Rico – a mountainous region that is extremely vulnerable to weather events and excessive, long-duration power outages and are among the poorest and most disadvantaged regions in Puerto Rico. Funding from external sources is necessary to acquire the resources for a resilient power delivery system. Regulatory support is necessary to establish operational relationships with the incumbent power providers. The Microrred de la Montaña is envisioned as a resilient microgrid that manages distributed energy resources – local solar, storage, and hydroelectricity over an upgraded distribution network within the boundaries of four municipalities. This feasibility study provides the results of an extensive techno-economic analysis to form a sound basis for decision-making by community leaders, their constituents, funding and investment agencies, and regulators to realize the benefits that are achievable by fully implementing the design and planning recommended for the Microrred de la Montaña.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Advancing Solar Innovation for Low and Moderate-Income Households (Final Technical Report)

The overarching goal of this project was to deepen the understanding of the social and economic aspects of solar adoption, with a specific eye towards any pathways or barriers that could be identified that directly impact low and moderate-income households. Specific objectives included (1) identifying and assessing significant non-economic barriers that complicate the ability of LMI households to adopt and benefit from solar, even under scenarios with low economic barriers; (2) assessing the differential ability of groups to benefit from solar adoption based on their ability to invest in different solar innovations; (3) explaining why some LMI communities nonetheless experience significantly higher rates of solar adoption and benefit than others; (4) developing a methodological model for generating data addressing key issues to the project; and (5) designing and developing an interactive web portal that aggregates existing datasets, provides researchers trend analysis capabilities, standardizes project protocols for other states and communities; provides the opportunities for researchers using the same protocol in other communities to upload their results; and engages with the general public by providing them the ability to upload their own perspectives and stories of solar technology adoption. Through a common framework for conducting semi-structured field interviews. In partnership with cooperative extension services, in conjunction with survey research and the aggregation of existing solar adoption datasets, this study has identified that currently ,there is a strong values alignment and knowledge access challenge that continues to affect solar adoption. Participants in this study – many of whom are either low or moderate-income and/or live in underserved rural communities do not believe solar is an option where they live or believe solar is appropriate for their lifestyle. This perception challenge is further exacerbated by the absolute dearth of adopters in most communities and a total lack of local marketing for solar energy. What marketing that does exist is geared towards audiences other than those in the participant's community, reinforcing a perception that 22% of survey respondents (n = 1,551) have: that solar energy is not meant for them and their community. Overcoming these serious human challenges pertaining to knowledge and marketing are critical to reducing the customer acquisition costs incurred amongst LMI communities and especially those in rural America where the opportunities solar provides to increase local energy resilience, security, all while engaging in personal stewardship of the planet could align with local values. Community-Based Social Marketing, built in partnership with community leaders and geared towards meeting local visions of ideal life, is a near term opportunity to bridge the gap between local priorities and national market and policy imperatives for solar while moving towards the administration's goals for renewable energy as part of a just and equitable decarbonization program. The tools and methods developed for this study can serve as a template for identifying other specific local challenges for solar adoption in other state, and provide the opportunity for a common data framework for understanding system-wide trends and barriers to achieving uptake of residential solar in communities that may, ultimately, benefit the most from the technology.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cross-Cutting Metrology Tools for In Operando Characterization of Carrier Dynamics in Photovoltaic Devices (Final Technical Report)

Understanding the nature of recombination and its dependence on defects and interfaces is essential for engineering materials and contacts for higher V oc and photovoltaic (PV) efficiency. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) has conventionally been used to evaluate recombination, but not all materials are strongly emissive or otherwise suitable. Time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy is a pump – probe method that presents valuable complementary information, wherein an optical pump pulse photoexcites carriers within the absorber and the transient photoconductivity is probed with a terahertz pulse. Until now, experimental constraints have prohibited the use of terahertz probes to interrogate full device stacks, and measurements were instead made on exfoliated films or films grown on unconventional substrates. However, interfaces are critical to the behavior of photoexcited carriers in solar cells, and the substrates themselves often influence the film growth and bulk properties. Therefore, it is important to probe the behavior of PV absorbers as close as possible to their normal operating conditions. Here we have developed cross-cutting metrology that enable in operando characterization of carrier dynamics and recombination mechanisms in working PV devices. Through a combination of complementary non-contact TRTS and TRPL experiments and modeling, we have obtained key parameters including photoexcited carrier bulk lifetime and interface and back surface recombination velocities with greater precision and accuracy than can be achieved with conventional TRPL alone. By varying pulsed photoexcitation conditions, the contributions of interface and bulk recombination mechanisms can be determined. We have developed and refined this characterization approach by investigating CdTe PVs, which is a well-established technology but with significant margin for further improvements in efficiency. Results were published in Journal of Applied Physics (DOI: 10.1063/5.0064730) and Proceedings of the IEEE PVSC (DOI: 10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9518559). After validating the approach, we have applied it to correlate recombination rates to processing conditions and material properties, including composition and defects as well as interfaces and surface treatments. Such feedback can inform processing and design choices to enable higher PV efficiency, not only for CdTe, but also CdSe x Te 1-x , CIGS, perovskites, kesterites, and future technologies. A perspective on predicting solar cell performance from terahertz spectroscopy was published in Advanced Energy Materials (DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202102776). The cross-cutting metrology tools developed here will enable determination of the locus and mechanism of performance-limiting recombination in thin film PV devices. This feedback can guide the engineering of PV devices with higher V oc and efficiency, thereby leading to reductions in levelized cost of electricity to meet the SunShot 2030 target of $0.03/kWh for utility-scale PV. Lower costs will enable rapid expansion of renewable electricity generation that is nearly free of carbon emissions. Reducing carbon emissions of the electricity sector is one of the most important solutions to climate change. The project’s specific focus on CdTe PV can benefit First Solar, the US company that is the global leader in CdTe technology, through both technology and workforce development.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2021

