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At least 361 records · Page 20

An Inventory of AI-ready Benchmark Data for US Fires, Heatwaves, and Droughts

Extreme weather events, including fires, heatwaves, and droughts, have significant impacts on earth, environmental, and energy systems. Mechanistic and predictive understanding, as well as probabilistic risk assessment of these extreme weather events, are crucial for detecting, planning for, and responding to these extremes. Records of extreme weather events provide an important data source for understanding present and future extremes, but the existing data needs preprocessing before it can be used for analysis. Moreover, there are many nonstandard metrics defining the levels of severity or impacts of extremes. In this study, we compile a comprehensive benchmark data inventory of extreme weather events, including fires, heatwaves, and droughts. The dataset covers the period from 2001 to 2020 with a daily temporal resolution and a spatial resolution of 0.5°×0.5° (~55km×55km) over the continental United States (CONUS), and a spatial resolution of 1km × 1km over the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region, together with the co-located and relevant meteorological variables. By exploring and summarizing the spatial and temporal patterns of these extremes in various forms of marginal, conditional, and joint probability distributions, we gain a better understanding of the characteristics of climate extremes. The resulting AI/ML-ready data products can be readily applied to ML-based research, fostering and encouraging AI/ML research in the field of extreme weather. This study can contribute significantly to the advancement of extreme weather research, aiding researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in developing improved preparedness and response strategies to protect communities and ecosystems from the adverse impacts of extreme weather events. Usage Notes We presented a long term (2001-2020) and comprehensive data inventory of historical extreme events with daily temporal resolution covering the separate spatial extents of CONUS (0.5°×0.5°) and PNW(1km×1km) for various applications and studies. The dataset with 0.5°×0.5° resolution for CONUS can be used to help build more accurate climate models for the entire CONUS, which can help in understanding long-term climate trends, including changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme events, predicting future extreme events as well as understanding the implications of extreme events on society and the environment. The data can also be applied for risk accessment of the extremes. For example, ML/AI models can be developed to predict wildfire risk or forecast HWs by analyzing historical weather data, and past fires or heateave , allowing for early warnings and risk mitigation strategies. Using this dataset, AI-driven risk assessment models can also be built to identify vulnerable energy and utilities infrastructure, imrpove grid resilience and suggest adaptations to withstand extreme weather events. The high-resolution 1km×1km dataset ove PNW are advantageous for real-time, localized and detailed applications. It can enhance the accuracy of early warning systems for extreme weather events, helping authorities and communities prepare for and respond to disasters more effectively. For example, ML models can be developed to provide localized HW predictions for specific neighborhoods or cities, enabling residents and local emergency services to take targeted actions; the assessment of drought severity in specific communities or watersheds within the PNW can help local authorities manage water resources more effectively.

Lin, Xinming↗

Understanding the Spatial Organization of Simultaneous Heavy Precipitation Events Over the Conterminous United States

We introduce the idea of simultaneous heavy precipitation events (SHPEs) to understand whether extreme precipitation has a spatial organization manifested as specified tracks or contiguous fields with inherent scaling relationships. For this purpose, we created a database of SHPEs using ground-based precipitation observations recorded by the daily Global Historical Climatology Network across the conterminous United States during 1900–2014. SHPEs are examined for their seasonality, spatial manifestation, orientation, and areal extent. We quantified the spatial distribution of the centroids and principal axes of SHPEs and their quasi-elliptical manifestations, azimuthal orientations, and areal extents on the ground. Four seasons, December-January-February (DJF), March-April-May (MAM),June-July-August (JJA), and September-October-November (SON) are considered to examine the spatial patterns and associated large-scale atmospheric circulations. Results indicate that there are 54, 58, 103, and204 SHPEs in DJF, MAM, JJA, and SON seasons, and their longest stretches range on average between 650and 1,600, between 850 and 1,500, between 950 and 1,550, and between 750 and 1,450 km, respectively. SHPEs in the DJF, MAM, and JJA seasons occur mostly over the Pacific coast and central and midwestern United States, respectively. The atmospheric circulation patterns and mechanisms of precipitable water vapor and moisture transport in the atmosphere are also discussed in relation to these SHPEs. Power laws explain SHPEs' underlying area scaling behavior in all the four seasons, with stronger evidence in DJF and MAM. A seasonal spatial risk model is developed to predict the likelihood of SHPEs. Quantifying the characteristics of SHPEs and modeling their footprints can improve the projections of flood risk and understanding of damages to interconnected infrastructure systems.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

