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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 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Test and Validate Distributed Coaxial Cable Sensors for in situ Condition Monitoring of Coal-Fired Boiler Tubes

This project aims to test, validate, and advance the technology readiness level (from TRL5 to TRL7) of a novel low-cost distributed stainless-steel/ceramic coaxial cable sensing (SSC-CCS) technology for in situ monitoring of the boiler tube temperature in existing coal-fired power plants. The novel SSC-CCS sensing technology and associated condition-based monitoring (CBM) software to be demonstrated in this project will lead to an improved understanding of the boiler tube failure mechanisms and a prognostic system to improve the overall performance, reliability, and flexibility of the nation’s coal-fired power plant fleet. A boiler tube monitoring system with distributed coaxial cable temperature sensors and a sensor acquisition system was constructed. The high-temperature coaxial cable sensor with a length of 1.3m was made by using a quartz tube (1mm inner diameter (ID) and 6mm outer diameter (OD)) to concentrically separate a 304 stainless-steel (SS) rod (1mm OD) and SS tube (7.94mm OD and 6.16mm ID). The sensor acquisition system includes a vector network analyzer (VNA), a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier, multiple switches and a USB hub. The distributed stainless-steel quartz coaxial cable sensor (SSQ-CCS) had a linear response to temperature with a resolution uncertainty of σ = 0.77℃. To withstand the harsh conditions of 3,300 steam pressures and 800℃ high temperatures, the sensor was shielded by a protective tube made of the same material as the boiler tube. The protection tube had an OD of 1.5 inches and a thickness of 0.25 inches. In the laboratory tests, the sensor showed good sensitivity and fast response. The drift was bounded between +0.33% and -0.67% during a test at 600℃ for 350 hours, indicating good stability of the sensor. A field test was conducted where four sensors were welded on four superheat tubes (SH-Ts) at a coal-fired power station over 400 days. Conventional thermocouples were welded to the superheater tubes alongside the coaxial cable sensors for the purpose of comparison. Two sensors were capable of distributed sensing, with three multiplexed sensing sections. The other two sensors were single section. During the 400-day test period, the power plant experienced startups and shutdowns. At the steady state operations, the temperature of the boiler tube is about 600℃ (1112°F). The sensors recorded the entire coal-firing processes (start-up, steady state, and shut-down) and the glitch event. A GSM modem and a Watchdog were added to the system to ensure reliable data recording. The GSM modem sent daily messages to plant managers and Clemson team to inform the status of the sensor system. If the system was not normally working, the Watchdog would reboot the system automatically. The new coaxial cable based distributed sensing technology has been proven to be successful in both laboratory and field tests. A comprehensive four-stage multi-physics computational framework has been developed to assist the design, optimization, installation, and operation of SSQ-CCS. With the consideration of various operation conditions, we predict the distributions of flue gas temperatures within coal-fired boilers, the temperature correlation between the boiler tube and SSQ-CCS, and the safety of SSQ-CCS. A conditional-based monitoring system is implemented as well. The computational framework developed in this work can guide the future operation of coal-fired plants and other power plants for the safety prediction of boiler operations.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2026

Towards Commercialization of Hydrophone Flow Shields to Improve Passive Acoustic Data Quality (CRADA 678) (Final Report)

This project performed testing, market research, and manufacturing refinement to ready patent-pending hydrophone flow shields developed at PNNL for commercialization. The flow shields reduce the impact of flow noise on underwater sound recordings in areas of strong flow, like tidal channels or rivers. Flow noise is a challenge in many applications where it is necessary to measure underwater sound, including measuring the sound produced by marine energy converters and monitoring marine mammals. This project addressed several key questions about flow shield performance that are high-priority for potential customers and refined existing manufacturing processes to be scalable for market-level production. Specifically, this project conducted both laboratory and field evaluations of the flow shields to comprehensively evaluate their performance. Overall, the results indicate that the flow shields reduce flow noise by over 20 dB at frequencies below 50 Hz at flow speeds greater than 0.5 m/s and are proven to survive deployments more than 6 months long.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

FY19 Status Report on the Computing Systems for the Yucca Mountain Project TSPA-LA Models and Preliminary Testing of a Selected Process Model

