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At least 145 records · Page 8

Distributed Lunar Data Platform with Advanced Machine Learning Capabilities in Support of Lunar Science and Exploration

The United States 2020 Space Policy directive declares that NASA, in cooperation with private industry, will “extend human economic activity into deep space by establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon”. This goal will require advanced data management, as well as analysis, modeling and representation of lunar information in order to prepare for Artemis human missions, lunar science investigations and exploration. To meet this requirement, we conceptualize and present an implementation strategy for a distributed platform for lunar data retrieval, inferencing and analysis, which will be based on federated learning and the NASA Celestial Mapping System (CMS). In addition to demonstrating the imperative of enabling lunar-borne data to remain in-situ but still accessible, this presentation will also include examples of how third parties could contribute both datasets and new functionality into this platform using an AI-based data import pipeline and a plug-in architecture respectively.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Data Visualization: Augmented Reality

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in developing new technologies for automated characterization and visualization of condition monitoring data. Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that is being developed to improve such data visualization. Augmented reality has been defined as a technology that merges virtual and physical components in real-time, and in three dimensions. Wearable, commercially-available AR devices allow onsite engineers and technicians to perform inspection tasks with significantly more available information such as comparisons of past and present sensor and imager data, onsite data analysis and result displays, and various forms of metadata including technical drawings, previous inspection reports and maintenance histories, operation manuals, codes and standards, and holograms representing data analysis results superimposed onto the in situ monitored system.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Wind Tunnel Application of a Pressure-Sensitive Paint Technique to a Faceted Missile Model at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds

A pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique was applied in a wind tunnel experiment in the NASA Langley Research Center 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel to quantify the vortex-induced surface static pressures on a slender, faceted missile model at subsonic and transonic speeds. Global PSP calibrations were obtained using an in-situ method featuring the simultaneous electronically-scanned pressures (ESP) measurements. Both techniques revealed the significant influence leading-edge vortices on the surface pressure distributions. The mean error in the PSP measurements relative to the ESP data was approximately 0.6 percent at M(sub infinity)=0.70 and 2.6 percent at M(sub infinity)=0.90 and 1.20. The vortex surface pressure signatures obtained from the PSP and ESP techniques were correlated with the off-surface vortex cross-flow structures obtained using a laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization technique. The on-surface and off-surface techniques were complementary, since each provided details of the vortex-dominated flow that were not clear or apparent in the other.

Erickson, Gary E.↗

Time-Resolved Geometric Feature Tracking Elucidates Laser-Induced Keyhole Dynamics

In this report, during laser melting of metals, localized metal evaporation resulting in the formation of a keyhole shaped cavity can occur if processing conditions are chosen with high power density. An unstable keyhole can have deleterious effects in certain applications (e.g., laser powder bed fusion) as it increases the likelihood of producing defects such as porosity. In this work, we propose a pipeline that enables complete segmentation and extraction of various geometric features in keyholing conditions. In situ synchrotron high-speed X-ray visualization at the Advanced Photon Source provides large datasets of experimental images with a high spatio-temporal resolution across a range of laser parameters for Ti-6Al- 4 V. Computer vision image processing techniques were used to extract time-resolved quantitative geometric features (e.g., depth, width, front wall angle) throughout keyhole evolution which were subsequently analyzed to understand the relationship between the variation of local keyhole geometry and processing conditions. This analysis is the first to employ a data-driven approach to further our understanding of the keyholing process regime.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High-speed quantitative X-ray multi-contrast imaging with deep learning based modulated pattern analysis

The advent of X-ray multi-contrast imaging methods, providing absorption, phase, and dark-field images, holds tremendous promise for complementary and non-destructive visualization of inner structures within materials and bio-samples. However, the low efficiency in measuring and analyzing X-ray modulated patterns has hindered their application in high-resolution in situ imaging. In this work, the Enhanced Scanning Pattern-based Imaging Neural Network (ESPINNet) is introduced as a powerful tool for achieving high-speed, high-resolution quantitative imaging. ESPINNet is faster than correlation-based speckle tracking methods such as XSVT and UMPA, and provides a balanced performance in terms of resolution and speed for data collection by using fewer scanning images. In comparison with our previously developed neural network, ESPINNet introduces the capability to generate dark-field images, further enhancing its versatility. By leveraging scanning patterns, ESPINNet significantly improves resolution and measurement precision. Furthermore, its adaptability to various modulation patterns, including those produced by sandpaper, coded masks, or gratings, ensures broad applicability. These features enable real-time 2D and 3D multi-contrast imaging, positioning ESPINNet as a transformative solution for applications in materials science and biomedical research, particularly for high-speed and in situ measurements.