The Quantum Nature and Mass of the Neutrino. FY20 Annual Laboratory Continuation Progress Report

Over the last 100 years we have learned a much about the neutrino, but there remain interesting questions about this weakly interacting particle. In particular, at LLNL we are developing experiments to measure the mass and the quantum nature of the neutrino. The 2015 long range plan recommended tonne-scale neutrinoless double beta decay experiments as the top new project priority and this experiment will target the quantum nature of the neutrino. The LLNL team is motivated and focused on developing the best technology for this experiment which is a liquid xenon time project chamber called nEXO. On a longer time scale, LLNL is also developing technology to measure the neutrino mass with tritium decay experiments. Work on nEXO at LLNL started in 2015 with an LDRD and program development funds to develop the nEXO concept, publish sensitivity predictions, explore alternatives and risks, and to build a credible project team and this effort is on going. In addition, we received research funding from DOE-SC NP and LLNL manages pre-conceptual R&D for the nEXO collaboration a portion of which is executed at LLNL. The Project 8 effort is solely funded by LLNL LDRD, and ends this year. A second LDRD effort is focused on repurposing cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy for eV-scale X-ray detection. This second effort, while separated from Project 8, still has scientific and technical commonalities with Project 8. The funding for this X-ray detection effort will continue for one more year. LLNL has a long history of building large projects, science projects and time projection chambers, but nEXO is in fact the first project of this scale that LLNL is prepared to lead for DOE-SC NP.We have the tools, skills, people and motivation to make nEXO a reality. The current program development dollars are used to prepare the nEXO concept for down select and CD1. These internal LLNL dollars pay for a number of things including project staff to organize the nEXO collaboration for the various reviews that lie ahead, to develop the draft plans and structure to manage the project as well as setting up an external advisory committee. The current LDRD is exploring alternatives that effect the risk profile as well as possible performance improvements. The DOE-SC NP base funding is targeted at simulation and analysis of the nEXO concept in preparation for the down select and refinement of the understanding of the detector as well as scientific effort on the large xenon test stand (LXTS) that will burn down one of the largest risks to the nEXO project. Lastly, LLNL is leading the pre-conceptual R&D effort and managing the funds for the nEXO collaboration. The results of this effort are reported elsewhere, but the scope of this executed at LLNL will be reported here and is primarily the engineering and construction of the LXTS experiment. The primary technical contribution of LLNL to the Project 8 concept is the formation and study of atomic tritium. Atomic tritium is necessary for Project 8 to reach the ultimate sensitivity. LLNL has considerable experience with tritium and is well suited for this crucial work. Although the focus of this work is strictly fundamental science, there has already been one significant spinoff to develop a new means to measure radio xenon in the air

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The Quantum Nature of the Neutrino

