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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRS1971

Lunar mapping - A position evaluation.

Various types of available lunar charts were evaluated using the new data provided by Apollo missions. The position information provided by current lunar cartographic products is examined, and data are included which can be used to determine a realistic reliability factor for each chart series discussed. The use of Apollo landmark tracking points yields quantitative results concerning the position errors that can be expected from the specific products included in this evaluation.

Bizzell, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Recent flight test results using an electronic display format on the NASA B-737

This paper presents results of a flight evaluation of two electronic display formats for the approach-to-landing under instrument conditions. The evaluation was conducted for a baseline electronic display format and for the same format with runway symbology and track information added; its evaluation was conducted during 3-deg manual straight-in approaches with and without initial localizer offsets. Flight-path tracking performance data and pilot subjective comments were examined with regard to pilot's ability to capture and maintain the localizer and glide slope using both display fomats. The results of the flight tests agree with earlier simulation results and show that the addition of a perspective runway symbol with an extended centerline and relative track information to a baseline electronic display format improved both lateral and vertical flight-path tracking. Pilot comments indicated that the mental workload required to assess the approach situation was reduced as a result of integrating the perspective runway with extended centerline along with relative track information into the vertical situation display. The limited flight-test results also show that the flight-path performance with the integrated situation display format meets Category II Flight-Director performance criteria.

Morello, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

I/Q reversal phenomena in 4-phase modified Costas Loops

A method for predicting the occurrence of I/Q reversals in unbalanced QPSK 4-phase modified Costas Loops is discussed. Potential causes for the reversal of in-phase and quadrature outputs of the unbalanced QPSK demodulator during acquisition and tracking are studied. The design of the unbalance QPSK demodulator and loop characteristics are described. The effect of an anomalous condition during a transient interval or demod/remod operation on data source output is examined. Filtering and hard-limiting effects, and the demodulator loop S-curve stability during tracking are evaluated.

Weinberg, A.↗

NASA NTRS2007

TDRSS Augmentation for Launch and Ascent High Speed Navigation Filter

An investigation was performed to evaluate the feasibility and possible advantages of augmenting the High Speed Trajectory Determination (HSTD) ground navigation filter with measurements from the Tracking & Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) constellation. The proposed communications system strategy for Constellation uses TDRSS rather than ground S-band, so the capability of replacing the S-band navigation capability with TDRSS was considered. HSTD simulations were performed with combinations of S-band, C-band, and TDRSS measurements. Several assumptions are made with regard to measurement biases and signal noise characteristics to produce first-look level accuracies. Preliminary results show that solutions using TDRSS instead of S-band have similar or improved performance from the view of filter covariance and may be a feasible alternative. These results also show that TDRSS tracking alone gives poorer observations and resulting performance Operational and other constraints to the use of TDRSS in a high-speed ground navigation filter are not addressed.

Holt, Greg .↗

NASA NTRS1988

An evaluation of flight path formats head-up and head-down

Flight path primary flight display formats were incorporated on head-up and head-down electronic displays and integrated into an Advanced Concepts Flight Simulator. Objective and subjective data were collected while ten airline pilots evaluated the formats by flying an approach and landing task under various ceiling, visibility and wind conditions. Deviations from referenced/commanded airspeed, horizontal track, vertical track and touchdown point were smaller using the head-up display (HUD) format than the head-down display (HDD) format, but not significantly smaller. Subjectively, the pilots overwhelmingly preferred (1) flight path formats over attitude formats used in current aircraft, and (2) the head-up presentation over the head-down, primarily because it eliminated the head-down to head-up transition during low visibility landing approaches. This report describes the simulator, the flight displays, the format evaluation, and the results of the objective and subjective data.

Sexton, George A.↗

DOE OSTI2025

HexWeather: Hexagonal Spatial Data Aggregation for Weather-Driven Grid Resilience Analysis

Extreme weather accounts for over 8 0 % of major U.S. power outages since 2000, highlighting the need for spatial tools that align weather data with the irregular boundaries of electric infrastructure. This paper introduces HexWeather, a modular, resolution-aware framework for aggregating historical and forecasted weather data using Uber's H3 hexagonal spatial indexing system. Unlike traditional methods that rely on state or county-level grids, HexWeather enables weather analysis across custom geographies such as utility service areas where public datasets are often unavailable or misaligned. Using Open-Meteo data, we evaluate how H3 resolution affects anomaly detection, spatial variability, and forecast uncertainty across three scales: state, county, and utility. Results show that while coarse resolutions suffice for broad trend tracking, finer resolutions are essential for identifying localized variability and operational risks. By applying metrics like Z-score standard deviation and interquartile range, HexWeather quantifies the spatial spread of both historical anomalies and forecasted conditions, allowing users to assess resolution adequacy for each analysis. This framework supports rapid weather data reuse, reproducible anomaly detection, and predictive modeling for infrastructure resilience. By bridging spatial misalignment in traditional datasets and enabling retrospective and forward-looking analysis within the same pipeline, HexWeather lays the groundwork for better post event analysis, outage prediction, and resilience planning.

