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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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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Investigating Molecular Responses to Space Radiation for Biological Missions Beyond Low Earth Orbit

As we plan crewed missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, it is essential to understand how persistent exposure to deep space radiation affects biology. Unlike on the International Space Station (ISS), where crew support and sample return are possible, experiments for long-duration missions require autonomous systems with no sample return. Human cells would be ideal biosensors, but limitations in culture methods, extended prelaunch storage, and long flight durations make it difficult to keep human cells alive. Unlike other model systems, yeast can survive the constraints of long-duration spaceflight. Despite a billion years of evolution separating yeast from humans, we share homology in hundreds of genes important for basic cell function, including responses to DNA damage. Thus, yeast are excellent biosensors for detecting types/extent of damage induced by space radiation. BioSentinel is NASA’s latest biological CubeSat, and first interplanetary space bioscience mission. BioSentinel is launching on Artemis 1, the first flight of NASA’s Space Launch System, in 2022. The BioSensor payload within BioSentinel contains two yeast strains. The wild type serves as a control for health and normal DNA damage repair (DDR). The rad51 deletion mutant is defective for DDR and will undergo alterations to growth and metabolism as it accumulates radiation damage. Changes in growth and metabolic activity will be measured using a 3-color LED detection system and the metabolic redox dye alamarBlue®. Preliminary tests indicate a significant change in alamarBlue responses to space-like, low-dose ionizing radiation. We will discuss these findings in five parts – Introduction to NASA’s biological CubeSats and BioSentinel (presented by Sergio Santa Maria), analysis of flight data from the ISS mission (presented by Kylie Akiyama), preliminary molecular responses to space radiation (presented here), a deeper dive into those pathways (presented by Kyra Keenan), and characterizing stress response through redox potential data (presented by Diana Gentry).

Lauren Courtney Liddell↗
NASA NTRS2018

Monitoring Astronaut Health with DNA Sequencing

In recent years microbe a plethora of microbe populations have been identified onboard the ISS (International Space Station). Approaches for real-time tracking of microbes for routine housekeeping and food/water safety monitoring will be critical for mission safety and crew health on future longer duration missions to the Moon or Mars. This work is a proof-of-concept study demonstrating an end-to-end phylogenetic identification and full genome sequencing effort of multiple microbial populations. Our methodology utilized the ISS flight-certified WetLab-2 molecular toolbox and the Biomolecule Sequencer projects for real-time end-to-end on-orbit microbial biological samples processing and molecular analysis with real time results generated utilizing only field "offline" analytic software. For this experiment we colony-cultured several ISS isolated microorganisms before generation of the pre-sequencing library via the automated VolTRAX device which enabled high library turnover with little wet-bench activity or potential future costly astronaut time. The pre-sequencing library is diluted in loading buffer and injected into the MinION sample port, drawn into the nanopore window by capillary action, and sequenced using the MinKnown. 16S and full genome alignment, nucleotide matching, gene identification, and phylogenetic sorting was accomplished utilizing the Epi2me software and the offline NCBI Blast viral, microbiome, and human somatic databases. In short, the methodologies developed herein replace the myriad of specific, often highly targeted microbiological tests used in the clinical laboratory, which would be difficult if not impossible to currently implement aboard the ISS or in deep space, with a single metagenomics test.

genomics↗
NASA NTRS1977

Planetary atmospheres with mass spectrometers carried on high-speed probes or satellites

Earth satellite-borne mass spectrometers are considered, taking into account the identification of atomic oxygen in the thermosphere with an 'open' source mass spectrometer flown on a sounding rocket, the conventional closed-source instrument, the mass spectrometers on the Atmosphere Explorer satellites, and mass spectrometer electron multiplier output. A description is presented of mass spectrometers and planetary entry probes. Attention is given to an attempt to obtain an atmospheric composition profile with a terrestrial entry probe, the descending trajectory in the early orbits of the Atmosphere Explorer C satellite, and the molecular nitrogen densities for the descending legs of the orbits. It is pointed out that chemical reactions on the surfaces of the mass spectrometer make the measurement of reactive atmospheric species such as atomic oxygen very difficult.

