Results for “Commissioning” — Page 3

DOE OSTI2025

Commissioning of Extended Electron Beam Ion Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory

Here, the Extended Electron Beam Ion Source (EEBIS) has been installed and commissioned at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) hadron accelerator complex in the spring of 2023. EEBIS has replaced its predecessor, RhicEBIS, which provided ions for BNL hadron facilities for over a decade since 2009. The motivations for the source upgrade are to provide higher intensities of the Au 32+ ion beam for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and to provide of an intense source of polarized 3 He 2+ ions for the future Electron Ion Collider (EIC) at BNL. EEBIS is and will continue to be the primary source for a variety of different ion species for the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at BNL. EEBIS utilizes two identical, two-meter-long unshielded 5T warm bore superconducting solenoids, and it is operated with electron beam current up to 10 A, providing a high-capacity ion traps to fulfill the requirement for high intensity ion beams. The upstream solenoid contains a “short ion trap” with a length of 95 cm, while the “long ion trap” with a length of 178 cm is located inside the downstream solenoid bore. The main features of EEBIS are: * A Gas injection and ionization cell equipped with a Lorenz pulse valve * High-capacity ZAO non-evaporable getter (NEG) custom linear pumping units * In situ apparatus for pumping speed measurements to monitor NEG activation and saturation * “External drift tube” construction with differential pumping stages to provide space for Lorentz pulse valve and 3 He high-field polarization cell * A Ba oxide electron gun cathode. The design of EEBIS as well as the results of its commissioning and first-year operation are presented and discussed.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Slow Extraction Beam Commissioning for the Mu2e Experiment at Fermilab

Following the successful completion of the Muon g-2 experiment run at Fermilab, the Muon Campus facility has been reconfigured from delivering 3 GeV muon beams to the g-2 storage ring to providing slow-extracted 8 GeV proton beam spills for the Mu2e experiment. The first full-scale commissioning run with slow extraction was conducted during the 2025 run, followed by the second run in early 2026. We present the results and current status of this commissioning campaign.

Nagaslaev, V. [Fermilab]↗

DOE OSTI2025

Enabling Solar Cybersecurity Solutions Through State Energy Office and Public Utility Commission Engagement with Private Sector Partners (Final Technical Report)

Between 2020 and 2025, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), together with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) established and managed the Enabling Solar Cybersecurity Solutions Through State Energy Office and Public Utility Commission Engagement with Private Sector Partners project, later informally retitled and recognized as the Cybersecurity Advisory Team for State Solar (CATSS). This effort convened State Energy Offices, Public Utility Commissions, and critical private sector and federal partners to inform the development of solar cybersecurity education and action-oriented resources for states. This is the final report.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Slow Extraction Beam Commissioning for the Mu2e Experiment at Fermilab

Following the successful completion of the Muon g-2 experiment run at Fermilab, the Muon Campus facility has been reconfigured from delivering 3 GeV muon beams to the g-2 storage ring to providing slow-extracted 8 GeV proton beam spills for the Mu2e experiment. The first full-scale commissioning run with slow extraction was conducted during the 2025 run, followed by the second run in early 2026. We present the results and current status of this commissioning campaign.

Nagaslaev, V. [Fermilab] (ORCID:0000000235719205)↗

DOE OSTI2026

Toward Trustworthy Detectors Detector Characterization for SuperCDMS SNOLAB Commissioning

SuperCDMS SNOLAB is a next generation direct detection experiment searching for low mass dark matter using cryogenic germanium and silicon detectors operated at millikelvin temperatures. As commissioning begins, establishing stable, predictable detector response to energy deposits is a prerequisite for future physics analysis. This work studies detector stability and calibration for four SuperCDMS SNOLAB detectors, det 7 and det 15 (germanium) and det 11 and det 14 (silicon), using Barium-133 calibration data (356 keV gamma ray reference) and low background data (ambient radiation, no external source). The Ba-133 data show no distinct line at the expected energy, and the low background data show a baseline that drifts and oscillates rather than remaining flat, consistently across multiple channels, suggesting a shared, detector wide cause. These observations point to the cryogenic support system as the likely source, since small temperature fluctuations could couple into the temperature sensitive detectors, informing the ongoing commissioning effort.

