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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Special environmental control and life support equipment test analyses and hardware

This final report summarizes NAS8-38250 contract events, 'Special Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Test Analysis and Hardware'. This report is technical and includes programmatic development. Key to the success of this contract was the evaluation of Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) test results via sophisticated laboratory analysis capabilities. The history of the contract, including all subcontracts, is followed by the support and development of each Task.

Callahan, David M.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Nanoscale Analysis of Space-Weathering Features in Soils from Itokawa

Space weathering alters the spectral properties of airless body surface materials by redden-ing and darkening their spectra and attenuating characteristic absorption bands, making it challenging to characterize them remotely [1,2]. It also causes a discrepency between laboratory analysis of meteorites and remotely sensed spectra from asteroids, making it difficult to associate meteorites with their parent bodies. The mechanisms driving space weathering include mi-crometeorite impacts and the interaction of surface materials with solar energetic ions, particularly the solar wind. These processes continuously alter the microchemical and structural characteristics of exposed grains on airless bodies. The change of these properties is caused predominantly by the vapor deposition of reduced Fe and FeS nanoparticles (npFe(sup 0) and npFeS respectively) onto the rims of surface grains [3]. Sample-based analysis of space weathering has tra-ditionally been limited to lunar soils and select asteroidal and lunar regolith breccias [3-5]. With the return of samples from the Hayabusa mission to asteroid Itoka-wa [6], for the first time we are able to compare space-weathering features on returned surface soils from a known asteroidal body. Analysis of these samples will contribute to a more comprehensive model for how space weathering varies across the inner solar system. Here we report detailed microchemical and microstructal analysis of surface grains from Itokawa.

Thompson, M. S.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Critical Minerals (CM) in Middle Pennsylvanian-Age Coals and Associated Sediments in the Central Appalachian Basin, Eastern U.S.A.

The Central Appalachian Basin (CAB) of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia has a long history of coal mining and oil and gas extraction that has empowered the regional and national economies, the development of infrastructure, and a highly trained energy resources work force. As our societal demands for advanced technologies have rapidly increased in recent years, coal-related materials are viewed as an important new unconventional domestic source of critical minerals (CM) that are required for telecommunications, aerospace and transportation industries, electronics, the transition to low-carbon emissions energy production, and many consumer products. Coal-related materials encompass coal, associated sediments, coal mining waste materials, produced waters, and ash residues from coal-fired power plants. An important objective of the Evolve Central Appalachia Project (Evolve CAPP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is to assess the quantity and distribution of CM resources in the CAB region. The rare earth elements (REE) are considered highest priority, although other important CM such as niobium, gallium, and zirconium are known to occur in the Middle Pennsylvanian-age coals and sediments. Working with coal industry partners who provided access to drill cores, coal-related sediments and waste materials, over 600 samples have been collected for laboratory analysis, and over 730 materials have been scanned using portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF) equipment. The application of pXRF provides the means for real-time semiquantitative analysis of CM content at very close spacings (typically 2-3 inch intervals) along drill core and in-situ channel samples that span the roof, coal seam, and floor rock. The comparison of pXRF geochemical data with laboratory results, geologic data, and downhole spectral gamma logs can provide high resolution input to lithologic and depositional models for future CM resource evaluations. The preliminary findings show that pXRF is capable of accurately measuring low concentrations of many of the CM with a high level of confidence (Ba, Cr, Ga, K, Nb, Rb, Sr, Th, Y), whereas for others (La, Ce, Co, Mn, Nd, Ni, Sc, Ti, V) the detection limits are very high or spectral interferences increase the uncertainty. Notably, the mean abundances of Y (34 ppm), La (86 ppm), Ga (40 ppm), and V (146 ppm) in coal underclays in the CAB region are up to 7X enriched compared with the overlying coal. These values also exceed the reported concentrations in published reference materials for upper continental crustal rocks (Rudnick and Gao, 2003), North American Shale Composite (Gromet et al., 1984), and North American coal (Finkelman, 1993). The pXRF data are in part verified by laboratory results that indicate the mean Y abundance (36 ppm) is highly correlated (R2 = 0.807) with total REE (ΣREE). The correlation is even higher (R2 = 0.957) with heavy REE (ΣHREE). Applying these correlations to the pXRF data for the coal underclays, the mean estimated values for ΣREE+Y and ΣHREE+Y are 270 ppm and 58 ppm, respectively. Although these average values are not considered high, the range of Y measured by pXRF in the coal underclays extended as high as 114 ppm, which would suggest ΣREE+Y equal to 847 ppm. The mean abundances of Zr (192 ppm) and Th (21 ppm) in coal underclays are also enriched compared with the overlying coal and these results likely reflect the presence of resistant detrital heavy minerals such as monazite, xenotime, and zircon in the underclay matrix. Several of the profiled coal seams and associated wall rocks contained thin volcanic ash layers up to 4-5 inches in thickness. The extent to which these ash fall layers provided a source for CM under the paleoenvironmental conditions that resulted in coal deposits in the CAB remains to be fully studied. Continuing investigations in the Evolve CAPP study area will include laboratory determinations of mineralogic and clay compositions, and evaluations of CM geochemical mobility in the coal and coal underclays.

