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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 NTRS2016

Web Site Development Support

This summer I assisted the RPT Program Office in developing a design plan to update their existing website to current NASA web standards. The finished website is intended for the general public, specifically potential customers interested in learning about NASA's chemical rocket test facility capabilities and test assignment process. The goal of the website is to give the public insight about the purpose and function of the RPT Program. Working on this project gave me the opportunity to learn skills necessary for effective project management. The RPT Program Office manages numerous facilities so they are required to travel often to other sites for meetings throughout the year. Maneuvering around the travel schedule of the office and the workload priority of the IT Department proved to be quite the challenge. I overcame the travel schedule of the office by frequently communicating and checking in with my mentor via email and telephone.

Abdul, Hameed↗

DOE OSTI2020

Terrestrial Ecosystem Science (Flyer 2020)

A significant fraction of the carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) released to the atmosphere during energy production is taken up by terrestrial ecosystems. This carbon “sink” represents an important but poorly characterized buffer for offsetting the greenhouse gas effects of anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. Also unclear are the effects of related processes such as nutrient, water, and energy cycling—in addition to climate variability and change— on that uptake. Resolving the terrestrial biosphere’s role in the global carbon cycle is consequently a high priority for the Terrestrial Ecosystem Science (TES) program within the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Understanding the mechanisms and dynamics of ecosystem processes in the face of a changing climate is also essential for improving the representation of terrestrial ecosystems and climate feedbacks in Earth system models (ESMs). TES supports research to advance fundamental understanding of terrestrial ecosystems and their roles in a changing climate.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

Innovation in Radiological Security, Part 1 of 2 – Using a Cloud Solution to Compress the Timely Detection Model

The design and implementation of new security technologies must account for numerous and complex operational challenges. For example, traditionally isolated systems must now survive amid the proliferation of network connectivity and endure the dynamic environments created by organizations tolerating bring-your-own-device policies. When evaluating the cyber, physical, or cyber-physical security of an asset, a common practice in the security industry is to apply the Timely Detection Model (TDM)—a versatile concept that relates the security functions of detection, delay, and response to the progression of an oppositional force’s attack timeline. If implemented correctly, security enhancements can compress the TDM to offer efficiencies to the stakeholders responsible for adjudicating threat scenarios. The efficiencies gained by the response force allow for more effective protection strategies to be realized. One such enhancement, deployed within the radiological security domain—the Sentry-Remote Monitoring System (Sentry-RMS)—is a stand-alone security system that detects, assesses, and communicates priority alarms as a means of thwarting internal and external threats. The SEntry-RMS CommUnications and REsponse (Sentry-SECURE) platform—an optional feature of the Sentry-RMS—is being developed to facilitate more efficient alarm adjudication by site stakeholders and, if necessary, a faster response by law enforcement. This Cloud-hosted platform receives protected information from deployed Sentry-RMS units and relays it to stakeholders that have vested interests in maintaining an elevated level of situational awareness. Operationally, this enables real-time delivery of high-priority alarm and video imagery directly to an identified response stakeholder, such as local law enforcement or site management, via natively developed mobile applications or full platform integration. The Sentry-SECURE platform, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Radiological Security, is an example of an innovative security technology that compresses the TDM by (1) enabling a more efficient time to target and (2) better informing a response force’s predetermined tactics, techniques, and procedures. This paper explores the platform’s operational roles, highlights its principal functions, and presents a use case that demonstrates how the platform provides enhanced situational awareness when adjudicating priority alarms.

Sentry-RMS, Timely Detection Model, Sentry-SECURE↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Countermeasures for Mitigation of Sensorimotor Decrements Following Head-Down Bed Rest

