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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Design, Analysis, Testing, and Flight Activities for A Green Propulsion Dual Mode (Gpdm) Technology Demonstration Mission

NASA’s Strategic Plan (2022) outlines specific technology development objectives which direct the Agency to “innovate and advance transformational space technologies.” An example of these potentially high-impact space technologies is the low-toxicity or “green” rocket propellant known as ASCENT (or Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic Propellant). Developed in the 2010’s by the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), ASCENT (formerly AF-315E) has shown improved specific impulse density (50% higher) vs. hydrazine in addition to its favorable in-space storability and ease of handling capability. The chemical propulsion capability of ASCENT has been demonstrated on several missions including the Green Propulsion Infusion Mission (GPIM) in 2019 and most recently, the Lunar Flashlight mission. ASCENT is an ionic liquid, which lends itself as both a chemical and an electrospray propellant. The capability to use the same propellants in multiple modes using the same propellant tank and feed system has yet to be demonstrated in orbit. This capability, if proven successful has the potential to reduce system weight and complexity, while taking advantage of both high thrust and high propellant efficiency in electrospray mode. The GPDM Project, managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center is seeking to develop a dual-mode propulsion system as the payload on a small spacecraft (6U CubeSat) and subsequent in-space demonstration. This paper will summarize the concept, ground testing as well as mission operations plan for demonstrating green “dual-mode” propulsion.

Nehemiah J. Williams↗

DOE OSTI2020

Temporal Analysis and Scene Change Detection in Multispectral Overhead Imagery

Scene change detection can be a tedious and time consuming process especially when concerning large geographical areas, and the process can be even more cumbersome when analyzing changes in an area over large spans of time. Developing a useful way to help analysts recognize at what points in time significant changes to a scene have occurred can allow them to better focus their efforts in characterizing events. Applications include: Facility monitoring, Construction chronology, Monitoring of vehicle/aircraft activity, Characterization of larger sequences of events. In large areas exceeding hundreds to thousands of square kilometers in size, it can be difficult localizing when scene changes have occurred. Analysts can spend hours going through imagery to try to identify new construction, monitor facility activities, monitor vehicle movement, etc. where the object of interest may only be a few square meters. Our goal is to help cut down this time by giving analysts change maps with hot spots of change, allowing them to focus on regions that have experienced actual change in time frames they're interested in. Additionally, by combining these change maps into layers within a data cube, analysts can examine the change maps from a temporal perspective, allowing events to be characterized over spans of time. By opening the data cube in an imaging software capable of separating the layers, we can analyze the change maps sequentially, allowing us to examine scene changes occurring over time. As an example, we examined overhead imagery from Planet Labs of what appears to be a parking lot on Fort Irwin over the course of a year using ENVI, a geospatial satellite imagery analysis software. Using ENVI, we generate a graph of changes over time, and notice a particular segment near the end of our analysis window where no changes are detected. Examination of the actual satellite imagery reveals that during this time span, the parking lot was empty. This could be due to facility shutdown for maintenance or upgrades, or possibly even total workforce/vehicle fleet movement. Information like this could help analysts better characterize events, as well as to help create clearer timelines in larger sequences of events. Workflow steps: - Collect multiple maps of the same AOI (Area of Interest) during a time span of interest; - Generate change maps from AOI maps; - Generate data cube from change maps. An analyst can use the data cube to help inspect an AOI for activities within a time span of interest. If an event of interest is discovered, the analyst can then refer to the maps corresponding to the appropriate dates and times in the data cube to see precisely what is transpiring. The biggest objective being worked on is improving the change detection methodology employed. We currently use PCA-EM (Principal Component Analysis with Expectation Maximization), but we are currently focusing on implementing IR-MAD (Iteratively Reweighted Multivariate Alteration Detection) to be used in conjunction with PCA-EM in an effort to decrease false positivity and noise in the change maps we generate.