Lassetter, Billy↗
NASA NTRS2023

Exploration Medical Capability Science and Research Overview and Update

The mission of the Exploration Medical Capability (ExMC) Element is to advance medical system design and risk-informed decision making for exploration beyond low Earth orbit to promote human health and performance in space. In order to accomplish this mission, the Element takes a progressively Earth-independent approach to three main areas: - Answering key clinical and science research questions that will help to address the challenges of providing medical care in the extreme environment of space - Applying systems engineering processes to medical system design with the goal of developing robust requirements that can be fully integrated into future space exploration vehicle designs - Developing and demonstrating novel medical technologies that will improve future medical capabilities in space This presentation will focus on selected scientific and technical conceptual drivers for the Element, the current and future research risks and gaps, and provide an overview of the Element’s progress in 2022. In particular, it will address the ongoing effort for the IMPACT trade space analysis tool suite, the closeout work on a clinical decision support prototype, potential requirements for a long-duration lunar orbit and lunar surface medical system, and an International Space Station technology demonstration of a point-of-care laboratory analysis capability.

Kris Lehnhardt↗
NASA NTRS2010

Failure Analysis of Space Shuttle Orbiter Valve Poppet

The poppet failed during STS-126 due to fatigue cracking that most likely was initiated during MDC ground-testing. This failure ultimately led to the discovery that the cracking problem was a generic issue effecting numerous poppets throughout the Shuttle program's history. This presentation has focused on the laboratory analysis of the failed hardware, but this analysis was only one aspect of a comprehensive failure investigation. One critical aspect of the overall investigation was modeling of the fluid flow through this valve to determine the possible sources of cyclic loading. This work has led to the conclusion that the poppets are failing due to flow-induced vibration.

Russell, Rick↗
NASA NTRS1971

Solid polymer membrane program

The results are presented for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell development program. Failure mechanism was identified and resolution of the mechanism experienced in small stack testing was demonstrated. The effect included laboratory analysis and evaluation of a matrix of configurations and operational variables for effects on the degree of hydrogen fluoride released from the cell and on the degree of blistering/delamination occurring in the reactant inlet areas of the cell and to correlate these conditions with cell life capabilities. The laboratory evaluation tests were run at conditions intended to accelerate the degradation of the solid polymer electrolyte in order to obtain relative evaluations as quick as possible. Evaluation of the resolutions for the identified failure mechanism in space shuttle configuration cell assemblies was achieved with the fabrication and life testing of two small stack buildups of four cell assemblies and eight cells each.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2016

Ames S-32 O-16 O-18 Line List for High-Resolution Experimental IR Analysis

By comparing to the most recent experimental data and spectra of the SO2 628 ν1/ν3 bands (see Ulenikov et al., JQSRT 168 (2016) 29-39), this study illustrates the reliability and accuracy of the Ames-296K SO2 line list, which is accurate enough to facilitate such high-resolution spectroscopic analysis. The SO2 628 IR line list is computed on a recently improved potential energy surface (PES) refinement, denoted Ames-Pre2, and the published purely ab initio CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ dipole moment surface. Progress has been made in both energy level convergence and rovibrational quantum number assignments agreeing with laboratory analysis models. The accuracy of the computed 628 energy levels and line list is similar to what has been achieved and reported for SO2 626 and 646, i.e. 0.01-0.03 cm(exp −1) for bands up to 5500 cm(exp −1). During the comparison, we found some discrepancies in addition to overall good agreements. The three-IR-list based feature-by-feature analysis in a 0.25 cm(exp −1) spectral window clearly demonstrates the power of the current Ames line lists with new assignments, correction of some errors, and intensity contributions from varied sources including other isotopologues. We are inclined to attribute part of detected discrepancies to an incomplete experimental analysis and missing intensity in the model. With complete line position, intensity, and rovibrational quantum numbers determined at 296 K, spectroscopic analysis is significantly facilitated especially for a spectral range exhibiting such an unusually high density of lines. The computed 628 rovibrational levels and line list are accurate enough to provide alternatives for the missing bands or suspicious assignments, as well as helpful to identify these isotopologues in various celestial environments. The next step will be to revisit the SO2 828 and 646 spectral analyses.