AIAA Ascend 2021 Conference On Demand Manufacturing of Electronics Panel Abstract

1. Session Proposal o Session Title NASA’s In Space Manufacturing and the On Demand Manufacturing of Electronics o Session Topic Primary -- Space Logistics, Autonomy, and Robotics; Secondary – Transformative Research and Technologies o Session Format: Panel Discussion. o Requested Session Duration: 60 minutes o Short Session Description: The goal of NASA’s On Demand Manufacturing of Electronics project is to develop and demonstrate the feasibility of a low-gravity, on-demand manufacturing system for flexible hybrid electronic devices on the International Space Station. This panel will feature several key collaborators and team members from the commercial sector, academia, and internal to NASA, each of which are contributing an unique and vital role to the design and implementation of this new technology system. o Extended Session Description (Please describe in detail the activity proposed, including how you intend to use the requested session duration. This session description will be provided to the reviewers for consideration and will not be displayed in the online agenda.): The session will be moderated by Curtis Hill, the Project Lead for the On Demand Manufacturing of Electronics (ODME), and he will start by giving a brief introduction to the ODME project which is working to produce a demo system for the manufacturing of electronic devices on the International Space Station. Panelists consisting of collaborators and team members to the ODME project will then give a brief (~5 min) introduction highlighting their contributions to the project, followed by time for Q&A from the audience. The panel will consist of: 1. Kenneth Church, nScrypt. nScrypt is a leader in multi-material printing with a modular system that incorporates a direct write thick film print head, a polymer fused filament fabrication print head, a laser sintering attachment, a drill head attachment for milling, and a pick and place. The system can print a layer and scan for accuracy of prints. The combination of multiple print heads and scanning allows for the on-demand production of intricate electronic components. 2. Andy Kurk, TechShot, Inc. Techshot, Inc. has collaborated extensively with NASA on the in space manufacturing of both printed electronics and fused metal materials. They are currently working to develop and integrate a test system for printed electronics, and a flight demonstration on the International Space Station is anticipated in 2024. 3. Ed Hendricks, NextFlex. NextFlex has the goal of advancing the manufacture of flexible hybrid electronics in the U.S. They are working with ODME on the development of AstroSense, an additively manufactured, wireless, flexible, and wearable health sensor. 4. Dr. Pradeep Lall, Auburn University. Professor Lall is the MacFarlane Endowed Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with a Courtesy Joint Appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Courtesy Joint Appointment in the Department of Finance. He is collaborating with NASA’s ODME project to develop multilayer printable devices and to develop techniques to test the quality of a printed electronic device. 5. Dr. Wei Gao, California Institute of Technology. Professor Gao is an Assistant Professor of Medical Engineering. His group is developing fully printed, flexible, and wearable biosensors for crew health monitoring in collaboration with NASA’s ODME project. In addition, they are working on using sweat to power biofuel cells for wearable, self-powered electronic devices. 6. Beth Paquette, NASA Goddard. The ODME branch at NASA Goddard is spearheading a sounding rocket flight demo to prove the capability of a printed electronic device with multiple sensors. In addition, they focus on thin film and flexible energy storage evaluations. o Session Goal(s)/Outcome(s): Please list the learning objectives and/or tangible outcomes (technical paper or other publication). The goal of this session is to highlight the internal and collaborative efforts of NASA’s On Demand Manufacturing of Electronics project to develop a system for printing electronics that will be tested on the International Space Station in 2024. In addition, the session with facilitate discussion with the community on the state of the art of printable electronics, current challenges, and new avenues for collaboration.

