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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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DOE OSTI2026

Durability of ABC Team Wall Assemblies

This study evaluates the long-term hygrothermal durability of four advanced retrofit wall systems using a field test facility located in Hollywood, South Carolina, representative of a mixed-humid coastal climate (Zone 3). The research focuses on assessing the thermal and moisture performance of a baseline wall assembly retrofitted with (1) Tremco/Dryvit prefabricated panel systems (Revitalite and Fedderlite), (2) Reinforced Fiberglass Plastic (RFP) panels developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and (3) Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIP) integrated with EPS by Home Innovation Research Labs (HIRL) and ORNL. A baseline wall representing a typical uninsulated wood-frame construction was used for comparison.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

NASA NTRS2026

On-Demand Production of Hypergols: Steps Towards Scalability

During FY 2025, the team at KSC focused on taking the 2024 proof-of-concept demonstration of hypergol production using novel methods and began scaling up production and increasing purity. The team was able to more than triple the production of hydrazine using a novel method with a drastic increase in the purity. The current method, albeit still limited to production rates on the order of mg/hr, provides a cost savings of approximately 14x when compared to market value pricing through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) website. The benefit of this technology is the ability to produce some hypergolic fuels using constituents in Earth’s atmosphere, eliminating most chemical commodity logistics. This technology also allows for the return of domestic production of hypergolic propellant.

Kenneth Engeling↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Design of an AI Trash Sorting Machine for Use on the Moon and Mars

As NASA prepares for Mars colonization, resource conservation will be critical for survival. Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered waste sorting technologies, already emerging on Earth, offer promising solutions for recycling and material recovery. These systems use advanced sensors and machine learning algorithms to identify and separate materials with remarkable accuracy. On Mars, where every item has significant value, efficient recycling will be essential to reduce resupply needs and support closed-loop life support systems. This paper explores how terrestrial AI-based trash sorting technologies can be adapted for Martian conditions, focusing on challenges such as the harsh surface environment, minimizing system mass, power, volume, and estimating waste composition. Addressing these issues will be key to enabling sustainable operations on the Red Planet.

Sorting↗

NASA NTRS2008

NASA Battery Working Group - 2007-2008: Battery Task Summary Report

This presentation provides a summary of the 2007-2008 NASA Battery Working Group efforts completed in support of the NASA Engineering Safety Center (NESC). The effort covered a series of pro-active tasks that address the following: Binding Procurements -- guidelines related to requirements for the battery system that should be considered at the time of contract award Wet Life of Ni-H2 Batteries -- issues/strategies for effective storage and impact of long-term storage on performance and life Generic Guidelines for Lithium-ion Safety, Handling and Qualification -- Standardized approaches developed and risk assessments (1) Lithium-ion Performance Assessment -- survey of manufacturers and capabilities to meet mission needs. Guidelines document generated (2) Conditions Required for using Pouch Cells in Aerospace Missions -- focus on corrosion, thermal excursions and long-term performance issues. Document defining requirements to maintain performance and life (3) High Voltage Risk Assessment -- focus on safety and abuse tolerance of battery module assemblies. Recommendations of features required for safe implementation (4) Procedure for Determination of Safe Charge Rates -- evaluation of various cell chemistries and recommendation of safe operating regimes for specific cell designs

Manzo, Michelle↗

NASA NTRS1974

Skylab M551 Metals Melting Experiment

The objectives of the M551 Metals Melting Experiment are to (a) study behavior of molten metal, (b) characterize metals melted and solidified in the low gravity space environment compared to one-gravity of earth, and (c) determine feasibility of joining metals in space. The experiment used the electron beam (EB) and chamber of the M512 apparatus to make a dwell puddle and a melt in a rotating disc of varying thickness. Hence, the EB performed cut-through, full and partial penetration melts, in addition to a re-solidified button. The three disc materials were aluminum 2219-T87, 304 stainless steel and pure tantalum to provide a wide range of density and melting conditions. Observations to date include (a) the proof that EB welding, cutting and melting can be done successfully in low gravity. Earlier, some welding authorities had postulated that without gravity the EB would force the molten puddle out of contact. However, the experiment proved that surface tension forces predominate. (b) From the view-point of cast-solidification, small, equiaxed grains in Skylab specimens compared to large, elongated grains in ground-based specimens were observed. The former are thought to be associated with constitutional supercooling and nucleation where the latter are associated with dendritic solidification. In further support of the more equiaxed grain growth in Skylab, symmetric sub-grain patterns were frequently observed where there was much less symmetry in ground-based specimens. Further work is being done to explain the differences in solidification.