BACKGROUND Astronauts experience postflight disturbances in postural and locomotor control due to sensorimotor adaptations during spaceflight. These alterations may have adverse consequences if a rapid egress is required after landing. Although exercise is partially effective for mitigating cardiovascular and muscular deconditioning, additional countermeasures are needed to further preserve sensorimotor function for exploration missions. We have identified proprioceptive training and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) as promising in-flight countermeasures. Since prolonged head down bed rest (HDBR) is a spaceflight analog for body unloading and causes postural and locomotor control decrements that parallel those observed after spaceflight, it can be used to accelerate the development of these countermeasures. METHODS This study will determine the effects of proprioceptive training and EMS on functional task performance and sensorimotor function following 60 days of 6° HDBR. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: 1) an EMS arm, 2) a proprioceptive training arm, 3) an exercise plus proprioceptive training arm, and 4) a control arm. The EMS countermeasure will include daily bilateral stimulation of the quadriceps femoris muscle (30 minutes per session). Proprioceptive training will be performed three days per week (20 minutes per session) consisting of body-loaded postural tasks in the horizontal position on an air bearing sled. Exercise training will mimic current protocols used on the International Space Station, but treadmill aerobic exercise will be replaced with additional cycling aerobic exercise. Primary outcome measures will include pre and post HDBR functional tests that are representative of high priority exploration mission tasks and require high demand for dynamic control of postural stability. Additional measures will be used to identify the key physiological factors contributing to countermeasure benefits. Given the constrained samples size, a Bayesian modelling approach will be used to quantify the probability that there is an effect of a given magnitude. COUNTERMEASURE UPDATES Proprioceptive countermeasure design enhancements and human in the loop pilot testing continued through the Crew Health Countermeasures (CHC) Systems Capability Leadership Team (SCLT). The primary goals of this work were to enhance the visual feedback system’s capabilities and develop a proprioceptive training program for 60 days of HDBR. Six healthy non-astronaut volunteers participated in four pilot training sessions to systematically examine how each training variable (e.g., axial load, foot placement, and software profile) affects the overall proprioceptive challenge. The resulting training program will maintain an appropriate challenge during 60 days of HDBR by progressively decreasing the subject’s base of support, increasing tilt board target distances, and increasing axial loads using both subjective verbal feedback and objective performance data. RELEVANCE The deliverable from this project will be proof-of-concept sensorimotor countermeasure designs for functional task performance with full assessment of efficacy in a spaceflight analog. If the countermeasures are effective, they will be translated for validation with the suite of operationally implemented in-flight countermeasures.

T R Macaulay↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Countermeasures for Mitigation of Sensorimotor Decrements Following Head-Down Bed Rest

BACKGROUND Astronauts experience postflight disturbances in postural and locomotor control due to sensorimotor adaptations during spaceflight. These alterations may have adverse consequences if a rapid egress is required after landing. Although exercise is partially effective for mitigating cardiovascular and muscular deconditioning, additional countermeasures are needed to further preserve sensorimotor function for exploration missions. We have identified proprioceptive training and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) as promising in-flight countermeasures. Since prolonged head down bed rest (HDBR) is a spaceflight analog for body unloading and causes postural and locomotor control decrements that parallel those observed after spaceflight, it can be used to facilitate the development of these countermeasures. METHODS This study will determine the effects of proprioceptive training and EMS on functional task performance and sensorimotor function following 60 days of 6° HDBR. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: 1)an EMS arm, 2) a proprioceptive training arm, 3) an exercise plus proprioceptive training arm, and 4) a control arm. The EMS countermeasure will include daily bilateral stimulation of selected bilateral lower extremity muscles (30 minutes per session). Proprioceptive training will be performed three days per week (20 minutes per session) consisting of body-loaded postural tasks in the horizontal position on an air bearing sled. Exercise training will mimic current protocols used on the International Space Station, but treadmill aerobic exercise will be replaced with additional cycling aerobic exercise. Primary outcome measures will include pre and post HDBR functional tests that are representative of high priority exploration mission tasks and require high demand for dynamic control of postural stability. Additional measures will be used to identify the key physiological factors contributing to countermeasure benefits. Given the constrained samples size, a Bayesian modelling approach will be used to quantify the probability that there is an effect of a given magnitude. HARDWARE AND PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT Proprioceptive countermeasure design enhancements continued as part of the Mars Campaign Office (MCO) Crew Health and Performance (CHP) Crew Health Countermeasures (CHC). The primary goals of this work were to assemble a portable version of the countermeasure system that can be used at the :envihab facility, expand the software feedback system’s capabilities, and develop an actuator loading system that mimics what could be used on the International Space Station. In addition, one major piece of exercise hardware used in previous HDBR studies, the Horizontal Squat Device, was reassembled and restored to full functionality. Human-in-the-loop pilot testing is ongoing, prior to shipping both devices to the :envihab HDBR facility. Evaluations are also underway for the best EMS device technologies and specific methods. Finally, assessment techniques are being translated for administration in the horizontal position (e.g., leg dexterity and foot sole skin sensitivity). Our current goals are to refine the countermeasure training and assessment techniques and integrate protocols across multiple modalities. RELEVANCE The deliverable from this project will be proof-of-concept sensorimotor countermeasure designs for functional task performance with full assessment of efficacy in a spaceflight analog. If one or more countermeasures are effective, they will be translated for validation with the suite of operationally implemented in-flight countermeasures. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This work is supported by NASA’s Human Research Program Human Health Countermeasures Element and by the Canadian Space Agency (L. Bent).

