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NASA NTRS2006

Potential SSP Perfluorooctanoic Acid Related Fluoropolymer Materials Obsolescence

The Shuttle Environmental Assurance Initiative (SEA) has identified a potential for the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) to incur materials obsolescence issues due to agreements between the fluoro-chemical industry and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to participate in a Global Stewardship Program for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This presentation will include discussions of the chemistry, regulatory drivers, affected types of fluoropolymer and fluoroelastomer products, timeline for reformulations, and methodology for addressing the issue. It will cover the coordination of assessment efforts with the International Space Station and Head Quarters Air Force Space Command, along with some examples of impacted materials. The presentation is directed at all members of the international aerospace community concerned with identifying potential environmentally driven materials obsolescence issues.

Segars, Matt G.↗

NASA NTRS2020

Application of Remote Sensing for Ex-Ante Decision Support and Evaluating Impact

Deforestation is an environmental stressor that dramatically threatens biodiversity while having adverse, deep-rooted socioeconomic impacts. Interventions to address deforestation require considerable long-term investments; therefore, assessing their impact is crucial. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity encourages establishing Protected Areas (PAs) as a strategy to conserve biodiversity, secure ecosystem services, support local livelihoods, and reduce climate change impacts. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has supported the conservation and management of PAs, yet site accessibility and data availability present challenges in assessing PAs using traditional evaluation methods. We present a novel application of satellite Earth observations for evaluating the effectiveness and impact of PAs as a deforestation mitigation strategy. Geospatial analysis and ecological forecasting methodologies provide an efficient way to quantify land cover change, estimate above-ground carbon stock, and evaluate ecosystem services provided by the PAs ex-ante. We demonstrate the value of a geospatial approach through evaluation of GEF-supported PAs in Kenya.

Remote sensing↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Culture-Independent Microbial Air Profiling using a Spaceflight-Compatible Nanopore Sequencing Method

Microbial monitoring of spacecraft air is critical toward assessing the efficacy of microbial controls within the environmental control and life support systems to protect the crew and vehicle environment. Currently, onboard the International Space Station (ISS), the air is monitored every quarter using an impaction air sampler. With this method, microbial cells and spores are pulled onto plates containing a growth medium. Following onboard incubation, the crew reports approximate microbial levels to the ground, but sample return is required for identification. Upon return of the plates, the isolates present are identified for crew health risk assessments. As NASA moves beyond low-Earth orbit, sample return will be impractical, and a near real-time monitoring capability is essential. Significant strides have been made in recent years to utilize a molecular-based method for microbial profiling of ISS surfaces. The developed method is independent of microbial culture, thus removing the bias toward detecting only culturable organisms, eliminating the need for sample return, and reducing the risk to crew health from exposure to high microbial levels. The work described here details the evaluation of three different air sampling platforms whose product is amenable to downstream molecular processing. The three samplers were compared in terms of mass and power requirements, ease of use, and the resulting data. For the two highest-ranking samplers, a basic concept of operations was developed to transfer the sample into the already established preparation and sequencing process. Using these concepts of operations, an in-depth comparison of the molecular data generated was compared to the historical culture-based method. Data from both methods detailed similar microbial profiles, while the molecular method detailed microbial identifications that were lacking from the culture data. The developed method will enable the generation of near real-time microbial profiles of the spacecraft atmosphere.

