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NASA NTRS1993

CO2 lidar backscatter experiment

The Aerosol/Lidar Science Group of the Remote Sensing Branch engages in experimental and theoretical studies of atmospheric aerosol scattering and atmospheric dynamics, emphasizing Doppler lidar as a primary tool. Activities include field and laboratory measurement and analysis efforts by in-house personnel, coordinated with similar efforts by university and government institutional researchers. The primary focus of activities related to understanding aerosol scattering is the GLObal Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE) program. GLOBE was initiated by NASA in 1986 to support the engineering design, performance simulation, and science planning for the prospective NASA Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS). The most important GLOBE scientific result has been identified of a background aerosol mode with a surprisingly uniform backscatter mixing ratio (backscatter normalized by air density) throughout a deep tropospheric layer. The backscatter magnitude of the background mode evident from the MSFC CW lidar measurements is remarkably similar to that evident from ground-based backscatter profile climatologies obtained by JPL in Pasadena CA, NOAA/WPL in Boulder CO, and by the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment in the United Kingdom. Similar values for the background mode have been inferred from the conversion of in situ aerosol microphysical measurements to backscatter using Mie theory. Little seasonal or hemispheric variation is evident in the survey mission data, as opposed to large variation for clouds, aerosol plums, and the marine boundary layer. Additional features include: localized aerosol residues from dissipated clouds, occasional regions having mass concentrations of nanograms per cubic meter and very low backscatter, and aerosol plumes extending thousands of kilometers and several kilometers deep. Preliminary comparison with meteorological observations thus far indicate correlation between backscatter and water vapor under high humidity conditions. Limited intercomparisons with the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) limb extinction sounder shows differences in the troposphere, however, it should be noted that in general SAGE measurements have not yet been validated in the troposphere.

Jarzembski, Maurice A.↗

NASA NTRS2005

[School-Based UV-B Monitoring Project in Support of EOS-CHEM]

This grant is an extension of Grant NAG5-8929 (Drexel Project Number 230026), resulting from extensions necessary to meet changing science objectives as described in the final report for NAG5-8929, a copy of which is attached. The instrument configuration resulting from NAG54929 has remained basically intact. Cosine response measurements conducted by James Slusser s group at Fort Collins, Colorado, in support of the proposal for Aura ground validation mentioned in the final report for NAG5-8929, indicated that there was significant light leakage to the detector through the sides of the nylon housing. This was easily remedied by machining a removable opaque collar (made from the dark same grey rigid plastic plumbing tubing as the collimating tube) that fits around the detector collar. Also during this grant period, data logging procedures were established for the UV-A instrument, to record irradiance before, during, and after an Aura overflight. This is required in order to compare spatial and temporal variability as required for ground validation of data products derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). Standalone 12-bit loggers from Onset Computer Corporation (the U12 series), which were not available at the start of these projects, makes possible relatively inexpensive logging for these instruments at a usable resolution. configuration and disposition of these instruments, including the final version of a GLOBE protocol for using the instruments, currently depend on action taken on the Aura ground validation proposal submitted in 2004. A copy of that proposal is attached.

Brooks, David R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Infrared and visible detector electronics for the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS)

The paper describes the detectors, preamplifiers, and processing electronics; the system characterization test methods and results; and the performance of the detectors and electronics during the first month of on-orbit operation of the IRAS telescope. The Focal Plane Array (FPA) consists of 62 IR channels and 8 visible channels operating at 2.5 K. The IR detectors are grouped in eight 7 or 8 channel staggered linear subarrays with shared bias voltage; the visible detectors are grouped in two 4 channel skewed arrays, also with shared bias. Each channel detector is dc coupled to a TIA preamplifier through a very low power thermally isolated JFET source follower operating at about 65 K within the FPA housing. The visible channel detectors are ac coupled to TIA preamplifiers and signal chain electronics using MOSFET source followers operating at about 2.5 K within the FPA housing. The detectors, preamplifiers, analog electronics, and grounding are discussed as they evolved and were implemented during FPA retrofit, telescope integration, and preparation for launch.