X-ray at-wavelength metrology↗

Satellite-Based Drought Reporting on the Navajo Nation

The Navajo Nation (NN) is the largest reservation in the US, and faces challenges related to water management during long-term and widespread drought episodes. The Navajo Nation is a federally recognized tribe, which has boundaries within Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo Nation has a land area of over 70,000 square kilometers. The Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources (NNDWR) reports on drought and climatic conditions through the use of regional Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) values and a network of in-situ rainfall, streamflow, and climate data. However, these data sources lack the spatial detail and consistent measurements needed to provide a coherent understanding of the drought regime within the Nation's regional boundaries. This project, as part of NASA's Western Water Applications Office (WWAO), improves upon the recently developed Drought Severity Assessment Tool (DSAT) to ingest satellite-based precipitation data to generate SPI values for specific administrative boundaries within the reservation. The tool aims to: (1) generate SPI values and summary statistics for regions of interest on various timescales, (2) to visualize SPI values within a web-map application, and (3) produce maps and comparative statistical outputs in the format required for annual drought reporting. The co-development of the DSAT with NN partners is integral to increasing the sustained use of Earth Observations for water management applications. This tool will provide data to support the NN in allocation of drought contingency dollars to the regions most adversely impacted by declines in water availability.

Satellite-based↗

Maine Ecological Forecasting II: Identifying Forest Cover and Assessing Federally Endangered Atlantic Salmon Habitat in Maine Using Earth Observations

Major declines in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations have occurred alongside dam construction, shifting temperatures, and changing land use and land cover (LULC), restricting the last remaining wild population in the United States to Maine. In collaboration with the Maine Department of Marine Resources and the Downeast Salmon Federation, the NASA DEVELOP team utilized Earth observations to assess changes within critical salmon habitat. The team used the Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM), Landsat 8 Operation Land Imager (OLI), Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI), and National Land Cover Database (NLCD) to refine historical LULC maps from 1985 to 2021. The team also used elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and IDRISI TerrSet Land Change Modeler to forecast LULC change to 2040. From Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) data, the team derived a time series, summer averages, and anomaly maps between 2000 and 2021. The team analyzed LST in relation to LULC classes, specifically forest cover type, and in-situ stream temperature from the Spatial Hydro-Ecological Decision System (EcoSHEDS). LULC trends from 1985 to 2021 revealed a net transition of coniferous forest to other classes, such as deciduous forest and developed land. The team found an association between warmer temperatures and a greater presence of developed and mixed forest classes per 10,000 acres across Maine. These visualizations and analyses will aid partners in identifying riparian locations with ideal or unfavorable habitat conditions to inform Atlantic salmon population recovery efforts.

Tony Bowman↗

Dataset describing two reference models for full-spectral lighting and daylight simulations together with implementations for two software systems

A dataset of two spectral lighting simulation reference models - one office and one factory hall - is presented. It aims to demonstrate and support full-spectral daylight and electric lighting simulations and facilitate evaluation of non-visual effects of light. The dataset includes Rhino CAD geometry, comprehensive spectral material and light source data and window system BSDF data. Example implementations in the two software tools, Radiance and OWL, enable reproducible workflows and support adoption in other software. The dataset is openly available on Zenodo. The office model reproduces Room 518 at the University of Innsbruck, including a west-facing façade and interior furnishings. The factory hall model follows the proposed geometry in the European standard 15193 for building energy performance. Interior reflectances in the office were measured in-situ using a handheld spectrometer. Exterior spectra and factory hall materials matching specified reflectances were obtained from an online spectral materials database. Glazing transmittance was derived from IGDB data using LBNL Optics/WINDOW. BSDFs for venetian blinds at various tilt angles, and for a diffusing pane adapted from the Complex Glazing Database, were generated in WINDOW. Luminaires in both models are specified with photometric files (Eulumdat/IES) and lamp spectra (Fluorescent 840, 4000 K LED). The provided example implementations (Radiance, OWL) include prepared input data and scripts to run first spectral simulations; example results are also included. The dataset is prepared to support reuse by researchers, designers and software developers for method validation, software engineering and comparison, and development of spectral metrics and controls.

