Providing safe landing at high approach speeds for space shuttle
Safe space shuttle landing at high approach speeds using automatic landing system and drag chutes
Pruin, R. J.↗
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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Zentropy Theory for Transformative Functionalities of Magnetic and Superconducting Materials
The proposed research developed the zentropy theory through applications to complex magnetic materials and superconductors under the hypothesis that the emergent properties of complex magnetic materials and superconductors can be predicted by statistical mechanics of ergodic microstates with their partition functions computed from DFT-predicted free energies. The key objective is to develop approaches to systematically determine the types and number of microstates and the supercell size in DFT-based calculations through convergency of macroscopic functionalities, with the incorporation of our mixed-space approach accounting for the interactions between periodic supercells. In addition to use scientific intuitions to guide the design of important microstates, the key innovation of the proposed research is to integrate the domain knowledge and the material-property-descriptor database (MPDD) with 4 million microstates, which is supported by our deep neural network machine learning models (SIPFENN: structure-informed prediction of formation energy using neural networks) and integrated with our high throughput DFT Tool Kit (DFTTK). For complex magnetic materials, one of the objectives is to develop approaches to calculate short-range ordering from the statistical distribution of each microstate. For superconductors, the divergency of quasiparticle effective mass at a quantum critical point will be investigated, and the superconducting and non-superconducting microstates will be delineated through analysis of electronic band structure, density of states, charge density, and Fermi surface.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Model error estimation for distributed systems described by elliptic equations
A function space approach is used to develop a theory for estimation of the errors inherent in an elliptic partial differential equation model for a distributed parameter system. By establishing knowledge of the inevitable deficiencies in the model, the error estimates provide a foundation for updating the model. The function space solution leads to a specification of a method for computation of the model error estimates and development of model error analysis techniques for comparison between actual and estimated errors. The paper summarizes the model error estimation approach as well as an application arising in the area of modeling for static shape determination of large flexible systems.
Rodriguez, G.↗
Swamp Works: A New Approach to Develop Space Mining and Resource Extraction Technologies at the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
The first steps for In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) on target bodies such as the Moon, Mars and Near Earth Asteroids (NEA), and even comets, involve the same sequence of steps as in the terrestrial mining of resources. First exploration including prospecting must occur, and then the resource must be acquired through excavation methods if it is of value. Subsequently a load, haul and dump sequence of events occurs, followed by processing of the resource in an ISRU plant, to produce useful commodities. While these technologies and related supporting operations are mature in terrestrial applications, they will be different in space since the environment and indigenous materials are different than on Earth. In addition, the equipment must be highly automated, since for the majority of the production cycle time, there will be no humans present to assist or intervene. This space mining equipment must withstand a harsh environment which includes vacuum, radical temperature swing cycles, highly abrasive lofted dust, electrostatic effects, van der Waals forces effects, galactic cosmic radiation, solar particle events, high thermal gradients when spanning sunlight terminators, steep slopes into craters / lava tubes and cryogenic temperatures as low as 40 K in permanently shadowed regions. In addition the equipment must be tele-operated from Earth or a local base where the crew is sheltered. If the tele-operation occurs from Earth then significant communications latency effects mandate the use of autonomous control systems in the mining equipment. While this is an extremely challenging engineering design scenario, it is also an opportunity, since the technologies developed in this endeavor could be used in the next generations of terrestrial mining equipment, in order to mine deeper, safer, more economical and with a higher degree of flexibility. New space technologies could precipitate new mining solutions here on Earth. The NASA KSC Swamp Works is an innovation environment and methodology, with associated laboratories that uses lean development methods and creativity-enhancing processes to invent and develop new solutions for space exploration. This paper will discuss the Swamp Works approach to developing space mining and resource extraction systems and the vision of space development it serves. The ultimate goal of the Swamp Works is to expand human civilization into the solar system via the use of local resources utilization. By mining and using the local resources in situ, it is conceivable that one day the logistics supply train from Earth can be eliminated and Earth independence of a space-based community will be enabled.
Resource Extraction↗
State-space self-tuning controllers for general multivariable stochastic systems
This paper presents a state-space approach for self-tuning control of a more general class of multivariable stochastic systems having a number of inputs equal or different from the number of outputs. The dynamic system is represented in the state-space innovation form with Luenberger's canonical structures. The model parameters and the Kalman gain are identified via either the extended least-squares algorithm or the least-squares ladder algorithm. The Kalman gain matrix and states can be estimated from the identified parameters without utilizing the standard state estimation algorithm. A long division method is introduced for finding the similarity transformation matrix.