Jennifer McInnis Jones↗
DOE OSTI2020

Montana Community-Scale Solar Strategy Project (Final Technical Report)

Grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) development began gradually in Montana, initially taking root in the early 2000s, largely in the form of small residential systems, rarely larger than two kilowatts. Utility support for solar technology through public benefit funding triggered the installation of the state’s first solar PV installations on community-owned facilities including schools, libraries, fire stations and local government buildings in the mid-2000s. By 2016, solar PV installations totaled approximately 28 megawatts of installed capacity, generating less than 0.05% of electricity sold in Montana. Montana’s solar fleet in 2016 included 17 megawatts of utility-scale solar farms, and three shared solar projects developed by rural electric cooperatives that ranged from 25 to 50 kilowatts in size. However, with only 3,000 households utilizing solar PV, either through an on-site installation or participation in a shared solar project, the potential benefits and reach of solar technology was limited. The Montana Solar Community Project (MSCP) was developed by the Montana Energy Office (MEO) at the Department of Environmental Quality in order to implement a “community-scale” solar energy strategy for the state that would cost-effectively expand Montanans’ access to solar PV. This project defines three types of community-scale solar projects: shared solar, community-sited solar, and group purchasing programs. The MSCP project conducted research and stakeholder engagement that helped to inform and develop model community-scale initiatives and an overarching community-scale solar strategy for Montana. Specifically, the project included a solar market assessment, stakeholder meetings across Montana, development of a menu of community-scale solar options, a study of solar potential on schools, community solar market research, and community-scale project implementation support. MSCP activities were successful in implementing solar projects and supporting solar development in communities across Montana. Project activities realized 280 kW of newly installed solar from two solarize programs, a shared solar array at a rural electric cooperative, and a solar array atop a Bozeman high school. The community-scale project implementation support and Solar on Schools components of the project resulted directly in the analysis and design of nearly 2 MW of distributed solar systems across the state. The Solar on Schools analysis alone produced solar designs for 25 schools, representing 920.8 kW of solar potential. Many of the deliverables from this project provide guidance on future development of community-scale solar in Montana, and resulted in a number of important conclusions about community-scale solar in Montana. There is strong interest in community-scale solar in Montana, as noted during stakeholder meetings, in response to solar market research surveys, and as seen by applications for implementation support grants provided by MEO. Project activities also suggest that Montanans demonstrated a desire and need for more information about solar energy technology, solar financing options, and the state’s policy and regulatory framework. Additionally, the project found that schools will be key partners for future community-scale solar programs. In addition to being excellent hosts for solar arrays, schools have the opportunity to use the installation of a solar array to develop educational materials and curricula to educate Montana’s future leaders about these technologies, which can be shared and replicated across the state. Project activities laid a clear path forward for solar energy in Montana. Certain activities have concrete next steps. For example, numerous solar arrays were designed for schools and other public buildings around the state. Many of those designs will be used as soon as funding becomes available. Other activities have less developed next steps, though lay the foundation for future work. The solar market assessment, solar market research, and community stakeholder meetings are good examples. These documents can be used as stepping stones to increase renewable energy education, increase stakeholder outreach, and support communities as they seek to develop community-scale solar projects.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Innovations in Sustainable Passive Wastewater Treatment - 20236

Sustainable water treatment systems, engineered to mimic natural processes and utilize natural materials, yield economic and environmental benefits through reductions in long term operational inputs, including: power, chemicals, and labor. Golder is an industry leader in the development and implementation of sustainable technologies at operating and closed mines. We continue to innovate these technologies and customize solutions to meet client needs by applying past experience and focused research. Sustainable (or passive) water treatment systems include ponds, wetlands, flow-through natural media beds, and limestone drains. These systems can blend in with a natural environment, are highly cost-effective for long-term water treatment, and can outcompete traditional active treatment technologies. Application of sustainable technologies relative to active technologies can be influenced by the influent water matrix, effluent limitations, flow rate of water requiring treatment, and available land area. In this presentation, four Golder-developed systems are reviewed as case studies, demonstrating our continued progressive approach to advancing sustainable water treatment technologies to meet industry needs. These case studies focus on design innovations and operational performance from data collected from the operational systems. Resources (power, chemicals, labor) required for the operation of each case study are compared with those that would be required for operation of their active treatment technology alternatives. - Case Study 1 presents an anaerobic biochemical reactor (BCR), a technology typically implemented for metals treatment and acid neutralization, for the treatment of sulfate to low concentrations (<250 mg/L). Active treatment via reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filtration is typically required for treatment of sulfate to similar concentrations, this innovation provides potential for sustainable treatment to replace the need for energy, chemical, labor, and waste (brine) intensive RO treatment for specific applications. Magnetite waste rock materials from the site were upcycled for use in this system to provide sequestration of the sulfide generated in the BCR. - Case Study 2 examines another novel application of the conventional BCR, modified for the removal of radionuclides and metals (uranium, radium, and selenium) at a closed uranium mine. - Case Study 3 presents implementation of sustainable treatment for mine drain water from a historic mine site, now a state park with around 100,000 visitors per year. The system includes a pond, wetland, and manganese removal bed surrounded by public trails designed to maintain the character of the park. The system treats for arsenic, iron, and manganese at relatively high flows (up to 1,200 gpm), with large seasonal fluctuations in flow and quality. - Case Study 4 is a unique project for which Golder is currently designing a sustainable treatment system, with no energy input, to treat nitrate in mine water post-closure at a site near the arctic circle. In this unprecedented application, climate, management of freshet, and space availability presented substantial technical challenges. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