Brandon Dunbar↗

NASA NTRS2014

Identification of Flights for Cost-Efficient Climate Impact Reduction

The aircraft-induced climate impact has drawn attention in recent years. Aviation operations affect the environment mainly through the release of carbon-dioxide, nitrogen-oxides, and by the formation of contrails. Recent research has shown that altering trajectories can reduce aviation environmental cost by reducing Absolute Global Temperature Change Potential, a climate assessment metric that adapts a linear system for modeling the global temperature response to aviation emissions and contrails. However, these methods will increase fuel consumption that leads to higher fuel costs imposed on airlines. The goal of this work is to identify ights for which the environmental cost of climate impact reduction outweighs the increase in operational cost on an individual aircraft basis. Environmental cost is quanti ed using the monetary social cost of carbon. The increase in operational cost is considering cost of additional fuel usage only. For this paper, an algorithm has been developed that modi es the trajectories of ights to evaluate the e ect of environ- mental cost and operational cost of ights in the United States National Airspace System. The algorithm identi es ights for which the environmental cost of climate impact can be reduced and modi es their trajectories to achieve maximum environmental net bene t, which is the di erence between reduction in environmental cost and additional operational cost. The result shows on a selected day, 16% of the ights among eight major airlines, or 2,043 ights, can achieve environmental net bene t using weather forecast data, resulting in net bene t of around $500,000. The result also suggests that the long-haul ights would be better candidates for cost-ecient climate impact reduction than the short haul ights. The algorithm will help to identify the characteristics of ights that are capable of applying cost-ecient climate impact reduction strategy.

climate impact reduction↗

NASA NTRS1980

An evaluation of the land and material requirements for the satellite power system

Current research and evaluation of the physical resources requirements for the Satellite Power System (SPS) concentrates on three topics: land requirements and the siting of rectennas; the environmental impacts of the rectenna siting; and the materials requirements. The first two focus exclusively on the Earth based element of the SPS while the materials assessment considered requirements for both the space and Earth systems.

Ankerbrandt, S. D.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

TPSAS-NF1676L-31539-DND

TROPICS (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats) Science Objectives - Relate precipitation structure evolution, including diurnal cycle, to the evolution of the upper-level warm core and associated intensity changes - Relate the occurrence of intense precipitation cores (convective bursts) to storm intensity evolution - Relate retrieved environmental moisture measurements to coincident measures of storm structure (including size) and intensity - Assimilate microwave observations in mesoscale and global numerical weather prediction models to assess impacts on storm track and intensity

William Blackwell↗

NASA NTRS2011

Initial Assessment of Open Rotor Propulsion Applied to an Advanced Single-Aisle Aircraft

Application of high speed, advanced turboprops, or propfans, to subsonic transport aircraft received significant attention and research in the 1970s and 1980s when fuel efficiency was the driving focus of aeronautical research. Recent volatility in fuel prices and concern for aviation s environmental impact have renewed interest in unducted, open rotor propulsion, and revived research by NASA and a number of engine manufacturers. Unfortunately, in the two decades that have passed since open rotor concepts were thoroughly investigated, NASA has lost experience and expertise in this technology area. This paper describes initial efforts to re-establish NASA s capability to assess aircraft designs with open rotor propulsion. Specifically, methodologies for aircraft-level sizing, performance analysis, and system-level noise analysis are described. Propulsion modeling techniques have been described in a previous paper. Initial results from application of these methods to an advanced single-aisle aircraft using open rotor engines based on historical blade designs are presented. These results indicate open rotor engines have the potential to provide large reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. Initial noise analysis indicates that current noise regulations can be met with old blade designs and modern, noiseoptimized blade designs are expected to result in even lower noise levels. Although an initial capability has been established and initial results obtained, additional development work is necessary to make NASA s open rotor system analysis capability on par with existing turbofan analysis capabilities.

Guynn, Mark D.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Civil Tiltrotor Feasibility Study for the New York and Washington Terminal Areas

NASA tasked LMI to assess the potential contributions of a yet-undeveloped Civil Tiltrotor aircraft (CTR) in improving capacity in the National Airspace System in all weather conditions. The CTRs studied have assumed operating parameters beyond current CTR capabilities. LMI analyzed CTRs three ways: in fast-time terminal area modeling simulations of New York and Washington to determine delay and throughput impacts; in the Integrated Noise Model, to determine local environmental impact; and with an economic model, to determine the price viability of a CTR. The fast-time models encompassed a 250 nmi range and included traffic interactions from local airports. Both the fast-time simulation and the noise model assessed impacts from traffic levels projected for 1999, 2007, and 2017. Results: CTRs can reduce terminal area delays due to concrete congestion in all time frames. The maximum effect, the ratio of CTRs to jets and turboprop aircraft at a subject airport should be optimized. The economic model considered US traffic only and forecasted CTR sales beginning in 2010.

