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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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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

A volatile organic analyzer for Space Station: Description and evaluation of a gas chromatography/ ion mobility

A Volatile Organic Analyzer (VOA) is being developed as an essential component of the Space Station's Environmental Health System (EHS) air quality monitoring strategy to provide warning to the crew and ground personnel if volatile organic compounds exceed established exposure limits. The short duration of most Shuttle flights and the relative simplicity of the contaminant removal mechanism have lessened the concern about crew exposure to air contaminants on the Shuttle. However, the longer missions associated with the Space Station, the complex air revitalization system and the proposed number of experiments have led to a desire for real-time monitoring of the contaminants in the Space Station atmosphere. Achieving the performance requirements established for the VOA within the Space Station resource (e.g., power, weight) allocations led to a novel approach that joined a gas chromatograph (GC) to an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS). The authors of this paper will discuss the rational for selecting the GC/IMS technology as opposed to the more established gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the foundation of the VOA. The data presented from preliminary evaluations will demonstrate the versatile capability of the GC/IMS to analyze the major contaminants expected in the Space Station atmosphere. The favorable GC/IMS characteristics illustrated in this paper included excellent sensitivity, dual-mode operation for selective detection, and mobility drift times to distinguish co-eluting GC peaks. Preliminary studies have shown that the GC/IMS technology can meet surpass the performance requirements of the Space Station VOA.

Limero, Thomas F.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Topical Report – Findings on Subtask 2.7 – Wet ESP and Aerosol Testing at Coal Creek Station

Growing concerns over the impact of CO 2 emissions from combustion sources on global climate change have prompted numerous research and development projects aimed at developing cost-effective technologies for CO 2 capture. One family of technologies being demonstrated at pilot and full scale globally is postcombustion carbon capture (PCCC) systems that employ amine-based solvents. The captured CO 2 can be compressed and permanently stored underground or used for enhanced oil recovery. The proximity of North Dakota’s lignite-fired fleet of power plants to potential CO 2 storage options creates a unique atmosphere for PCCC within the state. However, the unique components present in lignite flue gas present a challenge for large-scale PCCC at North Dakota power plants by contributing to aerosol formation. Aerosols can negatively impact the long-term performance of amine-based solvents for CO 2 capture. Amine-based solvents are volatile, and flue gas particulate provides nucleation sites where amine vapors can condense as aerosols. Because aerosols cannot be easily captured at the column outlet using conventional technologies, the amine-laden aerosols escape the system and lead to accelerated solvent losses. Moreover, particulate components can chemically react with amines to form degradation products that can permanently deactivate the amine, cause fouling, and lead to hazardous emissions. Many of the elements that have been shown to catalyze solvent degradation are present in lignite coals and can exacerbate solvent replacement economics. Understanding this issue is critical to the implementation of solvent-based CO 2 capture systems as applied to lignite-fired generation systems. The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) designed and carried out this project to fully characterize aerosol behavior with various control technologies installed to better optimize aerosol mitigation technology for CO 2 capture. To meet the goal of this project, the following objectives were identified: Determine the effectiveness of a wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) on mitigating formation of problematic aerosols at Great River Energy’s Coal Creek Station, upstream of the PCCC system. Determine the effectiveness of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) proprietary amine emission reduction unit (AERU) as a postcapture solvent recovery system for reducing aerosol emissions and extending solvent life downstream of the PCCC system. Determine the impact of aerosols on the efficiency and degradation products of both commercial and advanced solvents within the PCCC system. Work was conducted at Coal Creek Station Unit 1 using a slipstream of flue gas from the outlet of the plant’s flue gas desulfurization (FGD) unit. Flue gas was routed through a pilot-scale FGD unit to remove SO 2 to very low levels (~1 ppm) and then through a direct contact cooler (DCC) to further cool the gas and to remove moisture. The gas exiting the DCC was then optionally routed through a WESP before passing to the CO 2 absorber columns. The MHI solvent was used to scrub CO 2 from the slipstream through a set of two absorber columns. The rich solvent was regenerated in a stripper column by heating to drive off captured CO 2 . Flue gas exiting the absorber column was routed to MHI’s proprietary AERU to recover entrained solvent. The system operated using a catch-and-release method where the CO 2 was separated to provide data on the process, but the captured CO 2 was released back into the host site stack. Particulate was measured, collected, and analyzed from multiple locations throughout the pilot-scale system. Unlike the performance observed in prior work, the inlet FGD and DCC did not remove significant particulate matter from the flue gas. This appears to be due to a difference in the nature of the particulate. The DCC seemed to increase particulate size and count, most likely owing to water condensing onto the surfaces of fly ash particles. When the WESP was operated, it achieved >95% particulate capture. Very little particulate matter or indications of solvent were detected at the AERU outlet. When operating with advanced KS 21 solvent, the particulate material at the AERU outlet was even further decreased. Solvent analysis showed that some species derived from flue gas and ash were slowly concentrating in the solvent over the duration of the test. The levels observed were reported to be within expected ranges and were not of concern to MHI. A high-level techno-economic assessment of installing CO 2 capture at Coal Creek Station suggested that, when using a standard monoethanolamine (MEA)-based solution with simple heat integration, the energy penalty to net generation would be 34%. The bulk of this was due to steam losses for regenerating solvent, followed by parasitic electrical demand for CO 2 compression and then by increased parasitic load for pushing flue gas through the absorber column. These demands could be decreased with a more advanced solvent that exhibits lower heat of regeneration and lower pressure drop than does a simple MEA solution. Further energy could be saved with more thorough heat integration to recover useful energy from the steam used for solvent regeneration. Installing a WESP was predicted to increase the cost of electricity by nearly $5/MWh. This would become cost-effective if solvent losses were roughly 10 times the baseline estimate when not using a WESP but could be returned to baseline by installing the WESP. Piping CO 2 for storage in more favorable geology could help with carbon capture and storage economics. Although storing off-site would necessitate construction of a CO 2 transport pipeline, the cost of this pipeline might be more than offset by reducing the number of wells required, the depths of the wells required, and the electrical demand for the CO 2 compressor. Additional factors that favor off-site storage costs include smaller expected CO 2 plume sizes, which translates to less monitoring and fewer landowner agreements. More detailed assessment of the specific geology in the region under and around Coal Creek Station would be needed to accurately assess the costs and benefits of different storage site options. This subtask was cofunded through the Energy & Environmental Research Center–U.S. Department of Energy Joint Program on Research and Development for Fossil Energy-Related Resources Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FE0024233. Nonfederal funding was provided by the North Dakota Industrial Commission.