Nier, A. O.↗
NASA NTRS2012

External Surface Changes Observed on the International Space Station (ISS) Through 2012

As the International Space Station (ISS) surpasses 13 years of on-orbit operation, 11 of those years continuously inhabited, external surfaces of the vehicle have shown a wide variety of visible environmental effects. Throughout, the ISS program has maintained a significant effort to routinely document the vehicle external surface condition and to monitor those changes with time. The impacts of micrometeoroids and orbital debris, surface changes from molecular contamination of various sources, and the effects of ultraviolet radiation and atomic oxygen have all been noted. The tremendous size and complexity of the ISS vehicle has yielded a wide variety of observations of interest to the spacecraft materials engineer concerning long-term, low earth orbit (LEO) space environmental effects (SEE). In addition, inadvertent materials substitutions have been identified because of these environmental effects, as well as inadequate contamination control practices likely occurring during hardware manufacture and assembly. Some of the observations from our photography are purely artifacts of the unusual lighting conditions and environments that exist in space. A compilation of ISS on-orbit photography representing all of these aspects is presented, demonstrating the various SEE and their impacts as a function of time in LEO, including interpretations of those effects.

Golden, Johnny L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Interstellar clouds and molecular hydrogen

Data obtained from the Copernicus Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, launched in 1972 and still obtaining information, are used in a discussion of the interstellar medium. The Copernicus instruments have facilitated direct estimates for the density and temperature of individual interstellar clouds, and improved the ability to determine where along the line of sight a cloud lies with respect to background stars. The physical characteristics of hydrogen molecules are considered, with attention to the formation and destruction of interstellar hydrogen. The differences between 'thin' clouds, in which molecular hydrogen is optically thin, and 'thick' clouds are examined. Several features of the interstellar medium are described.

Jura, M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Absolute calibration of Apollo lunar orbital mass spectrometer.

Recent experiments were conducted in Langley Research Center's molecular beam system to perform an absolute calibration of the lunar orbital mass spectrometer which was flown on the Apollo 15 and 16 missions. Tests were performed with several models of the instrument using two test gases, argon and neon, in the 1 ntorr to .1 picotorr range. Sensitivity to argon at spacecraft orbital velocity was .00028 A/torr enabling partial pressures in the .01-picotorr range to be measured at the spacecraft altitude. Neon sensitivity was nearly a factor of 5 less. Test data support the feasibility of using the lunar orbital mass spectrometer as a tool to gather information about the lunar atmosphere.

Yeager, P. R.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Origin of Molecular Oxygen in Comets: Current Knowledge and Perspectives

The Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) instrument onboard the Rosetta spacecraft has measured molecular oxygen (O 2 ) in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/C-G) in surprisingly high abundances. These measurements mark the first unequivocal detection of O 2 in a cometary environment. The large relative abundance of O 2 in 67P/C-G despite its high reactivity and low interstellar abundance poses a puzzle for its origin in comet 67P/C-G, and potentially other comets. Since its detection, there have been a number of hypotheses put forward to explain the production and origin of O 2 in the comet. These hypotheses cover a wide range of possibilities from various in situ production mechanisms to protosolar nebula and primordial origins. Here, we review the O2 formation mechanisms from the literature, and provide a comprehensive summary of the current state of knowledge of the sources and origin of cometary O 2 .

Molecular oxygen↗
NASA NTRS1985

Results of the SPAS-01 RCS plume impingement test

The Orbiter RCS flowfield is modeled in the free molecular region and an impingement analysis is performed to characterize on-orbit plume interactions with nearby bodies, such as the SPAS-01 satellite. The flow in the far field is treated with a source flow model at any point 40 ft from the nozzle. Impingement is calculated according to Newtonian impact theory. The flow density in the far field is expressed in terms of a conservation of energy equation, with account taken of the expansion of the gas, cooling, and the angular distribution. The SPAS-01 platform gathered data at eight different positions around the Orbiter to test the model predictions. Excellent agreement was obtained in predictions of the torque and rotation rate induced on the SPAS by firing the thrusters.

