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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 289 records · Page 16

"Sensor Web Evolution - Webs of Webs for NASA Science - Focus on small Uninhabited Aerial Systems (sUAS)"

This paper will describe the evolution of information collection, derivation and delivery mechanisms in webs of NASA sensor webs, with a focus on recent advancements in small Uninhabited Aerial Systems (sUAS). I will discuss the movement to "Fog Computing", also known as Edge Computing. Fog Computing facilitates the distribution of common operations and networking between edge devices and cloud computing facilities, optimizing the production of actionable intelligence. Initially, sUASs utilized onboard data collection as standard, with minimal data downloaded directly. Information products were derived in conventional computational environments, generally desk top computers, and information products made available to the Science Community in weeks or months. With the increased availability, and increasingly lower costs, of beyond line of sight (BLOS) satellite based communication, transmission rates and data volumes increased, and processing migrated to Cloud based services. Contemporary sUASs are moving some of that information product derivation to on vehicle services, and are creating a distributed Cloud/Fog environment. I will describe the technological advances that have made this possible, including low power multi-core Central Processing Units (CPU), and, more recently, the availability of high end Graphical Processing Units (GPU) that consume only a few watts. Intelligent system software, leveraging these hardware advances, finally allows for information product generation on-board, rather than simple data collection. Additionally, intelligent flight control systems now support mutual vehicle to vehicle collaboration, allowing sUASs to create ad-hoc sensor webs on demand, as required. Also discussed will be the lessons learned by the Authors' development of data systems for NASA's large High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UASs like Predator and Global Hawk, and how those lessons are being applied to sUAS development. This paper will focus on application, rather a deep dive into the technology, and will highlight improving data management through these new technologies.

Sensor Web↗

Understanding the Effects of Climate on Ocean Carbon Pools

The role of oceans as a carbon sink has long been accepted. The uncertainties related to the physical and biological pump and their role in the carbon cycle remain however high. In this talk, we dive into the various pathways of carbon in the oceans, the effects that climate has on the ocean carbon cycle and the methodologies used to assess these effects.

Rousseaux, Cecile S.↗

Sensor-based Prognostics for Safe Batteries for Electric Aircraft

With a new start awarded under CAS for Fiscal Year 2020, the Sensor-based Prognostics to Avoid Runaway Reactions and Catastrophic Ignition project, or SPARRCI, aims to eliminate safety risks of lithium-ion and next-generation lithium-based batteries. SPARRCI is taking a deeper dive into the inner workings of battery cells by introducing miniature multifunctional sensors within the cells to detect early signs of failure. Combined with nondestructive evaluation techniques to gather complementary battery health data, battery data will be monitored in real-time via prognostics which will ultimately be able to identify when the cell is exhibiting abnormal behavior bordering on failure, with the ability to provide early warning such that the battery may be taken offline prior to catastrophic failure events.

Brianne Demattia↗

A Quantitative Analysis on the Use of Supervised Machine Learning in Earth Science

Recent review papers (Ball et al., 2017; Reichstein et al., 2019) have investigated the opportunities and challenges in applying supervised machine learning (ML) techniques to Earth science problems. A common challenge is the lack of training (or labeled) data. Supervised ML, and especially deep learning (DL), require large training datasets. While there are large, open access Earth science archives, the data typically require preprocessing in preparation for supervised ML, frequently including manual labeling. Our objective is to understand the landscape of supervised ML in the Earth sciences, including which research communities have most rapidly adopted supervised ML, which algorithms are applied, and what data are used to train these algorithms. We conducted a literature survey of Earth science papers published during the last 10 years in journals from the American Geophysical Union (AGU), American Meteorological Society (AMS), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE), and the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). We identified papers containing the terms ML, DL, or the names of individual supervised ML algorithms. "Earth science" is an additional required search term for IEEE and SPIE. We investigate trends in supervised ML usage during the 10-year study period, and manually analyzed AGU papers from 2018-2019 to enable deep-dive statistics.