O'Hanlon, Vika [Skidmore Coll.]↗

DOE OSTI2025

Beam Commissioning Result of Polarized Target at SpinQuest

SpinQuest is a fixed-target experiment at Fermilab to measure the Drell-Yan process using transversely polarized NH$_3$ and ND$_3$ targets and unpolarized 120-GeV proton beam. In the Drell-Yan process, a quark in one scattering hadron and an anti-quark in the other hadron annihilate into a virtual photon and then decay into a muon (lepton) pair. The angular distribution of final-state muon pairs with respect to the target polarization is sensitive to the Sivers function of light antiquarks in the nucleon, which is one of the eight Transverse Momentum Dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions. The intensity of the proton beam is as high as $10^{12}$ protons/second, in order to accumulate the required statistics of Drell-Yan events. The polarized target system at SpinQuest has been carefully designed to accommodate such a high beam intensity. It is equipped with an evaporation refrigerator with a cooling power of around 5 W at 1 K. The target temperature is maintained at 1 K even under heat load caused by the proton beam and the DNP microwave. The target system and the spectrometer were commissioned with the proton beam from May through July 2024. The experimental setup of SpinQuest and the performance of the target system during the beam commissioning is reported.

Nakano, Kenichi [Virginia U.]↗

NASA NTRS2009

Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission Commissioning Phase Orbit Determination Error Analysis

The Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) mission commissioning phase starts in a 185 km altitude x 12 Earth radii (RE) injection orbit and lasts until the Phase 1 mission orbits and orientation to the Earth-Sun li ne are achieved. During a limited time period in the early part of co mmissioning, five maneuvers are performed to raise the perigee radius to 1.2 R E, with a maneuver every other apogee. The current baseline is for the Goddard Space Flight Center Flight Dynamics Facility to p rovide MMS orbit determination support during the early commissioning phase using all available two-way range and Doppler tracking from bo th the Deep Space Network and Space Network. This paper summarizes th e results from a linear covariance analysis to determine the type and amount of tracking data required to accurately estimate the spacecraf t state, plan each perigee raising maneuver, and support thruster cal ibration during this phase. The primary focus of this study is the na vigation accuracy required to plan the first and the final perigee ra ising maneuvers. Absolute and relative position and velocity error hi stories are generated for all cases and summarized in terms of the ma ximum root-sum-square consider and measurement noise error contributi ons over the definitive and predictive arcs and at discrete times inc luding the maneuver planning and execution times. Details of the meth odology, orbital characteristics, maneuver timeline, error models, and error sensitivities are provided.

Chung, Lauren R.↗

NASA NTRS2016

A GNC Perspective of the Launch and Commissioning of NASA's SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) Spacecraft

The NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) spacecraft was designed to use radar and radiometer measurements to produce global soil moisture measurements every 2-3 days. The SMAP spacecraft is a complicated dual-spinning design with a large 6 meter deployable mesh reflector mounted on a platform that spins at 14.6 rpm while the Guidance Navigation and Control algorithms maintain precise nadir pointing for the de-spun portion of the spacecraft. After launching in early 2015, the Guidance Navigation and Control software and hardware aboard the SMAP spacecraft underwent an intensive spacecraft checkout and commissioning period. This paper describes the activities performed by the Guidance Navigation and Control team to confirm the health and phasing of subsystem hardware and the functionality of the guidance and control modes and algorithms. The operations tasks performed, as well as anomalies that were encountered during the commissioning, are explained and results are summarized.

Brown, Todd S.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Flight Dynamics Commissioning Results and Experiences

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will perform the first-ever spaceborne all-sky exoplanet transit survey and is the first primary-mission application of a lunar-resonant orbit. Launched on April 18, 2018, TESS completed a two-month commissioning phase consisting of three phasing loops followed by a lunar flyby and a final maneuver to achieve resonance. During the mission orbit, no further station-keeping maneuvers are planned or required. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is performing flight dynamics operations for the mission. This paper covers the design, implementation, and results from TESS commissioning, including the projected performance of the final mission orbit.

Satellite↗

NASA NTRS2018

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Flight Dynamics Commissioning Results and Experiences

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will perform the first-ever spaceborne all-sky exoplanet transit survey and is the first primary-mission application of a lunar-resonant orbit. Launched on April 18, 2018, TESS completed a two-month commissioning phase consisting of three phasing loops followed by a lunar flyby and a final maneuver to achieve resonance. During the mission orbit, no further station-keeping maneuvers are planned or required. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is performing flight dynamics operations for the mission. This paper covers the design, implementation, and results from TESS commissioning, including the projected performance of the final mission orbit.