Lazaron, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Rarefied gas dynamic effects on mass spectrometric studies of upper planetary atmospheres

Results are presented of measurements obtained with an open-source mass spectrometer both in earth orbit and in a laboratory molecular beam facility. The mass spectrometer/ion source combination was developed in the laboratory to be operable in either of two modes by altering ion extraction potential on ground command, i.e., as a stagnation cavity or to respond only to the incoming molecules of the unperturbed atmosphere. Results indicate that the use of this open-source configuration and dual-mode capability, allied with both standard static calibration and dynamic calibration using high-speed molecular beam techniques in the laboratory, allows collection of useful data on aeronomy of the upper atmosphere of planets and comet tails.

French, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Results from the vehicle charging and potential experiment on STS-3

The Vehicle Charging and Potential Experiment formed part of the scientific experiments comprising the NASA Office of Space Sciences-1 pallet flown at an altitude of 250 km and an orbital inclination of 40 deg on the third flight of the Space Shuttle Orbiter in March 1982. Details of the objectives, the instrumentation of the experiment, and some preliminary results from the individual instruments are presented. The experiment studied passive vehicle charging using thermal plasma probes, and it is concluded that apart from moderate v x B (L)-induced electrical potential resulting from the large size and restricted plasma contact area, the Space Shuttle Orbiter behaved similarly to smaller spacecraft orbiting in the same ionospheric region. However, an unexpected passive orbital result was the detection of enhanced plasma density in the vicinity of the Orbiter under restricted orbital conditions, apparently composed of contaminant molecular species and with an electron component having a temperature considerably higher than the ambient ionosphere electrons. The active vehicle charging experiments were performed by using a 100 mA/1 keV electron beam emitted out of the payload bay. Charging measurements made during short electron beam pulse emissions provide an upper limit of about 1 mF for the Orbiter capacitance. Steady-state charging measurements showed that for the vehicle attitudes covered by the mission, the induced electrical potential was normally only a few volts, except during some nighttime conditions when it rose above 40 V.

Banks, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Theoretical and empirical low perigee aerodynamic heating during orbital flight of an atmosphere explorer

This document presents the results of an extensive, low perigee, orbital aerodynamic heating study undertaken in support of the Atmosphere Explorer-C Temperature Alarm. Based upon in-flight orbital temperature data from the Temperature Alarm tungsten resistance wire thermometer, aerodynamic heating rates have been determined for eight selected orbits by means of a reduced thermal analytical model verified by both ground test and flight data. These heating rates are compared with the classical free molecular and first order collision regime values. It has been concluded that, for engineering purposes, the aerodynamic heating rate of atmospheric gases at perigee altitudes between 170 and 135 km on pure tungsten wire is 30 to 60% of the value set by the classical free molecular limit. Relative to the more usual orbital thermal input attributable to direct solar radiation, the aerodynamic heating rate at the lowest altitude attempted with the spacecraft despun (135 km) is the equivalent of about 1.2 solar constants incident on a tungsten wire with a solar absorptivity of 0.85.

Caruso, P. S., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1980

STS-1 mission contamination evaluation approach

The space transportation system 1 mission will be the first opportunity to assess the induced environment of the orbiter payload bay region. Two tools were developed to aid in this assessment. The shuttle payload contamination evaluation computer program was developed to provide an analytical tool for prediction of the induced molecular contamination environment of the space shuttle orbiter during its onorbit operations. An induced environment contamination monitor was constructed and tested to measure the space shuttle orbiter contamination environment inside the payload bay during ascent and descent and inside and outside the payload bay during the onorbit phase. Measurements are to be performed during the four orbital flight test series. Measurements planned for the first flight are described and predicted environmental data are discussed. The results indicate that the expected data are within the measurement range of the induced environment contamination monitor instruments evaluated, and therefore it is expected that useful contamination environmental data will be available after the first flight.