Katrina S Virts↗

Operational Considerations for Fission Reactors Utilized on Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Missions to Mars

This report is aimed at identifying the implications associated with the operation of space nuclear power reactors that would be utilized for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) missions to Mars. The objective of this study is to evaluate the operational features of reactors that could provide propulsion and possibly electrical power for future crewed and cargo missions to Mars. This report follows upon an initial report looking at the generic considerations for operating fission reactors in space applications and is intended as a deeper dive into the operational features related to specific Mars NTP applications.

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion↗

Optical Navigation During Cassini's Solstice Mission

After nearly twenty years in flight, Cassini’s mission at Saturn will conclude as it purposely dives into Saturn’s atmosphere on September 15, 2017. Primarily to avoid moons potentially harboring conditions for life and with propellant very low, the intentional plunge into the atmosphere was set in motion years ago. We take this opportunity to give an overview of the optical navigation and its roles throughout the mission. The paper describes the navigation process and the evolution of optical navigation over the past thirteen years. The last equatorial phase of the Cassini mission was particularly challenging for the OD team as the Saturn system was not being estimated anymore, and it had been a few years since the last icy moon flybys. Science pictures of Enceladus one month prior to the Enceladus encounters confirmed the moon’s position to be in good agreement with the Saturn system dynamical modeling used. This reduced Enceladus’s absolute uncertainty by a factor of three, less than 1 km, and gave confidence the navigation team could achieve acceptable flybys and meet science objectives.

Tarzi, Zahi↗

Station Keeping with an Autonomous Underwater Glider Using a Predictive Model of Ocean Currents

We investigate the use of an autonomous underwater glider as a platform for a virtual mooring. Our approach uses a simple vehicle motion model, a predictive model of ocean currents, and a greedy search algorithm in order to simulate possible actions available to the vehicle and select an action to minimize the distance from the target point. Results from a 19 day experiment in October 2016 near Monterey Bay are presented where we test our control algorithm as well as investigate the effect of a glider’s dive profile on its ability to act as a virtual mooring.

Chien, Steve↗

NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO)

Introduction: NASA is preparing to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon within the next decade, and ensuring the success of these missions will depend on our preparation on the ground in multiple ground-based lunar environment analogs. To achieve this, NASA has used full mission class analogs, of which NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) is the longest continuously running example. Discussion: NEEMO is NASA’s long-standing undersea high-fidelity spaceflight mission analog. It focuses on exploration science, EVA techniques and tools, and maturing ISS IVA flight hardware and operations concepts. NEEMO crews are composed of groups of US and International Partner (IP) astronauts, engineers and scientists who live, work and explore in a challenging environment analogous to the environment experienced currently on ISS and what is expected for future deep space exploration destinations. NEEMO missions are conducted at Aquarius Reef Base (ARB), which includes a shore base in Tavernier, FL, and the world's only undersea research station, the Aquarius habitat, which is located 5.4 miles (9 kilometers) off Key Largo in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. ARB is owned and operated by Florida International University (FIU). Aquarius was selected due to its remote and extreme location and its ability to provide the unique isolation and risk factors that spaceflight presents. NEEMO missions allow for evaluations of end-to-end EVA and Science exploration concepts of operations with a crew that is in situ in a true extreme environment. They also allow for evaluations of flight hardware and ops tools that are either pondered or destined for ISS or Gateway in the near future. NEEMO missions feature flight-like interactions between the crew and a Mission Control Center (MCC )and Science Team, which in turn allows evaluation of mission and science operations decision making and communications techniques. One reason NEEMO missions are of such high fidelity is that so many of the participants are experienced human space flight end operators. The majority of crewmembers are trained astronauts, and many of the MCC operators have credentials as current or former certified ISS MCC operators (e.g., CapCom, EVA Officer, etc.). Mission products are generated daily by the ground team and are modeled on ISS products (but modified as needed). A planning team manages the constantly evolving mission timelines in response to the ever-changing constraints and opportunities. During NEEMO missions, suited EVA crewmembers (using diving helmets) have clear voice communications with each other, the habitat, and the MCC and Science Team back on shore. Each EVA crewmember also sends helmet cam video to the habitat and MCC and Science Teams. Appropriate communications latencies are inserted for the destination being simulated as well. NEEMO missions are made possible by a broad collaboration of participants. Astronauts from all of the ISS partner agencies are eligible for crew assignment. Often the crew includes a NASA scientist, doctor or engineer with a particular skill to contribute. Sometimes crewmembers come from external entities–generally institutes or universities. Objectives come from a wide variety of sources as well, from within NASA, IPs, government agencies, academia, commercial companies and research institutes. A typical NEEMO mission is a collaboration between at least 5 NASA centers. To date, 23 NEEMO missions have been conducted since 2001, and NEEMO 24 is planned for 2022. Conclusion: NEEMO is a high-fidelity mission analog conducted in an extreme subsea environment. It features experienced end-operators in human spaceflight, from the astronaut crewmembers to key personnel staffing Mission Control. Acknowledgments: The authors wish to thank FIU and NASA’s HEO SEI/Strategic Analysis and Exploration Integration and Science Directorate organizations for the continued support that makes the NEEMO Project possible.

