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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Determination of the position of Jupiter from radio metric tracking of Voyager 1

The Voyager 1 spacecraft flew by Jupiter on March 5, 1979. Spacecraft navigation was performed with radio tracking data from NASA's Deep Space Network. In the years since then, there has been a great deal of progress in the definition of celestial reference frames and in determining the orbit and orientation of the Earth. Using these improvements, the radio metric range and Doppler data acquired from the Voyager 1 spacecraft near its encounter with Jupiter have been reanalyzed to determine the plane-of-sky position of Jupiter with much greater accuracy than was possible at the time of the encounter. The position of Jupiter at the time of encounter has been determined with an accuracy of 40 nrad in right ascension and 140 nrad in declination with respect to the celestial reference frame defined by the International Earth Rotation Service. This position estimate has been done to improve the ephemeris of Jupiter prior to the upcoming encounter of the Galileo spacecraft with Jupiter.

Folkner, W. M.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Melting of charge density waves in low dimensions

Charge density waves (CDWs) are collective electronic states that can reshape and melt, even while confined within a rigid atomic crystal. In two dimensions, melting is predicted to be distinct, proceeding through partially ordered nematic and hexatic states that are neither liquid nor crystal. Here, we measure and explain how continuous, hexatic melting of incommensurate CDWs occurs in low-dimensional materials. As a CDW is thermally excited, disorder emerges progressively—initially through smooth elastic deformations that modulate the local wavelength and subsequently via the nucleation of topological defects. Experimentally, we track three hallmark signatures of CDW melting—azimuthal superlattice peak broadening, wavevector contraction, and integrated intensity decay.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structure-guided utilization of lignocellulose for catalysis, energy, and biomaterials

As a complex composite of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, plant lignocellulose has long served as a major resource for biomass conversion, materials engineering, and bio-based product development. High-resolution structural insights enabled by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) now allow the mapping of polymer interfaces, identification of functional group accessibility, and tracking of molecular organization during processing, all of which are critical factors for optimizing catalytic strategies. These insights could drive transformative progress in lignocellulose-based applications, including selective depolymerization, improved pretreatment design, and efficient upcycling of lignin into resins, plastics, and biomedical materials. In industry-relevant contexts, such as biofuel generation and renewable material manufacturing, understanding the hydration dynamics, cross-linking patterns, and structural heterogeneity is also essential. The ability to visualize these features in native biomass presents a unique opportunity to develop new strategies for sustainability and performance. As the structural toolbox continues to expand, it is becoming a central enabler for innovations in renewable energy, green chemistry, and advanced bioproducts.

bioproduct↗
NASA NTRS1972

Analysis of signal to noise enhancement using a highly selective modulation tracking filter

Experiments are reported which utilize photodielectric effects in semiconductor loaded superconducting resonant circuits for suppressing noise in RF communication systems. The superconducting tunable cavity acts as a narrow band tracking filter for detecting conventional RF signals. Analytical techniques were developed which lead to prediction of signal-to-noise improvements. Progress is reported in optimization of the experimental variables. These include improved Q, new semiconductors, improved optics, and simplification of the electronics. Information bearing signals were passed through the system, and noise was introduced into the computer model.

Haden, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Real-time tracking using stereo and motion: Visual perception for space robotics

The state-of-the-art in computing technology is rapidly attaining the performance necessary to implement many early vision algorithms at real-time rates. This new capability is helping to accelerate progress in vision research by improving our ability to evaluate the performance of algorithms in dynamic environments. In particular, we are becoming much more aware of the relative stability of various visual measurements in the presence of camera motion and system noise. This new processing speed is also allowing us to raise our sights toward accomplishing much higher-level processing tasks, such as figure-ground separation and active object tracking, in real-time. This paper describes a methodology for using early visual measurements to accomplish higher-level tasks; it then presents an overview of the high-speed accelerators developed at Teleos to support early visual measurements. The final section describes the successful deployment of a real-time vision system to provide visual perception for the Extravehicular Activity Helper/Retriever robotic system in tests aboard NASA's KC135 reduced gravity aircraft.