42 ENGINEERING↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Next Generation Exercise Device (NGED): Advancing Exercise Capabilities for Future Space Missions Through Biomechanical Modeling

Background: As space exploration extends to long-duration missions on the Moon and Mars, maintaining astronaut health and fitness becomes increasingly critical. The Next Generation Exercise Device (NGED), developed and tested by the HumanWorks Lab at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), aims to address this challenge through innovative approaches. Objective: Development and evaluation of a NGED system, focusing on its adaptability to various Moon to Mars mission scenarios, including prospective use in a Lunar Pressurized Rover (LPR). To help inform vehicle and system requirements, an exercise volumetric assessment was performed via data collection and biomechanical modeling.

C Wang↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Gateway Program Development Progress

This paper provides an overview and status of Gateway, humanity’s first space station to orbit the Moon providing vital support for a sustained, long-term human return to the lunar surface and a steppingstone to Mars as part of the Artemis missions. As a lunar outpost, Gateway is a destination for deep space crew expeditions and science investigations, a port for deep space transportation, including landers transiting to the lunar surface or spacecraft embarking to deep space destinations beyond the Earth-Moon system. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) leads the Program and is the integrator of the spaceflight capabilities and contributions of U.S. commercial partners and international partners to develop Gateway. This paper will provide an overview of Gateway’s major components in various stages of development. The entire Gateway spacecraft is at preliminary design level of maturity, with some components at or near critical design review. Gateway’s major components are the Power and Propulsion Element; the Habitation and Logistics Outpost; Deep Space Logistics; the International Habitation module; Gateway External Robotics System; European System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications; and an Airlock. This paper will also provide an update on the status of the integration activities necessary to fly and operate this complex, next-generation integrated spacecraft for a minimum 15 year design life, including systems engineering integrated analysis cycles, the autonomous Vehicle System Manager software, verification and validation labs, and common vehicle equipment. Expanding on the successful partnership that has provided over 20 years of continuous crew operations in low-Earth orbit on the International Space Station, Gateway is an evolution of this extraordinary partnership leveraging the capabilities of each contributor to expand humankind’s sustained exploration deeper into the cosmos. Highlighting the international program with participation from multiple space agencies, this paper will also provide a status of Gateway multilateral governance structure and international agreements.

Sean M Fuller↗

NASA NTRS2024

Gateway Program Development Progress

This paper provides an overview and status of Gateway, humanity’s first space station to orbit the Moon providing vital support for a sustained, long-term human return to the lunar surface and a steppingstone to Mars as part of the Artemis missions. As a lunar outpost, Gateway is a destination for deep space crew expeditions and science investigations, a port for deep space transportation, including landers transiting to the lunar surface or spacecraft embarking to deep space destinations beyond the Earth-Moon system. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) leads the Program and is the integrator of the spaceflight capabilities and contributions of U.S. commercial partners and international partners to develop Gateway. This paper will provide an overview of Gateway’s major components in various stages of development. The entire Gateway spacecraft is at preliminary design level of maturity, with some components at or near critical design review. Gateway’s major components are the Power and Propulsion Element; the Habitation and Logistics Outpost; Deep Space Logistics; the International Habitation module; Gateway External Robotics System; European System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications; and an Airlock. This paper will also provide an update on the status of the integration activities necessary to fly and operate this complex, next-generation integrated spacecraft for a minimum 15-year design life, including systems engineering integrated analysis cycles, the autonomous Vehicle System Manager software, verification and validation labs, and common vehicle equipment. Expanding on the successful partnership that has provided over 20 years of continuous crew operations in low-Earth orbit on the International Space Station, Gateway is an evolution of this extraordinary partnership leveraging the capabilities of each contributor to expand humankind’s sustained exploration deeper into the cosmos. Highlighting the international program with participation from multiple space agencies, this paper will also provide a status of Gateway multilateral governance structure and international agreements.