Over the last 100 years we have learned much about the neutrino, but there remain interesting questions about this weakly interacting particle. In particular, at LLNL we are developing an experiment to measure the quantum nature of the neutrino. The 2015 long range plan recom mended tonne-scale neutrinoless double beta decay experiments as the top new project priority and this experiment will target the quantum nature of the neutrino. The LLNL team is motivated and focused on developing the best technology for this experiment which is a liquid xenon time projection chamber called nEXO. Work on nEXO at LLNL started in 2015 with an LDRD and program development funds to de velop the nEXO concept, publish sensitivity predictions, explore alternatives and risks, and to build a credible project team and this effort is on going. In addition, we received research funding from DOE-SC NP and LLNL manages pre-conceptual R&D for the nEXO collaboration a portion of which is executed at LLNL. LLNL has a long history of building large projects, science projects and time projection chambers, but nEXO is in fact the first project of this scale that LLNL is prepared to lead for DOE-SC NP. We have the tools, skills, people and motivation to make nEXO a reality. The current program devel opment dollars are used to prepare the nEXO concept for down select and CD1. These internal LLNL dollars pay for a number of things including project staff to organize the nEXO collaboration for the various reviews, to develop the draft plans and structure to manage the project as well as setting up external advisory committees. The DOE-SC NP base funding is targeted at simulation and analysis of the nEXO concept in preparation for the down select and refinement of the under standing of the detector as well as scientific effort on the large xenon test stand (LXTS) that will burn down one of the largest risks to the nEXO project. Lastly, LLNL is leading the pre-conceptual R&D effort and managing the funds for the nEXO collaboration. LLNL continues to build the best scientific team for nEXO and this year that includes adding Ethan Bernard to lead the efforts on the LXTS. We will also soon add a new postoc, Samuel Hedges, in the fall to the LLNL nEXO team. The effort this year was influenced by the portfolio review, and there were a number of scientific activities led by LLNL to prepare for this review. In addition, we again took a lead role on the new sensitivity paper as well as publishing a paper based analyzing the effects of skin xenon in nEXO. LLNL leads the software and analysis for the project and we continued work in this area as well. High voltage remains a significant risk for the project and we continue to make progress on the LXTS that will mitigate this risk. Lastly we remain active in looking at how to scale the technology to larger scales, and expect to produce a paper on this topic in the near future.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS) FY24 Update

This report summarizes fiscal year 2024 (FY24) activities centered around a series of field tests in bedded salt at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) funded by the Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology in the Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (SFWD) program of the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE). High-level Purpose of Experiments: The Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS) field tests are revealing both brine occurrence (i.e., where, and how much) and brine migration (i.e., how easily it moves) in the excavation damaged zone (EDZ). This understanding is foundational to develop a safety case for a future heat-generating waste repository in salt, and to starting up a generic repository program in salt to buy down risk. BATS seeks to predict how much brine can flow into both ambient and heated excavations (e.g., boreholes or rooms) in salt. This work is educating and empowering new repository scientists on two fronts: “design and execution of field tests” and “prediction and modeling of coupled processes.” DOE-NE capabilities in salt have grown and been tested through international modeling and benchmarking exercises (e.g., DECOVALEX, RANGERS, KOMPASS, and MEASURES; see Mills et al., 2024). The hands-on expertise we are building is a necessary step towards large-scale disposal demonstrations and eventual implementation.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Cliff Retreat Rates Associated with a Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility in Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

We present an analysis and interpretation of potential cliff stability at a low-level waste disposal facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, using cliff morphologic and fracture characteristics coupled with carbon-14 surface exposure dating. Our study is important as it directly bears on the licensing criteria for low-level radioactive waste sites. We find that future characteristic cliff failures will likely not breach disposal pits and shafts over the 1000-year minimum regulatory period. Further, we find, using a multivariate regression model, that slope angle and cliff face aspect are sub-equal in importance to predict regions of high risk of failure when combined with surface exposure ages and assuming that old exposure ages are most indicative of stability (instability) and therefore can aid decision making in final design implementation.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Quantification of Spore-forming Bacteria Carried by Dust Particles

In order to establish a biological contamination transport model for predicting the cross contamination risk during spacecraft assembly and upon landing on Mars, it is important to understand the relationship between spore-forming bacteria and their carrier particles. We conducted air and surface sampling in indoor, outdoor, and cleanroom environments to determine the ratio of spore forming bacteria to their dust particle carriers of different sizes. The number of spore forming bacteria was determined from various size groups of particles in a given environment. Our data also confirms the existence of multiple spores on a single particle and spore clumps. This study will help in developing a better bio-contamination transport model, which in turn will help in determining forward contamination risks for future missions.