T R Macaulay↗

DOE OSTI2023

Walking on the dark side: Anthropogenic factors limit suitable habitat for gray wolf ( Canis lupus ) in a large natural area covering Belarus and Ukraine

Due to successful conservation initiatives and legislations, the grey wolf (Canis lupus) is recolonising its historic range in Europe. However, wolves have never been extirpated across large areas in Eastern Europe but are often constrained to remote and inaccessible places due to centuries of persecution. This study aimed to identify the potentially suitable wolf habitats in Polesia, a massive cross-border lowland region extending over southern Belarus and northern Ukraine, which are often neglected in large carnivore studies at the continental scale. We hypothesized that anthropogenic rather than environmental factors govern wolf habitat suitability. We used a dataset of 4191 GPS locations obtained from radio-collared wolves (n = 26) and confirmed observations (n = 231) during 2014–2021 and applied maximum entropy method to estimate relative habitat suitability for wolves in Polesia. Artificial light at night (ALAN), proportion of cropland and tree cover were the most important factors affecting wolf habitat suitability. Road densities contributed poorly to predicting habitat suitability for wolves. Our models predicted a quarter of Polesia as suitable habitat and revealed priority areas connecting the important source populations in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone in the east and the Bialowieza Forest in the west and thus essential for long-term wolf conservation. Our results provide the bases for effective, long-term wolf monitoring and management programs in both Belarus and Ukraine. However, national and transboundary wolf management in Polesia has been extremely challenging since 2022 due to the ongoing war and subsequent habitat degradation in this part of Europe.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1993

The interaction of high voltage systems with the environments of the Moon and Mars

High voltage systems designed for use on the lunar and Martian surfaces or in orbit will interact with environmental components such as electrically charged dust, low pressure atmospheres, ionospheric plasmas and neutrals, and chemically reactive species. As the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) advances from the realm of feasibility study to that of conceptual design, guidelines will be required to ensure that these effects are properly accounted for. A first step in providing such guidelines is the prioritization of interactions for each of the space or surface environments that will be encountered. For those issues that are identified as high priority, the state of environmental knowledge, emphasizing essential data, must be determined. This report describes possible means of obtaining such information, including ground tests, modeling and analysis, and flight experiments. The development of computational tools which will enable engineers to simulate and thereby quantify the interactions will be especially considered. Our analysis is drawn from various study and workshop activities undertaken within the last two years.

Hillard, G. Barry↗

NASA NTRS1996

Design of a mixer for the thrust-vectoring system on the high-alpha research vehicle

One of the advanced control concepts being investigated on the High-Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) is multi-axis thrust vectoring using an experimental thrust-vectoring (TV) system consisting of three hydraulically actuated vanes per engine. A mixer is used to translate the pitch-, roll-, and yaw-TV commands into the appropriate TV-vane commands for distribution to the vane actuators. A computer-aided optimization process was developed to perform the inversion of the thrust-vectoring effectiveness data for use by the mixer in performing this command translation. Using this process a new mixer was designed for the HARV and evaluated in simulation and flight. An important element of the Mixer is the priority logic, which determines priority among the pitch-, roll-, and yaw-TV commands.