E C Mckannan↗

NASA NTRS1989

Marshall Space Flight Center CFD Overview

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) activities at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) have been focused on hardware specific and research applications with strong emphasis upon benchmark validation. The purpose here is to provide insight into the MSFC CFD related goals, objectives, current hardware related CFD activities, propulsion CFD research efforts and validation program, future near-term CFD hardware related programs, and CFD expectations. The current hardware programs where CFD has been successfully applied are the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME), Alternate Turbopump Development (ATD), and Aeroassist Flight Experiment (AFE). For the future near-term CFD hardware related activities, plans are being developed that address the implementation of CFD into the early design stages of the Space Transportation Main Engine (STME), Space Transportation Booster Engine (STBE), and the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for the Space Station. Finally, CFD expectations in the design environment will be delineated.

L A Schutzenhofer↗

NASA NTRS2026

Unraveling the Complex History of Aqueous Alteration and Metamorphism in CV Chondrite, Camel Donga 040

Camel Donga (CD) 040 is a CV breccia collected from Australia in 1988. Initial studies of CD 040 revealed two lithologies, both containing chondrules up to 1 mm in diameter (some with fine-grained rims) and abundant troilite, but each with remarkably different olivine compositions. Lithology 1 was characterized as petrologic type 3 material, while lithology 2 was described as being “heated to ~1100°C”. CD 040 was initially classified as an ungrouped C3; however, subsequent analyses of oxygen isotopes and bulk rock compositions confirmed that both lithologies were CV chondrite material. Though CD 040 was one of the earliest examples of a CV chondrite containing metamorphosed material, it was never extensively studied. Here we report the results of a detailed study of CD 040, focusing primarily on the petrography and mineral chemistry of metamorphosed lithology.

T L Dunn↗

NASA NTRS2026

Highly Porous Polyimide Gel for Use as Battery Separator with Room Temperature Ionic Liquid Electrolytes

Advanced aerospace vehicular concepts require advances in many existing technologies, including space power and energy storage systems. Batteries represent one of the major areas in need of improvement, both in terms of energy density and safety, with growing concerns over the fire safety of commercial lithium-ion batteries. This has prompted efforts to develop nonflammable battery components, namely the electrolyte and separator. Existing commercial lithium-ion batteries utilize polyolefin microporous membranes as separators with an electrolyte consisting of a lithium salt dissolved in a mixture of cyclic carbonate solvents. This separator/electrolyte combination has ionic conductivities in the range of 10 −2 to 10 −3 S/cm. However, the cyclic carbonate solvents are inherently flammable. Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) appear to be a safer alternative. They offer good ionic conductivities and are inherently nonvolatile and nonflammable, giving them a safety advantage. However, many promising RTILs for battery electrolytes are not compatible with commercial polyolefin separator materials. Alternative separator materials, such as polyimides, are non-flammable and are capable of accepting RTILs into their structure. Polyimide gels, with a composition of 4,4′-oxydianiline, 3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride and cross-linked with Desmodur N3300A, possess an open-porous, fibrillar network architecture which offers a high degree of porosity (typically greater than 85% porosity) for lithium-ion transport and conduction, as well as good mechanical properties. Furthermore, these polyimide gels are compatible with selected imidazolium-based RTILs. Nonflammable separator/electrolyte systems with room-temperature conductivities in the range of 10 −3 S/cm have been evaluated. It has been demonstrated that 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide was the most promising among six RTILs screened, in terms of both ionic conductivity and constant current cycling.

Polyimide↗

DOE OSTI2024

Collective excitations and low-energy ionization signatures of relativistic particles in silicon detectors

Abstract Solid-state detectors with a low energy threshold have several applications, including searches of non-relativistic halo dark-matter particles with sub-GeV masses. When searching for relativistic, beyond-the-Standard-Model particles with enhanced cross sections for small energy transfers, a small detector with a low energy threshold may have better sensitivity than a larger detector with a higher energy threshold. In this paper, we calculate the low-energy ionization spectrum from high-velocity particles scattering in a dielectric material. We consider the full material response including the excitation of bulk plasmons. We generalize the energy-loss function to relativistic kinematics, and benchmark existing tools used for halo dark-matter scattering against electron energy-loss spectroscopy data. Compared to calculations commonly used in the literature, such as the Photo-Absorption-Ionization model or the free-electron model, including collective effects shifts the recoil ionization spectrum towards higher energies, typically peaking around 4–6 electron-hole pairs. We apply our results to the three benchmark examples: millicharged particles produced in a beam, neutrinos with a magnetic dipole moment produced in a reactor, and upscattered dark-matter particles. Our results show that the proper inclusion of collective effects typically enhances a detector’s sensitivity to these particles, since detector backgrounds, such as dark counts, peak at lower energies.