Langford, D. L.↗

DOE OSTI2021

The role of precursor decomposition in the formation of samarium doped ceria nanoparticles via solid-state microwave synthesis

The impact on the final morphology of ceria (CeO 2 ) nanoparticles made from different precursors (commercial: cerium acetate/nitrate) and in house: cerium tri(methylsilyl)amide (Ce-TMSA)) via a microwave solid state reaction has been determined. In all instances, powder X-ray diffraction indicated that the cubic fluorite CeO 2 phase (PDF# 04–004-9150, with the space group Fm-3 m) had formed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed spherical nanoparticles were produced from the Ce-TMSA precursor. The commercial acetate and nitrate precursors produced particles with irregular morphology. The roles of the precursor decomposition and binding energy in the synthesis of the nanocrystals with various morphologies, as well as a possible growth mechanism, were evaluated based on experimental and computational data. The formation of spherical shaped nanoparticles was determined to be due to the preferential single-step decomposition of the Ce-TMSA as well as the low activation energy to overcome decomposition. Due to the complicated decomposition of the commercial precursors and high activation energy the resulting particles adopted an irregular morphology. Highly uniform samarium doped ceria (Sm x Ce 1-x O 2-δ ) nanospheres were also synthesized from Ce-TMSA and samarium tri(methylsilyl)amide (Sm-TMSA). The effects of reaction time and temperature, on the final morphology were observed through SEM. The rapid single-step decomposition of TMSA-based precursors as observed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and confirmed through the calculation of potential energy surfaces and binding energies from density functional theory (DFT) calculations, indicated that nanoparticle formation follows LaMer’s classical nucleation theory.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS2017

Framework for Processing Citizens Science Data for Applications to NASA Earth Science Missions

Citizen science (or crowdsourcing) has drawn much high-level recent and ongoing interest and support. It is poised to be applied, beyond the by-now fairly familiar use of, e.g., Twitter for natural hazards monitoring, to science research, such as augmenting the validation of NASA earth science mission data. This interest and support is seen in the 2014 National Plan for Civil Earth Observations, the 2015 White House forum on citizen science and crowdsourcing, the ongoing Senate Bill 2013 (Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act of 2015), the recent (August 2016) Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) call for public participation in its newly-established Citizen Science Domain Working Group, and NASA's initiation of a new Citizen Science for Earth Systems Program (along with its first citizen science-focused solicitation for proposals). Over the past several years, we have been exploring the feasibility of extracting from the Twitter data stream useful information for application to NASA precipitation research, with both "passive" and "active" participation by the twitterers. The Twitter database, which recently passed its tenth anniversary, is potentially a rich source of real-time and historical global information for science applications. The time-varying set of "precipitation" tweets can be thought of as an organic network of rain gauges, potentially providing a widespread view of precipitation occurrence. The validation of satellite precipitation estimates is challenging, because many regions lack data or access to data, especially outside of the U.S. and in remote and developing areas. Mining the Twitter stream could augment these validation programs and, potentially, help tune existing algorithms. Our ongoing work, though exploratory, has resulted in key components for processing and managing tweets, including the capabilities to filter the Twitter stream in real time, to extract location information, to filter for exact phrases, and to plot tweet distributions. The key step is to process the "precipitation" tweets to be compatible with satellite-retrieved precipitation data. These key components for processing and managing "precipitation" tweets (and additional ones to be developed) are not limited to precipitation, nor are they limited to the Twitter social medium. Indeed, to maximize the value of our work for NASA earth science programs, these components should be generalized and be part of an overall framework for processing citizen science data for science research. In this paper, we outline such a framework.

earth science satellite data↗

DOE OSTI2020

Topological and thermoelectric properties of double antiperovskite pnictides

Doubling the perovskite cell (double perovskite) has been found to open new possibilities for engineering functional materials, magnetic materials in particular. This route should be applicable to the antiperovskite (aPV) class. In the pnictide based double aPV (2aPV) class introduced here magnetism is very rare, and we address them as new topological materials, possibly with thermoelectric interest. We have found that the 2aPV supercell provides a systematically larger band gap that can serve to inhibit bulk conductivity, and also large spin–orbit coupling for band inversion. We present examples from a broad study of double antiperovskites focusing on the X 6 AA'B 2 configuration, where X is the alkaline earth element and A and B are the group 5A pnictogens. We find that an 'extended s' state at the valence band minimum, described alternatively as a cation valence state or a modulated interstitial planewave state, plays a crucial role in both topological and thermoelectric properties. Several of these compounds may house topological phases, while transport calculations indicate they may also find themselves useful in thermoelectric applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