Sandia National Laboratories continued evaluation of total system performance assessment (TSPA) computing systems for the previously considered Yucca Mountain Project. This was done to maintain the operational readiness of the computing infrastructure (computer hardware and software) and knowledge capability for total system performance assessment) type analysis, as directed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), DOE 2010. The FY19 task included continued operation of the cluster; maintenance of the TSPA-LA models (with Gold Sim 9.60.300); preliminary assessment of the status of the Infiltration Model (a process model that feeds the TSPA-LA). In addition, precautionary actions were needed to extend the life of the cluster hardware. To do that, three new nodes were added to the cluster. In the event any of the original nodes fail they will be replaced with the new nodes, thereby maintaining the core capability. The 2014 cluster and supporting software systems are currently fully operational to support TSPA-LA type analysis.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

High Strength Steel-Aluminum Components by Vaporizing Foil Actuator Welding

This project aimed to address the challenge of effectively welding dissimilar materials—high-strength steel and high-strength aluminum for creating lightweight, multi-material automotive components. For automotive companies, reducing weight of a vehicle is critical task regulated by the government to solve the issue of greenhouse gas emissions. Production of lightweight cars and trucks can be achieved by substitution of current all-steel structures with multi-material lightweight structures that include high strength-to-weight-ration materials such as high-strength steels, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, titanium alloys, coupled with lightweight designs. This requires dissimilar metal welding, which is challenging for state of the art joining processes such as resistance spot welding. The cycle of melting-cooling-freezing during traditional welding that can easily ruin the designed outstanding properties of the advanced base metals, such as aluminum alloys, making the welded area much weaker than the base metals. To weld two different metals with great difference in melting points, such as aluminum and steel, it’s even more difficult or impossible because of the formation of brittle intermetallic compounds at the welded interface. In this project, a novel welding method, developed at OSU, was selected for validation and development. This novel technology enables welding by impact without melting and proves to be robust to join various dissimilar lightweight metals. Termed as vaporizing foil actuator welding or VFAW, the technology uses a thin aluminum foil that is rapidly vaporized by a high current pulse to produce an explosive-like pressure pulse to drive one metallic piece into another at the high speed required for impact welding. This project entailed development of the early-stage welding technology in terms of (a) the consumables, the welding apparatus and the power sources, (b) coupon scale screening of many material combinations including corrosion studies, (c) computational modeling and design of the welded interface as well as of the multi-material prototype component, and (d) mechanical testing for strength and durability at coupon scale and to a certain extent the prototype scale. The all-steel engine cradle of 2016 Chevrolet Cruze was chosen as the baseline prototype component. The target set for the project was to demonstrate a 20% weight reduction at a cost premium of less than $\$ $5/lb saved without compromising on baseline mechanical properties. At project completion, a 12% lighter prototype component was demonstrated with an estimated cost premium of $\$ $9.8/lb saved. Besides prototype level demonstration of the technology, this project also enabled elevation of the technology’s readiness level to where a hydraulically actuated welding head was developed and made ready for deployment at a research and development facility for Tier 1 automotive supplier.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Smart, Connected Manufactured Housing Solutions through High-Performance Design. Final CRADA report

This report focuses on HVAC, domestic hot water, and miscellaneous electric loads via voluntary opportunities that may arise from partnerships with utilities, as well as future US Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR and DOE Zero Energy Ready Manufactured Home programs. Phase I of this project has begun the technical dialogue toward developing an implementation plan among DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Clayton Manufactured Homes, and US Department of Housing and Urban Development Code manufactured housing stakeholders. These activities have focused on delivering high-performance design through integration of technology. Project tasks include the following: Identifying baseline energy analysis resources opportunities from a variety of DOE and utility stakeholders; Developing a smart home and business solution by leveraging existing utility programs working with Smart Homes Partners resources such as ACE IoT Solutions, Google Nest, and Ecobee; Developing improved smarter ventilation systems with industry ventilation partners such as the Madison Group; Developing improved building science QA/QC testing equipment with manufacturers such as The Energy Conservatory, and supporting other feasible concepts vetted under DOE’s Advanced Buildings Collaborative with Slipstream, reinventing HVAC in manufactured housing; and, Developing smart home short- and long-term viable technical solutions in coordination with Clayton Manufactured Homes in new and/or revitalized community scales for future Phase II prototype demonstrations, which may include design (and perhaps construction) of single-section homes targeting rental property developers and multi-section homes targeting low- to middle-income affordable housing community developers Given the ongoing US Department of Energy (DOE) rulemaking activities, baseline energy analysis assessments of envelope prescriptive and Uo (i.e., the overall thermal energy efficiency of the home in British thermal units per square foot of exterior heat loss/gain surfaces) measures were removed from the scope of Phase I of this project.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Coal as Value-Added for Lithium Battery Anodes (Final Report)