Strege, Joshua↗
NASA NTRS1995

The role and status of Euler solvers in impulsive rotor noise computations

Several recent applications (in the last five years) of Euler solvers in the computation of impulsive noise from rotor blades emphasize their emerging role in complementing other methods and experimental work. In the area of high-speed impulsive noise the use of Euler solvers as research tools has become fairly mature with very favorable comparisons with experimental data, especially in hover. The grid sizes and resulting computational times are reasonable when compared to those required for accurate surface aerodynamics alone. Furthermore, Euler solvers have provided a rich database with the resolution and accuracy needed for input to Kirchhoff and acoustic analogy methods for predicting the far-field noise. On the other hand, the application of Euler solvers to calculate blade-vortex interaction noise is still far from mature. The computational resources required for accurate calculations away from the blade are much larger than for high-speed impulsive noise. Current calculations help improve the basic understanding of the phenomena involved, but to date no comparisons with experiment have been made. Fortunately, the use of coupled Euler solver/Kirchhoff methods seems to offer promise for a robust and efficient technique for predicting both high-speed impulsive noise and blade-vortex interaction noise. Finally, a simple model problem of an isolated vortex interacting with an arbitrarily prescribed pitching airfoil demonstrates the feasibility of using Euler solvers to examine noise reduction techniques. The use of simple aerodynamic quasi-static theory and the computed lift time history as feedback to determine the required pitching motion appears sufficient to significantly dampen the unsteady loading and subsequent acoustics by an order of magnitude within a few blade passages.