Morris, Jacob [ORNL]↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Tracking Critical Thermal Metrics throughout the Life Cycle of a Large Observatory Thermal Model

Observatory thermal models for large, complex missions, such as the Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission, produce an immense amount of data to be processed. Configuration management of the model throughout the project life cycle has mainly focused on which versions of the subsystem models form the current observatory level configuration. However, the results produced by the model are not nearly as well tracked and traceable. Given the various states of design maturity for each of the components in the WFIRST design, an updated component model is nearly ready to be integrated at the next higher level of assembly about every month or two. With each subsystem model delivery, the observatory model needs to remove the old component, integrate the new one, execute the model, and inspect the results. Usually, this inspection focuses primarily on the newly integrated component. Recently, a Metric Tracking Spreadsheet was developed to help provide a “big picture” view of the entire observatory highlighting key parameters critical to mission performance. This spreadsheet helps track impacts on subsystems by updates of other subsystems that were not intuitively obvious. Metrics tracked include: absorbed environmental loading (to determine effectiveness of sunshield), temperatures of critical avionics, electrical dissipations, heater power predictions, stability of critical optics, parasitic heat leaks in cryogenic region, high level heat flows between elements, and model run time. Producing this data for the same operational configuration with each model update has helped produce a trail of data to evaluate the impact of model updates. While the metrics selected are specific for WFIRST, other large, complex observatories could be well served to establish their own metrics early in the project life cycle to track to quickly assess the impact of any subsystem on other subsystems or the overall system itself.

Thermal Desktop↗

DOE OSTI2021

Evaluating the ProtoDUNE-SP Detector Performance to Measure a 6 GeV/c Positive Kaon Inelastic Cross Section on Argon

The ProtoDUNE Single-Phase Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber \\ (ProtoDUNE-SP LArTPC) is a prototype for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), a future long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. Based at the CERN Neutrino Platform, ProtoDUNE-SP LArTPC collected data from a charged test beam in the fall of 2018. It then took data of cosmic-ray muons from November 2018 to the summer of 2020. The main goals of the prototype were to measure parameters related to charged particle passage in argon and evaluate the performance of the detector to inform future DUNE Far Detector development. The test beam provided kaons, pions, muons, protons, and electrons to the detector. These particles represent common final state particles in neutrino interactions, therefore providing information to DUNE on modeling charged particles in argon for its neutrino physics program. In addition to neutrino physics, DUNE has proposed an analysis using the DUNE Far Detector module to set limits for proton decay through the decay channel $p\rightarrow K^++\bar{\nu}$. This measurement would require information on kaons in argon, providing ProtoDUNE-SP LArTPC another opportunity to aid DUNE. This thesis describes the calibration of ProtoDUNE-SP and its detector performance, which serves as a benchmark for the performance of the DUNE Far Detector modules. A specific calibration highlighted is the evaluation of the liquid argon purity in the detector. These measurements use cosmic-ray muons reconstructed in the detector that are calibrated and matched to data from scintillator strips external to the TPC, known as the Cosmic Ray Tagger (CRT). The thesis will discuss the algorithms to match the data between the ProtoDUNE-SP LArTPC and the CRT and discuss the liquid argon purity measurements using one of the algorithms. Data sets of calibrated tracks measured the liquid argon contamination as consistently below 100 ppt oxygen equivalent. After these discussions on the ProtoDUNE-SP LArTPC detector, the thesis will present an evaluation of the inclusive inelastic, sometimes referred to as a reactive, cross section on argon of kaons from the ProtoDUNE-SP test beam with an average momentum of 6 GeV/c.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2023

High-Impedance Non-Linear Fault Detection via Eigenvalue Analysis with low PMU Sampling Rates

This work presents a hybrid data-driven and physics-based framework for high-impedance fault detection in power systems. An innovative method based on eigenvalue analysis is expanded and validated. Phasor Measurement Unit data is used to estimate eigenvalues corresponding to the powerlines being monitored. The projection and drift of these eigenvalues is then tracked and evaluated. Faults are detected as they drive eigenvalues outside of their normal zones. Eigenvectors are leveraged to support and validate the decisions made by the main algorithm. This technique holds several advantages over contemporary techniques in that it utilizes technology that is already deployed in the field, it offers a significant degree of generality, and so far it has displayed a very high-level of sensitivity without sacrificing accuracy. Validation takes place in the form of simulations in the IEEE 13 Node System considering a popular high-impedance non-linear fault model. Test results are encouraging indicating potential for real-life applications.