Physics↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Design of an AI Trash Sorting Machine for Use on the Moon and Mars

AI↗

NASA NTRS2026

Manufacturing and Scale-Up of Natural Fiber Composite eVTOL Propeller Skin and C-Channel

This report presents the manufacturing and scale-up of natural fiber composites for aerospace applications, conducted within NASA’s Convergent Aeronautics Solutions portfolio to advance aircraft capabilities and efficiency. The effort focused on the development and demonstration of two proof-of-concept articles, an Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) propeller skin and a C-channel, produced through an iterative design and process optimization approach. Best practices and guidance on addressing key challenges with bio-based composite materials and manufacturing is provided. Ideally suited for non-load-bearing structural components, these emerging materials offer potential for weight reduction, vibration damping, noise mitigation, interference-free communication, and cost savings, without compromising the performance of safety-critical primary structures.

Natural fibers↗

DOE OSTI2025

Detecting Magnon-phonon coupling in yttrium iron garnet with variable temperature STEM-EELS

Magnons, quanta of spin wave excitations in magnetically ordered materials, have been identified as candidates for several potentially transformative technologies in recent years. Macroscopic techniques, such as neutron scattering or Raman spectroscopy, can be used to identify and analyze magnons, but provide relatively delocalized information about the sample. Understanding how the bonding and local structure of a material interacts with, and influences, the magnon population in a material is a crucial step toward the ability to produce any real-world application utilizing magnons. By leveraging the combined spatial resolution of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and the energy resolution of monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) nanoscale analysis of magnons can be performed. While the weak interaction of magnons with the electron beam makes magnon EELS challenging on reasonable timescales, magnon-phonon coupling can be leveraged to understand magnons through their effect on the more easily measured phonons. Here, we examine yttrium iron garnet (YIG) flakes, and demonstrate non-linear, temperature-dependent shifts in the phonon frequencies, consistent with previously described magnon-phonon coupling effects. The ability to measure the temperature-dependence of vibrational frequencies with high precision in individual nanoscale flakes, demonstrates the ability to study magnon-phonon coupling in the STEM with unprecedented spatial resolution.

Reifsnyder, Alexander [ORNL]↗

DOE OSTI2026

Value of Geothermal Energy Storage for Supply-Side and Demand-Side Applications

This report presents the results of a study examining the value potential for geothermal energy storage (GES), a long-duration energy storage resource that stores thermal and/or geomechanical energy in the subsurface. GES could benefit the overall U.S. power system by temporally shifting electricity generation (supply-side) or meeting building heating and cooling load (demand-side). This report analyzes supply-side and demand-side opportunities independently because of differences in applications and models. Currently there is significant uncertainty about the development costs for GES, with only a limited number of demonstration plants for electric energy storage and building heating and cooling storage developments. In this report, we estimate the value of supply-side and demand-side GES to the bulk power system in the contiguous United States. Because of the significant uncertainty about GES development costs, this analysis does not consider GES deployment costs but instead focuses on the value of GES to the U.S. electricity system. The estimated values of GES provide reference points for economically competitive commercial cost targets. Supply-side GES is modeled as part of an enhanced geothermal system (EGS) generation plant in NREL's Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) capacity expansion model (Ho et al. 2021). In contrast to conventional geothermal plants, which generate constant power, EGS plants have unique features that may allow for in-reservoir energy storage for flexible generation. Demand-side GES for heating and cooling, including seasonal hot and cold storage and short-duration heat pump storage, is incorporated into a price-taker model using Cambium electricity marginal cost projections. To establish an upper bound for the value of GES, analysis focused on favorable scenarios for storage with high generation from zero marginal cost, variable renewable energy resources. High penetrations of variable renewable energy generation can increase hourly electricity price variability, which increases the value of temporal energy arbitrage for storage technologies like GES.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Enhanced Preparation for Intelligent Cybermanufacturing Systems (EPICS)

Opportunities exist for realizing transformative advances in productivity and reductions in energy footprint through ubiquitous sensing in manufacturing environments. Enhanced Preparation for Intelligent Cybermanufacturing Systems (EPICS) is a 21-month (4 academic semesters, plus one summer) experience for graduate students that focuses on scaling the knowledge, understanding and leadership skills in the cyber manufacturing area. Masters students (8/year, 32 total) complete 2-year projects on industrially-driven project topics, rotating to internships in summer semester to work on scoping and implementation at project partners. Students complete academic training in embedded systems, process modeling, data science, and cloud-based systems design. Their projects are targeted toward sensor retrofit, process monitoring, root cause analysis, and sensor fusion.