Baeder, James D.↗
NASA NTRS2010

A Lunar Electromagnetic Launch System for In-Situ Resource Utilization

Future human exploration of the moon will require the development of capabilities for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Transport of lunar-derived commodities such as fuel and oxygen to orbiting resource depots has been proposed to enable refueling landers or other vehicles. A lunar electromagnetic launch (LEML) system could be an effective means of transporting materials, as an alternative to non-renewable chemical-based propulsion systems. An example LEML concept is presented based on previous studies, existing EML technologies, and NASA's human exploration architecture. A preliminary assessment of the cost-versus-benefit of such a system is also offered; the conclusion, however, is not as favorable for LEML as originally suggested.

Wright, Michael R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Comparative evaluation of solar, fission, fusion, and fossil energy resources, part 3

The role of nuclear fission reactors in becoming an important power source in the world is discussed. The supply of fissile nuclear fuel will be severely depleted by the year 2000. With breeder reactors the world supply of uranium could last thousands of years. However, breeder reactors have problems of a large radioactive inventory and an accident potential which could present an unacceptable hazard. Although breeder reactors afford a possible solution to the energy shortage, their ultimate role will depend on demonstrated safety and acceptable risks and environmental effects. Fusion power would also be a long range, essentially permanent, solution to the world's energy problem. Fusion appears to compare favorably with breeders in safety and environmental effects. Research comparing a controlled fusion reactor with the breeder reactor in solving our long range energy needs is discussed.

Clement, J. D.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Simulation of sugar kelp ( Saccharina latissima ) breeding guided by practices to accelerate genetic gains

Abstract Though Saccharina japonica cultivation has been established for many decades in East Asian countries, the domestication process of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) in the Northeast United States is still at its infancy. In this study, by using data from our breeding experience, we will demonstrate how obstacles for accelerated genetic gain can be assessed using simulation approaches that inform resource allocation decisions. Thus far, we have used 140 wild sporophytes that were sampled in 2018 from the northern Gulf of Maine to southern New England. From these sporophytes, we sampled gametophytes and made and evaluated over 600 progeny sporophytes from crosses among the gametophytes in 2019 and 2020. The biphasic life cycle of kelp gives a great advantage in selective breeding as we can potentially select both on the sporophytes and gametophytes. However, several obstacles exist, such as the amount of time it takes to complete a breeding cycle, the number of gametophytes that can be maintained in the laboratory, and whether positive selection can be conducted on farm-tested sporophytes. Using the Gulf of Maine population characteristics for heritability and effective population size, we simulated a founder population of 1,000 individuals and evaluated the impact of overcoming these obstacles on rate of genetic gain. Our results showed that key factors to improve current genetic gain rely mainly on our ability to induce reproduction of the best farm-tested sporophytes, and to accelerate the clonal vegetative growth of released gametophytes so that enough gametophyte biomass is ready for making crosses by the next growing season. Overcoming these challenges could improve rates of genetic gain more than 2-fold. Future research should focus on conditions favorable for inducing spring reproduction, and on increasing the amount of gametophyte tissue available in time to make fall crosses in the same year.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Binding of Formic Acid on Anatase TiO2(101)

The adsorption of formic acid (FA) and the formation of formate species on metal oxide surfaces are of great interest in catalysis. Formic acid is used to probe the adsorption properties of surface sites and formates are common intermediates in many catalytic reactions. Here we focus on the interaction of FA with a prototypical anatase TiO2(101) surface by using a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), electron stimulated desorption (ESD), and density functional theory (DFT) to assess the coverage dependent evolution of different FA-derived surface species at low temperatures (80–240 K). We find that isolated FA adsorbs at 80 K in both monodentate (MD) and bidentate (BD) configurations on top of undercoordinated Ti sites (Ti5c). The MD form is likely deprotonated and readily converts upon annealing to bridging BD on two neighboring Ti5c sites. DFT calculations show that molecularly-bound MD FA is metastable and readily converts into a deprotonated state in the proximity of subsurface oxygen vacancy. The stability of the MD species increases as the availability of the paired Ti5c sites for BD formation diminishes at high coverages. Upon surface saturation, a mixed configuration of alternating bidentate and monodentate species with coverage of 2/3 FA/Ti5c represents the most favorable configuration. This is in contrast with the adsorption of FA on rutile TiO2(110) and many other oxides, where bidentate formate species dominate. Y.W., A.D., G.A.K., R.R., N.G.P., and Z.D. were supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences (CSGB) under FWP 47319. B.W. and A.S. acknowledge the support of DOE BES, CSGB Division under Award DESC0007347. The experimental studies were performed in EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle. The authors also acknowledge computational resources from the TIGRESS high-performance computer center at Princeton University.