Sulfur dioxide↗
NASA NTRS2000

An Overview of SAL

To become practical for assurance, automated formal methods must be made more scalable, automatic, and cost-effective. Such an increase in scope, scale, automation, and utility can be derived from an emphasis on a systematic separation of concerns during verification. SAL (Symbolic Analysis Laboratory) attempts to address these issues. It is a framework for combining different tools to calculate properties of concurrent systems. The heart of SAL is a language, developed in collaboration with Stanford, Berkeley, and Verimag for specifying concurrent systems in a compositional way. Our instantiation of the SAL framework augments PVS with tools for abstraction, invariant generation, program analysis (such as slicing), theorem proving, and model checking to separate concerns as well as calculate properties (i.e., perform, symbolic analysis) of concurrent systems. We. describe the motivation, the language, the tools, their integration in SAL/PAS, and some preliminary experience of their use.

Bensalem, Saddek↗
NASA NTRS2014

NASA GeneLab Concept of Operations

NASA's GeneLab aims to greatly increase the number of scientists that are using data from space biology investigations on board ISS, emphasizing a systems biology approach to the science. When completed, GeneLab will provide the integrated software and hardware infrastructure, analytical tools and reference datasets for an assortment of model organisms. GeneLab will also provide an environment for scientists to collaborate thereby increasing the possibility for data to be reused for future experimentation. To maximize the value of data from life science experiments performed in space and to make the most advantageous use of the remaining ISS research window, GeneLab will apply an open access approach to conducting spaceflight experiments by generating, and sharing the datasets derived from these biological studies in space.Onboard the ISS, a wide variety of model organisms will be studied and returned to Earth for analysis. Laboratories on the ground will analyze these samples and provide genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic and proteomic data. Upon receipt, NASA will conduct data quality control tasks and format raw data returned from the omics centers into standardized, annotated information sets that can be readily searched and linked to spaceflight metadata. Once prepared, the biological datasets, as well as any analysis completed, will be made public through the GeneLab Space Bioinformatics System webb as edportal. These efforts will support a collaborative research environment for spaceflight studies that will closely resemble environments created by the Department of Energy (DOE), National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), and other institutions in additional areas of study, such as cancer and environmental biology. The results will allow for comparative analyses that will help scientists around the world take a major leap forward in understanding the effect of microgravity, radiation, and other aspects of the space environment on model organisms. These efforts will speed the process of scientific sharing, iteration, and discovery.

Space Life Science↗
DOE OSTI2026

Test of Harmonic Coil Accuracy Using a Multi Vertex Probe

Magnets are integral components of particle accelerators, with different multipoles used to perform various beam conditioning functions, like steering and focusing. Testing accelerator magnets to ensure compliance with specification is a crucial step of fabrication. One of the most popular techniques for verifying magnetic field strength and integrity is the harmonic coil probe. Harmonic coil probes are comprised of passive loops that are rotated around the aperture of a magnet and are used to measure magnetic flux. Oftentimes the measurements of the harmonic coil probe are affected by transverse vibrations along the axis of rotation and torsional vibrations of the position closure sensor, both causing spurious harmonics. To make matters challenging, it is difficult to distinguish between the real harmonics of the magnet and the spurious harmonics during analysis. This research explores the use of a novel configuration of harmonic coil probe, Multi-Vertex Probe (MVP), to address multiple factors that affect the accuracy and repeatability of harmonic coil probe measurement. Most of the results are based on simulation data, in which artificial torsional distortions are introduced and removed with the proposed processing method. In addition to implementing torsional vibration removal in simulation, laboratory analysis regarding the source of vibrations was performed using a pre-fabricated MVP. More specifically, various mechanical conditions were used to explore the standard deviation of main harmonic’s flux amplitude. The conditions included: coupling type (rigid or soft), rotation speed, probe starting position within magnetic field, and cabling location inside the magnetic field. Along with this, the MVP’s measured noise floor in and outside a magnetic field was quantified.