Advanced Manufacturing↗

DOE OSTI2026

PIP-II LLRF Master Oscillator and Precision Reference Line - Station Level Design and Testing

The PIP-II superconducting linac at Fermilab requires a highly stable RF Reference Line to maintain phase syn- chronization throughout the accelerator. Temperature- induced changes in the electrical length of long coaxial cables can introduce phase drift and measurement errors. The reference-line architecture mitigates these effects by phase averaging the forward and reflected RF signals, while a phase-locked loop anchors the system to the mas- ter oscillator. This work focuses on the characterization, validation, and mechanical integration of station-level RF assemblies using CAD modeling, vector network analyzer measurements, and spectrum analyzer testing. PID-controlled thermal plates will stabilize critical RF components and further reduce temperature-dependent phase and amplitude variations. These methods sup- port repeatable, standardized designs that can be reliably integrated across the different reference-line stations.

Mosher, Alexander [U. Illinois, Chicago]↗

NASA NTRS2025

Reliability Impacts of Non-Destructive Single-Event Latch-Ups in Commercial Electronics

This paper presents the results of reliability life testing performed on commercial electronic devices that experienced non-destructive single-event latch-up (SEL) during heavy-ion testing.

Radiation↗

DOE OSTI2026

Studies of laser stimulated photodetachment from nanoparticles for particle charge measurements

Determining nanoparticle charge is more challenging than that for microparticles due to change in the particle size during the synthesis substantial plasma property variations, and difficulties in visualizing individual particles, rendering conventional microparticle charge diagnostics ineffective in dusty plasma. In this work, we utilized laser-stimulated photodetachment (LSPD) to deduce the mean charge of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were grown in an Ar/C 2 H 2 mixture using a capacitively coupled RF discharge and the LSPD induced changes in the electron current monitored by a cylindrical Langmuir probe. LSPD signals were obtained and analyzed across different dust growth phases. The prolonged decay of electron current pulses was attributed to the presence of residual negative ions, caused by the effective electrostatic trapping of these ions and the potential post—LSPD re-formation of new ones. The particle charge was estimated by combining the laser-stimulated photodetachment signal from the probe with the dust density obtained from laser-light extinction using the measured nanoparticle size distribution. For a nanoparticles size range of approximately 100–250 nm and mean diameter of $d$ p ∼154.37 nm, the effective mean charge was estimated to be $\langle$$Q$$\rangle$ d $≈$ 37 elementary charge units. The measured charge values are lower than those predicted by orbital motion limited theory, which may be attributed to significant electron depletion in the nanodusty plasma. LSPD results in Ar/C 2 H 2 nano-dusty plasma confirm the applicability of this method for estimating individual nanoparticle charges. However, it has also been demonstrated that electron detachment from residual background negative ions can influence the detachment current decay and must be carefully considered.

dust particle charge↗

DOE OSTI2026

Single-Nucleon Transfer on Unstable 59 Cu Probes the NiCu Cycle in Astrophysical X-Ray Bursts

Recent models of the rapid proton (𝑟⁢𝑝) capture process indicate that a competition between the 59 Cu⁢(𝑝,𝛾) ⁢60 Zn and 59 Cu⁢(𝑝,𝛼) ⁢56 Ni reactions may result in the formation of a nickel-copper (NiCu) cycle that traps the flux of material between 56 Ni and 60 Zn . Here, in this work, we report the identification of 15 proton-unbound levels in 60 Zn , populated via 59 Cu⁢(𝑑,𝑛) transfer, which govern the rate of the 59 Cu⁢(𝑝,𝛾)⁢ 60 Zn reaction in XRBs. Precise excitation energies for levels in 60 Zn were obtained from observed 𝛾 decays, and spectroscopic factors were determined from angle-integrated cross sections. Incorporating these results into stellar-model calculations, we find that with experimentally constrained uncertainties a NiCu cycle in XRBs is indeed possible, though we limit its branching strength to less than 38%. While modest, such a branching has significant impact on the light curve, motivating further studies of the relevant rates. Our calculations also indicate that a significant NiCu cycle leads to an increase in the amount of odd-𝐴 nuclei in the burst ashes, which may affect Urca cooling processes in neutron star crusts.

direct reactions↗