Stouffer, Virginia↗

NASA NTRS2006

Beyond Population and Environment: Household Life Cycle Demography and Land Use Allocation among Small Farm Colonists in the Amazon

Most research featuring demographic factors in environmental change has focused on processes operating at the level of national or global populations. This paper focuses on household-level demographic life cycles among colonists in the Amazon, and evaluates the impacts on land use allocation. The analysis goes beyond prior research by including a broader suite of demographic variables, and by simultaneously assessing their impacts on multiple land uses with different economic and ecological implications. We estimate a system of structural equations that accounts for endogeneity among land uses, and the findings indicate stronger demographic effects than previous work. These findings bear implications for modeling land use, and the place of demography in environmental research.

Perz, Stephen G.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Environmental noise assessment STS-1 Columbia launch

An environmental noise assessement of the initial launch of the Space Transportation System, STS-1 Columbia was conducted. The principal objective of the environmental noise assessment was to measure the noise generated during the initial launch of the space shuttle to ascertain the validity of the levels predicted in the 1979 environmental impact statement. In the 1979 study information obtained for expendable launch vehicles, Titan, Saturn and Atlas was used to predict the noise levels that would be generated by the simultaneous firing of the two solid rocket boosters and the three space shuttle main engines. Fifteen monitoring sites were established in accessable areas located from 4,953 to 23,640 meters from the launch pad. Precision sound level meters were used to capture the peak level during the launch. Data obtained was compared to the predicted levels and were also compared to the identified levels, standards and criteria established by the federal agencies with noise abatement and control responsibilities.

Putnicki, G. J.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Metallic Environmentally Resistant Coating Rapid Innovation Initiative

Lightweight alloys such as aluminum (Al) and titanium (Ti) are often specified for space systems to minimize mass while maintaining structural integrity [1,2]. Such alloys however, have poor tribological response (high friction and wear), especially in extreme space environments, which becomes worse with the additional presence of lunar regolith. This leads to short lifetimes and premature failures that will ultimately limit long term operations on the lunar surface [2]. This project is addressing this technology gap by developing advanced wear- and radiation-resistant coatings for lightweight parts to extend the life-time and sustainability of both lunar and Martian assets. Ceramics were considered for their high wear resistance, but were rejected because of their low fracture toughness, which would be especially problematic for structural components. The novel and existing coating technologies and deposition methods are being tested in this project. The coating materials are Boron Nitride-Aluminum (BN-Al), Nickle Titanium (NiTi), Aluminum Oxide (AlO3), Ti64 with hBN at 2 and 10 vol percent (Ti-2vol%hBN and Ti-10vol%hBN), and the deposition techniques are high pressure cold-spray (CS) and ambient and vacuum plasma-spray (APS and VPS) [3,4,5]. BN-Al, NiTi, Ti-2vol%hBN, and Ti-10vol%hBN were applied with all three deposition techniques, and AlO3 was applied only using the APS deposition technique. A tungstenite (WS2) film was applied to the NiTi VPS coating. The coating and deposition technique configurations are being tested against several key end-use performance parameters. The parameters include the capabilities of the coatings under wear environments such as regolith simulant, thermal cycling from high (120°C) to cryogenic (-173°C), high vacuum (~10-7 torr), and pre- and post-exposure to ionizing particle radiation. Wear tests include pin on disk, three-body abrasion, and surface erosion by high velocity regolith impacts. The initial down selection is being performed using on virgin and environmental exposure samples using pin on disk and three body abrasion wear tests. From preliminary assessment of this testing, a few configurations were eliminated. Ti-10vol%hBN could not be applied using CS application and NiTi could not be applied using APS or CS application so these configurations did not get tested. Early pin on disk wear tests showed poor wear performance of BN-Al so this coating was eliminated early in the testing process. AlO3 on Al substrate did not survive thermal cycling, but wear testing is continuing for AlO3 on Ti substrate. A more detailed analysis is being con-ducted to further reduce the number of configuration for phase II and III. Phase II testing will include conventionally and additively manufactured substrates with surface erosion testing. In phase III, the coatings will be applied to three mechanism types: channel and slot, ball and socket, and a hinge joint. Each will demonstrate a different type of wear incidence. The mechanisms and their base materials are of direct interest to the end users and infusion points: the Human Landing System (HLS) and the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (sustained lunar surface operations). The technology development project is based out of Marshall Space Flight Center, has partnered with Florida International University (Miami, FL) and Plasma Processes (Huntsville, Al), and is supported by a group of NASA mentors from different centers.