Lofquist, Claire [Northern Illinois U.]↗
DOE OSTI2024

Sampling and Analysis Plan for LSL2 Underground Storage Tank Evaluation of PFAS in Soil: Protection of Groundwater

This SAP gathers all pertinent information relevant to the sampling and analysis of soil at the removal site for a former 10,000-gallon UST and reference sites in the vicinity of the excavation site. Data Quality Objectives establishes the process and steps for the acquisition of data. Data Flow Diagram establishes the decisions and next steps. Quality Assurance Project Plan establishes the quality requirements for data collection, including planning, implementation, and assessment of sampling, field measurements, and laboratory analysis. The work is being completed for DOE-SC Pacific Northwest Site Office.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1994

Some considerations on velocity vector accuracy in dust trajectory analysis

The relative contributions of comets and asteroids to the reservoir of dust in the interplanetary medium is not known. There are direct observations of dust released from comets and there is evidence to associate the IRAS dust bands with possible collisions of asteroids in the main belt. A means towards sorting out the parent sources has been proposed in the establishment of a dust collector in orbit about the Earth. The purpose of such a facility would be to collect not only cosmic dust particles intact but also the state vectors, as they arrive at the detector, the idea being that one may combine analytical laboratory analysis of the physics and chemistry of the captured particles with orbital data in order to help distinguish between bodies and identify parent bodies. The theoretical study of dust particle orbits in the solar system takes on greatly more importance if we use collected trajectory data. The orbital motion of dust when radiation and forces alone are acting is well understood. When gravitational forces due to the planets are included, the motion can become quite complex. In order to characterize the orbits of particles as they crossed the Earth's orbits, a study of the long-time dust orbital evolution was undertaken. We have considered various parameters associated with these dust orbits to see if one may in a general way discriminate between particles evolved from comets and asteroids. We proceed in this study as we have done previously. That is, we considered the dust particles as ideal black bodies, of density 1 gm/cc, spherical, with radii 10-100 microns. Particles of this size are affected by radiation forces, photon pressure, and Poynting-Robertson drag. Account was also taken of solar wind drag, which amounts to about 30 percent of the Poynting-Robertson drag negligible. The gravitational forces due to the planets are included, unlike in our previous study; the planetary orbits are those of true n-body interaction so that the possibility of secular resonance is included. Our method was to calculate explicitly by a numerical procedure the orbits of dust particles after they left their parent bodies. The motion is determined numerically with the implicit Runge-Kutta integrator using Gauss-Radau spacings.

Jackson, A. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Monitoring physical and chemical parameters of Delaware Bay waters with an ERTS-1 data collection platform

The author has identified the following significant results. Results of the analysis of data collected during the summer of 1974 demonstrate that the ERTS Data Collection Platform (DCP) is quite responsive to changing water parameters and that this information can be successfully transmitted under all weather conditions. The monitoring of on-site probe outputs reveals a rapid response to changing water temperature, salinity, and turbidity conditions on incoming tides as the tidal salt wedge passes the probe location. The changes in water properties were corroborated by simultaneously sampling the water for subsequent laboratory analysis. Fluctuations observed in the values of salinity, conductivity, temperature and water depth over short time intervals were extremely small. Due to the nature of the probe, 10% to 20% fluctuations were observed in the turbidity values. The use of the average of the values observed during an overpass provided acceptable results. Good quality data was obtained from the satellite on each overpass regardless of weather conditions. Continued use of the DCP will help provide an indication of the accuracy of the probes and transmission system during long term use.

