Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “construction overview”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2

Construct design for precise DNA insertion in plants

Precise insertion of DNA sequences at targeted locations in plant genomes is pivotal for synthetic biology, genetics, and crop improvement. Construct design plays a critical role in achieving precise insertions, yet practical guidance remains limited. This review provides an in-depth overview of construct design principles and targeted DNA insertion (knock-in) strategies in plants. We assess the strengths, limitations, and construct requirements of current knock-in methods for specific applications, including short, large, and multifragment insertions. Additionally, we explore the potential of adopting advanced nonplant technologies to enhance knock-in efficiency and precision in plants. This review provides a valuable resource for facilitating the effective application of knock-in technologies to genetically improve crops with minimal off-target effects.

DNA construct↗

Proton Improvement Plan – II: Overview of Progress in the Construction

The Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II) project is an essential upgrade to Fermilab’s particle accelerator complex to enable the world’s most intense neutrino beam for LBNF/DUNE and a broad particle physics program for many decades to come. PIP-II will deliver 1.2 MW of proton beam power from the Main Injector, upgradeable to multi-MW capability. The central element of PIP-II is an 800 MeV linac, which comprises a room temperature front end followed by an SRF accelerator. The front end has been constructed and operated with (pulsed & CW) beam in the PIP-II Injector Test facility (PIP2IT). The SRF accelerator consists of five different types of cavities/cryomodules, including Half Wave Resonators (HWR), Single Spoke and elliptical resonators operating at state-of-the-art parameters. The first two PIP-II cryomodules, HWR and Single Spoke Resonator 1 (SSR1) are installed in PIP2IT and have accelerated beam to 17 MeV. PIP-II is the first U.S. accelerator project that will be constructed with significant contributions from international partners, including India, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Poland. The project was recently baselined, and site construction is underway

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

An overview of the EASE/ACCESS space construction demonstration

Consideration is given to the development of the Experimental Assembly of Structures in EVA/Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structures (EASE/ACCESS) space construction demonstration, which was performed during Space Shuttle mission 61-B. The mission equipment is described and illustrated and the EASE/ACCESS mission management structure is outlined. Simulations of the assembly and disassembly in the NASA neutral buoyancy simulators were used to test the mission plans. In addition, EVA training and crew performance for the mission are discussed.

Levin, George M.↗

Stress, Cognition, and Human Performance: A Literature Review and Conceptual Framework

The following literature review addresses the effects of various stressors on cognition. While attempting to be as inclusive as possible, the review focuses its examination on the relationships between cognitive appraisal, attention, memory, and stress as they relate to information processing and human performance. The review begins with an overview of constructs and theoretical perspectives followed by an examination of effects across attention, memory, perceptual-motor functions, judgment and decision making, putative stressors such as workload, thermals, noise, and fatigue and closes with a discussion of moderating variables and related topics. In summation of the review, a conceptual framework for cognitive process under stress has been assembled. As one might imagine, the research literature that addresses stress, theories governing its effects on human performance, and experimental evidence that supports these notions is large and diverse. In attempting to organize and synthesize this body of work, I was guided by several earlier efforts (Bourne & Yaroush, 2003; Driskell, Mullen, Johnson, Hughes, & Batchelor, 1992; Driskell & Salas, 1996; Haridcock & Desmond, 2001; Stokes & Kite, 1994). These authors should be credited with accomplishing the monumental task of providing focused reviews in this area and their collective efforts laid the foundation for this present review. Similarly, the format of this review has been designed in accordance with these previous exemplars. However, each of these previous efforts either simply reported general findings, without sufficient experimental illustration, or narrowed their scope of investigation to the extent that the breadth of such findings remained hidden from the reader. Moreover, none of these examinations yielded an architecture that adequately describes or explains the inter-relations between information processing elements under stress conditions.

Stress↗

Selection of Next Priority IMPACT Medical Conditions Based on Available Terrestrial and Spaceflight Data

BACKGROUND: As the era of exploration class missions begins, identification of medical conditions that may occur and require management becomes essential for the modeling of medical risk. To this end, NASA has developed IMPACT (Informing Mission Planning via Analysis of Complex Tradespaces), a suite of tools to assist in assessment of medical risk analysis. It has incorporated an initial list of the 120 conditions of highest concern, labeled the IMPACT condition list 1.0 (ICL 1.0). This abstract describes a method for prioritizing the 92 conditions included on the Proposed Future Conditions List (PFCL) for inclusion in future iterations of the ICL. OVERVIEW: To construct the Prioritized Proposed Future Conditions List (P-PFCL), each condition on the PFCL was scored as “low,” “medium,” or “high” on each of four variables: incidence, likelihood of significant task impairment, diagnostic and treatment complexity, and treatment futility. Qualitative assessment using clinical judgement was utilized to score complexity, futility, and likelihood of impairment. Incidence was assessed quantitatively using spaceflight data and/or analog populations where available then assigned a score using established cutoffs. Logarithmic numerical values were assigned to each category label. A Prioritization Score was generated for each condition by taking the product of incidence and likelihood of task impairment (risk) divided by the product of complexity and futility (difficulty of care), with higher values corresponding to higher priority for future inclusion in the ICL. DISCUSSION: The described methods allow for the generation of a ranked P-PFCL to act as a decision support tool for selection of the next generation of modeled medical conditions. Some of the conditions ranked highly on the P-PFCL include EVA-related upper and lower extremity sprain/strain, iron deficiency, delirium, and hypertension, among others. While this effort does not attempt to quantify the absolute risk associated with each condition, it does attempt to semi-quantitatively estimate the risk of each condition relative to the other possible conditions. This tool in concert with subject matter expert opinion could optimize the future use of limited resources thereby producing a more accurate medical risk model, which will be essential to the upcoming exploration class missions.