Parker, Joel J. K.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Flight Dynamics Commissioning Results and Experiences

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will perform the first-ever spaceborne all-sky exoplanet transit survey and is the first primary-mission application of a lunar-resonant orbit. Launched on April 18, 2018, TESS completed a two-month commissioning phase consisting of three phasing loops followed by a lunar flyby and a final maneuver to achieve resonance. During the mission orbit, no further station-keeping maneuvers are planned or required. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is performing flight dynamics operations for the mission. This paper covers the design, implementation, and results from TESS commissioning, including the projected performance of the final mission orbit.

Parker, Joel J. K.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Astrobee On-Orbit Commissioning

The Astrobee free flying robots operate in the interior of the International Space Station (ISS) under supervisory control of a ground operator or ISS crew. They replace the Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) as research platforms for zero-g free-flying robotics. Astrobee also provides a tool for improving the efficiency of ISS operations as a mobile camera/sensor platform available to flight and payload controllers. The Astrobee system consists of three robots with perching arms, a docking station, and a ground data system. Development began in late-2014, and flight hardware has been deployed to ISS on several launches starting in November 2018 and concluding in October 2019. Shortly after the first two robots arrived on ISS in April, we began a series of “commissioning” activities to validate both space and ground segments. This paper provides an overview of the Astrobee system, a description of the on-orbit activities, and commissioning results.

Astrobee↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Astrobee On-Orbit Commissioning Manuscript and Presentation

The Astrobee free flying robots operate autonomously inside the International Space Station (ISS) with oversight from a ground operator or ISS crew. They replace the Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) as research platforms for zero-g free-flying robotics. Astrobee can also serve as a mobile camera/sensor platform for flight and payload controllers to improve ISS operations. Development began in late 2014, and flight hardware deployed to the ISS on several launches starting from November 2018 to October 2019. Shortly after the first two robots arrived in April 2019, we began a series of commissioning activities to validate the Astrobee robots. This paper reviews the Astrobee system and describes the on-orbit commissioning activities and results.

ISS↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Astrobee On-Orbit Commissioning

The Astrobee free flying robots operate autonomously inside the International Space Station (ISS) with oversight from a ground operator or ISS crew. They replace the Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) as research platforms for zero-g free-flying robotics. Astrobee can also serve as a mobile camera/sensor platform for flight and payload controllers to improve ISS operations. Development began in late 2014, and flight hardware deployed to the ISS on several launches starting from November 2018 to October 2019. Shortly after the first two robots arrived in April 2019, we began a series of commissioning activities to validate the Astrobee robots. This paper reviews the Astrobee system and describes the on-orbit commissioning activities and results.

ISS↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Commissioning the James Webb Space Telescope Optical Telescope Element

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launched on December 25th, 2021. The observatory was deployed and commissioned during its first six months. The Optical Telescope Element includes both large deployments of the Deployable Tower Assembly, Secondary Mirror Support Structure and the Primary Mirror Wings and it includes the deployment and alignment of the 18 primary mirror segments and the secondary mirror. The initial phase included cooldown and ice mitigation efforts followed by telescope deployments, mirror deployment and wavefront sensing and control. This paper will discuss the entire OTE commissioning from deployment through alignment including a discussion of results and lessons learned.

Lee D Feinberg↗

NASA NTRS2023

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies.

Infrared astronomy↗

DOE OSTI2026

Investigation and Mitigation of a Prominent Off-Axis Stray Light Path in Rubin Observatory Commissioning

The "scratched tape" stray light feature is the most prominent and prevalent stray light artifact identified during the commissioning of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The scratched tape feature originates when light from large off-axis angles (~20 deg) passes between the mid-level and center-section light baffles, reflects off the primary mirror, and illuminates the LSST Camera focal plane. This scenario represented an unobstructed stray light path to the sky during Rubin commissioning due to delays in the integration of the dome slit light-wind screen. This document describes the identification, modeling, characterization, and mitigation of the scratched tape stray light artifact.

Drlica-Wagner, Alex [Fermilab; Chicago U., Astron.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Furthering Advancements to Shorten the Time (FAST) to Commissioning for Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) Prize: Cooperative Research and Development (Final Report)

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory initiated a Prize with support from Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office (DOE WPTO) to encourage ideas to reduce the time to commissioning for PSH projects. As a result, nine finalists have been chosen to develop their concepts in advance of the FAST Prize Pitch Contest to be held on October 7, 2019. The National Labs will provide technical and business advisement to the noted FAST Prize finalists in preparation for this Pitch Contest.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