NASA NTRS1986

Ada education in a software life-cycle context

Some of the experience gained from a comprehensive educational program undertaken at The Charles Stark Draper Lab. to introduce the Ada language and to transition modern software engineering technology into the development of Ada and non-Ada applications is described. Initially, a core group, which included manager, engineers and programmers, received training in Ada. An Ada Office was established to assume the major responsibility for training, evaluation, acquisition and benchmarking of tools, and consultation on Ada projects. As a first step in this process, and in-house educational program was undertaken to introduce Ada to the Laboratory. Later, a software engineering course was added to the educational program as the need to address issues spanning the entire software life cycle became evident. Educational efforts to date are summarized, with an emphasis on the educational approach adopted. Finally, lessons learned in administering this program are addressed.

Clough, Anne J.↗

NASA NTRS2014

Anticipated Changes in Conducting Scientific Data-Analysis Research in the Big-Data Era

A Big-Data environment is one that is capable of orchestrating quick-turnaround analyses involving large volumes of data for numerous simultaneous users. Based on our experiences with a prototype Big-Data analysis environment, we anticipate some important changes in research behaviors and processes while conducting scientific data-analysis research in the near future as such Big-Data environments become the mainstream. The first anticipated change will be the reduced effort and difficulty in most parts of the data management process. A Big-Data analysis environment is likely to house most of the data required for a particular research discipline along with appropriate analysis capabilities. This will reduce the need for researchers to download local copies of data. In turn, this also reduces the need for compute and storage procurement by individual researchers or groups, as well as associated maintenance and management afterwards. It is almost certain that Big-Data environments will require a different "programming language" to fully exploit the latent potential. In addition, the process of extending the environment to provide new analysis capabilities will likely be more involved than, say, compiling a piece of new or revised code.We thus anticipate that researchers will require support from dedicated organizations associated with the environment that are composed of professional software engineers and data scientists. A major benefit will likely be that such extensions are of higherquality and broader applicability than ad hoc changes by physical scientists. Another anticipated significant change is improved collaboration among the researchers using the same environment. Since the environment is homogeneous within itself, many barriers to collaboration are minimized or eliminated. For example, data and analysis algorithms can be seamlessly shared, reused and re-purposed. In conclusion, we will be able to achieve a new level of scientific productivity in the Big-Data analysis environments.

Kuo, Kwo-Sen↗

NASA NTRS2007

New Lubricants Protect Machines and the Environment

In 1994, NASA and Lockheed Martin Space Operations commissioned Sun Coast Chemicals of Daytona Inc to develop a new type of lubricant that would be safe for the environment and help "grease the wheels" of the shuttle-bearing launcher platform. Founded in 1989, Sun Coast Chemicals is known amongst the racing circuit for effective lubricants that help overcome engine and transmission problems related to heat and wear damage. In a matter of weeks, Sun Coast Chemical produced the biodegradable, high-performance X-1R Crawler Track Lube. In 1996, Sun Coast Chemical determined there was a market for this new development, and introduced three derivative products, Train Track Lubricant, Penetrating Spray Lubricant, and Biodegradable Hydraulic Fluid, and then quickly followed with a gun lubricant/cleaner and a fishing rod and reel lubricant. Just recently, Sun Coast introduced the X-1R Corporation, which folds the high-performance, environmentally safe benefits into a full line of standard automotive and specially formulated racing products. The entire X-1R automotive product line has stood up to rigorous testing by groups such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Oakland University (Rochester, Michigan), and Morgan-McClure Motorsports (Abingdon, Virginia). The X-1R Corporation also markets "handy packs" for simple jobs around the house, consisting of a multi-purpose, multi-use lubricant and grease. In 2003, The X-1R Corporation teamed up with Philadelphia-based Penn Tackle Manufacturing Co., a leading manufacturer of fishing tackle since 1932, to jointly develop and market a line of advanced lubrication products for saltwater and freshwater anglers

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2020

Improved Single-Cell Proteome Coverage Using Narrow-Bore Packed NanoLC Columns and Ultrasensitive Mass Spectrometry