Graphite is a basic material used for energy storage in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. More than 70% of worldwide graphite production and nearly 50% of the annual graphite supply for the United States comes from China. Potential economic and national security concerns exist because Li-ion batteries are used not only for the fast-growing electrical vehicle market (15.6% compound annual growth rate [CAGR] from 2018 to 2028 in North America), but also for defense applications including unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. Development of an alternative formulation for Li-ion batteries is key. Building upon previous research confirming the ability of silicon alloys to improve the energy density of anodes, Semplastics developed a novel material based on our X-MAT® polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) technology. The X-MAT anode material is a composite of chemically tailored silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) and domestically sourced coal powder, designed to be a drop-in replacement for graphite within Li-ion battery anodes. Preliminary tests of this material showed more than twice the reversible capacity of graphite anodes (1,000 mAh/g vs. 372 mAh/g), with excellent stability and capacity retention, almost 100% coulombic efficiency, low voltage potential, and low thermal expansion. At full adoption in 2024, we expect the coal utilization to reach 27,300 tons. Through this project, Semplastics proposed to complete development and begin commercialization of this material. The objective was to determine the best formulation for technical performance and economic viability. At the end of the project, the X-MAT anode material is ready for implementation into existing battery manufacturing processes and can have a significant impact on the utilization of coal, with positive effects for the mining sector and the mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2023

High Strength, Encapsulated, Commercially Useful Components and Particles Made from Coal Combustion Residuals

This project has developed and demonstrated two high-volume applications for Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) with annual usage on the order of billions of pounds. The CCR is encapsulated in a recently developed water-impervious inorganic resin coating to reduce leaching of toxic elements from CCR by more than 80% as a first step. Target commercial applications demonstrated for the encapsulated CCR were as reinforcement for high-strength structural columns composed of CCR embedded in a ceramic matrix and as filler in high-volume plastics such as polypropylene. The encapsulated particles produced columns with properties superior to concrete, and a 30% to 50% improvement in stiffness over current fillers in plastics. CCR from bituminous and lignite coal was evaluated and shown to provide high performance, with the bituminous CCR producing the strongest columns and the lignite-based CCR provided the best performance as coated filler in polypropylene. The two-year project advanced both material systems from a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 2 to TRL 4.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ammonia-Based Energy Storage Technology

The University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Minnkota Power Cooperative, Otter Tail Power Company, and the North Dakota Industrial Commission (energy technology research and development sponsor), undertook a project to model, validate, and advance (from Technology Readiness Level [TRL] 2 to TRL 3) the ammonia-based energy storage technology (NH 3 -BEST) concept. The concept is designed to enable electricity-generating unit (EGU) accommodation of power demand fluctuations while steadily operating within an optimal-performance baseline power output range, ensuring maximum EGU operational efficiency and minimum degradation of materials, equipment, and performance because of load-cycling-driven stresses.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Next Gen High Efficiency Boosted Engine Development

This work represents an advanced engineering research project partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Ford Motor Company, FEV North America, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory collaborated to develop a next generation boosted spark ignited engine concept. The project goals, specified by the DOE, were 23% improved fuel economy and 15% reduced weight relative to a 2015 or newer light-duty vehicle. The fuel economy goal was achieved by designing an engine incorporating high geometric compression ratio, high dilution tolerance, low pumping work, and low friction. The increased tendency for knock with high compression ratio was addressed using early intake valve closing (EIVC), cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), an active pre-chamber ignition system, and careful management of the fresh charge temperature. Engine weight reduction measures were implemented throughout the engine system making use of composite materials, advanced manufacturing techniques, and architectural choices. This report outlines the analytical, design, fabrication, and test work conducted for the duration of the project. The combustion system stability, EGR tolerance, and knock resistance were validated on a single cylinder engine. An inline six-cylinder engine was then designed targeting application in the Ford F150. Multi-cylinder engines were produced and tested achieving the target vehicle fuel economy improvement of 23% assessed using measured engine fuel consumption combined with a vehicle drive cycle simulation. Actions were identified and designs were demonstrated to achieve the 15% weight reduction target. This project included items covering a range of technology readiness levels. Some of the technologies explored are production ready, while others were investigated to understand the limitations for what can be achieved in a stoichiometric, gasoline-fueled, spark-ignited internal combustion engine.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Voices from Rural Electric Cooperatives: A Call for a DER Integration Playbook for Rural and Agricultural Income & Savings from Renewable Energy (RAISE)