Pahle, Joseph W.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Space Research Project Management Can Benefit from Engineering Technology Selection Methods

Many engineering methods have been developed to help management select technology for a system design or further research. The simplest way to compare technologies is to use a checklist containing all the more or less important selection criteria, so that nothing is overlooked. The criteria usually include cost, safety, reliability and maintainability, and potential problems such as noise generation and microgravity sensitivity. The next step typically is to weight and score all the criteria. The process of weighting and scoring is helpful in bringing out different priorities and reaching a shared point of view. Group technology selection methods are designed to highlight initial disagreements and produce a shared consensus. Often a frank discussion led by management rather than decision analysts can be more effective. The final selection depends on management and engineering judgment and may include programmatic and organizational factors that are beyond the engineering checklist. The objective of engineering technology selection methods is to provide engineering information to assist management in making sound decisions. Project management and technology selection are assumed to use rational engineering analytic methods, but they often do not. The reason is that human insight, intuition, and “gut feel,” rather than logic, more frequently determine our decisions. Project selection and management are strongly influenced by nonrational psychological influences, which can produce unjustified confidence and determination. Nevertheless, there is a strong need for space projects to do rational project analysis and selection. Demonstrating a rational spirit is necessary for a scientific and technical organization. Professional ethics at its best requires an open, honest, and fair process, without damaging politics. Rational analysis can help improve good projects and avoid selecting bad ones. A sanity check using rational analysis guided by a checklist can help avoid egregious and damaging errors.

Jones, Harry W.↗

NASA NTRS2017

AI and Autonomy Initiatives for NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN)

NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) consists of thirteen large (34- and 70-meter) antennas that are used to communicate with approximately 40 NASA and partner spacecraft, all at great distance from the earth (generally at Lunar distances and beyond). The DSN has a long history — over 50 years — and has evolved with cutting edge, often custom, telecommunications equipment and associated software systems. In recent years, and in preparation for an increasing future demand, there has been an effort to invest in initiatives that will result in significant cost savings in the future. These efforts are building on, or augmenting, the recent deployment of “Follow-the-Sun” operations (day shift remote operational control of the entire network from each of the three antenna complexes in turn) — which is being deployed in 2017. This paper focuses on Adaptive Demand Access: in a paradigm shift from completely pre-planned operations, this concept calls for spacecraft to signal their intent (or not) for near-future contacts, in case they have science results of interest, or have experienced an anomaly. This would take advantage of a beacon tone transmission, which can be detected using smaller antennas. When a connection request is received, the DSN ground systems would adaptively accommodate the request, inserting the contact into the plan as soon as possible, subject to constraints and priorities. The demand access concept incorporates onboard data analysis and science data processing, so that beacon tones can be generated with maximum information. This area is representative of several where infusing AI technologies can lead to improved effectiveness of the DSN as the network readies for support of expanded Mars exploration efforts in the 2020’s and beyond.

Wyatt, E. Jay↗

DOE OSTI2021

Achieving Integrated Daylighting and Electric Lighting Systems: Current State of the Art and Needed Research

This paper presents the results of a multi-disciplinary scoping study, the goals of which were to see the seamless integration and application of light in buildings, regardless of source, that is purposely modulated to illuminate surfaces and designed in a way that is comfortable, healthy, pleasing, cost effective, and energy efficient. The scoping study was performed in order to set the stage for transforming the design and realization of lighting systems integration (daylight and electric). This, in turn, will support achieving the the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) long-term energy savings goals. Holistic lighting systems of the future should include components that are adaptable to change, resilient to disruption, and robust. The system of codes, standards, guidelines, and contracts employed to design and implement lighting systems should be structured to help them to flourish, rather than being barriers to realization. Finally, the research thrusts and mechanisms should be engaged with these goals in mind. While integrated lighting systems may reduce lighting energy use in buildings, a broader web of non-energy impacts affecting occupant’s overall health, comfort, and satisfaction may also guide technology investment goals when the entire lighting systems lifecycle is considered. Daylighting systems are separated from electric lighting systems, and both are characteristically detached from other systems such as safety, security, communications, and information systems. Being disconnected from the inputs and outputs of other building systems precludes the ability to acquire and utilize information about occupation, status of systems, and interior and exterior environmental conditions. The outcome of this separation is that the standard building is not fulfilling the potential for creating dynamic and holistic lighting for building occupants.