M L Reagan↗

Investigating Biological Responses to Space-like Radiation using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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

CubeSat↗

An Overview of Contamination Control for the James Webb Space Telescope Launch Campaign

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large, infrared space telescope operating at Lagrange point 2. JWST is a joint effort between NASA, ESA, and CSA and was launched from the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) on an Ariane 5 rocket in December 2021. The three-month launch campaign utilized enhanced contamination controls to meet JWST’s strict cleanliness requirements. Prior to launch, JWST was permitted to only be exposed to ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, whereas the processing facilities at CSG are ISO Class 8. NASA, ESA, Arianespace, and CNES implemented temporary upgrades to the nominal contamination control operations for the launch campaign unique to JWST, including the use of vetted, portable High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter walls, pre-entrance cleanliness acceptance surveys of each facility and the intra-plant transporter, tightened cleanroom protocols, upgraded garmenting and laundering techniques, cleaning of Self-Contained Atmospheric Protection Ensemble (SCAPE) suits, increased maintenance, staffed pre-cleaning stations, adaptation of the house purge network, and a contamination control enclosure atop the Ariane 5 launcher prior to fairing encapsulation. The Ariane 5 fairing interior and Vehicle Equipment Bay membrane also received multiple cleanings, detailed inspections, and verification sampling to achieve necessary cleanliness levels. The fairing itself was specially sealed to protect the inner environment with just a small, door porthole accessible via diving board for final closeout of the purge interface. All of these enhancements together allowed JWST to meet its contamination requirements for launch, ensuring successful post-separation deployments and mission science.

Contamination Control↗

System Engineering a Solar Thermal Propulsion Mission Concept for Rapid Interstellar Medium Access

The interstellar medium (ISM) represents the next frontier in space exploration, with many new discoveries to be made. The challenge, being so far away from Earth, the ISM requires many decades to reach. To advance our knowledge of what exists beyond our Solar System, new approaches for rapid access are required. One such approach is solar thermal propulsion (STP). The approach uses several Venus and Earth gravity assists to fly to Jupiter and use its gravity well to dive towards the Sun. Approaching within 3 solar radii a perihelion burn would be performed, maximizing the spacecraft’s ΔV to achieve high Solar System escape velocities. A unique aspect of the STP mission concept is that the Sun is not only used as a gravity well for an Oberth manoeuvre, but also to heat the fuel to ultra-high-temperatures (>3000 K), enabling a monopropellant burn with high specific impulse (Isp). Prior preliminary studies indicated escape velocities of over 20 astronomical unit (AU)/yr would be possible. An in-depth modelling exercise was undertaken to determine how such a system would perform. The model in this paper showed the current STP design is capable of providing just under 9±1 AU/yr, but there are many technology developments that could increase escape velocity. The technologies vary from items that could be implemented in the near term, like turbo-pumps driven by the hydrogen, to items requiring more extensive development programs like thin coatings which do not erode in superheated hydrogen. After reviewing the STP approach, and comparing it to a solid rocket motor (SRM), it was found that with currently available technology, SRM outperforms STP with an escape velocity of approximately 10-12 AU/yr. However, future advances in heat exchanger lining materials, turbo pumps, and advanced heat exchanger geometries may enable solar thermal propulsion to provide higher escape velocities, providing one of the fastest ways to exit the solar system. Ultimately, if all technology paths could be implemented with minimal side effects, the performance in a best-case scenario could reach up to 16 AU/yr.