Wang, Yang↗
DOE OSTI2026

Leveraging chiral induced spin selectivity to improve the efficiency and selectivity of electrocatalytic reduction

Energy production is a fundamental pillar of modern society, but it remains heavily reliant on fossil fuel combustion, which leads to environmental degradation and resource depletion. Electrocatalytic reduction reactions (ERRs) offer a cleaner alternative by functioning under mild conditions, eliminating the need for high temperatures or pressures. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by challenges such as low efficiency, inadequate selectivity, and sluggish kinetics. Here, the introduction of chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) offers a promising strategy to address these limitations by reducing energy barriers in reactions involving spin-sensitive intermediates or transition states. By leveraging CISS, ERR pathways can be manipulated to favor desired reactions, enhance product yield, and suppress unwanted byproducts, improving selectivity. Beyond reducing the impact of competing side reactions, CISS also enhances the kinetics of ERRs by accelerating reaction rates and lowering the energy barriers associated with multi-electron transfer steps. Thanks to its straightforward and versatile application, CISS shows significant potential in optimizing well-studied ERRs, such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), facilitating the future transition of these technologies from research laboratories to commercial energy plants worldwide.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2010

Microwave Plasma Hydrogen Recovery System

A microwave plasma reactor was developed for the recovery of hydrogen contained within waste methane produced by Carbon Dioxide Reduction Assembly (CRA), which reclaims oxygen from CO2. Since half of the H2 reductant used by the CRA is lost as CH4, the ability to reclaim this valuable resource will simplify supply logistics for longterm manned missions. Microwave plasmas provide an extreme thermal environment within a very small and precisely controlled region of space, resulting in very high energy densities at low overall power, and thus can drive high-temperature reactions using equipment that is smaller, lighter, and less power-consuming than traditional fixed-bed and fluidized-bed catalytic reactors. The high energy density provides an economical means to conduct endothermic reactions that become thermodynamically favorable only at very high temperatures. Microwave plasma methods were developed for the effective recovery of H2 using two primary reaction schemes: (1) methane pyrolysis to H2 and solid-phase carbon, and (2) methane oligomerization to H2 and acetylene. While the carbon problem is substantially reduced using plasma methods, it is not completely eliminated. For this reason, advanced methods were developed to promote CH4 oligomerization, which recovers a maximum of 75 percent of the H2 content of methane in a single reactor pass, and virtually eliminates the carbon problem. These methods were embodied in a prototype H2 recovery system capable of sustained high-efficiency operation. NASA can incorporate the innovation into flight hardware systems for deployment in support of future long-duration exploration objectives such as a Space Station retrofit, Lunar outpost, Mars transit, or Mars base. The primary application will be for the recovery of hydrogen lost in the Sabatier process for CO2 reduction to produce water in Exploration Life Support systems. Secondarily, this process may also be used in conjunction with a Sabatier reactor employed to stockpile life-support oxygen as well as propellant and fuel production from Martian atmospheric CO2

Atwater, James↗
NASA NTRS2019

Meteoroid Impact Detection for Exploration of Asteroids (MIDEA)