Davis, Robert G.↗

NASA NTRS1992

NPB Cesium Space Experiment

Neutral Particle Beam (NPB) weapons systems are planned to perform the ballistic missile defense functions of nuclear weapon/decoy discrimination and warhead kill at appropriate energy levels and ion currents. Negatively charged ions are produced in a specialized ion source and focused into a high quality particle beam. NPB linear accelerators accelerate and steer the negatively charged ions using electric and magnetic fields. After acceleration and steering the neutralizer system strips away extra electrons from ions to form the electrically neutral particle beam. The neutral beam then travels through space to the target unaffected by the Earth's magnetic fields. Continuing technological advances have greatly reduced the size and weight of NPB accelerator systems. Ion current production has been enhanced by over 100 percent with the intermittent addition of cesium at the NPB ion source device. This increase in current is essential to attain the most light weight, compact NPB platforms and minimize expensive launch costs. Addition of cesium into the ion source has been identified by the NPB community as the highest priority risk reduction space experiment necessary prior to planned NPB accelerator experiments and later weapons systems. The NPB Cesium Space Experiment is planned to successfully demonstrate controlled cesium introduction and vaporization into a simulated ion source chamber. Microgravity effects on the cesium deposition will be studied as will the effects of small amounts of cesium on high voltage accelerator components that might be susceptible to electrical insulator break downs. The experiment design will simulate as closely as possible the environment, physical and operational characteristics of the actual NPB ion source.

Parsons, George M., III↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Assessment of the State of Communication Delay Research in Preparation for Missions Beyond Low Earth Orbit

NASA’s mission-operations paradigm, established during Project Mercury and minimally evolving through the Apollo Program, Space Shuttle Program, and ISS missions, has primarily depended on real-time support from a ground team of experts. This ground team has served as the safety net for crewed spaceflight missions over the past 60 years, managing the combined state of the mission, vehicle, and crew. However, this operational paradigm, which has seen little change in its Human-Systems Integration Architecture (HSIA), will face challenges during long-duration exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit. Lunar missions may experience one-way communication latencies ranging from 3 to 14 seconds, while Mars missions will encounter up to a 44-minute round-trip latency at a maximum distance from Earth. Communication delays negatively impact the behavioral health and performance of individuals and crews operating across the multi-team space-to-ground system. Previous research indicates that increased isolation and the challenges posed by delayed communication lead to heightened stress, frustration, adverse behavioral symptoms, and reduced individual performance. NASA has investigated the nature and effectiveness of managing this shift in complex operations since early 2000, but additional research is necessary to assess the issues associated with communication latencies and identify effective countermeasures. This work aimed to examine the evidence from 20 years of research on comm delays. We systematically reviewed the past 20 years of communication delay literature, focusing on how this research aligns with relevant, high-priority needs in the HSIA, Team, and BMed Risks. This type of panoramic review has not been done since 2013; a current, aggregated picture of what has been studied and how is needed to inform additional studies and mitigation development. Additional perspectives were gained from interviews with the research participants, operations experts, and communication delay researchers. Results from this effort will help characterize the risk posed by communication latency for upcoming Artemis missions and point toward potential mitigations. The final results will be presented. For the literature review, we formed a search term seed set drawing from languages used in two papers representative of the previous state of knowledge and supplemented it with additional search terms. We conducted literature searches on Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science and searched NASA project archives for output from NASA-sponsored research. This search yielded 150 papers, of which 48 were relevant. SME interviews provided perspective on key communication delay issues and concerns and what is being worked on to mitigate those issues. Preliminary results of the literature review have been presented. Final results to be presented include the results of the literature review and findings from the interviews.

literature review↗

DOE OSTI2023

Sustainable Chemistry in RD&D to Transform the Chemicals Sector Roundtable

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office and Change Chemistry (formerly the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council, GC3) co-hosted the Sustainable Chemistry in RD&D [research, development, and demonstration] to Transform the Chemicals Sector Roundtable on March 7, 2023. The event brought together about 50 participants—from industry, national laboratories, small businesses, startups, nonprofits, and government—to gather input on how to effectively leverage sustainable chemistry to advance industrial decarbonization, industrial efficiency, and environmental justice goals. This report is a summary of the views expressed by individual participants during the roundtable; it is not intended to represent DOE’s views or programmatic priorities.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2024

Measuring Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Water Resource Recovery Facilities Workshop Report