Michael Pohlen↗

Relevant Environment Additive Construction Technology (REACT)

Project Overview This project is focused on developing technologies that enable construction of a Lunar Safe Haven type structure on the moon. A full scale architectural and structural design will be completed based on lunar conditions and Artemis mission needs. A scaled structure will be 3D printed in simulated lunar environments. Technical Approach Polymer bound regolith composite materials will be developed and characterized for lunar additive construction applications. A full scale architectural and structural design will be completed based on the latest scientific data on lunar environments including radiation, meteoroids, thermal conditions, reduced gravity, and moonquakes. The project will culminate with a demonstration of additive construction in simulated lunar vacuum, thermal, regolith, and UV conditions. Results/Summary Preliminary material specifications have been developed and an initial batch has been produced. A first iteration of the architectural and structural designs have been completed. Hardware for 3D printing in simulated lunar conditions is under development. Contributing Partners AI Space Factory – Winner of the NASA 3D Printed Habitat Centennial Challenge Infusion and Transition Plan On-surface construction of infrastructure is a critical capability of the sustainable phase of the Artemis Program and eventual sustainable human presence on Mars. It provides the ability to create protective shelters on-demand using local resources. The 3D-printing technology will achieve TRL 6 in 1g/vacuum tests with thermal/UV exposure in this project. CLPS missions will be pursued for infusion to demonstrate vertical construction with lunar regolith and conditions. Modeling and simulation will be used to define the pilot-scale shelter construction mission for long-term exposure on the lunar surface to validate the system for Artemis operational deployment.

Lunar Construction↗

MICROREACTOR APPLICATIONS, RESEARCH, VALIDATION, AND EVALUATION (MARVEL) REACTOR ? STATUS, CONSTRUCTION, AND TESTING

The paper presents the current status of the Microreactor Applications, Research, Validation, and Evaluation (MARVEL) microreactor design, qualification testing, fabrication, and high-level construction schedule. An overview of initial criticality, low power physics testing, and start-up testing is included, as well as an overview of the envisioned processes in which end-users can engage the project for access to operational data or specific demonstrations. Designed by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) under the auspices of the US Department of Energy’s Microreactor Program for construction and operation at the INL, MARVEL is a small, fully functional advanced reactor with UZrH fuel and thermal output of 85 kW. It offers a unique opportunity for scaled demonstrations that can dramatically accelerate the design, licensing, and deployment of commercial microreactors for power production or process heat applications. MARVEL’s objective is to build a small liquid-metal thermal reactor at the INL to demonstrate design and operating processes for microreactors, microgrid integration, and process heat applications. MARVEL finished 90%-final-design in September 2023 and completed an independent project assessment in early 2024. Fabrication of long-lead components and fuel, safety analysis review, and procurement for construction are underway. MARVEL assembly and construction will start in 2025 and fuel loading is expected in mid- 2027. Initial criticality will be performed in a dry condition in late 2027, followed by loading of NaK coolant and start-up testing. Approximately six months later, release for unrestricted operations will enable subsequent testing of microreactor characteristics, microgrid integration and select heat extraction applications.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Lessons Learned from the Construction of Upgrades to the NASA Glenn Icing Research Tunnel and Re-activation Testing

Major upgrades were made in 1999 to the 6- by 9-Foot (1.8- by 2.7-m) Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) at the NASA Glenn Research Center. These included replacement of the electronic controls for the variable-speed drive motor, replacement of the heat exchanger, complete replacement and enlargement of the leg of the tunnel containing the new heat-exchanger, the addition of flow-expanding and flow-contracting turning vanes upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger, respectively, and the addition of fan outlet guide vanes (OGV's). This paper presents an overview of the construction and reactivation testing phases of the project. Important lessons learned during the technical and contract management work are documented.

Sheldon, David W.↗

High-resolution detectors for imaging and spectroscopy at ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelengths

The Multi-Anode Microchannel Arrays (MAMAs) are a family of pulse-counting imaging array detectors designed specifically for astrophysical investigations in space. The MAMAs have a number of unique performance characteristics which make them particularly suitable for imaging and spectroscopy at ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelengths. First, they employ 'solar blind' photocathodes eliminating the 'red leak' problem associated with solid state arrays such as the CCDs. Second, they operate with zero readout noise, yielding photon-statistics limited signals. Third, they utilize a random readout technique and can determine both the location of a detected photon and also its arrival time to an accuracy of the order of 100 ns. This paper gives an overview of the construction, mode of operation, and performance characteristics of the MAMA detectors and describes the current status of the development program.