Rural-serving electric utilities (RSEUs)—including electric cooperatives, municipal systems, and small investor-owned utilities—are essential players in the evolving energy landscape. These community-focused entities are increasingly being asked to consider distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop and ground-mounted solar, wind, battery storage, smart water heaters, and demand response programs (NRECA 2025; Lenhart et al. 2020). Yet the path to DER adoption is far from straightforward in the rural context. This report is based on in-depth interviews with managers of rural electric cooperatives across the United States. These conversations offer a grounded, unvarnished look at how DERs are perceived, what barriers exist, and what conditions might enable integration and adoption. While the utilities interviewed vary in geography, size, and DER experience, several clear and common themes emerged across electric cooperatives such that the report recommends the development of a DER Integration Runbook to help utilities assess readiness, define local use cases, engage stakeholders, pilot projects, and iterate, expanding over time.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

5G-TSN Architecture Capable of Providing Real-time Situational Awareness to Fossil-Energy (FE) Generation Systems (Final Technical Report)

This final report highlights the comprehensive achievements of the project focused on developing and validating a 5G-Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) architecture tailored for real-time operational awareness in fossil energy systems. The initiative successfully advanced through a series of technical milestones, including the integration of EMI-aware network models, deployment of advanced simulation frameworks, and real-world performance characterization at key sites such as UTEP and Fabens. Through the strategic use of NetSim® software, the team created and validated network configurations for wired and wireless environments, tested under varying congestion conditions, and verified network slicing implementations for URLLC-specific applications. Major accomplishments include the migration of simulation tools to the latest NetSim® version to support accurate modeling of TSN and network slicing, extensive EMI measurement campaigns, and the development of a robust simulation model for end-to-end SCADA system integration. Simulations compared both TDD and FDD duplexing modes, revealing insights into their performance under congested conditions. The wireless network was benchmarked for throughput, jitter, and delay metrics, aligning with 3GPP Release 15/16 and IEEE 802.1-TSN standards. A peer-reviewed conference paper was accepted and published, contributing to the broader academic and industrial discourse on 5G-TSN integration in energy systems, in addition to a journal article. Despite minor delays due to software limitations, the project achieved its objectives and delivered validated architecture ready for deployment in advanced energy network environments.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
NASA NTRS1995

GASCan 2 payload integration

This project, conducted in cooperation with the NASA Advanced Space Design Program, is part of an ongoing effort to place an experiment package into space. The goal of this project is to build and test flight-ready hardware that can be launched from the Space Shuttle. Get Away Special Canister 2 (GASCan 2) consists of three separate experiments. The Ionospheric Properties and Propagation Experiment (IPPE) determines effects of the ionosphere on radio wave propagation. The Microgravity Ignition experiment (MGI) tests the effects of combustion in a microgravity environment. The Rotational Fluid Flow experiment (RFF) examines fluid behavior under varying levels of gravity. This year the following tasks were completed: design of the IPPE antenna, X- and J-cell battery boxes, J-cell battery box enclosure, and structural bumpers; construction of the MGI canisters, MGI mounting brackets, IPPE antenna, and battery boxes; and the selection of the RFF's operating fluid and the analysis of the fluid behavior under microgravity test conditions.

