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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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197 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Control requirements for future battery systems

It is argued that sophisticated battery control systems are required to support the high power, high energy spacecraft secondary battery systems of the post 1985 time period. Four categories of battery control system functions are defined and discussed: battery operational control, auxiliary system control, battery system status indication and fault detection fault isolation. A concept for implementation of such a control system is also presented and discussed.

Masson, J. H.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Autonomous Radiation Cartographer (ARC) System Training Manual

This training manual is designed to provide end users with a comprehensive knowledge base for the safe and effective use of the Autonomous Radiation Cartographer (ARC) System. The ARC is a fully autonomous radiation detection robot based on the Spot Robot platform manufactured by Boston Dynamics.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Getting Warmer: IceCube Nears Freeze Out

IceCube has recently detected a diffuse population of high-energy neutrinos arising from the Milky Way. We use this high-significance detection to place new limits on dark matter (DM) annihilation to neutrinos with two complementary approaches. The first method uses the background-subtracted Galactic longitude distribution of shower events to place a conservative bound on the DM annihilation cross section that does not rely on any assumed Galactic cosmic ray emission model; the resulting limits on the velocity-averaged annihilation cross section improve upon existing bounds by factors of a few. The second method uses the template-dependent neutrino energy spectra from the Inner Galaxy, inferred under different Galactic cosmic ray emission models. This complementary approach shows that the inferred Galactic neutrino intensities are already sensitive to DM contributions near the thermal-relic benchmark for a range of TeV-scale DM masses, though this comparison is more model-dependent. Our results demonstrate that measurements of diffuse Galactic neutrino emission can be used as a powerful probe of DM annihilation into neutrinos. Future observations with IceCube-Gen2 and KM3NeT will substantially extend this sensitivity, potentially allowing a decisive test of the thermal freeze-out mechanism with Galactic neutrino observations.

Mukhopadhyay, Mainak [Fermilab; Chicago U., KICP; ↗
NASA NTRS1992

Silazane to silica

Thin film silica and/or methyl silicone were detected on most external surfaces of the retrieved LDEF. Known sources of silicone in or on the LDEF appear inadequate to explain the ubiquitous presence of the silica and silicone films. Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) was used as the Challenger tile waterproofing compound for the Challenger/LDEF deployment mission. HMDS releases NH3 which depolymerizes silicone RTV's. Polyurethanes were also attacked. Much of the silica/silicone contamination of LDEF resulted from HMDS.

Gale A. Harvey↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterizing the γ-Ray Emission from FR0 Radio Galaxies

Abstract FR0 galaxies constitute the most abundant jet population in the local Universe. With their compact jet structure, they are broadband photon emitters and have been proposed as multimessenger sources. Recently, these sources have been detected for the first time inγrays. Using a revised FR0 catalog, we confirm that the FR0 population as a whole areγ-ray emitters, and we also identify two significant sources. For the first time, we find a correlation between the 5 GHz core radio luminosity andγ-ray luminosity in the 1–800 GeV band, having a 4.8σstatistical significance. This is clear evidence that the jet emission mechanism is similar in nature for FR0s and the well-studied canonical FR (FRI and FRII) radio galaxies. Furthermore, we perform broadband spectral energy distribution modeling for the significantly detected sources as well as the subthreshold source population using a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton model. Within the maximum jet power budget, our modeling shows that the detectedγrays from the jet can be explained as inverse Compton photons. To explain the multiwavelength observations for these galaxies, the modeling results stipulate a low bulk Lorentz factor and a jet composition far from equipartition, with the particle energy density dominating over the magnetic field energy density.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
NASA NTRS2006

Data Mining for ISHM of Liquid Rocket Propulsion Status Update

This document consists of presentation slides that review the current status of data mining to support the work with the Integrated Systems Health Management (ISHM) for the systems associated with Liquid Rocket Propulsion. The aim of this project is to have test stand data from Rocketdyne to design algorithms that will aid in the early detection of impending failures during operation. These methods will be extended and improved for future platforms (i.e., CEV/CLV).