Jacobs, S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Preliminary Shuttle payload contamination assessment

The paper discusses the molecular induced atmosphere of the Shuttle Orbiter and a payload carrier (Spacelab) configuration - long module and a 3-m pallet) in the Shuttle Orbiter payload bay and compares it to the ambient atmosphere at various orbital altitudes. The density and flux of the contaminants are expressed as a function of distance out of the payload bay for a line-of-sight perpendicular to the payload bay and payload carrier. Isodensity plots about the Shuttle Orbiter for a side and end view for each major source are presented. The major sources considered are the external surface materials mass loss, pressurized habitation area leakage, attitude control engines, and supplemental flash evaporator venting. The resulting plots provide an insight into the extent and spatial variation of the on-orbit contaminant-induced environment.

Ress, E. B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Analytical study of the optimum geometric configuration of a space shuttle materials laboratory

A steady state, collisionless flow analysis was made of the density distribution within a hemisphere-disc system due to independent, uniformly distributed internal gas sources. The model was used to estimate the density within a molecular shield, deployed from the shuttle orbiter, which contained internal experiments having a prescribed gas source. Contour plots of the density distribution within the system were presented for disc-to-hemisphere radius ratios of .1, .3, .5, .7, and for disc-to-hemisphere surface emission flux density ratios of .01, 1, 100. The hemisphere-disc system was compared to the empty hemisphere, and it was found that if the disc emission flux density was the same as the hemisphere and the disc radius was not greater than 1/3 of the hemisphere radius, the increase in density at the center of the hemisphere-disc system was less than 50%.

Clay, F. P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Effect of experiments on the density distribution in a molecular shield

A steady-state, collisionless flow analysis has been made of the density distribution within a hemisphere-disk system due to independent, uniformly distributed internal gas sources. The model may be used to estimate the density within a molecular shield, deployed from the Shuttle Orbiter, which contains internal experiments having a prescribed gas source. Contour plots of the density distribution within the system are presented for disk-to-hemisphere radius ratios of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7, and for disk-to-hemisphere surface emission flux density ratios of 0.01, 1, and 100. The hemisphere-disk system is compared to the empty hemisphere and it is found that if the disk emission flux density is the same as the hemisphere and the disk radius is not greater than one-third of the hemisphere radius, the increase in density at the center of the hemisphere-disk system is less than 50%.

Hueser, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

NASA workshop on outgassing

The materials and processing constraints that are involved in the construction of a molecular wake shield for the shuttle orbiter are discussed. Stainless steel, having outgassing rates less than the required 10 to the minus 12th power Torr-liters/sq cm per second was the primary material suggested for the construction of the shield.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1983

Temperature-controlled quartz crystal microbalance measurements on Space Transport System (STS-2)

The purpose of the Temperature-Controlled Quartz Crystal Microbalance (TQCM) system on STS-2 was to measure condensible molecular flux in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle as a function of temperature, direction, and time. Five quartz crystal microbalance sensors were located in the IECM to measure molecular adsorption in each of the Orbiter axes, +X (fore), -X (aft), +Y (starboard), -Y (port), and -Z (up, perpendicular to payload bay). The temperature of each sensor was controlled by a thermoelectric device so contamination could be measured as a function of four preset temperatures: +30, 0, -30, and -60 C. When orbital altitude was reached, the TQCM sensors began their orbital measuring cycle routine. The sensors were commanded to 80 C for 30 min, which was used as an initial clean-up. They were then stepped through a program of 2-nr collection periods at each temperature with a 30-min, 80 C period between each collection period. The collection periods progressed in descending order from +30 to -60 C and, then the cycle was repeated. Since the STS-2 orbital phase lasted approximately 53 hrs, the TQCM system completed four cycles and was in the fifth when the mission was terminated.

Fountain, J. A.↗