Gateway↗

DOE OSTI2020

LaserNetUS. Final report

In this proposal we have formed a consortium in response to a request from the DoE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences to establish a national network of Petawatt-class laser systems to act as domestic user facilities that can enable a broad range of frontier scientific research. This new entity is called LaserNet US. The network formed here is directly responsive to recommendations made in a recently released National Academy of Sciences Report with regard to US strategy for high intensity laser research, “Opportunities in Intense Ultrafast Lasers: Reaching for the Brightest Light”. As detailed in this report, the research in this area has the potential to transform science in a number of research fields and to open up new areas of fundamental research. High field science was initiated in the US in the 1990’s, and subsequently Europe and Asia have embraced this research field, investing more than a billion dollars in this area over the past several years. Our network includes five academic and two national lab-based high intensity laser facilities. These facilities are distributed geographically throughout the US and the network provides access to complementary facilities which have unique world-class laser and experimental capabilities. LaserNet US will make these existing Petawatt-class laser facilities available to users from around the country who until now have not had regular access to such machines. Consequently, the network, which will develop over time, will also become a key element in driving forward national research in high field and high energy density plasma science. In particular, the University of Michigan provides access to the Hercules laser facility and the T-cubed laser facility for collaborative experiments as part of the first year operation. In the second year - to begin in summer 2019 - the experiments will be chosen via proposal submission and review by an outside panel formed by DOE.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Jupiter Laser Facility Annual Report, FY 2025

Dear JLF community, I cannot believe I am now entering my third year as JLF director — time definitely flies when you are having fun! FY25 was another pivotal year for the Jupiter Laser Facility, marked by both scientific achievement and growing visibility for our community. Building on the successful reopening and refurbishment of the facility, we continued to demonstrate how JLF drives innovation in high energy density and fusion energy science, laser technology, and workforce development. Across Janus, Titan, and COMET, users executed a diverse portfolio of experiments, from dynamic compression and opacity measurements to laser plasma interactions, laboratory astrophysics, and advanced diagnostics. These efforts are highlighted in this report, including the development of new probes that capture the time evolution of plasmas on a single shot, and diagnostics and platforms that are already impacting experiments at NIF and other large facilities. JLF continues to serve as both a testbed for new ideas and a bridge to larger scale campaigns. FY25 also showcased the broader role of JLF within the Laboratory and the national HED science ecosystem. The NIF JLF User Groups Meeting in February brought nearly 180 participants to Livermore and highlighted the scientific progress made during JLF’s first full year of renewed operations. JLF research and users were recognized with Director’s Institutional Awards and Early and Mid Career awards, underscoring the quality and impact of the work performed here. Our team also contributed prominently to national conversations about laser safety, plasma physics, and inertial fusion energy through invited talks, conferences, and professional society leadership. JLF’s integration with LaserNetUS deepened this year as well. We launched a new technical exchange program across LaserNetUS facilities and kicked it off with a JLF team visit to the BELLA Center at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. These exchanges are strengthening operations, sharing best practices, and improving the user experience across the network. Filming for the LaserNetUS “Behind the Scenes” series and participation in the annual LaserNetUS meeting further increased the visibility of our facility and our users. At the same time, JLF continues to play a central role in ambitious new programs, such as the Big Aperture Thulium laser effort funded through one of the DOE Office of Science Microelectronics Science Research Centers, which will use JLF infrastructure to explore next generation high rep rate lasers for EUV and x-ray source development. A core part of our mission remains training the next generation of scientists. In FY25, we welcomed another cohort of summer students, who joined experimental teams on Titan and presented their research at LLNL’s student poster symposium and national inertial fusion energy meetings. JLF users and early career scientists showcased their work at conferences across the country, highlighting experiments performed at the facility. These hands on experiences, and the mentoring provided by our staff and user teams, are central to JLF’s identity as a true user facility. Finally, FY25 reinforced JLF’s role as a focal point for partnerships and outreach. We hosted visits from international collaborators, science leaders, and we shared the story of the facility through venues such as the Big Ideas Lab podcast. These interactions help connect our work to a broader scientific and policy audience and open new pathways for collaboration. As we look ahead, the combination of refurbished hardware, new capabilities like STILETTO and enhanced short pulse performance on Titan, strong partnerships across LLNL and LaserNetUS, and a growing user community positions JLF for an even more ambitious program in the coming years. I am deeply grateful to our technical and operations staff for their dedication, to our LLNL partners for their continued support, and to our users for bringing bold, creative ideas to the facility. I look forward to more experiments, capabilities, partnerships, and groundbreaking science in the years to come! With brightest regards, Félicie Albert, JLF Director.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1988