Cody, Dennis J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Stirling Research Laboratory Providing Independent Performance Verification of Convertors for a Stirling Radioisotope Generator

The Department of Energy (DOE), Germantown, Maryland, Stirling Technology Company (STC), Kennewick, Washington, and NASA Glenn Research Center are developing a free-piston Stirling convertor for a high-efficiency Stirling Radioisotope Generator for NASA Space Science missions. This generator is being developed for multimission use, including providing electric power for unmanned Mars rovers and for deep space missions. STC is developing the 55-W Technology Demonstration Convertor (TDC) under contract to DOE. Glenn is conducting an in-house technology project to assist in developing the convertor for readiness for space qualification and mission implementation. As part of this effort, a Stirling Research Laboratory was established to test the TDC's and related technologies. A key task is providing an independent verification and validation of the TDC performance. Four TDC's are now being tested at Glenn. Acceptance testing has been completed for all convertors, and in general, performance agreed well with that achieved by STC prior to the delivery of the convertors. Performance mapping has also been completed on two of the convertors over a range of hot-end temperatures (450 to 650 C), cold-end temperatures (80 to 120 C), and piston amplitudes (5.2 to 6.2 mm). These test data are available online at http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/tmsb/. The TDC's can be tested in either a horizontal orientation with dual-opposed convertors or in a vertical orientation with a single convertor. Synchronized dual-opposed pairs are used for dynamically balanced operation that results in very low levels of vibration. The Stirling Research Laboratory also supports launch environment testing of the TDC's in Glenn's Structural Dynamics Laboratory and electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility characterization and reduction efforts. In addition, the TDC's will be used for long-term endurance testing, and preparations are underway for unattended operation.

Thieme, Lanny G.↗
NASA NTRS2009

An Impact Sensor System for the Characterization of the Micrometeoroid and Lunar Secondary Ejecta Environment

The Impact Sensor for Micrometeoroid and Lunar Secondary Ejecta (IMMUSE) project aims to apply and integrate previously demonstrated impact sensing subsystems to characterize the micrometeoroid and lunar secondary (MMSE) environment on the surface of the Moon. Once deployed, data returned from IMMUSE will benefit: (1) Fundamental Lunar Science: providing data to improve the understanding of lunar cratering processes and dynamics of the lunar regolith. (2) Lunar Exploration Applied Science: providing an accurate MMSE environment definition for reliable impact risk assessments, cost-effective shielding designs, and mitigation measures for long-term lunar exploration activities. (3) Planetary Science: providing micrometeoroid data to aid the understanding of asteroidal collisions and the evolution of comets. A well-established link between micrometeoroid impacts and lunar regolith is also key to understanding other regolith-covered bodies from remote-sensing data. The IMMUSE system includes two components: (1) a large area (greater than or equal to 1 m2) micrometeoroid detector based on acoustic impact and fiber optic displacement sensors and (2) a 100 cm2 lunar secondary ejecta detector consisting of dual-layer laser curtain and acoustic impact sensors. The combinations of different detection mechanisms will allow for a better characterization of the MMSE environment, including flux, particle size/mass, and impact velocity. IMMUSE is funded by the NASA LASER Program through 2012. The project fs goal is to reach a Technical Readiness Level of 4 in preparation for a more advanced development beyond 2012. Several prototype subsystems have been constructed and subjected to low impact and hypervelocity impact tests. The presentation will include a status review and preliminary test results.

Liou, J.-C.↗
NASA NTRS2009

CERES FM-5 on the NPP Spacecraft: Continuing the Earth Radiation Budget Climate Data Record

The Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Flight Model-5 (FM-5) instrument will fly on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft, which has a launch-readiness date in June, 2010. This mission will continue the critical Earth Radiation Budget Climate Data Record (CDR) begun by the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) instruments in the mid 1980 s and continued by the CERES instruments currently flying on the EOS Terra and Aqua spacecraft. Ground calibrations have been completed for FM-5 and the instrument has been delivered for integration to the spacecraft Rigorous pre-launch ground calibration is performed on each CERES unit to achieve an accuracy goal of 1% for SW flux and 0.5% for outgoing LW flux. Any ground to flight or in-flight changes in radiometer response is monitored using a protocol employing both onboard and vicarious calibration sources and experiments. Recent studies of FM-1 through FM-4 data have shown that the SW response of space based broadband radiometers can change dramatically due to optical contamination. With these changes having most impact on optical response to blue-to UV radiance, where tungsten lamps are largely devoid of output, such changes are hard to monitor accurately using existing on-board sources. This paper outlines the lessons learned on the existing CERES sensors from 30+ years of flight experience and presents a radiometric protocol to be implemented on the FM-5 instrument to ensure that its performance exceeds the stated calibration and stability goals.