Shieh, L. S.↗
Implementation of an Open-Scenario, Long-Term Space Debris Simulation Approach
This paper provides a status update on the implementation of a flexible, long-term space debris simulation approach. The motivation is to build a tool that can assess the long-term impact of various options for debris-remediation, including the LightForce space debris collision avoidance concept that diverts objects using photon pressure [9]. State-of-the-art simulation approaches that assess the long-term development of the debris environment use either completely statistical approaches, or they rely on large time steps on the order of several days if they simulate the positions of single objects over time. They cannot be easily adapted to investigate the impact of specific collision avoidance schemes or de-orbit schemes, because the efficiency of a collision avoidance maneuver can depend on various input parameters, including ground station positions and orbital and physical parameters of the objects involved in close encounters (conjunctions). Furthermore, maneuvers take place on timescales much smaller than days. For example, LightForce only changes the orbit of a certain object (aiming to reduce the probability of collision), but it does not remove entire objects or groups of objects. In the same sense, it is also not straightforward to compare specific de-orbit methods in regard to potential collision risks during a de-orbit maneuver. To gain flexibility in assessing interactions with objects, we implement a simulation that includes every tracked space object in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and propagates all objects with high precision and variable time-steps as small as one second. It allows the assessment of the (potential) impact of physical or orbital changes to any object. The final goal is to employ a Monte Carlo approach to assess the debris evolution during the simulation time-frame of 100 years and to compare a baseline scenario to debris remediation scenarios or other scenarios of interest. To populate the initial simulation, we use the entire space-track object catalog in LEO. We then use a high precision propagator to propagate all objects over the entire simulation duration. If collisions are detected, the appropriate number of debris objects are created and inserted into the simulation framework. Depending on the scenario, further objects, e.g. due to new launches, can be added. At the end of the simulation, the total number of objects above a cut-off size and the number of detected collisions provide benchmark parameters for the comparison between scenarios. The simulation approach is computationally intensive as it involves tens of thousands of objects; hence we use a highly parallel approach employing up to a thousand cores on the NASA Pleiades supercomputer for a single run. This paper describes our simulation approach, the status of its implementation, the approach to developing scenarios and examples of first test runs.
laser↗
Machine-Learning-Assisted Synthesis of Polar Racemates
Racemates have recently received attention as nonlinear optical and piezoelectric materials. We report a machine-learning-assisted composition space approach was applied to synthesize the missing M = Ti, Zr members of the Δ,Λ-[Cu(bpy) 2 (H 2 O)] 2 [MF 6 ] 2·3 H 2 O (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) family (space group: Pna2 1 ). In each (CuO, MO 2 )/bpy/HF(aq) (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) system, the polar noncentrosymmetric racemate (M-NCS) forms in competition with a centrosymmetric one-dimensional chain compound (M-CS) based on alternating Cu(bpy)(H 2 O) 2 2+ and MF 6 2– basic building units (space groups: Ti-CS (Pnma), Zr-CS (P1̅), Hf-CS (P2/n)). Machine learning models were trained on reaction parameters to gain unbiased insight into the underlying statistical trends in each composition space. A human-interpretable decision tree shows that phase selection is driven primarily by the bpy:CuO molar ratio for reactions containing Zr or Hf, and predicts that formation of the Ti-NCS compound requires that the amount of HF present be decreased to raise the pH, which we verified experimentally. Predictive leave-one-metal-out (LOO) models further confirm that behavior in the Ti system is distinct from that of the Zr and Hf systems. The chemical origin of this distinction was probed via fluorine K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Pre-edge features in the F1s X-ray absorption spectra reveal the strong ligand-to-metal π bonding between Ti(3d – t 2g ) and F(2p) states that distinguishes the TiF 6 2– anion from the ZrF 6 2– and HfF 6 2– anions.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
MESSOC capabilities and results
MESSOC (Model for Estimating Space Station Operations Costs) is the result of a multi-year effort by NASA to understand and model the mature operations cost of Space Station Freedom. This paper focuses on MESSOC's ability to contribute to life-cycle cost analyses through its logistics equations and databases. Together, these afford MESSOC the capability to project not only annual logistics costs for a variety of Space Station scenarios, but critical non-cost logistics results such as annual Station maintenance crewhours, upweight/downweight, and on-orbit sparing availability as well. MESSOC results using current logistics databases and baseline scenario have already shown important implications for on-orbit maintenance approaches, space transportation systems, and international operations cost sharing.