Asteroids contain a wealth of resources including water and precious metals that can be extracted. These resources could be applied to in-space manufacture of products that depend less on material launched from Earth's surface. The Meteoroid Impact Detection for Exploration of Asteroids (MIDEA) concept addresses the challenge of characterizing an asteroid surface using a small satellite with a constellation of free-flying plasma sensors to assess the asteroid’s viability for in situ resource utilization (ISRU). The plasma sensors detect ions ejected from the surface of an asteroid by meteoroid impacts, enabling the surface composition to be inferred. The objective of this NIAC Phase I study was to demonstrate feasibility of the MIDEA architecture in the context of proximity operations around an asteroid target and to develop the design of an orbital geometry and attitude control strategy for the ultralight plasma sensors. This was undertaken through a simulation framework to identify and characterize a favorable orbit for the MIDEA sensor constellation, and developing a sensor geometry that is consistent with maintaining the pointing requirements necessary to operate with sufficient power generation. Our study showed that a polar orbit aligned along the asteroid terminator provided sufficient stability for the sensors in the low gravitational environment under the influence of substantial solar radiation pressure. Reflector vanes using controlled reflectivity devices implemented with liquid crystal technology are capable of maintaining the sensor attitude so that it consistently points its solar panels in the sun direction and the sensor electrode at the asteroid surface. Finally, the reduction in meteoroid impact detection due to visibility constraints from the proposed orbit does not substantially extend the expected mission duration. These results indicate that the MIDEA concept can be achievable using a 10–20 kg spacecraft, which would be able to characterize the surface composition of an asteroid within 30–50 days of proximity operations. This architecture, implemented in parallel to multiple asteroid targets, would enable widespread exploration of near-Earth asteroids at low cost.

Asteroids↗
DOE OSTI2025

IrrigationViz: A Geospatial Visualization Application to Facilitate Irrigation Modernization

Irrigation water delivery infrastructure, such as canals and pipelines, are essential to agriculture in the Western U.S., yet many of these systems are reaching the end of their useful lives. Reinvestment can achieve a wide variety of benefits, from water conservation to energy savings or renewable energy generation. Modernization requires significant planning, design, and implementation funding which can be a challenge for many irrigation districts. Here, this paper introduces IrrigationViz, a web-based mapping application designed to help irrigation districts visualize and generate high-level cost and benefit estimates for infrastructure modernization projects. These estimates can help water managers identify projects that benefit from additional engineering resources and ultimately obtain funding. IrrigationViz includes map interactions, graphs, and visualization components to facilitate planning and communication to stakeholders and funders. IrrigationViz combines user-provided information about a water-delivery system with public datasets and basic engineering formulas to generate estimates of the benefits of reinvestment. Estimates include the amount of water seepage in earthen canals, potential hydropower generation associated with replacing a canal with a pressurized pipe, and pipe size recommendations. We found that hydropower generation estimates compared favorably with real world projects, but seepage loss estimates showed high variability relative to on-the-ground measurements

99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Signatures of local nitrogen adaptation in the Brachypodium distachyon root microbiome

Plants associate with diverse microbiomes that impact their fitness, yet the contribution of the microbiome to plant adaptation is uncertain. As plant recruitment of its microbiome can be both highly variable and genetically determined, we hypothesized this recruitment process may be the result of adaptive evolution, and contributing to plant local adaptation. We investigated the evolution and adaptive benefit of plant–microbiome recruitment by characterizing the rhizosphere communities across a genotypic panel of Brachypodium distachyon in a common garden experiment. By linking microbial communities to their host genotype's historic environment, we identified signatures of selection on plant–microbiome recruitment. Plant–microbiome composition was significantly correlated with the host genotype's historic environment, with enrichment of microbial traits aligned to local resource conditions. For example, genotypes from low-nitrogen environments recruited communities enriched in nitrogen acquisition traits. In a complementary experiment evaluating plant nitrogen response, these same genotypes were well-adapted to low-nitrogen environments, contingent on the presence of key nitrogen-cycling microbes. These results suggest that local adaptation in plants may partially be mediated by recruitment of beneficial microbiomes. This perspective suggests that plant adaptation may be an emergent property of host–microbe interactions, where evolutionary responses favor traits that promote recruitment of locally beneficial microbiomes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Identification and selection of optimal reference genes for qPCR-based gene expression analysis in Fucus distichus under various abiotic stresses