Paramo, Gian↗

DOE OSTI2025

Summary of Analytical Services for the Hanford Site Radionuclide NESHAP Program

This document is a summary of the point source analytical requirements used to demonstrate compliance for the Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Site operations with 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 61, “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants,” (NESHAP) Subpart H, “National Emission Standards for Emissions of Radionuclides Other Than Radon From Department of Energy Facilities,” and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 246-247, “Radiation Protection – Air Emissions.” This reference collects information from multiple source documents and is not intended to create, supersede, replace or over-ride any existing contractual, DOE, federal or state statutes, regulations, compliance agreements, orders, permits, licenses or other requirements. The requirement source document governs where any difference may exist. The Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) Environmental organization has been contracted by DOE to manage and report data collected from the sampling and monitoring of radioactive air emissions point sources, colloquially called stacks. The Environmental organization coordinates the analyses and reporting of samples collected at various facilities across the Hanford Site. These facilities operate approximately 52 stacks that require sampling, monitoring or estimating radioactive air emissions. The stacks are operated by Bechtel National, Inc. (BNI), Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo), Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C), Hanford Laboratory Management and Integration (HLMI), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Stack samples from CPCCo, HLMI and H2C facilities are collected by the operating contractor staff, delivered to HMIS, and then shipped to an offsite contracted laboratory for analyses. The field and laboratory sample data uploaded into the Sample Management and Analytical Results Tracking (SMART) database are used to calculate sample volumes and concentrations. Sample concentrations are evaluated for compliance with federal and state regulations, permits, and license requirements. The SMART database also calculates total curies released for sampled point sources and stacks. Point source effluent concentrations and releases are published annually in publicly available reports. The BNI and PNNL operate several DOE-Hanford Field Office (HFO) stacks subject to the requirements of 40 CFR 61, Subpart H and WAC 246-247. The concentrations, curies released and dose modeling evaluation for these stacks are included in the DOE-HFO annual radionuclide NESHAP report. The sample collection, analyses and emissions estimates for these stacks are outside the scope of HMIS contracted responsibilities and not addressed further in this document.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1974

Major RFI conditions effecting TDRSS

An evaluation of the radio frequency interference (RFI) conditions which would affect operating frequency band selections and data communications equipment design approaches for the Tracking Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) is presented. The subjects discussed are: (1) the scope of the investigation, (2) relative RFI in the frequency bands considered, (3) radar RFI power and duty factor, (4) radio relay communications RFI, (5) radio frequency band usage recommendations, and (6) radar RFI impact areas.

Lyttle, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Mission operations and data systems

A communications system for performing the basic functions of mission operations, orbit and attitude determination, and data processing is described. A block diagram is provided to show the relationships of these functions with the spacecraft in orbit and the experiments to be conducted on board the spacecraft. Specific areas of application are discussed as follows: (1) software operating systems for the ATS-F satellite testing and ground support, (2) inversion of the RAE-1 satellite (Explorer 38 satellite) in orbit, (3) ALSEP differential Doppler tracking, (4) minitrack calibration using satellite data, (5) angles-only orbit extraction, and (6) image processing system performance prediction and product quality evaluation techniques. Block diagrams of the various systems are provided to show the steps involved in the operations.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1993

Precision X-band Doppler and ranging navigation for current and future Mars exploration missions

This paper describes a navigation error covariance analysis of two scenarios derived from the Mars Observer mission and the planned Mars Environmental SURvey (MESUR) Pathfinder mission, respectively. The analysis was performed to establish the potential navigational performance of the X-band tracking system in NASA's Deep Space Network, and to evaluate the sensitivity of the predicted performance to variations in the quantity of data acquired, the ground system error modeling assumptions, and data reduction schemes. The simulated data arcs used in the analysis are representative of the actual data arcs that will be used to predict the aim point for the Mars orbit insertion maneuver, in the case of Mars Observer, and the interplanetary trajectory aim point corresponding to the target Mars landing site in the case of MESUR Pathfinder. The results indicate that with a suitable sequential data reduction scheme and accurate calibrations of instrumentation, transmission media, and platform model parameters, navigation accuracies of 5 to 15 km (1 sigma) can be achieved, equivalent to 15 to 40 nrad in geocentric angle uncertainty.