Single-cell proteomics can provide unique insights into biological processes by resolving heterogeneity that is obscured by bulk measurements. Gains in the overall sensitivity and proteome coverage through improvements in sample processing and analysis increase the information content obtained from each cell, particularly for less abundant proteins. Here we report on improved single-cell proteome coverage through the combination of the previously developed Nanodroplet Processing in One Pot for Trace Samples (nanoPOTS) platform with further miniaturization of liquid chromatography (LC) separations and implementation of an ultrasensitive latest-generation mass spectrometry (MS) instrument. Following nanoPOTS sample preparation, protein digest from single cells were separated using a 20-µm-i.d. in-house-packed nanoLC column. Separated peptides were ionized using an etched fused silica emitter capable of stable ionization at the ~20 nL/min flow rate provided by the LC separation. Ultrasensitive LC-MS analysis was achieved using the Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid mass spectrometer. An average of 362 protein groups were identified by MS/MS from single HeLa cells, and 874 protein groups were identified using the Match Between Runs (MBR) feature of MaxQuant. This represents a >70% increase in label-free proteome coverage for single cells relative to previous efforts using larger-bore (30-µm-i.d.) LC columns coupled to a previous-generation MS (Orbitrap Fusion Lumos).

Cong, Yongzheng↗

DOE OSTI2026

Reimagining Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning for New Manufactured Homes

Manufactured homes represent one of the most affordable paths to home ownership for American households, but minimum-efficiency equipment and poor-quality home installation can lead to excess energy use and high operating costs. Slipstream, with partners from the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), Northwest Energy Works, and Washington State University, identified and tested manufactured home HVAC innovations targeted for new construction offering the most promising mix of improved energy performance and likelihood of industry uptake.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2022

Solar Decathlon Celebrates 20 Years of Building Impact

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is a collegiate competition that has inspired students worldwide to enter the clean energy workforce since its inception. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022, the Solar Decathlon has challenged more than 25,000 students to create efficient, affordable buildings powered by renewables, while promoting student innovation, STEM education, and workforce development opportunities in the buildings industry. Compelling graphics, videos, and visuals are being developed to launch a 20th anniversary campaign in January 2022. These graphics include an interactive 20th anniversary infographic, a "Solar Decathlon - By the Numbers" video, and a graphic highlighting the diverse group of more than 25,000 past participants. In presenting these graphics at the ACEEE summer 2022 panel, attendees will be exposed to the latest communications techniques to apply to their own work. The Solar Decathlon invests in compelling visuals to recruit and inspire an imaginative and diverse group of participants each year - something that organizations of all sizes in the energy efficiency sector also need to do as they recruit for new talent. The Virtual Village of the 2020 Build Challenge homes (with more than 11,000 unique views) and the map of past competition houses highlight the competition's emphasis on multimedia that connects with competitors and the general public. Using more than 4,400 publicly available photos, including engaging virtual event snapshots with Department of Energy leaders, the Solar Decathlon captures the innovate ideas of the Build Challenge and Design Challenge teams in a way that everyone can understand.

collegiate competition↗

NASA NTRS1991

NASA industry education initiative. Education programs report, 1991

Findings from the initial inventory of education programs show that support for the NASA-Industry Education Initiative (NIEI) appears to be strong among the organizations surveyed. In addition, the range, depth and historical baselines of NIEI education programs are encouraging. It is also apparent that there is a significant level of cooperation between NIEI members and other organizations. Heavily focused towards science, engineering, mathematics and technology achievement, NIEI activities appear to be aligned with national education goals. Three criticisms are revealed: (1) the majority of programs are targeted fairly late in the education cycle; (2) the number of initiatives geared towards adult literacy and adult skills-enhancement appears to be relatively low; (3) the majority of NIEI activities involve traditional education-assistance programs, but the number of critical assessment and systematic reform initiatives is low. Four Working Group recommendations resulted from this activity: (1) NIEI Working Group operations should continue for an indefinite period, with participation open to other like-minded private-sector organization; (2) the report should be periodically updated; (3) an analysis of ongoing education programs should be conducted; (4) American corporations should continue to support education and evaluate in-house programs periodically.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1985

Spacecraft environmental interactions: A joint Air Force and NASA research and technology program

A joint Air Force/NASA comprehensive research and technology program on spacecraft environmental interactions to develop technology to control interactions between large spacecraft systems and the charged-particle environment of space is described. This technology will support NASA/Department of Defense operations of the shuttle/IUS, shuttle/Centaur, and the force application and surveillance and detection missions, planning for transatmospheric vehicles and the NASA space station, and the AFSC military space system technology model. The program consists of combined contractual and in-house efforts aimed at understanding spacecraft environmental interaction phenomena and relating results of ground-based tests to space conditions. A concerted effort is being made to identify project-related environmental interactions of concern. The basic properties of materials are being investigated to develop or modify the materials as needed. A group simulation investigation is evaluating basic plasma interaction phenomena to provide inputs to the analytical modeling investigation. Systems performance is being evaluated by both groundbased tests and analysis.