Quantitative gene expression analysis is an important tool in the scientist’s belt. The identification of evenly expressed reference genes is necessary for accurate quantitative gene expression analysis, whether by traditional RT-PCR (reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction) or by qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time PCR; qPCR). In the Stramenopiles (the major line of eukaryotes that includes brown algae) there is a noted lack of known reference genes for such studies, largely due to the absence of available molecular tools. Here we present a set of nine reference genes (Elongation Factor 1 alpha (EF1A), Elongation Factor 2 alpha (EF2A), Elongation Factor 1 beta (EF1B), 14-3-3 Protein, Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme (UBCE2), Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase (GAPDH), Actin Related Protein Complex (ARP2/3), Ribosomal Protein (40s; S23), and Actin) for the brown alga Fucus distichus . These reference genes were tested on adult sporophytes across six abiotic stress conditions (desiccation, light and temperature modification, hormone addition, pollutant exposure, nutrient addition, and wounding). Suitability of these genes as reference genes was quantitatively evaluated across conditions using standard methods and the majority of the tested genes were evaluated favorably. However, we show that normalization genes should be chosen on a condition-by-condition basis. We provide a recommendation that at least two reference genes be used per experiment, a list of recommended pairs for the conditions tested here, and a procedure for identifying a suitable set for an experimenter’s unique design. With the recent expansion of interest in brown algal biology and accompanied molecular tools development, the variety of experimental conditions tested here makes this study a valuable resource for future work in basic biology and understanding stress responses in the brown algal lineage.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2015

Aram Chaos: a Long Lived Subsurface Aqueous Environment with Strong Water Resources Potential for Human Missions on Mars

Aram Chaos, Mars is a crater 280 kilometers in diameter with elevations circa. minus 2 to minus 3 kilometers below datum that provides a compelling landing site for future human explorers as it features multiple scientific regions of interest (ROI) paired with a rich extensible Resource ROI that features poly-hydrated sulfates [1]. The geologic history of Aram Chaos suggests several past episodes of groundwater recharge and infilling by liquid water, ice, and other materials [1-3]. The creation of the fractured region with no known terrestrial equivalent may have been caused by melting of deep ice reservoirs that triggered the collapse of terrain followed by catastrophic water outflows over the region. Aram Chaos is of particular scientific interest because it is hypothesized that the chaotic terrain may be the source of water that contributed to the creation of nearby valleys such as Ares Vallis flowing toward Chryse Planitia. The liquid water was likely sourced as groundwater and therefore represents water derived from a protected subsurface environment making it a compelling astrobiological site [2]. The past history of water is also represented by high concentrations of hematite, Fe-oxyhydroxides, mono-hydrated and poly-hydrated sulfates [1, 2]. Poly-hydrated sulfates are likely to contain abundant water that evolves at temperatures below 500 degrees Centigrade thus conferring Aram Chaos a potentially high value for early in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) [4]. The geologic history also calls for future prospecting of deep ice deposits and possibly liquid water via deep drilling. The most recent stratigraphic units in the central part of Aram Chaos are not fractured, and are part of a dome-shaped formation that features bright, poorly-consolidated material that contains both hydrated sulfates and ferric oxides according to OMEGA (Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité) data [5]. These surface material characteristics are preliminary indications of their potential use in civil engineering activities that involve regolith moving and hauling, while further study is needed to assess traverse-ability challenges. The widespread distribution of sulfates is also of interest as a resource for the use of sulfur as a binding compound in regolith-based concrete for constructions. The terrain depressions caused by the rock fracturing events may challenge surface mobility but also suggest the possibility of using such natural features for additional shielding from space radiation and as emplacement of nuclear surface power reactors for the same reason. The high concentration of hematite (up to 16 percent) in some of the smoother recent terrains of the central part of Aram Chaos [2] is a favorable attribute for metal extraction ISRU to create iron-based feedstock for in-situ fabrication of replacement parts or their repairs. Preliminary data on Aram Chaos indicate that it offers a combination of many critical criteria for human missions to the surface of Mars: equatorial region at low Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA), evidence of hydrated minerals over large areas and at high concentrations tied to historic evidence of liquid water over long periods.