particles↗

The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Applications Activity

The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission is one of the first-tier satellite missions recommended by the U.S. National Research Council Committee on Earth Science and Applications from Space. The SMAP mission 1 is under development by NASA and is scheduled for launch late in 2014. The SMAP measurements will allow global and high-resolution mapping of soil moisture and its freeze/thaw state at resolutions from 3-40 km. These measurements will have high value for a wide range of environmental applications that underpin many weather-related decisions including drought and flood guidance, agricultural productivity estimation, weather forecasting, climate predictions, and human health risk. In 2007, NASA was tasked by The National Academies to ensure that emerging scientific knowledge is actively applied to obtain societal benefits by broadening community participation and improving means for use of information. SMAP is one of the first missions to come out of this new charge, and its Applications Plan forms the basis for ensuring its commitment to its users. The purpose of this paper is to outline the methods and approaches of the SMAP applications activity, which is designed to increase and sustain the interaction between users and scientists involved in mission development.

Brown, Molly E.↗

Surveys of ISS Returned Hardware for MMOD Impacts

Since February 2001, the Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) group at the Johnson Space Center in Houston has performed 26 post-flight inspections on space exposed hardware that have been returned from the International Space Station. Data on 1,024 observations of MMOD damage have been collected from these inspections. Survey documentation typically includes impact feature location and size measurements as well as microscopic photography (25-200x). Sampling of impacts sites for projectile residue was performed for the largest features. Results of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis to discern impactor source is included in the database. This paper will summarize the post-flight MMOD inspections, and focus on two inspections in particular: (1) Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2) cover returned in 2015 after 1.6 years exposure with 26 observed damages, and (2) Airlock shield panels returned in 2010 after 8.7 years exposure with 58 MMOD damages. Feature sizes from the observed data are compared to predictions using the Bumper risk assessment code.

Hyde, James↗

Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Parts Risk and Reliability User and Application Guide

All COTS parts are not created equal. Because they are not created equal, the notion that one can force the commercial industry to follow a set of military specifications and standards, along with the certifications, audits and qualification commitments that go with them, is unrealistic for the sale of a few parts. The part technologies that are Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) certified or Military Specification (MS) qualified, are several generations behind the state-of-the-art high-performance parts that are required for the compact, higher performing systems for the next generation of spacecraft and instruments. The majority of the part suppliers are focused on the portion of the market that is producing high-tech commercial products and systems. To that end, in order to compete in the high performance and leading edge advanced technological systems, an alternative approach to risk assessment and reliability prediction must be considered.

White, Mark↗

Detecting Hail from Space: Using a Multi-Frequency Passive-Microwave Retrieval to Analyze the Global Climatology and Diurnal Cycle of Severe Hail

Severe hail poses myriad threats to society, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture. As hail is severe, relatively infrequent, and highly localized, it is difficult to measure in-situ and if left unresolved in models and precipitation retrievals, hail can cause large errors and uncertainties. The difficulty in measuring hail in situ and the inconsistency of surface-based hail reporting drive the motivation to use spaceborne remote-sensing platforms to retrieve hail and construct climatologies in a globally uniform way. We leverage the scattering signatures of severe hail in spaceborne passive-microwave datasets paired with surface hail reports to construct a multi-frequency hail retrieval using Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) microwave imager (TMI) data. Using coincident Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Ku-band precipitation radar, we assessed this retrieval and several others in the literature for their effectiveness and regional variability. We use this retrieval to construct global passive-microwave climatologies of severe hail using the TRMM, GPM, Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E), and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) sensors and extend into the pre-TRMM era to the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMI/(S)) data. We also leverage the sensors in inclined orbits to assess the diurnal variability of severe hail globally and the effect the diurnal cycle has on the detection of hail by sensors in sun-synchronous orbit. The goal is to construct a robust, multi-decade multi-satellite climatology of hail. As part of the NASA Disasters Applied Sciences program, we assess these climatologies against other satellite severe weather datasets and use these climatologies in collaboration with stakeholders and end-users to help them assess risk, and improve the prediction, preparation, and response to severe storms around the world.