Shishko, Robert↗
DMRG on Top of Plane-Wave Kohn–Sham Orbitals: A Case Study of Defected Boron Nitride
In this paper, we analyze the numerical aspects of the inherent multi reference density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) calculations on top of the periodic Kohn-Sham density functional theory using the complete active space approach. The potential of the framework is illustrated by studying hexagonal boron nitride nanoflakes embedding a charged single boron vacancy point defect by revealing a vertical energy spectrum with a prominent multireference character. We investigate the consistency of the DMRG energy spectrum from the perspective of sample size, basis size, and active space selection protocol. Results obtained from standard quantum chemical atom-centered basis calculations and plane-wave based counterparts show excellent agreement. Furthermore, we also discuss the spectrum of the periodic sheet which is in good agreement with extrapolated data of finite clusters. These results pave the way toward applying the DMRG method in extended correlated solid-state systems, such as point defect qubit in wide band gap semiconductors.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Real-Space Quantification of Exciton Localization in Acene Crystals Using Wannier Function Decomposition
Here, we introduce the Wannier function decomposition of excitons (WFDX) method to quantify exciton localization in solids within the ab initio Bethe-Salpeter equation framework. By decomposing each Bloch exciton wave function into products of single-particle electron and hole maximally localized Wannier functions, this real-space approach provides well-defined orbital- and spatial-resolved measures of both Frenkel and charge-transfer excitons at low computational cost. We apply WFDX to excitons in acene crystals, quantifying how the number of rings, the exciton spin state, and the center-of-mass momentum affect spatial localization. Additionally, we show how this real-space representation reflects structural nonsymmorphic symmetries that are hidden in standard reciprocal-space descriptions. We demonstrate how the WFDX framework can be used to efficiently interpolate exciton expansion coefficients in reciprocal-space and outline how it may facilitate evaluation of observables involving position operators, highlighting its potential as a general tool for both analyzing and computing excitonic properties in solids.
Tao, Zui [University of California, Berkeley, CA (↗
NASA Research For Instrument Approaches To Closely Spaced Parallel Runways
Within the NASA Aviation Systems Capacity Program, the Terminal Area Productivity (TAP) Project is addressing airport capacity enhancements during instrument meteorological condition (IMC). The Airborne Information for Lateral Spacing (AILS) research within TAP has focused on an airborne centered approach for independent instrument approaches to closely spaced parallel runways using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technologies. NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), working in partnership with Honeywell, Inc., completed in AILS simulation study, flight test, and demonstration in 1999 examining normal approaches and potential collision scenarios to runways with separation distances of 3,400 and 2,500 feet. The results of the flight test and demonstration validate the simulation study.
Dawn M Elliott↗
Space shuttle state estimation during approach and landing
Space shuttle position and velocity estimates for approach, using inertial subsystem and scanning beam microwave ILS receiver
Keene, D. W.↗
Solar Probe Plus: Report of the Science and Technology Definition Team
Solar Probe+ will be an extraordinary and historic mission, exploring what is arguably the last region of the solar system to be visited by a spacecraft, the Sun s outer atmosphere or corona as it extends out into space. Approaching as close as 9.5 RS* (8.5 RS above the Sun s surface), Solar Probe+ will repeatedly sample the near-Sun environment, revolutionizing our knowledge and understanding of coronal heating and of the origin and evolution of the solar wind and answering critical questions in heliophysics that have been ranked as top priorities for decades. Moreover, by making direct, in-situ measurements of the region where some of the most hazardous solar energetic particles are energized, Solar Probe+ will make a fundamental contribution to our ability to characterize and forecast the radiation environment in which future space explorers will work and live.
Source record↗
Symmetry breaking as predicted by a phase space Hamiltonian with a spin Coriolis potential
Here, we perform electronic structure calculations for a set of molecules with degenerate spin-dependent ground states ( 3 CH 2 , 2 CH$^{•}_{3}$, 3 O 2 ) going beyond the Born–Oppenheimer approximation and accounting for nuclear motion. According to a phase space approach that parameterizes electronic states (|Φ⟩) and electronic energies (E) by nuclear position and momentum [i.e., |Φ(R, P)⟩ and E(R, P)], we find that the presence of degenerate spin degrees of freedom leads to broken symmetry ground states. More precisely, rather than a single degenerate minimum at (R, P) = (R min , 0), the ground state energy has two minima at (R,P)=(R' min ,±P min ) (where R' min is close to R min ), dramatically contradicting the notion that the total energy of the system can be written in separable form as E = $\frac{P^2}{2M}$ + V el . Although we find that the broken symmetry solutions have small barriers between them for the small molecules, we hypothesize that the barriers should be macroscopically large for metallic solids, thus offering up a new phase-space potential energy surface for simulating the Einstein–de Haas effect.
