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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Advanced Manufacturing of Thermal Protection System Tiles for Space Plane Atmospheric Reentry

Thermal protection systems (TPS) constitute a major material, engineering, and manufacturing challenge for space access. Atmospheric re-entry generates very high heats and requires advanced materials to withstand such conditions. Combining the required materials and integrating them into the vehicle is a major engineering undertaking that often must use creative designs to accommodate the selected materials and systems. Likewise, the manufacture of TPS is costly and challenging; it requires a combination of materials in a range of complex and unique shapes with specialized process conditions. Compounding these challenges, for harsh re-entry profiles or on high heat flux regions of the vehicle, even state of the art TPS is effectively single use and thereby creating a strong economic incentive to improve the TPS materials, integration, and manufacture. This work focuses on the use of ceramic modifications to TPS materials thereby allowing multi flight capability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1991

The physiology of spacecraft and space suit atmosphere selection

Factors which are considered in arriving at control values and control ranges of the parameters established for spacecraft and space suit environments include physiological, engineering, operational cost, and safety considerations. A number of physiological considerations are discussed, including hypoxia and hyperoxia, hypercapnia, temperature regulation, and decompression sickness. The impact of these considerations on space craft and space suit atmosphere selection is considered. The past experience in controlling these parameters in the U.S. and Soviet spacecraft and space suits and the associated physical responses are also reviewed. Physiological factors currently under investigation are discussed, including decompression sickness.

Waligora, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

High resolution infrared spectroscopy of the sun and the earth's atmosphere from space

The FFT spectrometer used in the atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment, flown for the first time aboard the Shuttle Spacelab 3 mission (in April 1985), is described together with the instrument's design parameters, the ATMOS's science objectives, and observational techniques used. The ATMOS experiment acquired more than 1000 atmospheric spectra with an equal number of 'solar only' scans, yielding absorption spectra of some 400 different atmospheric constituents. Data were obtained on such key reservoir species as COF2, HNO4, and N2O5; simultaneous vertical distributions of the minor gases from 5 to 140 km; the entire odd-nitrogen family in the stratosphere; and on most of the halogen-source gases with their corresponding reservoir and sink species.

Farmer, Crofton B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Space Station atmospheric monitoring systems

A technology assessment study on atmospheric monitoring systems was performed by Battelle Columbus Division for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's John F. Kennedy Space Center under Contract No. NAS 10-11033. In this assessment, the objective was to identify, analyze, and recommend systems to sample and measure Space Station atmospheric contaminants and identify where additional research and technology advancements were required. To achieve this objective, it was necessary to define atmospheric monitoring requirements and to assess the state of the art and advanced technology and systems for technical and operational compatibility with monitoring goals. Three technical tasks were defined to support these needs: Definition of Monitoring Requirements, Assessment of Sampling and Analytical Technology, and Technology Screening and Recommendations. Based on the analysis, the principal candidates recommended for development at the Space Station's initial operational capability were: (1) long-path Fourier transform infrared for rapid detection of high-risk contamination incidences, and (2) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry utilizing mass selective detection (or ion-trap) technologies for detailed monitoring of extended crew exposure to low level (ppbv) contamination. The development of a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/matrix isolation-Fourier transform infrared system was recommended as part of the long range program of upgrading Space Station trace-contaminant monitoring needs.

Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis↗
DOE OSTI2026

Supplemental material for paper "Radiosonde-to-Space (R2S) atmospheric specifications: Bridging observations and models for infrasound propagation"