Sarah D Bang↗

Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrumentation

Overview of sensors used in EDL instrumentation suites. For spaceflight missions involving atmospheric entry, the environment experienced by a spacecraft cannot be fully replicated on the ground. Taking measurements in the flight environment is the “gold standard” for: Validating predictive modeling tools Reducing risk on future EDL missions EDL Instrumentation can consist of in-situ sensors embedded within the aeroshell, or remote observations. Focus of this presentation is on NASA in-situ sensors.

EDL↗

Genomic and Phenotypic Associations to Predict Human Sensitivity to SpaceRadiation

High-linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation is a major health hazard for astronauts who will be exposed to galactic cosmic rays during upcoming lunar and Mars missions. Predicting and mitigating this risk requires understanding the factors underlying individual radiation sensitivity. We started to address this challenge by identifying the genomic and phenotypic associations with sensitivity to low and high-LET ionizing radiation ex vivo in over 750 healthy human donors. We exposed primary human blood mononuclear cells to simulated galactic cosmic ray components: 350MeV/n 28Si, 350MeV/n 40Ar and 600MeV/n 56Fe particles, at 1.1 and 3 particles/100 sq.m fluences, as well as 0.1 Gy and 1 Gy doses of gamma rays, and analyzed the outcomes at 4 and 24 hours post-irradiation. We quantified DNA damage and repair responses based on 53BP1+ radiation-induced foci formation, together with oxidative stress and changes in secreted factors including immune cytokines and exosomes. We also analyzed phenotypic associations with spontaneous DNA repair foci at baseline prior to irradiation. We identified an increase in spontaneous DNA repair associated with age and latent viral infection, and observed that human spontaneous DNA repair foci at baseline can serve as a negative predictor of DNA repair and immunoregulatory cytokine production after irradiation. Furthermore, we observed a wide variability of subject- and LET-dependent radiation responses, with radiation-induced DNA repair foci increasing by dose and LET, and high-LET particle radiation resulting in more residual DNA damage compared to low-LET particles and gamma rays. We have developed multiple metrics to quantify human radio sensitivity across the spectrum of conditions. Here we present their dependence on radiation quality and phenotypic variables, including an age-dependent decrease in DNA repair after irradiation, and genomic associations with radio sensitivity based on low-coverage whole genome sequencing. We anticipate that our work will pave the way for understanding the spectrum of human radio sensitivity and identifying targets for countermeasure development to reduce DNA and cellular damage and radiation carcinogenesis during deep space exploration.

GWAS radiation human↗

Genomic and Phenotypic Predictors of Human Ex Vivo Sensitivity to Simulated Deep Space Radiation

High-linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation is a major health hazard for astronauts who will be exposed to galactic cosmic rays during upcoming lunar and Mars missions. Predicting and mitigating this risk requires understanding the factors underlying individual radiation sensitivity. We started to address this challenge by identifying the genomic and phenotypic associations with sensitivity to low and high-LET ionizing radiation ex vivo in over 750 healthy human donors. We exposed primary human blood mononuclear cells to simulated galactic cosmic ray components: 350 MeV/n 28Si, 350 MeV/n 40Ar and 600 MeV/n 56Fe particles, at 1.1 and 3 particles/100 sq.m fluences, as well as 0.1 Gy and 1 Gy doses of gamma rays, and analyzed the outcomes at 4 and 24 hours post-irradiation. We quantified DNA damage and repair responses based on 53BP1+ radiation-induced foci formation, together with oxidative stress and changes in secreted factors including immune cytokines and exosomes. We also analyzed phenotypic associations with spontaneous DNA repair foci at baseline prior to irradiation. We identified an increase in spontaneous DNA repair associated with age and latent viral infection, and observed that human spontaneous DNA repair foci at baseline can serve as a negative predictor of DNA repair and immunoregulatory cytokine production after irradiation. Furthermore, we observed a wide variability of subject- and LET-dependent radiation responses, with radiation-induced DNA repair foci increasing by dose and LET, and high-LET particle radiation resulting in more residual DNA damage compared to low-LET particles and gamma rays. We have developed multiple metrics to quantify human radiosensitivity across the spectrum of conditions. Here we present their dependence on radiation quality and phenotypic variables, including an age-dependent decrease in DNA repair after irradiation, and genomic associations with radiosensitivity based on low-coverage whole genome sequencing. We anticipate that our work will pave the way for understanding the spectrum of human radiosensitivity and identifying targets for countermeasure development to reduce DNA and cellular damage and radiation carcinogenesis during deep space exploration.