Geisler-Moroder, David↗

Sub-tesla On-Chip Nanomagnetic Metamaterial Platform for Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

Magnetically controlled states in quantum materials are central to their unique electronic and magnetic properties. However, direct momentum-resolved visualization of these states via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) has been hindered by the disruptive effect of magnetic fields on photoelectron trajectories. Here, we introduce an in situ method that is, in principle, capable of applying magnetic fields up to 1 T. This method uses substrates composed of nanomagnetic metamaterial arrays with alternating polarity. Such substrates can generate strong, homogeneous, and spatially confined fields applicable to samples with thicknesses up to the micron scale, enabling ARPES measurements under magnetic fields with minimal photoelectron trajectory distortion. Here, we demonstrate this minimal distortion with ARPES data taken on monolayer graphene. Our method paves the way for probing magnetic field-dependent electronic structures and studying field-tunable quantum phases with state-of-the-art energy-momentum resolutions.

Magnetic properties↗

Photogrammetry Applied to Wind Tunnel Testing

In image-based measurements, quantitative image data must be mapped to three-dimensional object space. Analytical photogrammetric methods, which may be used to accomplish this task, are discussed from the viewpoint of experimental fluid dynamicists. The Direct Linear Transformation (DLT) for camera calibration, used in pressure sensitive paint, is summarized. An optimization method for camera calibration is developed that can be used to determine the camera calibration parameters, including those describing lens distortion, from a single image. Combined with the DLT method, this method allows a rapid and comprehensive in-situ camera calibration and therefore is particularly useful for quantitative flow visualization and other measurements such as model attitude and deformation in production wind tunnels. The paper also includes a brief description of typical photogrammetric applications to temperature- and pressure-sensitive paint measurements and model deformation measurements in wind tunnels.

Liu, Tian-Shu↗

Facile hermetic TEM grid preparation for molecular imaging of hydrated biological samples at room temperature

Abstract Although structures of vitrified supramolecular complexes have been determined at near-atomic resolution, elucidating in situ molecular structure in living cells remains a challenge. Here, we report a straightforward liquid cell technique, originally developed for real-time visualization of dynamics at a liquid-gas interface using transmission electron microscopy, to image wet biological samples. Due to the scattering effects from the liquid phase, the micrographs display an amplitude contrast comparable to that observed in negatively stained samples. We succeed in resolving subunits within the protein complex GroEL imaged in a buffer solution at room temperature. Additionally, we capture various stages of virus cell entry, a process for which only sparse structural data exists due to their transient nature. To scrutinize the morphological details further, we used individual particle electron tomography for 3D reconstruction of each virus. These findings showcase this approach potential as an efficient, cost-effective complement to other microscopy technique in addressing biological questions at the molecular level.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Newly Released TRMM Version 7 Products, Other Precipitation Datasets and Data Services at NASA GES DISC

The NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) is home of global precipitation product archives, in particular, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) products. TRMM is a joint U.S.-Japan satellite mission to monitor tropical and subtropical (40 S - 40 N) precipitation and to estimate its associated latent heating. The TRMM satellite provides the first detailed and comprehensive dataset on the four dimensional distribution of rainfall and latent heating over vastly undersampled tropical and subtropical oceans and continents. The TRMM satellite was launched on November 27, 1997. TRMM data products are archived at and distributed by GES DISC. The newly released TRMM Version 7 consists of several changes including new parameters, new products, meta data, data structures, etc. For example, hydrometeor profiles in 2A12 now have 28 layers (14 in V6). New parameters have been added to several popular Level-3 products, such as, 3B42, 3B43. Version 2.2 of the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) dataset has been added to the TRMM Online Visualization and Analysis System (TOVAS; URL: http://disc2.nascom.nasa.gov/Giovanni/tovas/), allowing online analysis and visualization without downloading data and software. The GPCP dataset extends back to 1979. Version 3 of the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) monitoring product has been updated in TOVAS as well. The product provides global gauge-based monthly rainfall along with number of gauges per grid. The dataset begins in January 1986. To facilitate data and information access and support precipitation research and applications, we have developed a Precipitation Data and Information Services Center (PDISC; URL: http://disc.gsfc.nasa.gov/precipitation). In addition to TRMM, PDISC provides current and past observational precipitation data. Users can access precipitation data archives consisting of both remote sensing and in-situ observations. Users can use these data products to conduct a wide variety of activities, including case studies, model evaluation, uncertainty investigation, etc. To support Earth science applications, PDISC provides users near-real-time precipitation products over the Internet. At PDISC, users can access tools and software. Documentation, FAQ and assistance are also available. Other capabilities include: 1) Mirador (http://mirador.gsfc.nasa.gov/), a simplified interface for searching, browsing, and ordering Earth science data at NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC). Mirador is designed to be fast and easy to learn; 2)TOVAS; 3) NetCDF data download for the GIS community; 4) Data via OPeNDAP (http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/services/opendap/). The OPeNDAP provides remote access to individual variables within datasets in a form usable by many tools, such as IDV, McIDAS-V, Panoply, Ferret and GrADS; 5) The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Map Service (WMS) (http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/services/wxs_ogc.shtml). The WMS is an interface that allows the use of data and enables clients to build customized maps with data coming from a different network.