Sibille, L.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Compact, Lightweight Adsorber and Sabatier Reactor for CO2 Capture and Reduction for Consumable and Propellant Production

The utilization of CO2 to produce (or recycle) life support consumables, such as O2 and H2O, and to generate propellant fuels is an important aspect of NASA's concept for future, long duration planetary exploration. One potential approach is to capture and use CO2 from the Martian atmosphere to generate the consumables and propellant fuels. Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI), with support from NASA, continues to develop its regenerable adsorber technology for capturing CO2 from gaseous atmospheres (for cabin atmosphere revitalization and in-situ resource utilization applications) and its Sabatier reactor for converting CO2 to methane and water. Both technologies are based on PCI's Microlith(R) substrates and have been demonstrated to reduce size, weight, and power consumption during CO2 capture and methanation process. For adsorber applications, the Microlith substrates offer a unique resistive heating capability that shows potential for short regeneration time and reduced power requirements compared to conventional systems. For the Sabatier applications, the combination of the Microlith substrates and durable catalyst coating permits efficient CO2 methanation that favors high reactant conversion, high selectivity, and durability. Results from performance testing at various operating conditions will be presented. An effort to optimize the Sabatier reactor and to develop a bench-top Sabatier Development Unit (SDU) will be discussed.

Junaedi, Christian↗
DOE OSTI2026

Scaling open-weight large language models for hydropower regulatory information extraction: A systematic analysis

Information extraction from regulatory and technical documents using large language models (LLMs) involves practical trade-offs between extraction quality and computational cost. We evaluate eight open-weight LLMs spanning 0.6B–70B parameters on hydropower licensing documents and report deployment-oriented evidence under a unified extraction schema and evaluation protocol. Across the model set, we observe clear scale-dependent trends in both baseline extraction quality and the effectiveness of reflective reasoning (self-checking) under our fixed-prompt, no-augmentation setting. Mid-scale models often provide a favorable balance of accuracy and efficiency, whereas the smallest models show limited or inconsistent gains from the reasoning variants tested. Larger models achieve the highest overall F1 scores but incur substantially greater compute and infrastructure requirements. We further find that reliability failure modes can distort conventional metrics in this domain: in particular, high recall can coincide with systematic extraction errors when models fabricate values for fields that are absent from the source text, underscoring the importance of conservative null handling and evidence-grounded evaluation. Overall, our study provides a reproducible resource–performance comparison for open-weight LLM-based extraction in hydropower regulatory documentation and offers practical guidance for model selection under different deployment constraints.

Evaluation protocol↗
NASA NTRS1992

Principled halftoning based on human vision models

When models of human vision adequately measure the relative quality of candidate halftonings of an image, the problem of halftoning the image becomes equivalent to the search problem of finding a halftone that optimizes the quality metric. Because of the vast number of possible halftones, and the complexity of image quality measures, this principled approach has usually been put aside in favor of fast algorithms that seem to perform well. We find that the principled approach can lead to a range of useful halftoning algorithms, as we trade off speed for quality by varying the complexity of the quality measure and the thoroughness of the search. High quality halftones can be obtained reasonably quickly, for example, by using as a measure the vector length of the error image filtered by a contrast sensitivity function, and, as the search procedure, the sequential adjustment of individual pixels to improve the quality measure. If computational resources permit, simulated annealing can find nearly optimal solutions.

Mulligan, Jeffrey B.↗
NASA NTRS1997

T/BEST: Technology Benefit Estimator for Composites and Applications to Engine Structures

Progress in the field of aerospace propulsion has heightened the need to combine advanced technologies. These benefits will provide guidelines for identifying and prioritizing high-payoff research areas, will help manage research with limited resources, and will show the link between advanced and basic concepts. An effort was undertaken at the NASA Lewis Research Center to develop a formal computational method, T/BEST (Technology Benefit Estimator), to assess advanced aerospace technologies, such as fibrous composites, and credibly communicate the benefits of research. Fibrous composites are ideal for structural applications such as high-performance aircraft engine blades where high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios are required. These factors - along with the flexibility to select the composite system and layup, and to favorably orient fiber directions - reduce the displacements and stresses caused by large rotational speeds in aircraft engines.

Chamis, Christos↗