Timothy, J. G.↗

International Space Station Video Progress Report

A narrated overview of the construction and assembly of the International Space Station (ISS) is given through a collection of clips ranging from the launch of the Russian Proton rocket containing the Zvezda module to computerized animations showing the installation of the Zarya and Unity connecting modules. Footage from some of the space missions that assembled the ISS in space (i.e., STS-106 and STS-92) are seen. The Z1 truss (including the deployment of the solar arrays), Destiny Laboratory Module, Leonardo Module, the Japanese Kibo Experiment Module, Columbus Pressurized Module, and the ISS's robotic arm are seen. Animations show the assembly and evolution of the ISS as new components are added.

Source record↗

Retooling a Trade Association in a Challenged Industry: The Nuclear Energy Institute Story - 18503

The U.S. Nuclear industry is facing significant challenges to maintain economic competitiveness in an electricity supply sector where advances in natural gas, wind, and solar technologies are reshaping the marketplace. As clean and reliable baseload generation, nuclear still has a valuable role to play. But in order for the power of the atom to remain available for meeting the nation's energy, environmental, and national security needs, it will be imperative that industry leadership innovate and become more efficient at a pace that matches the competition. Industry leaders rely, to a large extent, on their trade association - the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) - to be the prime mover in championing initiatives that will enable a successful future. NEI realized that, in the face of an increasingly difficult economic situation, it must become both leaner and more forward looking - it would have to extend its reach and influence while at the same time reigning in costs to its membership. Therefore, on January 17, 2017 NEI completed a restructuring to improve member value and organizational effectiveness. This restructuring was designed in recognition that the nuclear industry is at a pivotal time, and NEI had a unique opportunity to change its trajectory and underline the importance of nuclear energy's role in the nation's critical infrastructure. NEI is now better positioned to support the existing reactor fleet, promote commercialization of advanced reactors, and drive American leadership in commercial nuclear exports and technology around the world. NEI began this restructuring in the fall of 2016 when it consolidated Government Affairs, Communications, Policy and Public Affairs under a new External Affairs function. The January 2017 action extended that effort across the remainder of the organization, ensuring that the organization is highly aligned, member-focused and results driven. The new NEI takes pride in the fact that it is comprised of talented employees who are passionate about nuclear energy and can make a difference for our membership. With this team in place, NEI looks forward to advancing the interests of the nuclear industry while contributing to a safer, cleaner and more productive world. This paper will examine the details of how this new organization was constructed, provide an overview of the National Nuclear Energy Strategy it developed to guide its efforts, examine the trials and tribulations that come along with disruptive change, and reflect on what has been accomplished in the retooled organizations first year. (authors)

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Commercial PACE Financing for New Construction

This fact sheet provides an overview for building owners and developers to take advantage of commercial property assessed clean energy (CPACE) financing for new construction, adaptive reuse, or renovation projects.

Commercial PACE, CPACE, Microgrid, Renewables, new↗

OpenSesame tutorial

OpenSesame is a program for generating tabular equations of state (EOS), with capabilities for multiphase EOS construction. In this tutorial, we provide an overview of how to run OpenSesame to construct a multiphase EOS. We discuss some general features of OpenSesame, followed by a description of sample input files required for multiphase EOS construction. We also discuss how to extract data from EOS tables in order to compare to experimental data, with an example using the OpenSesame GUI. Lastly, we provide a description of how to generate ASCII-formatted EOS tables most often used by hydro code users.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Human Performance Measures for the Evaluation of Nuclear Power Plant Control Room Interfaces: A Systematic Review - 265

The purpose of this study was to review the literature related to measuring human performance in the design and evaluation of the human-system interface (HSI) of nuclear power plant (NPP) control rooms and synthesize lessons learned and future directions for research and practice in this field. The design and evaluation of digital or hybrid HSI requires comprehensive measurement of human performance to ensure quality and safety of the nuclear power process control. Human factors evaluation frameworks have been proposed to guide the measurement of human performance constructs. However, there are few guides for selecting appropriate measures for those constructs. A systematic review of empirical research literature was conducted. Studies were identified through academic publication databases and grey literature searches. Eligible studies were coded and information regarding human performance measures was extracted and analyzed. A total of 80 studies met the criteria. Human performance measures extracted from the reviewed studies included measures of: behavioral performance; workload; situation awareness; human-human or human-machine cooperation; other cognitive performance indicators; and system performance. Behavioral performance (speed and accuracy), workload, and situation awareness were the most frequently measured constructs with validated and domain-specific instruments. The results of the literature review provided an overview of the human performance constructs and their corresponding measures for NPP control room HSI evaluation. These results can be used as an initial guide to establish appropriate and comprehensive measurements of human performance for such evaluations. Future directions in measure development are also discussed. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