GWAS↗

Genomic and phenotypic predictors of human ex vivo sensitivity to simulated deep space radiation

High-linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation is a major health hazard for astronauts who will be exposed to galactic cosmic rays during upcoming lunar and Mars missions. Predicting and mitigating this risk requires understanding the factors underlying individual radiation sensitivity. We started to address this challenge by identifying the genomic and phenotypic associations with sensitivity to low and high-LET ionizing radiation ex vivo in over 750 healthy human donors. We exposed primary human blood mononuclear cells to simulated galactic cosmic ray components: 350MeV/n (28)Si, 350MeV/n (40)Ar and 600MeV/n (56)Fe particles, at 1.1 and 3 particles/100µm^(2) fluences, as well as 0.1 Gy and 1 Gy doses of gamma rays, and analyzed the outcomes at 4 and 24 hours post-irradiation. We quantified DNA damage and repair responses based on 53BP1^(+) radiation-induced foci formation, together with oxidative stress and changes in secreted factors including immune cytokines and exosomes. We also analyzed phenotypic associations with spontaneous DNA repair foci at baseline prior to irradiation. We identified an increase in spontaneous DNA repair associated with age and latent viral infection, and observed that human spontaneous DNA repair foci at baseline can serve as a negative predictor of DNA repair and immunoregulatory cytokine production after irradiation. Furthermore, we observed a wide variability of subject- and LET-dependent radiation responses, with radiation-induced DNA repair foci increasing by dose and LET, and high-LET particle radiation resulting in more residual DNA damage compared to low-LET particles and gamma rays. We have developed multiple metrics to quantify human radiosensitivity across the spectrum of conditions. Here we present their dependence on radiation quality and phenotypic variables, including an age-dependent decrease in DNA repair after irradiation, and genomic associations with radiosensitivity based on low-coverage whole genome sequencing. We anticipate that our work will pave the way for understanding the spectrum of human radiosensitivity and identifying targets for countermeasure development to reduce DNA and cellular damage and radiation carcinogenesis during deep space exploration.

GWAS↗

Orion Artemis I as Flown MMOD Analysis

The Orion spacecraft conducted the Artemis I flight around the Moon from November 16 through December 11, 2022. After the flight, the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) Group performed a Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) analysis using the Bumper 3 risk assessment tool to predict the number of small impacts that would likely have occurred during the mission. Separately, the same group inspected the Orion capsule for hypervelocity impact damage features. The results of the inspection were compared to those of the analysis to aid in improving the analysis, including the environment models. The comparison showed that Bumper analysis predictions were generally within one integer value of the damage found, which is considered high accuracy. As this was the first large, non-ablative returned surface from a lunar mission, this effort extends the MMOD community’s insight beyond low Earth orbit into cis-lunar space.

Kevin D Deighton↗

Orion Artemis I as Flown MMOD Analysis

The Orion spacecraft conducted the Artemis I flight around the Moon from November 16 through December 11, 2022. After the flight, the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) Group performed a Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) analysis using the Bumper 3 risk assessment tool to predict the number of small impacts that would likely have occurred during the mission. Separately, the same group inspected the Orion capsule for hypervelocity impact damage features. The results of the inspection were compared to those of the analysis to aid in improving the analysis, including the environment models. The comparison showed that Bumper analysis predictions were generally within one integer value of the damage found, which is considered high accuracy. As this was the first large, non-ablative returned surface from a lunar mission, this effort extends the MMOD community’s insight beyond low Earth orbit into cis-lunar space.

MMOD↗