Estefan, Jeffrey A.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Space-to-Ground Interactions While Conducting Scientific Fieldwork Under Mars Mission Constraints

The Biologic Analog Science Associated with Lava Terrains (BASALT) project is a 4-year program dedicated to iteratively designing, implementing, and evaluating concepts of operations (ConOps) and supporting capabilities to enable and enhance scientific exploration for future human Mars missions. BASALT incorporates three field deployments during which real (non-simulated) biological and geochemical field science is conducted at two high-fidelity Mars analog locations under simulated Mars mission conditions, including communication de-lays and data transmission limitations. BASALT’s primary science objective is to investigate how the redox conditions of altered basaltic environments affect the development of microbial communities in these Mars-relevant settings. Field sites include the active East Rift Zone on the Big Island of Hawaii, reminiscent of early Mars when basaltic volcanism and interaction with water were widespread, and the dormant eastern Snake River Plain in Idaho, similar to present-day Mars where basaltic volcanism is rare and most evidence for volcano-driven hydrothermal activity is relict. BASALT’s primary science operations objective is to investigate exploration ConOps and capabilities that facilitate scientific return during human-robotic exploration under Mars mission constraints. Each field deployment consists of ten extravehicular activities (EVAs) on the volcanic flows in which two extravehicular and two intravehicular (IV) crew-members conduct the science while communicating across time delay and under bandwidth constraints with an Earth-based Mission Support Center (MSC) comprised of expert scientists and operators. Communication latencies of 5 and 15-minute one-way light time and low (0.512 Mb/s uplink, 1.54 Mb/s down-link) and high (5.0 Mb/s uplink, 10.0 Mb/s downlink) bandwidth conditions are being evaluated. EVA crewmembers communicate with the MSC via voice and text messaging and provide scientific instrument data, still imagery, video streams, and GPS tracking information. The MSC reviews this data across delay and provides recommendations for presampling and sampling tasks. The scientists used dynamic leaderboards (priority rank-ing lists), to track and rank candidate samples relative to one another and against the science objectives for the current EVA and the overall mission. Updates to the dynamic leaderboards are relayed regularly to the IV crewmembers to provide scientific feedback from Earth and to help minimize crew idle time (time spent waiting for Earth input during which no productive tasks are performed). EVA timelines are strategically designed to enable continuous (delayed) feedback from an Earth-based science team while simultaneously minimizing crew idle time. Such timelines are operationally advantageous, reducing transport costs by eliminating the need for crews to return to the same locations on multiple EVAs while still providing opportunities for recommendations from science experts on Earth, and scientifically advantageous by minimizing the potential for cross-contamination across sites. This paper will highlight the space-to-ground interaction results from the three BASALT field deployments, including planned versus actual EVA time-line data, ground assimilation times (the amount of time available to the MSC to provide input to the crew), and idle time. Furthermore, we describe how these results vary under the different communication latency and bandwidth conditions. Together, these data will provide a basis for guiding and prioritizing capability development for future human exploration missions.

Beaton, Kara H.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Precision X-Band Doppler and Ranging Navigation For Current and Future Mars Exploration Missions

This paper describes a navigation error convariance analysis of two scenarios derived from the Mars Observer mission and the planned Mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) Pathfinder mission, respectively. The analysis was performed to establish the potential navigational performance of the X-band tracking system in NASA's Deep Space Network, and to evaluate the sensitivity of the Predicted performance to variations in the quantity of data acquired, the ground system error modeling assumptions, and data reduction schemes.

Precision↗

DOE OSTI2024

Quantifying Error in Photovoltaic Installation Metadata: Preprint

In this research, we quantify the level of metadata error for a fleet of 2860 photovoltaic (PV) systems, using metadata values provided by fleet owners. Using satellite imagery and time series analysis techniques available in open-source Python packages Panel-Segmentation and PVAnalytics, respectively, we evaluate the accuracy of PV system metadata such as location, azimuth, tilt, and mounting configuration (fixed tilt vs. tracking). We find that approximately 75% of provided latitude-longitude coordinates are within 190 meters of the actual solar installation. We were unable to link 7.8% of latitude-longitude coordinates to any solar installation via satellite imagery analysis. We evaluate the level of error in owner-provided mounting configuration (fixed tilt vs. single-axis tracking), finding only 8 systems with an incorrect mounting configuration. When evaluating azimuth and tilt parameters, we find that approximately 64% of the data is correct, with data for 860 systems (approximately 30%) not provided by system owners. To illustrate the importance of having correct solar metadata, we evaluate how incorrect metadata affects solar performance estimates by modeling system AC energy output at ground-truth vs. incorrect latitude-longitude coordinates, mounting configurations, and azimuth-tilt configurations. Energy output estimates can vary significantly if incorrect metadata parameters are used, with incorrect mounting configuration leading to the largest discrepancy with over 20% variation in expected energy output.