Berry connection↗
Control engineering approaches to human dynamic space orientation
Control engineering approaches to study of vestibular organs and human orientation in space
SPACE ENVIRONMENT↗
Comparing light-front quantization with instant-time quantization
Here in this paper we compare light-front quantization and instant-time quantization both at the level of operators and at the level of their Feynman diagram matrix elements. At the level of operators light-front quantization and instant-time quantization lead to equal light-front time commutation (or anticommutation) relations that appear to be quite different from equal instant-time commutation (or anticommutation) relations. Despite this we show that at unequal times instant-time and light-front commutation (or anticommutation) relations actually can be transformed into each other, with it only being the restriction to equal times that makes the commutation (or anticommutation) relations appear to be so different. While our results are valid for both bosons and fermions, for fermions there are subtleties associated with tip of the light cone contributions that need to be taken care of. At the level of Feynman diagrams we show for non-vacuum Feynman diagrams that the pole terms in four-dimensional light-front Feynman diagrams reproduce the widely used three-dimensional light-front on-shell Hamiltonian Fock space formulation in which the light-front energy and light-front momentum are on shell. Moreover, we show that the contributions of pole terms in non-vacuum instant-time and non-vacuum light-front Feynman diagrams are equal. However, because of circle at infinity contributions we show that this equivalence of pole terms fails for four-dimensional light-front vacuum tadpole diagrams. Then, and precisely because of these circle at infinity contributions, we show that light-front vacuum tadpole diagrams are not only nonzero, they quite remarkably are actually equal to the pure pole term instant-time vacuum tadpole diagrams. Light-front vacuum diagrams are not correctly describable by the on-shell Hamiltonian formalism, and thus not by the closely related infinite momentum frame prescription either. Thus for the light-front vacuum sector we must use the off-shell Feynman formalism as it contains information that is not accessible in the on-shell Hamiltonian Fock space approach. We show that light-front quantization is intrinsically nonlocal, and that for fermions this nonlocality is present in Ward identities. One can project fermion spinors into so-called good and bad components, and both of these components contribute in Ward identities. Central to our analysis is that the transformation from instant-time coordinates and fields to light-front coordinates and fields is a unitary, spacetime-dependent translation. Consequently, not only are instant-time quantization and light-front quantization equivalent, because of general coordinate invariance they are unitarily equivalent.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Spin–spin interactions in defects in solids from mixed all-electron and pseudopotential first-principles calculations
Abstract Understanding the quantum dynamics of spin defects and their coherence properties requires an accurate modeling of spin-spin interaction in solids and molecules, for example by using spin Hamiltonians with parameters obtained from first principles calculations. We present a real-space approach based on density functional theory for the calculation of spin-Hamiltonian parameters, where only selected atoms are treated at the all-electron level, while the rest of the system is described with the pseudopotential approximation. Our approach permits calculations for systems containing more than 1000 atoms, as demonstrated for defects in diamond and silicon carbide. We show that only a small number of atoms surrounding the defect needs to be treated at the all-electron level, in order to obtain an overall all-electron accuracy for hyperfine and zero-field splitting tensors. We also present results for coherence times, computed with the cluster correlation expansion method, highlighting the importance of accurate spin-Hamiltonian parameters for quantitative predictions of spin dynamics.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Quantum algorithm for electronic band structures with local tight-binding orbitals
While the main thrust of quantum computing research in materials science is to accurately measure the classically intractable electron correlation effects due to Coulomb repulsion, designing optimal quantum algorithms for simpler problems with well-understood solutions is a useful tactic to advance our quantum “toolbox”. With this in mind, we consider the quantum calculation of a periodic system’s single-electron band structure over a path through reciprocal space. Previous efforts have used the Variational Quantum Eigensolver algorithm to solve the energy of each band, which involves numerically optimizing the parameters of a variational quantum circuit to minimize a cost function, constructed as the expectation value of a Hamiltonian operator. Traditionally, a unique Hamiltonian operator is constructed for each k-point, so that many cost functions, each with their own parameter space, must be optimized to generate a single band. Similarly, calculating higher bands than the first has traditionally involved modifying the cost function with additional overlap terms to ensure higher-energy eigenstates are orthogonal to those of lower bands. In this paper, we adopt a direct space approach, using a novel hybrid first/second-quantized qubit mapping which allows us to construct a single Hamiltonian, and a single cost-function, suitable for solving the entire electronic band structure. In contrast to previous approaches, the k-point and the band index are selected by additional parameters in our quantum circuit, rather than through modifications to the cost function. The result is a technically and conceptually simpler approach to band structure calculations on a quantum computer. Moreover, we expect that the tools developed herein will motivate new strategies for tackling highly-correlated materials beyond the grasp of classical computing.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