dust mitigation↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) Accommodation on GOES-U

The CCOR-1 will monitor our Sun’s Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). It will reside on the Sun-Pointing Platform (SPP) of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) -U in a geostationary orbit. As a member of the GOES-R Series of satellites, GOES-U will pro-vide advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s weather, oceans and envi-ronment, real-time mapping of total lightning activity, and as well as monitoring of solar ac-tivity and space weather. GOES-U is the final satellite in the GOES-R Series, with an expected launch date in April of 2024. The Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) instrument was designed, built, and tested by the Unit-ed States Naval Research Laboratory. CCOR-1, the first in a series of coronagraphs, is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and will ultimately be operated by NOAA. Us-ing a series of images of the Sun’s coronal white-light, scientists at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) and National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) can de-termine the size, velocity, and density of these CMEs. This information can then be used to assess and prepare for potential impacts of these solar storms on infrastructure here on Earth, as well as assets in space. CCOR-1 has completed instrument-level Integration and Testing (I&T), delivered to the GOES-U satellite vendor and is now mechanically integrated with the spacecraft. The GOES-U satellite has completed spacecraft-level integration and test activities. This poster presents the details on the CCOR-1 instrument, its integration onto the GOES-U satellite bus, ground system, and operations, as well as the expected performance.

White Light Coronagraph↗

NASA NTRS2010

The Fifteen-Year Attitude History of the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 Radiator and Collection Efficiencies for Micrometeoroids and Orbital Debris

An examination of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC-2) radiator assembly was conducted at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) during the summer of 2009. Immediately apparent was a distinct biasing of the largest 45 impact features towards one side of the radiator, in contrast to an approximately uniform distribution of smaller impacts. Such a distribution may be a consequence of the HST s attitude history and pointing requirements for the cold radiator, or of environmental effects, such as an anisotropic distribution of the responsible population in that size regime. Understanding the size-dependent spatial distribution of impact features is essential to the general analysis of these features. We have obtained from GSFC a 15 minute temporal resolution record of the state vector (Earth Centered Inertial position and velocity) and HST attitude, consisting of the orientation of the velocity and HST-sun vectors in HST body coordinates. This paper reviews the actual state vector and attitude history of the radiator in the context of the randomly tumbling plate assumption and assesses the statistical likelihood (or collection efficiency) of the radiator for the micrometeoroid and orbital debris environments. The NASA Marshall Space Flight Center s Meteoroid Environment Model is used to assess the micrometeoroid component. The NASA Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM) is used to model the orbital debris component. Modeling results are compared with observations of the impact feature spatial distribution, and the relative contribution of each environmental component are examined in detail.

Anz-Meador, Phillip D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

A study of general aviation community noise impact and annoyance

The method involved the selection of three airports which were dominated by aircraft weighing 12,500 lbs or under and which were also undergoing a change relative to utilization. Also, there was interest in airports with different utilization levels so that effect of number of operations could be considered. In addition, there was a requirement to select airports with communities in the surrounding areas which were exposed to aircraft operations noise. Noise annoyance response data was obtained from available sources. These sources included environmental impact statements, interviews with airport managers, noise complaint information, community meetings concerned with projected changes in airport utilization, and social survey data. As a means of objectively assessing the noise impact due to aircraft operations, noise measurement and computer noise modeling determinations were obtained for each airport. Listening quality tape recordings were also obtained.