azimuth↗

DOE OSTI2021

The CanBikeCO Mini Pilot: Procedure and Preliminary Results

In fall 2020, the Colorado Energy Office, as part of the State of Colorado's "Can Do Colorado" initiative, initiated a project aimed at encouraging energy-efficient transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial mini-pilot provided e-bikes to 13 low-income households under an individual ownership model. This report assesses the impact of providing this additional mobility option on the travel behavior of participants. It also outlines the lessons learned from deploying a continuous monitoring platform to track the travel behavior. These lessons will influence the evaluation component for the full pilot, which will cover multiple geographic regions, start in summer 2021, and run for 2 years. The continuous data collection was enabled by a customized version of the open-source e-mission platform, called CanBikeCO, configured with a behavioral gamification feature. The Colorado Energy Office used this system to collect a unique data set consisting of 3 months of partially automated travel diaries, combining sensed and surveyed data and linked with demographic information, from 12 participants. The data collection process worked well overall: users generally liked the app, appreciated the game, and did not complain about battery life. The long tracking period introduced behavioral challenges in user engagement, which we plan to address using repeated patterns and automated status checks for the full pilot. The analysis results, based on the subset of trips with user-reported labels (68%), indicate that the e-bike was the dominant commute mode share (31%), in sharp contrast to the census bicycle commute mode share (<1%). E-bike trips primarily replaced single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips (28%), followed closely by walking (24%) and regular bike (20%). The non-motorized mode replacement corresponds to lower travel time and increased productivity enabled by the program. The emissions impact analysis of the program, computed using trip-level energy intensity factors, indicates savings of 1,367 lbs. of CO2. Although the results are strongly positive, the narrow demographic profile of study participants, their limited mobility alternatives, and nonuniform labeling indicate caution in broader interpretation. These preliminary results do suggest that such programs, supported by real-time education and support from program managers, can simultaneously meet equity and sustainability goals. The planned full pilot, addressing the data collection challenges and broadening the geographic scope, will provide additional insights into the generality of this approach.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2021

The CanBikeCO Mini Pilot: Preliminary Results and Lessons Learned

In fall 2020, the Colorado Energy Office, as part of the State of Colorado’s “Can Do Colorado” initiative, initiated a project aimed at encouraging energy-efficient transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial mini-pilot provided e-bikes to 13 low-income households under an individual ownership model. This report assesses the impact of providing this additional mobility option on the travel behavior of participants. It also outlines the lessons learned from deploying a continuous monitoring platform to track the travel behavior. These lessons will influence the evaluation component for the full pilot, which will cover multiple geographic regions, starting in summer 2021, and run for 2 years. The continuous data collection was enabled by a customized version of the open-source e-mission platform, called CanBikeCO, configured with a behavioral gamification feature. The Colorado Energy Office used this system to collect a unique data set consisting of 3 months of partially automated travel diaries, combining sensed and surveyed data and linked with demographic information, from 12 participants. The data collection process worked well overall: users generally liked the app, appreciated the game, and did not complain about battery life. The long tracking period introduced behavioral challenges in user engagement, which we plan to address using repeated patterns and automated status checks for the full pilot. The analysis results, based on the subset of trips with user-reported labels (68%), indicate that the e-bike was the dominant commute mode share (31%), in sharp contrast to the census bicycle commute mode share (<1%). E-bike trips primarily replaced single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips (28%), followed closely by walking (24%) and regular bike (20%). The nonmotorized mode replacement corresponds to lower travel time and increased productivity enabled by the program. The emissions impact analysis of the program, computed using trip-level energy intensity factors, indicates savings of 1,367 lbs. of CO 2 . Although the results are strongly positive, the narrow demographic profile of study participants, their limited mobility alternatives, and nonuniform labeling indicate caution in broader interpretation. These preliminary results do suggest that such programs, supported by real-time education and support from program managers, can simultaneously meet equity and sustainability goals. The planned full pilot, addressing the data collection challenges and broadening the geographic scope, will provide additional insights into the generality of this approach.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