Ashok Srivastava↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cold Spray Cobalt Magnetostrictive Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers for High Temperature Structure Monitoring

The Department of Energy’s Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation program seeks to develop and qualify advanced sensors for the nuclear industry. Reliable high temperature and high radiation sensors for detection and characterization of structural flaws in pipes, vessels, and structurally critical components is a weakness for both conventional light water reactors with coolant T-hot approaching 350oC, and for advanced reactors with T-hot temperatures in excess of 500 to 800oC. Magnetostrictive Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers using a cold spray cobalt coating have been proposed as a sensor design that can withstand these kinds of temperatures and radiation levels to serve as online sensors to detect flaws before cracks, pits, or erosion/corrosion flaws progress to through-wall failures. This report tests cold spray cobalt as part of a magnetostrictive EMAT for high temperature service. Cobalt is known to have strong magnetostrictive properties however the effect of cold spray application is not well studied. This program was surprised to discover that cold sprayed cobalt exhibited little or no magnetostrictive behavior until it was thermally annealed. Following annealing to 650oC however, cold spray cobalt did exhibit a magnetostrictive response. Work to date prior to this milestone report publication showed that magnetostrictive EMAT was successfully tested to 400oC with an alnico permanent magnet. The program plans to extend testing with an electromagnet to higher temperatures. This follow-on work will be reported under subsequent publications or as a revision to this report.

Glass, Samuel W.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Particle production by time-varying dark energy and the end of cosmic expansion

We consider various possible consequences of time-varying dark energy due to a quintessence scalar field whose energy density is partially converted to particles as the field evolves down its potential. This particle production acts as a source of thermal friction on the field that can make it difficult to distinguish whether dark energy is due to a radiating field rolling down a steep potential, a purely self-interacting field moving down a flatter potential, or a cosmological constant. By reducing the acceleration of the scalar field, thermal friction increases the amount of accelerated expansion and can cause a sizable bump in the quintessence equation of state. We take special interest in the case where a steep potential rapidly changes from positive to negative as the field evolves, resulting in the end of cosmic expansion and the beginning of contraction. Even in this case, we find that thermal friction lengthens the period of accelerated expansion and consequently delays the end of cosmic expansion, making it challenging to detect the impending transition to contraction using conventional cosmological tests. However, particle production can also provide alternative avenues for detection by generating a background of thermal dark radiation, partly comprised of neutrinos or other particles, whose energy density exceeds the remnant photon energy density.

cosmological neutrinos↗
DOE OSTI2025

Biochemical properties of glycerol kinase from the hypersaline-adapted archaeon Haloferax volcanii

ABSTRACT Extremophilic microorganisms are promising candidates for industrial and analytical biocatalysis.Haloferax volcanii, a halophilic archaeon that prefers glycerol over glucose, channels this substrate into central metabolism through glycerol kinase (GK). Here, we report the biochemical properties ofH. volcaniiGK and its potential for biotechnological applications. An N-terminal His-tagged GK was functionalin vivoand yielded 3 mg/L culture—4.5 times more enzyme than a C-terminal StrepII-tagged version. Size exclusion chromatography revealed a glycerol-induced oligomeric shift from homodimer to a dimer-dominant state with detectable tetramer. The purified enzyme showed robust activity across broad pH and salinity ranges, with optimal activity at 100 mM NaCl and 50°C–60°C. It retained catalytic activity in 5%–10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and crude glycerol containing methanol. His-GK was freeze-thaw stable and thermotolerant in 2 M NaCl buffers. In the absence of ligands, the enzyme’s melting temperature (T m ) was 80°C. Glycerol increased the T m to 85°C, and combinations with MgCl₂ (84°C) or ATP (88°C) provided further stabilization. The highest T m (89°C) occurred with all three ligands, suggesting a cumulative stabilizing effect. Kinetic analyses revealed positive cooperativity for glycerol, ATP, and Mg² + ; Mn² + and Co² + also supported the activity.H. volcaniiGK is the first known GK to exhibit positive cooperativity with glycerol and ATP. Its high stability and substrate flexibility support its use in biodiesel waste valorization,in vitrobiocatalysis, and biosensor development—applications demanding robust, specific, and stable enzymes. IMPORTANCE This study reveals thatH. volcaniiGK exhibits positive cooperativity for glycerol, ATP, and Mg² + , a kinetic feature not previously reported for glycerol kinases. This behavior enables steep, switch-like responses to small substrate changes, offering unique advantages for biosensor design. Importantly,H. volcaniiGK also maintains high activity under extreme salinity, temperature, broad pH, and solvent conditions that typically limit enzyme use in industrial and environmental applications. These traits make this GK an ideal candidate for enzyme-based biosensors, which often suffer from poor tolerance to pH, solvent, and thermal stress. Its robustness supports its use in cross-linked enzyme crystals, an immobilization method that enhances enzyme stability and reusability under harsh conditions. Moreover, GKs are already employed in Mg² + detection kits; however,H. volcaniiGK’s ability to tolerate and respond to diverse divalent cations (e.g., Co² + , Mn² + ) broadens their potential for pollutant detection and environmental monitoring. These features collectively positionH. volcaniiGK as a valuable biocatalyst for biosensing,in vitrodiagnostics, and biotechnological applications requiring both precision and durability.