This document describes the supplemental materials for the paper: TITLE: "Radiosonde-to-Space (R2S) atmospheric specifications: Bridging observations and models for infrasound propagation" DOI: xxxxxxxxxxx JOURNAL: TBD Written by Loring Schaible, September 17, 2025 This folder contains eight subfolders, each for a specific date and UTC time (in format YYYY-MM-DD_HH). All eight of these dates are exemplified and described in the manuscript. Within each folder is six documents. As an example, consider the folder "2022-12-31_00". The six files are comprised of: - Two text files (extension .txt) that describe the atmospheric specifications of Albuquerque, NM. One is the G2S model, the other is the R2S model. "G2S_2022-12-31_00.txt" "R2S_2022-12-31_00.txt" - Two text files (extension .dat) that contain the ground arrivals predicted by infraGA using the parameters described in the manuscript. One each for the two atmospheric specification models above, G2S and R2S. "G2S_2022-12-31_00.arrivals.dat" "R2S_2022-12-31_00.arrivals.dat" - Two image files (extension .png) that illustrate the predicted arrivals contained in the two files above. One image shows all arrivals as either black (G2S) or red (R2S). The other image shows the same but with arrivals common to both models in gray. "2022-12-31_00_Arrivals.png" "2022-12-31_00_DifArrivals.png"

Schaible, Loring Pratt [Sandia National Laboratori↗
NASA NTRS2015

Remote Sensing of Aerosol in the Terrestrial Atmosphere from Space: New Missions

The distribution and properties of atmospheric aerosols on a global scale are not well known in terms of determination of their effects on climate. This mostly is due to extreme variability of aerosol concentrations, properties, sources, and types. Aerosol climate impact is comparable to the effect of greenhouse gases, but its influence is more difficult to measure, especially with respect to aerosol microphysical properties and the evaluation of anthropogenic aerosol effect. There are many satellite missions studying aerosol distribution in the terrestrial atmosphere, such as MISR/Terra, OMI/Aura, AVHHR, MODIS/Terra and Aqua, CALIOP/CALIPSO. To improve the quality of data and climate models, and to reduce aerosol climate forcing uncertainties, several new missions are planned. The gap in orbital instruments for studying aerosol microphysics has arisen after the Glory mission failed during launch in 2011. In this review paper, we describe several planned aerosol space missions, including the Ukrainian project Aerosol-UA that obtains data using a multi-channel scanning polarimeter and wide-angle polarimetric camera. The project is designed for remote sensing of the aerosol microphysics and cloud properties on a global scale.

Aerosol↗
NASA NTRS2003

Toxicological Assessment of the International Space Station Atmosphere with Emphasis on Metox Canister Regeneration

Space-faring crews must have safe breathing air throughout their missions to ensure adequate performance and good health. Toxicological assessment of air quality depends on the standards that define acceptable air quality, measurements of pollutant levels during the flight, and reports from the crew on their in-flight perceptions of air quality. Air samples returned from ISS on flights 8A, UF2, 9A, and 11A were analyzed for trace pollutants. On average, the air during this period of operations was safe for human respiration. However, about 3 hours into the regeneration of 2 Metox canisters in the U.S. airlock on 20 February 2002 the crew reported an intolerable odor that caused them to stop the regeneration, take refuge in the Russian segment, and scrub air in the U.S. segment for 30 hours. Analytical data from grab samples taken during the incident showed that the pollutants released were characteristic of nominal air pollutants, but were present in much higher concentrations. The odors reported by the crew were due to relatively high concentrations of n-butanol, and possibly other pollutants in the mixture. Later data taken during regeneration of Metox canisters that had not been subject to long-term flows showed minimal effects on air quality. Long-term trending data suggest that a disruption in atmospheric mixing between the Service Module and the U.S. Laboratory has occurred and that formaldehyde concentrations are gradually increasing in the U.S. Laboratory. Trending data also show that the releases of octafluoropropane (OFP) have subsided.