Alkalai, Leon↗

Pointing Error Budget Development and Methodology on the Psyche Project

The Psyche mission was selected by NASA as the 14th mission in the Discovery Program in 2017. The Psyche spacecraft utilizes solar electric propulsion, and will journey to the asteroid (16) Psyche during a 3.5 year trajectory after its planned 2022 launch. The spacecraft instrument suite includes a magnetometer, a multispectral imager, a gamma ray neutron spectrometer, and an X-band radio telecommunications system. It also includes the Deep Space Optical Communication technical demonstration. These instruments along with other spacecraft components require pointing accuracy to meet their scientific and engineering performance requirements. Early on in the project development, the team established a methodology by which pointing accuracy (knowledge and control) is analyzed against the system requirements by means of pointing error budgets and requirement allocations. A margin policy was implemented to ensure the instrument and engineering component pointing accuracy requirements will be met during verification and in flight. Psyche’s pointing management framework defines detailed rationales for the system and subsystem error allocations of the top level pointing accuracy requirements, with sufficient project level pointing margin, and supports end-to-end pointing requirement verification. This paper will present an overview of the Psyche project’s pointing error budget development process, and discuss the rationale behind the methodology. Psyche’s pointing budget methodology integrates best practices and lessons learned from heritage missions, while focusing on the specific needs of the Psyche spacecraft and its science instruments. Key challenges in the pointing error budget development will be reviewed, and a deep dive into two key Psyche pointing budgets are presented. The systems engineering of Psyche’s pointing budget methodology outlined in this paper will serve as a resource for future deep space missions.

Lai, Peter↗

A physician’s working group guides COVID-19 prevention in a mission critical environment

Background A team was assembled at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) to help navigate the shifting COVID-19 pandemic. Their goal was to mitigate the impact of COVID on astronauts, other essential personnel, and the human spaceflight program. This team supplemented the JSC Pandemic Incident Response Group, whose function is to set policy for the overall management of JSC’s COVID-19 mitigations for all onsite mission-essential and mission-critical activities, including health policy. Context The first mission to return to Earth from the International Space Station at the start of the pandemic returned when there was limited information about the transmission and prevention of COVID-19. The medical leadership at JSC determined that a dedicated team was required to navigate the uncharted waters of the pandemic. Description of Activities Issues tackled by this panel included: prevention of COVID-19 transmission during altitude, dive, and spacecraft training – activities that require prolonged close contact between multiple individuals who often cannot safely wear face masks; mitigating the risks of domestic and international travel for essential personnel; securing COVID-19 testing from local and foreign hospital systems; acquiring antigen and PCR analyzers for in-house testing; and the development of quarantine policies for crewed spacecraft launches and landings in Kazakhstan and the United States. The panel also provides clinical return-to-work guidance for cases of COVID-19 in essential personnel.

covid↗

UASs in the VOG/Edge/FOG Sensor Web Environment

This paper will describe the evolution of information collection, derivation and delivery mechanisms in sensor webs utilizing Uninhabited Aerial Systems (UAS).We will discuss the movement to "Fog Computing", also known as Edge Computing. Fog Computing facilitates the distribution of common operations and networking between edge devices and cloud computing facilities, optimizing the production of actionable intelligence. Initially, UASs utilized onboard data collection as standard, with minimal data downloaded directly. Information products were derived in conventional computational environments, generally desk top computers, and information products made available to the Science Community in weeks or months. With the increased availability, and increasingly lower costs, of beyond line of sight (BLOS) satellite based communication, transmission rates and data volumes increased, and processing migrated to Cloud based services. Contemporary UASs are moving some of that information product derivation to on vehicle services, and are creating a distributed Cloud/Fog environment. The Author will describe the technological advances that have made this possible, including low power multi-core Central Processing Units (CPU), and, more recently, the availability of high end Graphical Processing Units (GPU) that consume only a few watts. Intelligent system software, leveraging these hardware advances, finally allows for information product generation on-board, rather than simple data collection. Additionally, intelligent flight control systems now support mutual vehicle to vehicle collaboration, allowing UASs to create ad-hoc sensor webs on demand, as required. Also discussed will be the lessons learned by the Authors' development of data systems for NASA's large High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UASs like Predator and Global Hawk, and how those lessons are being applied to other UAS development This paper will focus on applications, rather a deep dive into the technology, and will highlight improving data management through these new technologies.