Mabry, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Assessment of the Effects of High-Speed Aircraft in the Stratosphere: 1998

This report assesses the potential atmospheric impacts of a proposed fleet of high-speed civil transport (HSCT) aircraft. The purpose of the report is to assess the effects of HSCT's on atmospheric composition and climate in order to provide a scientific basis for making technical, commercial, and environmental policy decisions regarding the HSCT fleet. The work summarized here was carried out as part of NASA's Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Project (a component of the High-Speed Research Program) as well as other NASA, U.S., and international research programs. The principal focus is on change in stratospheric ozone concentrations. The impact on climate change is also a concern. The report describes progress in understanding atmospheric processes, the current state of understanding of HSCT emissions, numerical model predictions of HSCT impacts, the principal uncertainties in atmospheric predictions, and the associated sensitivities in predicted effects of HSCT'S.

Kawa, S. Randolph↗

NASA NTRS1999

Assessment of the Effects of High-Speed Aircraft in the Stratosphere: 1998

Kawa, S. Randolph↗

NASA NTRS1994

Progress in modeling atmospheric propagation of sonic booms

The improved simulation of sonic boom propagation through the real atmosphere requires greater understanding of how the transient acoustic pulses popularly termed sonic booms are affected by humidity and turbulence. A realistic atmosphere is invariably somewhat turbulent, and may be characterized by an ambient fluid velocity v and sound speed c that vary from point to point. The absolute humidity will also vary from point to point, although possibly not as irregularly. What is ideally desired is a relatively simple scheme for predicting the probable spreads in key sonic boom signature parameters. Such parameters could be peak amplitudes, rise times, or gross quantities obtainable by signal processing that correlate well with annoyance or damage potential. The practical desire for the prediction scheme is that it require a relatively small amount of knowledge, possibly of a statistical nature, concerning the atmosphere along, the propagation path from the aircraft to the ground. The impact of such a scheme, if developed, implemented, and verified, would be that it would give the persons who make planning decisions a tool for assessing the magnitude of environmental problems that might result from any given overflight or sequence of overflights. The technical approach that has been followed by the author and some of his colleagues is to formulate a hierarchy of simple approximate models based on fundamental physical principles and then to test these models against existing data. For propagation of sonic booms and of other types of acoustic pulses in nonturbulent model atmospheres, there exists a basic overall theoretical model that has evolved as an outgrowth of geometrical acoustics. This theoretical model depicts the sound as propagating within ray tubes in a manner analogous to sound in a waveguide of slowly varying cross-section. Propagation along the ray tube is quasi-one-dimensional, and a wave equation for unidirectional wave propagation is used. A nonlinear term is added to this equation to account for nonlinear steepening, and the formulation has been carried through to allow for spatially varying sound speed, ambient density, and ambient wind velocities. The model intrinsically neglects diffraction, so it cannot take into account what has previously been mentioned in the literature as possibly important mechanisms for turbulence-related distortion. The model as originally developed could predict an idealized N-waveform which often agrees with data in terms of peak amplitude and overall positive phase duration. It is possible, moreover, to develop simple methods based on the physics of relaxation processes for incorporating molecular relaxation into the quasi-one-dimensional model of nonlinear propagation along ray tubes.

Pierce, Allan D.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Aerosol Radiative Forcing of Climate Assessed Using Satellite Data and Ground Based Sun/Sky Radiometers

Aerosol and cloud impacts on the earth's climate become a recent hot topic in climate studies. Having near future earth observing satellites, EOS-AM1, ENVISAT (Environmental Satellite) and ADEOS-2 (Advanced Earth Observation Satellite-2), it will be a good timing to discuss how to obtain and use the microphysical parameters of aerosols and clouds for studying their climate impacts. Center for Climate System Research (CCSR) of the University of Tokyo invites you to 'Symposium on synergy between satellite- remote sensing and climate modeling in aerosol and cloud issues.' Here, we like to discuss the current and future issues in the remote sensing of aerosol and cloud microphysical parameters and their climate modeling studies. This workshop is also one of workshop series on aerosol remote sensing held in 1996, Washington D. C., and Meribel, France in 1999. It should be reminded that NASDA/ADEOS-1 & -2 Workshop will be held in the following week (Dec. 6-10, 1999), so that this opportunity will be a perfect period for you to attend two meetings for satellite remote sensing in Japan. A weekend in Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, will add a nice memory to your visiting Japan.

Kaufman, Yoram J.↗