James, John T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Stratospheric dust collections: Valuable resources for space and atmospheric scientists

The stratospheric collection at the Johnson Space Center Curatorial Facility offers a unique opportunity to study well-documented, individual particles (or groups of particles) from a wide variety of sources. The nature of the collection and curation process, as well as the timeliness of some sampling periods, ensures that all data obtained from stratospheric particles is a valuable resource for scientists from a wide range of disciplines. A few samples of the uses of these stratospheric dust collections are outlined. An understanding of global parameters at a particular point in time in the stratosphere can be obtained from a study of complete collection surfaces. For example, an accurate assessment of particle concentration over a wide range of sizes was experimentally determined for the stratospheric cloud formed one month after the eruption of El Chichon. Additional studies on the El Chichon cloud over a six-month period showed that volcanic ash settles out of the stratosphere at a rate determined primarily by particle shape and density. Another study during a volcanically quiescent period has shown that total particle number density during the summer of 1981 was approx. 2.7 x 10(-1) cm(-3), for particles 1 micron diameter. However, 95% of these particles were 5 micrometers diameter. With the above classification scheme, an estimate of micrometeorite number density at 20km altitude can also be made. Continuation of these types of studies, for shorter collection periods at regular intervals, can provide important experimental data on the contributions of orbital debris, rocket firings and transient events on the total stratospheric particle budget.

Mackinnon, I. D. R.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Space and Atmospheric Environments

This viewgraph presentation provides information on space environments and the protection of materials and structures from their harsh conditions. Space environments are complex, and the complexity of spacecraft systems is increasing. Design accommodation must be realistic. Environmental problems can be limited at low cost relative to spacecraft cost.

Barth, Janet L.↗
NASA NTRS2022

La Soufriere Volcanic Eruptions Launched Gravity Waves Into Space

Atmospheric gravity waves can be excited by explosive volcanic eruptions and may reach Earth's upper atmosphere. In this study, we report on mesoscale concentric gravity waves observed in the mesopause airglow layer following the La Soufriere volcano eruption in April 2021. A large ash plume observed by the spaceborne Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer instrument on April 10 reached ∼20 km. Temporal evolution of the volcanic ash plume was provided by the GOES-16 Advanced Baseline Imager. Nightglow gravity waves were observed by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day Night Band. These waves had horizontal wavelengths of ∼25–40 km, and took about a half-to-1 hr to travel from the tropopause to the mesopause. Some concentric ionospheric disturbance signatures are also seen in Global Navigation Satellite System-total electron content maps. We found the launch of gravity waves to be highly correlated with the elevated ash plume from explosive eruptions.

gravity waves↗
NASA NTRS1989

A high-resolution atlas of the infrared spectrum of the Sun and the Earth atmosphere from space: A compilation of ATMOS spectra of the region from 650 to 4800 cm (2.3 to 16 micron). Volume 1: The Sun

During the period April 29 through May 2, 1985, the Atmospheric Trace Molecular Spectroscopy experiment was operated as part of the Spacelab-3 payload of the shuttle Challenger. The instrument, a modified Michelson Interferometer covering the frequency range from 600 to 5000/cm, at a spectral resolution of 0.01/cm, recorded infrared spectra of the Sun and of the Earth's atmosphere at times close to entry into and exit from occultation by the Earth's limb as seen from the shuttle orbit of 360 km. Spectra were obtained that are free from absorptions due to constituents of the atmosphere (i.e., solar pure spectra), as well as spectra of the atmosphere itself, covering line-of-sight tangent altitudes that span the range from the lower thermosphere to the bottom of the troposphere. This atlas, believed to be the first record of observations of the continuous high resolution infrared spectrum of the Sun and the Earth's atmosphere from space, provides a compilation of these spectra arranged in a hardcopy format suitable for quick-look reference purposes; the data are also available in digital form.

Farmer, Crofton B.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Material Ignition and Suppression Test (MIST) in Space Exploration Atmospheres, Summary of Research