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology↗
DOE OSTI2025

Invisible water in subducted crust: Lawsonite velocity anomalies under mantle conditions

Subduction zones transport significant amounts of water into Earth’s mantle, primarily through hydrous minerals such as lawsonite. However, the seismic detectability of lawsonite-bearing oceanic crust at mantle depths remains uncertain. To address this issue, we measured sound velocities of lawsonite up to 7.4 GPa and 600 °C. Both P- and S-wave velocities exhibited unexpected increases with temperature under high-pressure conditions. Our result suggest that hydrous oceanic crust exhibits higher seismic velocities than the surrounding mantle at depths of 150 to 250 km, resulting in high-velocity anomalies rather than the previously assumed low-velocity anomalies. Furthermore, the seismic velocity difference between hydrous and dry oceanic crust is less than 2%, making it challenging to distinguish between them using seismic velocities. This limitation may hinder the detection of the hydration state in subducted crust. In addition, lawsonite remains stable in 90% of subduction zones, and thus, such “seismically invisible water” may exist in most subducted slabs around the world.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2026

Isotopic Signature of Organic Molecules from Beyond the Solar System: An Enriched Methane D/H Ratio in the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

Interstellar objects are interlopers from other planetary systems, and their volatile compositions provide a glimpse into planet formation around their host star. We present near-infrared spectra of the coma of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS measured with the James Webb Space Telescope. Our results demonstrate an unexpectedly high D/H = (3.31 ± 0.34)% for methane and represent an exceedingly rare detection of deuterated organic molecules in an interstellar object. This D/H ratio is a factor of 14 ± 2 higher than that measured in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by the Rosetta spacecraft, the only other comet for which CH3D has been detected, yet the ratio of deuteration in methane compared with water is consistent for both comets within 1.2σ. The D/H ratio in methane is observationally unconstrained in extrasolar sources to date, but the enriched ratio in 3I/ATLAS is most similar to those measured in other organic molecules toward primitive environments. The high D/H ratios of water and methane in 3I/ATLAS are a natural consequence of formation in a high D/H elemental ratio environment as a result of locally cold conditions in the protoplanetary disk and prior interstellar cloud. Thus, 3I/ATLAS formed in an environment very different from that in which our Sun and planets originated.

Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS↗
NASA NTRS1993

Nickel-hydrogen CPV battery update

The multicell common pressure vessel (CPV) nickel hydrogen battery manufactured by Johnson Controls Battery Group, Inc. has completed full flight qualification, including random vibration at 19.5 g for two minutes in each axis, electrical characterization in a thermal vacuum chamber, and mass-spectroscopy vessel leak detection. A first launch is scheduled for late in 1992 or early 1993 by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). Specifics of the launch date are not available at this time due to the classified nature of the program. Release of orbital data for the battery is anticipated following the launch.