Priestly, Kory↗
NASA NTRS2012

CHARM: A CubeSat Water Vapor Radiometer for Earth Science

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Ames Research Center (ARC) are partnering in the CubeSat Hydrometric Atmospheric Radiometer Mission (CHARM), a water vapor radiometer integrated on a 3U CubeSat platform, selected for implementation under NASA Hands-On Project Experience (HOPE-3). CHARM will measure 4 channels at 183 GHz water vapor line, subsets of measurements currently performed by larger and more costly spacecraft (e.g. ATMS, AMSU-B and SSMI/S). While flying a payload that supports SMD science objectives, CHARM provides a hands-on opportunity to develop technical, leadership, and project skills. CHARM will furthermore advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of the 183 GHz receiver subsystem from TRL 4 to TRL 6 and the CubeSat 183 GHz radiometer system from TRL 4 to TRL 7.

Monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs)↗
NASA NTRS2014

Recent Successes and Future Plans for NASA's Space Communications and Navigation Testbed on the International Space Station

Flexible and extensible space communications architectures and technology are essential to enable future space exploration and science activities. NASA has championed the development of the Space Telecommunications Radio System (STRS) software defined radio (SDR) standard and the application of SDR technology to reduce the costs and risks of using SDRs for space missions, and has developed an on-orbit testbed to validate these capabilities. The Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Testbed (previously known as the Communications, Navigation, and Networking reConfigurable Testbed (CoNNeCT)) is advancing SDR, on-board networking, and navigation technologies by conducting space experiments aboard the International Space Station. During its first year(s) on-orbit, the SCaN Testbed has achieved considerable accomplishments to better understand SDRs and their applications. The SDR platforms and software waveforms on each SDR have over 1500 hours of operation and are performing as designed. The Ka-band SDR on the SCaN Testbed is NASAs first space Ka-band transceiver and is NASA's first Ka-band mission using the Space Network. This has provided exciting opportunities to operate at Ka-band and assist with on-orbit tests of NASA newest Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). During its first year, SCaN Testbed completed its first on-orbit SDR reconfigurations. SDR reconfigurations occur when implementing new waveforms on an SDR. SDR reconfigurations allow a radio to change minor parameters, such as data rate, or complete functionality. New waveforms which provide new capability and are reusable across different missions provide long term value for reconfigurable platforms such as SDRs. The STRS Standard provides guidelines for new waveform development by third parties. Waveform development by organizations other than the platform provider offers NASA the ability to develop waveforms itself and reduce its dependence and costs on the platform developer. Each of these new waveforms requires a waveform build environment for the particular SDR, helps assess the usefulness of the platform provider documentation, and exercises the objectives of STRS Standard and the SCaN Testbed. There is considerable interest in conducting experiments using the SCaN Testbed from NASA, academia, commercial companies, and other space agencies. There are approximately 25 experiments or activities supported by the project underway or in development, with more proposals ready, as time and funding allow, and new experiment solicitations available. NASA continues development of new waveforms and applications in communications, networking, and navigation, the first university experimenters are beginning waveform development, which will support the next generation of communications engineers, and international interest is beginning with space agency partners from European Space Agency (ESA) and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). This paper will provide an overview of the SCaN Testbed and discuss its recent accomplishments and experiment activities.Its recent successes in Ka-band operations, reception of the newest GPS signals, SDR reconfigurations, and STRS demonstration in space when combined with the future experiment portfolio have positioned the SCaN Testbed to enable future space communications and navigation capabilities for exploration and science.

SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO↗
NASA NTRS2017

NASA's Kilopower Reactor Development and the Path to Higher Power Missions

The development of NASAs Kilopower fission reactor is taking large strides toward flight development with several successful tests completed during its technology demonstration trials. The Kilopower reactors are designed to provide 1-10 kW of electrical power to a spacecraft which could be used for additional science instruments as well as the ability to power electric propulsion systems. Power rich nuclear missions have been excluded from NASA proposals because of the lack of radioisotope fuel and the absence of a flight qualified fission system. NASA has partnered with the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration to develop the Kilopower reactor using existing facilities and infrastructure to determine if the design is ready for flight development. The 3-year Kilopower project started in 2015 with a challenging goal of building and testing a full-scale flight prototypic nuclear reactor by the end of 2017. As the date approaches, the engineering team shares information on the progress of the technology as well as the enabling capabilities it provides for science and human exploration.

Kilopower↗