Nishihara, H. Keith↗
NASA NTRS2012

Satellite Perspective of Aerosol Intercontinental Transport: From Qualitative Tracking to Quantitative Characterization

Evidence of aerosol intercontinental transport (ICT) is both widespread and compelling. Model simulations suggest that ICT could significantly affect regional air quality and climate, but the broad inter-model spread of results underscores a need of constraining model simulations with measurements. Satellites have inherent advantages over in situ measurements to characterize aerosol ICT, because of their spatial and temporal coverage. Significant progress in satellite remote sensing of aerosol properties during the Earth Observing System (EOS) era offers opportunity to increase quantitative characterization and estimates of aerosol ICT, beyond the capability of pre-EOS era satellites that could only qualitatively track aerosol plumes. EOS satellites also observe emission strengths and injection heights of some aerosols, aerosol precursors, and aerosol-related gases, which can help characterize aerosol ICT. After an overview of these advances, we review how the current generation of satellite measurements have been used to (1) characterize the evolution of aerosol plumes (e.g., both horizontal and vertical transport, and properties) on an episodic basis, (2) understand the seasonal and inter-annual variations of aerosol ICT and their control factors, (3) estimate the export and import fluxes of aerosols, and (4) evaluate and constrain model simulations. Substantial effort is needed to further explore an integrated approach using measurements from on-orbit satellites (e.g., A-Train synergy) for observational characterization and model constraint of aerosol intercontinental transport and to develop advanced sensors for future missions.

Yu, Hongbin↗
DOE OSTI2021

RadTraQ (Radar Tracking and Quality Toolkit

RadTraQ is a python library housing routines related to assessing and monitoring the quality of a radar's quality and calibration. This library is a work in progress, currently housing scripts to plot radar CFADs, plot and analyze corner reflector scans, calculate noise floors, create cloud masks, and plot up average profiles for comparisons.

THEISEN, ADAMK↗
NASA NTRS1993

Progress report on the ultra heavy cosmic ray experiment (AO178)

The Ultra Heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment (UHCRE) is based on a modular array of 192 side-viewing solid state nuclear track detector stacks. These stacks were mounted in sets of four in 48 pressure vessels employing sixteen peripheral Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) trays. The extended duration of the LDEF mission has resulted in a greatly enhanced scientific yield from the UHCRE. The geometry factor for high energy cosmic ray nuclei, allowing for Earth shadowing, was 30 sq m-sr, giving a total exposure factor of 170 sq m-sr-y at an orbital inclination of 28.4 degrees. Scanning results indicate that about 3000 cosmic ray nuclei in the charge region with Z greater than 65 were collected. This sample is more than ten times the current world data in the field (taken to be the data set from the HEAO-3 mission plus that from the Ariel-6 mission) and is sufficient to provide the world's first statistically significant sample of actinide (Z greater than 88) cosmic rays. Results to date are presented including details of ultra-heavy cosmic ray nuclei, analysis of pre-flight and post-flight calibration events and details of track response in the context of detector temperature history. The integrated effect of all temperature and age related latent track variations cause a maximum charge shift of +/- 0.8 e for uranium and +/- 0.6 e for the platinum-lead group. The precision of charge assignment as a function of energy is derived and evidence for remarkably good charge resolution achieved in the UHCRE is considered. Astrophysical implications of the UHCRE charge spectrum are discussed.

Thompson, A.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Commercialization and Standardization Progress Towards an Optical Communications Earth Relay

NASA is planning to launch the next generation of a space based Earth relay in 2025 to join the current Space Network, consisting of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites in space and the corresponding infrastructure on Earth. While the requirements and architecture for that relay satellite are unknown at this time, NASA is investing in communications technologies that could be deployed to provide new communications services. One of those new technologies is optical communications. The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) project, scheduled for launch in 2018 as a hosted payload on a commercial communications satellite, is a critical pathfinder towards NASA providing optical communications services on the next generation space based relay. This paper will describe NASA efforts in the on-going commercialization of optical communications and the development of inter-operability standards. Both are seen as critical to making optical communications a reality on future NASA science and exploration missions. Commercialization is important because NASA would like to eventually be able to simply purchase an entire optical communications terminal from a commercial provider. Inter-operability standards are needed to ensure that optical communications terminals developed by one vendor are compatible with the terminals of another. International standards in optical communications would also allow the space missions of one nation to use the infrastructure of another.

lasers↗
DOE OSTI2020

State-of-the-art and evolution of UFSD sensors design at FBK

Over the past few years, there has been growing interest in the development of silicon sensors able to simultaneously measure accurately the time of passage and the position of impinging charged particles. In this contribution, a review of the progresses in the design of UFSD (Ultra-Fast Silicon Detectors) sensors, manufactured at the FBK (Fondazione Bruno Kessler) Foundry, aiming at tracking charged particles in 4 dimensions, is presented. The state-of-the-art UFSD sensors, with excellent timing capability, are planned to be used in both ATLAS and CMS experiments detector upgrade, in order to reduce the background due to the presence of overlapping events in the same bunch crossing. The latest results on sensors characterization including time resolution, radiation resistance and uniformity of the response are here summarized, pointing out the interplay between the design of the gain layer and the UFSD performances. The research is now focusing on the maximization of the sensor fill factor, to be able to reduce the pixel size, exploring the implementation of shallow trenches for the pixel isolation and the development of resistive AC-coupled UFSD sensors. In conclusion, a brief review on research paths tailored for detection of low energy X-rays or for low material budget applications is given.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Simulation of wind and solar energy generation over California with E3SM SCREAM regionally refined models at 3.25 km and 800 m resolutions