Lewis Research Center space station electric power system test facilities

NASA Lewis Research Center facilities were developed to support testing of the Space Station Electric Power System. The capabilities and plans for these facilities are described. The three facilities which are required in the Phase C/D testing, the Power Systems Facility, the Space Power Facility, and the EPS Simulation Lab, are described in detail. The responsibilities of NASA Lewis and outside groups in conducting tests are also discussed.

Birchenough, Arthur G.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Computer aiding for low-altitude helicopter flight

A computer-aiding concept for low-altitude helicopter flight was developed and evaluated in a real-time piloted simulation. The concept included an optimal control trajectory-generated algorithm based on dynamic programming, and a head-up display (HUD) presentation of a pathway-in-the-sky, a phantom aircraft, and flight-path vector/predictor symbol. The trajectory-generation algorithm uses knowledge of the global mission requirements, a digital terrain map, aircraft performance capabilities, and advanced navigation information to determine a trajectory between mission waypoints that minimizes threat exposure by seeking valleys. The pilot evaluation was conducted at NASA Ames Research Center's Sim Lab facility in both the fixed-base Interchangeable Cab (ICAB) simulator and the moving-base Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) by pilots representing NASA, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force. The pilots manually tracked the trajectory generated by the algorithm utilizing the HUD symbology. They were able to satisfactorily perform the tracking tasks while maintaining a high degree of awareness of the outside world.

Swenson, Harry N.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Computer aiding for low-altitude helicopter flight

Swenson, Harry N.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Microfluidic Devices for Chemical and Biochemical Analysis in Microgravity

One often touted benefit of "Lab-on-a-Chip" devices is their potential for use in remote environments. The ultimate remote environment is outer space, and NASA has multiple needs in the area of analytical sensing capability in such an environment. In particular, we are interested in integrating microfluidic devices with NASA bioreactor systems. In such an integrated system, the microfluidic device will serve as a biosensor and be used for both feedback control and for detecting various bioproducts produced by cells cultured in the NASA bioreactors. As a first step in demonstrating the ability of microfluidic devices to operate under the extreme environmental conditions found in outer space, we constructed a portable, battery operated platform for testing under reduced gravity conditions on a NASA KC-135 reduced gravity research aircraft, (AKA "the vomit comet"). The test platform consisted of a microchip, two 0-8kV high voltage power supplies, a high voltage switch, a solid-state diode-pumped green laser, a channel photomultiplier, and an inertial mass measurement unit, all under the control of a laptop computer and powered by 10 D-cell alkaline batteries. Over the course of 4 KC-135 flights, 1817 fast electrophoretic separations of 4 amino acids and/or proteins were performed in a variety of gravitational environments including zero-G, Martian-G, lunar-G, and 2-G. Results from these experiments will be presented and discussed.