Klemas, V.↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Balanced Model for Exploration of the Terrestrial Planets: Lessons from the Lunar Experience

The Moon is the only extraterrestrial rocky body for which we have a combination of surface-selected samples, high-resolution orbital photography (Lunar Orbiter), manned and robotic surface exploration (Surveyor, Apollo, Luna), and global compositional, mineralogical, and geophysical data (Galileo, Clementine, Lunar Prospector). Beginning in 1998, CAPTEM organized a series of workshops and conference sessions aimed at integrating these diverse data sets. The insights gained by bringing together scientists from the remote-sensing and sample-analysis communities have been singularly rewarding. Not least of these has been the recognition by both groups that having both kinds of data maximizes the scientific return and permits reconciling information from diverse scales and perspectives. The 20-20 hindsight of the Lunar experience thus provides important lessons; learning from mistakes as well as successes, we can derive a sensible scientific program for Mars exploration. In this abstract, we describe examples of key information from (a) in-situ geologic investigation, (b) laboratory analysis of returned samples whose geologic context and location are known, and (c) global remote sensing of mineralogy, composition, and geophysical parameters. We then show the value of integrating these diverse data sets.

Jolliff, B. L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Spectral Characterization of Organics and Carbonates in Carbonaceous Chondrites: Implications for Bennu Returned Samples

On September 24th, 2023, the OSIRIS-REx mission returned samples to Earth from the B-type asteroid (101955) Bennu, a carbon- and water-rich asteroid. The preliminary analysis of the Bennu sample shows that this asteroidal material is rich in clay and sulfide minerals, carbon (~5 wt%), and iron oxides. These preliminary results agree with remote sensing observations of Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (OIVRS) instrument. Global remote sensing observations of Bennu revealed that this primitive asteroid is hydrated with a deep 3-µm band (~20%) centered at ~2.74 µm, attributed to OH in phyllosilicates and most similar CM-type carbonaceous chondrites. As part of a NASA Laboratory Analysis of Returned Samples study, we plan to analyze Bennu samples to evaluate the relationship between organic and carbonate phases and their relationship to aqueous processes on the asteroid's parent body. To that end and to constrain the evolution of carbon reservoirs during the secondary processing events (e.g., aqueous alteration) experienced by Bennu, we will use multiple analytical techniques, including reflectance spectroscopy.

Asteroid samples↗
NASA NTRS2001

Light Isotopes and Trace Organics Analysis of Mars Samples with Mass Spectrometry

Precision measurement of light isotopes in Mars surface minerals and comparison of this isotopic composition with atmospheric gas and other, well-mixed reservoirs such as surface dust are necessary to understand the history of atmospheric evolution from a possibly warmer and wetter Martian surface to the present state. Atmospheric sources and sinks that set these ratios are volcanism, solar wind sputtering, photochemical processes, and weathering. Measurement of a range of trace organic species with a particular focus on species such as amino acids that are the building blocks of terrestrial life are likewise important to address the questions of prebiotic and present or past biological activity on Mars. The workshop topics "isotopic mineralogy" and "biology and pre-biotic chemistry" will be addressed from the point of view of the capabilities and limitations of insitu mass spectrometry (MS) techniques such as thermally evolved gas analysis (TEGA) and gas chromatography (GC) surface experiments using MS, in both cases, as a final chemical and isotopic composition detector. Insitu experiments using straightforward adaptations of existing space proven hardware can provide a substantial improvement in the precision and accuracy of our present knowledge of isotopic composition both in molecular and atomic species in the atmosphere and those chemically bound in rocks and soils. Likewise, detection of trace organic species with greatly improved sensitivity from the Viking GCMS experiment is possible using gas enrichment techniques. The limits to precision and accuracy of presently feasible insitu techniques compared to laboratory analysis of returned samples will be explored. The insitu techniques are sufficiently powerful that they can provide a high fidelity method of screening samples obtained from a diverse set of surface locations such as the subsurface or the interior of rocks for selection of those that are the most interesting for return to Earth.

Mahaffy, P.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Remote water monitoring system

A remote water monitoring system is described that integrates the functions of sampling, sample preservation, sample analysis, data transmission and remote operation. The system employs a floating buoy carrying an antenna connected by lines to one or more sampling units containing several sample chambers. Receipt of a command signal actuates a solenoid to open an intake valve outward from the sampling unit and communicates the water sample to an identifiable sample chamber. Such response to each signal receipt is repeated until all sample chambers are filled in a sample unit. Each sample taken is analyzed by an electrochemical sensor for a specific property and the data obtained is transmitted to a remote sending and receiving station. Thereafter, the samples remain isolated in the sample chambers until the sampling unit is recovered and the samples removed for further laboratory analysis.

Grana, D. C.↗