This study presents wind and solar power generation estimates derived from the US Department of Energy’s Simple Cloud-Resolving E3SM Atmosphere Model (SCREAM) Regionally Refined Models (RRM) over California at 3.25 km and 800 m horizontal resolutions, using the Python wrapper for the System Advisor Model (PySAM). The resulting wind and solar generation estimates are compared to monthly capacity factors reported to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR, 3 km resolution) forecast model, and E3SM North American regionally refined model (NARRM, 25 km resolution). We systematically assess the impacts of generation modeling assumptions, meteorological models, and horizontal resolution. Results show that resolution plays a dominant role for wind energy: increasing from 25 to 3.25 km brings qualitative and quantitative improvements, most notably by resolving the phase error in the seasonal cycle found in coarser simulations. However, further refinement to 800 m offers minimal gains. SCREAM performs better than HRRR for solar power generation in single- and dual-axis tracking systems, likely due to more accurate surface radiation. The sensitivity of PySAM to system configuration, particularly for axis-tracking modeling in photovoltaics, is also highlighted. Overall, SCREAM-RRM shows strong potential for high-resolution energy assessments, with future progress depending on more in situ observations and clearer quantification of uncertainties in generation modeling.

Geosciences↗
NASA NTRS1992

Observing the advection of sea ice in the Weddell Sea using buoy and satellite passive microwave data

Data from four buoys tracked by Nimbus 6 and concurrent ice concentrations retrieved from Nimbus 7 scanning multichannel microwave radiometer data are used to investigate the progress and behavior of an area of sea ice as it drifts from the southwestern Weddell Sea. The overall drift characteristics and their relationship to ice edge displacement are examined within the framework of four zones. Three phases are identified in the large-scale behavior of the Weddell Sea ice cover, namely, a rapid equatorward and eastward advance, a quasi-equilibrium phase, and a period of rapid recession. Outbreaks of cold continental air alternate with incursions of relatively warm air from the north; warm conditions are recorded as far as 1200 km in from the ice edge in winter. Closed loops in the buoy trajectories, which are clockwise to the south of 63 deg S, reverse to become anticlockwise to the north. A coherence is observed in the response of the buoys to the passage of storms, even though the buoys separated by a distance of over 100 km.

Massom, Robert A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Approximate Micromechanics Treatise of Composite Impact

A formalism is described for micromechanic impact of composites. The formalism consists of numerous equations which describe all aspects of impact from impactor and composite conditions to impact contact, damage progression, and penetration or containment. The formalism is based on through-the-thickness displacement increments simulation which makes it convenient to track local damage in terms of microfailure modes and their respective characteristics. A flow chart is provided to cast the formalism (numerous equations) into a computer code for embedment in composite mechanic codes and/or finite element composite structural analysis.

Chamis, Christos C.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Current Scientific Progress and Future Scientific Prospects Enabled by Spaceborne Precipitation Radar Measurements

First, we examine current scientific progress and understanding that have been possible through use of spaceborne precipitation radar measurements being provided by the TRMM and CloudSat satellites. Second, we look across a future 20-year time frame to assess how and why anticipated improvements in space radar systems will further advance scientific progress into topic areas once considered beyond the realm of space-based remote sensing. JAXA's 13.8 GHz Ku-band cross-track scanning Precipitation Radar (PR) developed for flight on NASA's non-sun-synchronous, diurnally-precessing TRMM satellite, was the first Earth radar flown in space that was designed specifically for precipitation measurement. Its proven accuracy in measuring global rainfall in the tropics and sub-tropics and its unanticipated longevity in continuing these measurements beyond a full decade have established the standards against which all follow-up and future space radars will be evaluated. In regards to the current PR measurement time series, we will discuss a selection of major scientific discoveries and impacts which have set the stage for future radar measuring systems. In fact, the 2nd contemporary space radar applicable for terrestrial precipitation measurement, i.e., JPL-CSA's 94 GHz nadir-staring Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) flown on NASA's sun-synchronous CloudSat satellite, although designed primarily for measurement of non-precipitating cloud hydrometeors and aerosols, has also unquestionably advanced precipitation measurement because CPR's higher frequency and greatly increased sensitivity (approximately 30 dBZ) has enabled global observations of light rain rate spectrum processes (i.e., rain rates below 0.05 mm per hourand of precipitation processes in the high troposphere (particularly ice phase processes). These processes are beyond reach of the TRMM radar because the PR sensitivity limit is approximately 17 dBZ which means its lower rain rate cutoff is around 0.3 mm per hour and its vertical profiling acuity is greatly limited above the melting layer. Thus, the newer CPR measurements have become important for a variety of scientific reasons that will be highlighted and assessed. In considering scientific progress likely to stem from future precipitation radar systems, we will specifically examine possible scientific impacts from three anticipated missions for which NASA and various of its space agency partners are expected to lead the way. These three missions are: (1) the nearterm Global Precipitation Measuring (GPM) Mission; (2) the decadal timeline Aerosol and Cloud Experiment (ACE) Mission; and the post-decadal timeline NEXRAD in Space (NIS) Mission. The observational capabilities of the planned radar systems for each of these three satellite missions are distinct from each other and each provides progressive improvements in precipitation measuring and scientific research capabilities relative to where we are now -- insofar as TRMM PR and the CloudSat CPR capabilities. The potential innovations in scientific research will be discussed in a framework of likely synergisms between next-generation radar capabilities and accessible dynamical and microphysical properties that have heretofore evaded detection.