Roman, Gregory T.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Real-Time Simulation for Verification and Validation of Diagnostic and Prognostic Algorithms

To verify that a health management system (HMS) performs as expected, a virtual system simulation capability, including interaction with the associated platform or vehicle, very likely will need to be developed. The rationale for developing this capability is discussed and includes the limited capability to seed faults into the actual target system due to the risk of potential damage to high value hardware. The capability envisioned would accurately reproduce the propagation of a fault or failure as observed by sensors located at strategic locations on and around the target system and would also accurately reproduce the control system and vehicle response. In this way, HMS operation can be exercised over a broad range of conditions to verify that it meets requirements for accurate, timely response to actual faults with adequate margin against false and missed detections. An overview is also presented of a real-time rocket propulsion health management system laboratory which is available for future rocket engine programs. The health management elements and approaches of this lab are directly applicable for future space systems. In this paper the various components are discussed and the general fault detection, diagnosis, isolation and the response (FDIR) concept is presented. Additionally, the complexities of V&V (Verification and Validation) for advanced algorithms and the simulation capabilities required to meet the changing state-of-the-art in HMS are discussed.

Aguilar, Robet↗

DOE OSTI2020

Adhesion Capabilities of Permanent Foaming Fixatives

DOE-EM have identified an operational requirement for a fixative that can immobilize and/or encapsulate residual contamination in 3D void volumes (pipes, gloveboxes, waste containers, etc.) during D and D activities. Failure to safely and effectively immobilize residual contamination can: Put workers at risk; Contaminate the public and environment; Drive up costs. Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) polyurethane (PU) foams is one possible solution and is currently being investigated by Savannah River National Lab (SRNL). Adhesion testing will dictate how well PU foams will adhere and immobilize residual contamination onto a substrate. Results can provide a performance criteria for Section 5 of ASTM E3191: Standard Specification for Permanent Foaming Fixatives Used to Mitigate Spread of Radioactive Contamination. Initial mechanical testing showed intumescent rigid PU foams were best in class (tensile, compression, TGA/DSC) Application of intumescent rigid PU foam in pipe scenario with 'contamination' showed excellent adhesion capabilities as long as foam had contact with pipe. The foam, however, was not able to penetrate 'contamination' but created pockets where the contamination interacted with the substrate. Pretreatment options of pipe were considered to produce better immobilization capabilities. Pretreatment options included COTS products like baking spray, rubber cement, and soap. Foam was still able to immobilize on a global sense, but not a local sense. Essentially acted as a mechanical plug. A tensile tester (MTS Criterion Series 43) was utilized to evaluate the tensile adhesion strength of 6 COTS PU foams. ASTM D1623: Tensile and Tensile Adhesion Properties of Rigid Cellular Plastics. Procedures: PU foams were cured between two smooth 2'' x 2'' 304 stainless steel coupons with hinges glued on plates for gripping support. Parameters Used: Pull rate of 0.1 in/min. Calculations: Tensile adhesion strength, elongation, and ImageJ analysis of how PU foam is left on substrate. Outcome: The PU foam with the best adhesion capabilities would be downselected for further evaluation to be used as a permanent foaming fixative. The rigid PU foams had the best adhesion capabilities with the R1 foam having a max load of 236 N. One of the I-R2 samples reached almost 450 N and another sample reached 2500 N before slipping. The other intumescent foam, I-F4, had the most coverage on the stainless steel coupon's surface from the ImageJ results (61.43% surface coverage). The intumescent foam, I-R2, will be the foam of choice for future testing due its fire retardant and adhesion capabilities. Future directions: Conduct the following experiment in a pipe scenario with the down-selected PU foam. Procedures: PU foam will be cured between in a 304 stainless steel pipe (ID: 4'', OD: 4.5'', Height: 4''). Parameters Used: Compression testing results will be referenced to determine if foam's adhesion strength would be greater its compression strength as its being compressed. Calculations: Compression strength, shear stress, total time elapsed. Conduct further adhesion testing with the down-selected PU foam (I-R2) to be treated as a permanent foaming fixative (PFF). Determine the minimum contact the PFF should have with the substrate for adequate results. Evaluate if PFF's adhesion capabilities is time dependent (3.1.5 of ASTM E3911). Subject PFF to seismic stressors addressed in Safety Basis of Interim Operation documents (SBIO) to further evaluate adhesion capabilities.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Astrobee: Improving Capabilities for Free Flying Robotic Technology Demonstrations