UAS↗

Press-fit Connectors in Spaceflight Applications - Drivers and Challenges

Starting from the 1970s when press-fit technology was nascent and confined within the telecommunications industry, this technology has matured as its adoption has increased within high reliability applications such as medical devices and avionics. Press-fit connectors are strongly preferred in today’s designs because the smaller press-fit pins require smaller diameter holes which require smaller pads and allows more routing real-estate without taking exceptions to specs. The lack of solder for a press-fit connection makes the conductive path more predictable for high-speed digital design and impedance discontinuities can be minimized as the signal moves from the printed circuit board to the connector. Touch-up during manufacturing is also reduced and streamlines the assembly process. This presentation at the 2022 NEPP ETW will introduce the audience to press-fit connectors and its contact physics followed by a deeper dive into specific press-fit applications for space flight environments, including information on qualification, testing, and screening.

pressfit↗

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

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

Lauren Courtney Liddell↗

Overview of Contamination Control for the James Webb Space Telescope Launch Campaign

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large, infrared space telescope operating at Lagrange point 2. JWST is a joint effort between NASA, ESA, and CSA and was launched from the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) on an Ariane 5 rocket in December 2021. The three-month launch campaign utilized enhanced contamination controls to meet JWST’s strict cleanliness requirements. Prior to launch, JWST was permitted to only be exposed to ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, whereas the processing facilities at CSG are ISO Class 8. NASA, ESA, Arianespace, and CNES implemented temporary upgrades to the nominal contamination control operations for the launch campaign unique to JWST, including the use of vetted, portable High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter walls, pre-entrance cleanliness acceptance surveys of each facility and the intra-plant transporter, tightened cleanroom protocols, upgraded garmenting and laundering techniques, cleaning of Self-Contained Atmospheric Protection Ensemble (SCAPE) suits, increased maintenance, staffed pre-cleaning stations, adaptation of the house purge network, and a contamination control enclosure atop the Ariane 5 launcher prior to fairing encapsulation. The Ariane 5 fairing interior and Vehicle Equipment Bay membrane also received multiple cleanings, detailed inspections, and verification sampling to achieve necessary cleanliness levels. The fairing itself was specially sealed to protect the inner environment with just a small, doored porthole accessible via diving board for final closeout of the purge interface. All these enhancements together allowed JWST to meet its contamination requirements for launch, ensuring successful post-separation deployments and mission science.

James Webb Space Telescope↗

Overview of Contamination Control for the James Webb Space Telescope Launch Campaign

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large, infrared space telescope operating at Lagrange point 2. JWST is a joint effort between NASA, ESA, and CSA and was launched from the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) on an Ariane 5 rocket in December 2021. The three-month launch campaign utilized enhanced contamination controls to meet JWST’s strict cleanliness requirements. Prior to launch, JWST was permitted to only be exposed to ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, whereas the processing facilities at CSG are ISO Class 8. NASA, ESA, Arianespace, and CNES implemented temporary upgrades to the nominal contamination control operations for the launch campaign unique to JWST, including the use of vetted, portable High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter walls, pre-entrance cleanliness acceptance surveys of each facility and the intra-plant transporter, tightened cleanroom protocols, upgraded garmenting and laundering techniques, cleaning of Self-Contained Atmospheric Protection Ensemble (SCAPE) suits, increased maintenance, staffed pre-cleaning stations, adaptation of the house purge network, and a contamination control enclosure atop the Ariane 5 launcher prior to fairing encapsulation. The Ariane 5 fairing interior and Vehicle Equipment Bay membrane also received multiple cleanings, detailed inspections, and verification sampling to achieve necessary cleanliness levels. The fairing itself was specially sealed to protect the inner environment with just a small, doored porthole accessible via diving board for final closeout of the purge interface. All these enhancements together allowed JWST to meet its contamination requirements for launch, ensuring successful post-separation deployments and mission science.

James Webb Space Telescope, launch, contamination,↗