Pike, C. P.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Noncontacting Inspection Heads For Robots

Compact assembly for hand of robot includes group of sensors to monitor internal conditions of such complex equipment as turbines, pumps, motors, and generators. Inspection head includes sensors; for example, pyrometers, isotope wear analyzers, spectrometers, and interferometers. Conditions as overheating of turbines, wear of ball bearings and seals, erosion of blades and impellers, leakage of joints, and deformations of housings, monitored without disassembly or shutdown. Used in typical robot applications.

Barkhoudarian, Sarkis↗

NASA NTRS1992

Focal plane arrays for submillimeter waves using two-dimensional electron gas elements: A grant under the Innovative Research Program

This final report describes a three-year research effort, aimed at developing new types of THz low noise receivers, based on bulk effect ('hot electron') nonlinearities in the Two-Dimensional Electron Gas (2DEG) Medium, and the inclusion of such receivers in focal plane arrays. 2DEG hot electron mixers have been demonstrated at 35 and 94 GHz with three orders of magnitude wider bandwidth than previous hot electron mixers, which use bulk InSb. The 2DEG mixers employ a new mode of operation, which was invented during this program. Only moderate cooling is required for this mode, to temperatures in the range 20-77 K. Based on the results of this research, it is now possible to design a hot electron mixer focal plane array for the THz range, which is anticipated to have a DSB receiver noise temperature of 500-1000K. In our work on this grant, we have found similar results the the Cronin group (resident at the University of Bath, UK). Neither group has so far demonstrated heterodyne detection in this mode, however. We discovered and explored some new effects in the magnetic field mode, and these are described in the report. In particular, detection of 94 GHz and 238 GHz, respectively, by a new effect, 'Shubnikov de Haas detection', was found to be considerably stronger in our materials than the cyclotron resonance detection. All experiments utilized devices with an active 2DEG region of size of the order of 10-40 micrometers long, and 20-200 micrometers wide, formed at the heterojunction between AlGaAs and GaAs. All device fabrication was performed in-house. The materials for the devices were also grown in-house, utilizing OMCVD (Organo Metallic Chemical Vapor Deposition). In the course of this grant, we developed new techniques for growing AlGaAs/GaAs with mobilities equalling the highest values published by any laboratory. We believe that the field of hot electron mixers and detectors will grow substantially in importance in the next few years, partly as a result of the opportunity given us through this grant, which represents the major effort in the US so far. We note, however, that parallel research on hot electron mixers in thin film superconductors in Russia, and recently in Sweden, have demonstrated mixing up to 1 THz, with the potential for low-noise receivers for frequencies up to many THz. The three groups recently assessed the relative adtantages of 2DEG and superconducting film mixers in a joint paper (Kollberg et al., 1992; see Appendix II).

Yngvesson, K. Sigfrid↗

NASA NTRS1976

Spacecraft charging investigation - A joint research and technology program

A jointly planned U.S. Air Force-NASA program has been established to investigate the spacecraft charging phenomenon that has caused electronic anomalies in satellites in geosynchronous orbits. The objectives of this program are to provide design criteria, techniques, and test methods to insure control of absolute and differential charging of spacecraft surfaces. These objectives will be updated continuously over the next four years as data become available from the combined contractual and in-house programs. The geosynchronous altitude environment will be defined, ground and flight tests will be conducted, and materials and charge control techniques will be developed as required. The ultimate output of the program will be a spacecraft charging design criteria and test specification document. The program will be coordinated by a spacecraft charging program review group which has both Air Force and NASA representation.

Lovell, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Magnetically suspended miniature fluid pump and method of designing the same

A rotary pump for pumping fluids through a patient having a housing with an internal region, a stator member and an impeller positioned within the housing and having impeller blades, wherein the impeller is magnetically suspended and rotated, and wherein the geometric configuration of the rotary pump is sized and proportioned to minimize stagnant and traumatic fluid flow within the rotary pump. The plurality of magnetic impeller blades are preferably rare earth, high-energy-density magnets selected from the group consisting of samarium cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron alloy.

Antaki, James F.↗