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office hosted the Measuring Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Water Resource Recovery Facilities Workshop on Jan. 23–24, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The event brought together representatives from water resource recovery facilities, national laboratories, technology providers, academic researchers, industry consultants, and government agencies, to gather input on the challenges and opportunities in greenhouse gas measurement at water resource recovery facilities and how to effectively leverage future DOE efforts to reduce these uncertainties through potential measurement campaign(s). This report is a summary of the views expressed by individual participants during the workshop; it is not intended to represent DOE’s views or programmatic priorities.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

NASA NTRS1990

Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ulysses Mission (Tier 2)

This Final (Tier 2) Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) addresses the environmental impacts which may be caused by implementation of the Ulysses mission, a space flight mission to observe the polar regions of the Sun. The proposed action is completion of preparation and operation of the Ulysses spacecraft, including its planned launch at the earliest available launch opportunity on the Space Transportation System (STS) Shuttle in October 1990 or in the backup opportunity in November 1991. The alternative is canceling further work on the mission. The Tier 1 EIS included a delay alternative which considered the Titan 4 launch vehicle as an alternative booster stage for launch in 1991 or later. This alternative was further evaluated and eliminated from consideration when, in November 1988, the U.S. Air Force, which procures the Titan 4, notified that it could not provide a Titan 4 vehicle for the 1991 launch opportunity because of high priority Department of Defense requirements. The Titan 4 launch vehicle is no longer a feasible alternative to the STS/Inertial Upper Stage (IUS)/Payload Assist Module-Special (PAM-S) for the November 1991 launch opportunity. The only expected environment effects of the proposed action are associated with normal launch vehicle operation and are treated elsewhere. The environmental impacts of normal Shuttle launches were addressed in existing NEPA documentation and are briefly summarized. These impacts are limited largely to the near-field at the launch pad, except for temporary stratospheric ozone effects during launch and occasional sonic boom effects near the landing site. These effects were judged insufficient to preclude Shuttle launches. There could also be environmental impacts associated with the accidental release of radiological material during launch, deployment, or interplanetary trajectory injection of the Ulysses spacecraft. Intensive analysis indicates that the probability of release is small. There are no environmental impacts in the no-action alternative; however, the U.S. Government and the European Space Agency would suffer adverse fiscal and programmatic impacts if this alternative were adopted. The scientific benefits of the mission would be delayed and possibly lost. There could be significant impacts on the ability of the U.S. to negotiate international agreements for cooperative space activities.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2004

Recent NASA research accomplishments aboard the ISS

The activation of the US Laboratory Module "Destiny" on the International Space Station (ISS) in February 2001 launched a new era in microgravity research. Destiny provides the environment to conduct long-term microgravity research utilizing human intervention to assess, report, and modify experiments real time. As the only available pressurized space platform, ISS maximizes today's scientific resources and substantially increases the opportunity to obtain much longed-for answers on the effects of microgravity and long-term exposure to space. In addition, it evokes unexpected questions and results while experiments are still being conducted, affording time for changes and further investigation. While building and outfitting the ISS is the main priority during the current ISS assembly phase, seven different space station crews have already spent more than 2000 crew hours on approximately 80 scientific investigations, technology development activities, and educational demonstrations. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

long duration↗

DOE OSTI2024

Collaborative Design of Robust Adaptation Pathways for Urban Flooding Resilience in Baltimore

Urban pluvial flooding poses a growing threat to the city of Baltimore, driven by changes in climate and rainfall, increased impervious area, aging infrastructure, and severe social inequity. Adaptations to urban flooding should strengthen community-scale resilience while navigating the uncertainties associated with future actions. However, the highly uncertain future climate and conflicting stakeholder objectives complicate the selection of effective and socially acceptable strategies. This study addresses these challenges through a community-informed Multi Objective Robust Decision Making (MORDM) process, coupled with Dynamic Adaptation Policy Pathways (DAPP). Community stakeholders are engaged on a large scale through community partnerships, including priority identification sessions, focus groups, and metric identification workshops. The combination of community partnership, MORDM, and DAPP will create an original set of adaptation pathways which are aligned with community goals and values, and furthermore are adjustable under changing future constraints and conditions. This framework will enhance the city's capacity to respond to evolving pluvial flood conditions while accounting for diverse stakeholder interests and will provide guidance for addressing both the immediate and long-term challenges of urban flooding in Baltimore.

BSEC↗