The Material Ignition and Suppression Test (MIST) project has had the objective of evaluating the ease of ignition and the fire suppression of materials used in spacecraft under environmental condition expected in a spacecraft. For this purpose, an experimental and theoretical research program is being conducted on the effect of space exploration atmospheres (SEA) on the piloted ignition of representative combustible materials, and on their fire suppression characteristics. The experimental apparatus and test methodology is derived from the Forced Ignition and Flame Spread Test (FIST), a well-developed bench scale test designed to extract material properties relevant to prediction of material flammability. In the FIST test, materials are exposed to an external radiant flux and the ignition delay and critical mass flux at ignition are determined as a function of the type of material and environmental conditions. In the original MIST design, a small-scale cylindrical flow duct with fuel samples attached to its inside wall was heated by a cylindrical heater located at the central axis of the cylinder. However, as the project evolved it was decided by NASA that it would be better to produce an experimental design that could accommodate other experiments with different experimental concepts. Based on those instructions and input from the requirements of other researchers that may share the hardware in an ISS/CIR experiment, a cylindrical design based on placing the sample at the center of an optically transparent tube with heaters equally spaced along the exterior of the cylinder was developed. Piloted ignition is attained by a hot wire igniter downstream of the fuel sample. Environment variables that can be studied via this experimental apparatus include: external radiant flux, oxidizer oxygen concentration, flow velocity, ambient pressure, and gravity level (if flown in the ISS/CIR). This constitutes the current experimental design, which maintains fairly good consistency with Dr Tien's and Dr Olson's project approaches. A further goal of the project has been to develop a combined solid/gas phase numerical model based on the MIST test methodology to predict the flammability behavior of practical materials in spacecraft.

flammability↗
NASA NTRS2001

The Living with a Star Program: NASA's Role in Assuring Performance in Space and Atmospheric Environments

NASA has initiated the Living with a Star (LWS) Program to develop the scientific understanding to address the aspects of the Connected Sun-Earth system that affect life and society. A goal of the program is to bridge the gap between science, engineering, and user application communities. This will enable future science, operational, and commercial objectives in space and atmospheric environments by improving engineering approaches to the accommodation and/or mitigation of the effects of solar variability on technological systems. A pre-formulation study determined the optimum combination of science missions, modeling, and technology infusion elements to accomplish this goal. The results of the study are described.

Barth, Janet L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A high-resolution atlas of the infrared spectrum of the Sun and the Earth atmosphere from space. Volume 3: Key to identification of solar features

During the period April 29 through May 2, 1985, the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment was operated as part of the Spacelab-3 (SL-3) payload on the shuttle Challenger. The instrument, a Fourier transform spectrometer, recorded over 2000 infrared solar spectra from an altitude of 360 km. Although the majority of the spectra were taken through the limb of the Earth's atmosphere in order to better understand its composition, several hundred of the 'high-sun' spectra were completely free from telluric absorption. These high-sun spectra recorded from space are, at the present time, the only high-resolution infrared spectra ever taken of the Sun free from absorptions due to constituents in the Earth's atmosphere. Volumes 1 and 2 of this series provide a compilation of these spectra arranged in a format suitable for quick-look reference purposes and are the first record of the continuous high-resolution infrared spectrum of the Sun and the Earth's atmosphere from space. In the Table of Identifications, which constitutes the main body of this volume, each block of eight wavenumbers is given a separate heading and corresponds to a page of two panels in Volume 1 of this series. In addition, three separate blocks of data available from ATMOS from 622-630 cm(exp -1), 630-638 cm(exp -1) and 638-646 cm(exp -1), excluded from Volume 1 because of the low signal-to-noise ratio, have been included due to the certain identification of several OH and NH transitions. In the first column of the table, the corrected frequency is given. The second column identifies the molecular species. The third and fourth columns represent the assigned transition. The fifth column gives the depth of the molecular line in millimeters. Also included in this column is a notation to indicate whether the line is a blend or lies on the shoulder(s) of another line(s). The final column repeats a question mark if the line is unidentified.

Geller, Murray↗
NASA NTRS2007

International Space Station Atmosphere Control and Supply, Atmosphere Revitalization, and Water Recovery and Management Subsystem - Verification for Node 1

The International Space Station (ISS) Node 1 Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) System is comprised of five subsystems: Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS), Atmosphere Revitalization (AR), Fire Detection and Suppression (FDS), Temperature and Humidity Control (THC), and Water Recovery and Management (WRM). This paper provides a summary of the nominal operation of the Node 1 ACS, AR, and WRM design and detailed Element Verification methodologies utilized during the Qualification phase for Node 1.

Williams, David E.↗