The Astrobee Project has completed three years operating inside the ISS. Three Astrobee Free Flyers reached the ISS in April 2019 and are currently hosting a variety of users. During this time, Astrobee has advanced the state of the art in free-flying robots on ISS, operated over 100 sessions, logged over 750 hours of free-flyer operation, and made several capability improvements. Astrobee’s primary objective is to provide a highly flexible and capable free-flying robotic research platform to enable future guest scientist investigations. However, Astrobee is also demonstrating the feasibility of intra-vehicular robots (IVR) for performing key caretaking functions within exploration vehicles as part of NASA’s Moon-to-Mars exploration strategy. IVR capabilities will be especially vital during uncrewed mission phases. For example, current plans call for the lunar Gateway to be uncrewed >85% of the time. Astrobee’s baseline implementation supports free-flying camera and sensor survey use cases. Astrobee guest scientists can deploy software updates and hardware payloads to extend its capabilities. Astrobee is continuously improving its navigation robustness, general flight software maturity, and ISS interior maps, both through the baseline Astrobee operations and with the help of the ISAAC project. Astrobee began with mapping, localization, and operations in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), and has expanded to mapping in Node 2 and the US Lab. Astrobee has improved localization and operational robustness through improved mapping processes, algorithm updates (Soussan 2022) that reduce the occurrences of lost localization as well as developed recovery techniques to return to a good localization fix when loss of localization does occur. Future guest science experiments currently in development could demonstrate cargo transfer, fault isolation, free flyer and stationary robot collaboration, microgravity fluid transfer, and new docking mechanisms, among others. This presentation will focus on 1) Astrobee technical capabilities 2) What Astrobee can provide to a guest science experiment 3) Astrobee’s recent improvements 4) Possibilities for using Astrobee for future investigations. Soussan, R., Kumar, V., Coltin, B. and Smith, T. (2022) AstroLoc: An Efficient and Robust Localizer for a Free-flying Robot, Proc. Int. Conf. Rob. Autom. (ICRA) [to appear]

Astrobee↗

NASA NTRS2004

Outbrief - Long Life Rocket Engine Panel

This white paper is an overview of the JANNAF Long Life Rocket Engine (LLRE) Panel results from the last several years of activity. The LLRE Panel has met over the last several years in order to develop an approach for the development of long life rocket engines. Membership for this panel was drawn from a diverse set of the groups currently working on rocket engines (Le. government labs, both large and small companies and university members). The LLRE Panel was formed in order to determine the best way to enable the design of rocket engine systems that have life capability greater than 500 cycles while meeting or exceeding current performance levels (Specific Impulse and Thrust/Weight) with a 1/1,OOO,OOO likelihood of vehicle loss due to rocket system failure. After several meetings and much independent work the panel reached a consensus opinion that the primary issues preventing LLRE are a lack of: physics based life prediction, combined loads prediction, understanding of material microphysics, cost effective system level testing. and the inclusion of fabrication process effects into physics based models. With the expected level of funding devoted to LLRE development, the panel recommended that fundamental research efforts focused on these five areas be emphasized.

Quinn, Jason Eugene↗

NASA NTRS2012

Multi-Mission Simulation and Visualization for Real-Time Telemetry Display, Playback and EDL Event Reconstruction

he Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) Reconstruction Task has developed a software system that provides mission operations personnel and analysts with a real time telemetry-based live display, playback and post-EDL reconstruction capability that leverages the existing high-fidelity, physics-based simulation framework and modern game engine-derived 3D visualization system developed in the JPL Dynamics and Real Time Simulation (DARTS) Lab. Developed as a multi-mission solution, the EDL Telemetry Visualization (ETV) system has been used for a variety of projects including NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), NASA'S Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) and JPL's MoonRise Lunar sample return proposal.

Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) Reconstruction↗

DOE OSTI2026

Exploring Resonance Structures in the Partial-Wave Analysis of ¿p0 Photoproduction at GlueX

This thesis studies what happens when a photon (¿) collides with a proton (p) and produces a neutral omega (¿) and pion (p0) pair, with a recoiling proton (p'), expressed as ¿p ¿ ¿p0p'. We study this and other reactions to better understand the strong nuclear force; one of the four fundamental forces that govern all the physics of the universe. This force is specifically responsible for the binding and decay of subatomic particles, such as the ones here. While we understand the ¿ and p0, what we are actually interested in is a short-lived unknown particle X that decays via X ¿ ¿p0. There are a multitude of possible particles X can be, and so our focus in this work is to find out what X is by determining its properties from the particles we measure. We do this via an intricate analysis procedure known as “partial-wave analysis”. By analogy, one can think of our particle detector as a buoy, and the particles we want to analyze (X) as pebbles hitting a pond. The waves created by the pebble will move our buoy, giving us information about the pebble that produced the wave. However, when multiple pebbles hit our pond, the waves overlap and interfere with each other. Our buoy only can measure the complicated interfering result of all the waves. To disentangle this, our partial-wave analysis works by modeling this interference pattern so that we may infer the properties of the pebbles (particles) we produced. In this thesis, we review the relevant experimental history in photoproduction and related production mechanisms, as well as the theoretical foundations that motivate our measurement. We describe the methods used to collect our data at the GlueX experiment stationed at the Jefferson Lab accelerator facility in Newport News, Virginia. We then detail the selections we apply to ensure our events are almost exclusively ¿p ¿ ¿p0p'. We cover the intensity model, how we verify its capabilities, and finally present our results together with systematic studies. Our primary result is the detection of a b1(1235) meson interfering with a wide JPC = 1-- vector state, measured via a mass-independent partial-wave analysis. It provides precise experimental results that can be used as input for theoretical models of the reaction, yielding conclusions about the procedures responsible for how our universe behaves at its most basic level.

Scheuer, Kevin [College of William and Mary, Willi↗

NASA NTRS1992

Study of FES/CAST/HGS

The microgravity materials processing program has been instrumental in providing the crystal growth community with an experimental environment to better understand the phenomena associated with the growing of crystals. In many applications one may pursue the growth of large single crystals which cannot be grown on earth due to convective driven flows. A microgravity environment is characterized by neither convection of buoyancy. Consequently superior crystals are able to be grown in space. On the other hand, since neither convection nor buoyancy dominates the fluid flow in a microgravity environment, then lesser dominating phenomena can affect crystal growth, such as surface driven flows or diffusion limited solidification. In the case of experiments that are to be flown in space using the Fluid Experiments System (FES), diffusion limited growth should be the dominating phenomenon. The use of holographic and Schlieren optical techniques for studying the concentration gradients in solidification processes has been used by several investigators over the years. The Holographic Ground System (HGS) facility at MSFC has been a primary resource in researching this capability. Consequently scientific personnel have been able to utilize these techniques in both ground based research and in space experiments. An important event in the scientific utilization of the HGS facilities was the TGS (triglycine sulfate) Crystal Growth and the Casting and Solidification Technology (CAST) experiments that were flown on the International Microgravity Lab (IML) mission in March of this year. The preparation and processing of these space observations are the primary experiments reported in this work. This project provides some ground-based studies to optimize on the holographic techniques used to acquire information about the crystal growth processes flown on IML. Since the ground-based studies will be compared with the space-based experimental results, it is necessary to conduct sufficient ground based studies to best determine how the experiment in space worked. The current capabilities in computer based systems for image processing and numerical computation have certainly assisted in those efforts. As anticipated, this study has certainly shown that these advanced computing capabilities are helpful in the data analysis of such experiments.

Workman, Gary L.↗