Liu, Zhong↗

In-situ Detection of Glovebox Glove Degradation Prior to Glove Failure; Effects on Safety, Waste, and Operational Costs - 20402

Glovebox glove pressure decay leak testing and analysis of the data can greatly improve glovebox safety, minimize Transuranic (TRU) glove waste, and minimize operational cost. It is well known, the weakest point of containment on a glovebox is the glove. Mitigating unplanned openings in gloves is critical to minimizing operational and safety costs in glovebox operations. Mitigating unplanned glove openings due to glove failures will be discussed in this paper. The lack of an engineered solution to determine a gloves operational life in nuclear operations, has lead to use of theoretical and manual subjective methods to determine the life and safety of a glovebox glove. Whether the glove is inspected visually prior to use, or gloves are changed regularly to theoretically avoid failure, both the operators PPE and the room are being exposed to contamination, or un-necessary amounts of TRU glove waste are being generated. Millions of dollars yearly in operational costs are spent on glove failures due to loss of production, incident analysis, regulatory audits, clean up, and paperwork. In a nuclear application, a glove failure could contaminate an operator and laboratory, shut down the operation for weeks, potentially create a regulatory audit, and potentially create a media frenzy; the damages to the organization can be astronomical. Elimination of glove failures is possible by tracking glove material degradation and setting limits to allow glove change when it becomes necessary, prior to glove failure. Analytical pressure decay leak testing allows the detection of material degradation, and in turn the ability to limit operational glove failures. A German based company called MK Versuchsanlagen, e.K., has developed an advanced Glove Integrity Testing System. The system, with its use of proprietary RFID and special software technology, is unique in its capabilities. The system is capable to perform highly accurate regular glove testing on any size glovebox line in minimal time. The system records and can analyze a tremendous amount of system data that in turn can determine, for example, a safe glove change time prior to a glove material failure. This paper will show how an advanced Glove Integrity Testing System can detect glove material degradation and help determine a safe change point prior to glove failure. Pressure decay curves of new gloves and recorded effects of accelerated aging on the glove over time will be shown. The use of this technology in nuclear facilities can greatly improve glovebox operational safety, minimize glovebox glove TRU waste, and save organizations tremendous costs in downtime, clean up, documentation, and potential regulatory review. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

The evolution of HCO + in molecular clouds using a novel chemical post-processing algorithm

Modelling the chemistry of molecular clouds is critical to accurately simulating their evolution. To reduce computational cost, 3D simulations generally restrict their chemistry to species with strong heating and cooling effects. Time-dependent information about the evolution of other species is therefore often neglected. We address this gap by post-processing tracer particles in the SILCC-Zoom molecular cloud simulations. Using a chemical network of 39 species and 301 reactions (including freeze-out of CO and H 2 O) and a novel algorithm to reconstruct a density grid from sparse tracer particle data, we produce time-dependent density distributions for various species. We focus upon the evolution of HCO + , which is a critical formation reactant of CO but is not typically modelled on the fly. We find that ∼ 90 per cent of the HCO + content of the cold molecular gas forms in situ around n HCO + ∼ 10 3 –10 4 cm −3 , over a time-scale of approximately 1 Myr. The remaining ∼ 10 per cent forms at high extinction sites, with minimal turbulent mixing out into the less dense gas. We further show that the dominant HCO + formation pathway is dependent on the visual extinction, with the reaction H 3 + + CO contributing 90 per cent of the total HCO + production above A V, 3D = 3. We produce the very first maps of the HCO + column density, N(HCO + ), and show that it reaches values as high as 10 15 cm −2 . We find that 50 per cent of the HCO + mass is located within AV ∼ 10–30 in a density range of 10 3.5 –10 4.5 cm −3 . Our maps of N(HCO + ) are shown to be in good agreement with recent observations of the W49A star-forming region.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Wind Tunnel Application of a Pressure-Sensitive Paint Technique to a Faceted Missile Model at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds

A pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique was applied in a wind tunnel experiment in the NASA Langley Research Center 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel to quantify the vortex-induced surface static pressures on a slender, faceted missile model at subsonic and transonic speeds. Satisfactory global calibrations of the PSP were obtained at =0.70, 0.90, and 1.20, angles of attack from 10 degrees to 20 degrees, and angles of sideslip of 0 and 2.5 degrees using an in-situ method featuring the simultaneous acquisition of electronically-scanned pressures (ESP) at 57 discrete locations on the model. Both techniques clearly revealed the significant influence on the surface pressure distributions of the vortices shed from the sharp, chine-like leading edges. The mean error in the PSP measurements relative to the ESP data was approximately 0.6 percent at M infinity =0.70 and 2.6 percent at M infinity =0.90 and 1.20. The vortex surface pressure signatures obtained from the PSP and ESP techniques were correlated with the off-surface vortex cross-flow structures obtained using a laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization technique. The on-surface and off-surface techniques were complementary, since each provided details of the vortex-dominated flow that were not clear or apparent in the other.

Erickson, Gary E.↗

Utah FORGE 2439: Well 16B(78)-32 Field-Test Data from Mini-Frac Tests

This submittal includes the field-test data collected during stress tests conducted in the Utah FORGE 16B(78)-32 wellbore to measure/characterize the stresses in the geothermal reservoir. The type of stress test performed is referred to as a mini-frac test or a micro-frac test. The test is a hydraulic fracture test that involves injecting a small volume of water into a short interval of the reservoir that is isolated by a straddle packer to create a fracture. The test provides information about the minimum and maximum horizontal stress at the test depths. A total of seven mini-frac tests were performed within the upper (vertical or nearly vertical) section of the 9-5/8-inch diameter uncased wellbore, between depths of 5,202 ft MD [5,202 ft TVD] and 5,980 ft MD [5966.18 ft TVD]. Two types of data were generated as part of the mini-frac tests. The first type of data is time-series data for each mini-frac test (e.g., injection-rate, test-interval pressure), and are contained in the "Mini-Frac Test Data.zip" file below. The second type is geophysical log data, attached below in the "Geophysical Logs.zip" file. Here, two types of image logs and acoustic logs were obtained before and after the mini-frac tests to examine each test depth for visual evidence of induced fracture(s) and to measure the azimuth (orientation) of any observed fractures. The attached Readme file includes the test depth information and contents of each data file included here. Analysis of the field-test data was conducted and is documented in the attached report below.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Site Characterization of the Highest-Priority Geologic Formations for CO2 Storage in Wyoming

The project Site Characterization of the Highest-Priority Geologic Formations for CO2 Storage in Wyoming is one of 9 site characterization projects that were implemented as part of ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). Data from this project was used to improve resolution of data in NATCARB in the area of study. Data related to this study has already been incorporated in NATCARB Atlas. The Wyoming Carbon Underground Storage Project (WY-CUSP) consisted of CO2 storage site characterization and evaluation, focusing on Wyoming’s most promising CO2 storage reservoirs (the Pennsylvanian Weber/Tensleep Sandstone and Mississippian Madison Limestone) and premier CO2 storage site (Rock Springs Uplift). Results from the WY-CUSP project suggest the two reservoirs could store up to 17,000 million tons of CO2. The WY-CUSP team drilled a stratigraphic test well and acquired a 3-D seismic survey covering 25 square miles of the Rock Springs Uplift site. The team retrieved 916 feet of core from the 12,810-foot-deep well, along with a complete log suite, borehole images, fluid samples, and other data. Project partners (1) provided continuous visual documentation of the core, including grain size, mineralogy, facies distribution, and porosity; (2) performed continuous permeability and velocity scans of selected reservoir intervals; and (3) chemically analyzed the fluid samples. WY-CUSP scientists integrated seismic attributes with observations from log suites, a VSP survey, core, fluid samples, and laboratory analyses, including continuous permeability scans. From these integrations, researchers constructed 3-D spatial distribution volumes of reservoir and seal properties that represent geological heterogeneity at the targeted CO2 storage site. The WY-CUSP team used this data to perform new CO2 plume migration simulations. Baker Hughes, Inc., completed a series of small-scale, in-situ water injectivity measurements. A database was formed when observations, analyses, and experiments from the stratigraphic test well were integrated. Correlation of these data allowed petrophysical parameters to be extrapolated from the test well out into the storage domain (5x5 mile 3-D seismic survey volume). This resulted in an improved, realistic understanding of performance assessments for potential CO2 storage scenarios. The WY-CUSP team worked on (1) improving CO2 storage resource estimates, (2) establishing long-term integrity and permanence of confining layers, (3) designing a profitable strategy for pressure management, and (4) evaluating the utilization of stored CO2 at the Rock Spring Uplift. Finally, Baker Hughes developed a microseismic baseline for the test site using in-bore geophones to complete field operations.

3-D seismic↗