Smith, Eric A.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Comparison of Model Calculations of Biological Damage from Exposure to Heavy Ions with Measurements

The space environment consists of a varying field of radiation particles including high-energy ions, with spacecraft shielding material providing the major protection to astronauts from harmful exposure. Unlike low-LET gamma or X rays, the presence of shielding does not always reduce the radiation risks for energetic charged-particle exposure. Dose delivered by the charged particle increases sharply at the Bragg peak. However, the Bragg curve does not necessarily represent the biological damage along the particle path since biological effects are influenced by the track structures of both primary and secondary particles. Therefore, the ''biological Bragg curve'' is dependent on the energy and the type of the primary particle and may vary for different biological end points. Measurements of the induction of micronuclei (MN) have made across the Bragg curve in human fibroblasts exposed to energetic silicon and iron ions in vitro at two different energies, 300 MeV/nucleon and 1 GeV/nucleon. Although the data did not reveal an increased yield of MN at the location of the Bragg peak, the increased inhibition of cell progression, which is related to cell death, was found at the Bragg peak location. These results are compared to the calculations of biological damage using a stochastic Monte-Carlo track structure model, Galactic Cosmic Ray Event-based Risk Model (GERM) code (Cucinotta, et al., 2011). The GERM code estimates the basic physical properties along the passage of heavy ions in tissue and shielding materials, by which the experimental set-up can be interpreted. The code can also be used to describe the biophysical events of interest in radiobiology, cancer therapy, and space exploration. The calculation has shown that the severely damaged cells at the Bragg peak are more likely to go through reproductive death, the so called "overkill".

Kim, Myung-Hee Y.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Smart Pixels: towards on-sensor inference of charged particle track parameters and uncertainties

The combinatorics of track seeding has long been a computational bottleneck for triggering and offline computing in High Energy Physics (HEP), and remains so for the HL-LHC. Next-generation pixel sensors will be sufficiently fine-grained to determine angular information of the charged particle passing through from pixel-cluster properties. This detector technology immediately improves the situation for offline tracking, but any major improvements in physics reach are unrealized since they are dominated by lowest-level hardware trigger acceptance. We will demonstrate track angle and hit position prediction, including errors, using a mixture density network within a single layer of silicon as well as the progress towards and status of implementing the neural network in hardware on both FPGAs and ASICs.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

PET Imaging Agents (FES, FFNP, and FDHT) for Estrogen, Androgen, and Progesterone Receptors to Improve Management of Breast and Prostate Cancers by Functional Imaging

Many breast and prostate cancers are driven by the action of steroid hormones on their cognate receptors in primary tumors and in metastases, and endocrine therapies that inhibit hormone production or block the action of these receptors provide clinical benefit to many but not all of these cancer patients. Because it is difficult to predict which individuals will be helped by endocrine therapies and which will not, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) in breast cancer, and androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer can provide useful, often functional, information on the likelihood of endocrine therapy response in individual patients. This review covers our development of three PET imaging agents, 16α-[ 18 F]fluoroestradiol (FES) for ER, 21-[ 18 F]fluoro-furanyl-nor-progesterone (FFNP) for PgR, and 16β-[ 18 F]fluoro-5α-dihydrotestosterone (FDHT) for AR, and the evolution of their clinical use. For these agents, the pathway from concept through development tracks with an emerging understanding of critical performance criteria that is needed for successful PET imaging of these low-abundance receptor targets. Progress in the ongoing evaluation of what they can add to the clinical management of breast and prostate cancers reflects our increased understanding of these diseases and of optimal strategies for predicting the success of clinical endocrine therapies.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