Jones, Kenneth R.↗
NASA NTRS2026

Incremental Learning for Passive Microwave Precipitation Retrievals using Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder

Spaceborne passive microwave (PMW) radiometry is central to global precipitation monitoring, yet retrieval uncertainties remain substantial, particularly for cross-track sounders whose variable footprints and channel configurations are optimized for atmospheric temperature and moisture profiling rather than precipitation. Consequently, existing operational products often exhibit angular-dependent biases, limited effective swath utilization, unrealistic rainfall probability distributions, and systematic misclassification of precipitation phase. These limitations are further compounded by the scarcity of globally accurate and representative precipitation observations, as training data from the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) and the Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) are spatially sparse, lack uniform global coverage, and exhibit heterogeneous error characteristics across precipitation regimes. To address these challenges, this study presents a supervised retrieval algorithm that incrementally trains an ensemble of extreme gradient-boosted decision trees by augmenting base learners with pre-training on reanalysis data and post-training on coincident DPR and CPR observations matched with the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS). By transferring prior information from reanalysis to posterior constraints from radar observations and adopting a sequential detection–estimation strategy for precipitation phase and rate retrieval, the proposed approach yields retrievals across the full ATMS swath that are largely free from persistent deficiencies in current Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) passive microwave operational products. In particular, the method resolves bimodal artifacts in rainfall retrievals and mitigates systematic high-latitude snowfall biases, including overestimation across the Arctic and underestimation across the Antarctic. Validation against independent Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) data over the Contiguous United States (CONUS) further demonstrates improved performance in precipitation phase detection and rate estimation relative to both reanalysis and current GPM PMW products.

Mahyar Garshasbi↗
DOE OSTI2023

FAST Discovery of a Fast Neutral Hydrogen Outflow

Abstract In this letter, we report the discovery of a fast neutral hydrogen outflow in SDSS J145239.38+062738.0, a merging radio galaxy containing an optical type I active galactic nucleus (AGN). This discovery was made through observations conducted by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) using redshifted 21 cm absorption. The outflow exhibits a blueshifted velocity likely up to ∼−1000 km s −1 with respect to the systemic velocity of the host galaxy with an absorption strength of ∼−0.6 mJy beam −1 corresponding to an optical depth of 0.002 atv= −500 km s −1 . The mass outflow rate ranges between 2.8 × 10 −2 and 3.6M ⊙ yr −1 , implying an energy outflow rate ranging between 4.2 × 10 39 and 9.7 × 10 40 erg s −1 , assuming 100 K s< 1000 K. Plausible drivers of the outflow include the starbursts, AGN radiation, and radio jet, the last of which is considered the most likely culprit according to the kinematics. By analyzing the properties of the outflow, AGN, and jet, we find that if the Hioutflow is driven by the AGN radiation, the AGN radiation does not seem powerful enough to provide negative feedback, whereas the radio jet shows the potential to provide negative feedback. Our observations contribute another example of a fast outflow detected in neutral hydrogen and demonstrate the capability of FAST in detecting such outflows.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Demonstration Trials of AI/ML Edge+Cloud Suite (CRADA Final Report)

PACE AI and LBNL partnered under this CRADA to test and evaluate the PACE5 edge node prototype, an AI/ML edge and cloud-based suite, at FLEXLAB.The objective of the test was to evaluate the PACE5 edge node prototype's ability to perform demand shed and take to dynamic price signals, and to demonstrate advanced fault detection and microgrid monitoring capabilities.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Glancing Angle Deposition in Gas Sensing: Bridging Morphological Innovations and Sensor Performances

Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD) has emerged as a versatile and powerful nanofabrication technique for developing next-generation gas sensors by enabling precise control over nanostructure geometry, porosity, and material composition. Through dynamic substrate tilting and rotation, GLAD facilitates the fabrication of highly porous, anisotropic nanostructures, such as aligned, tilted, zigzag, helical, and multilayered nanorods, with tunable surface area and diffusion pathways optimized for gas detection. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in GLAD-based gas sensor design, focusing on how structural engineering and material integration converge to enhance sensor performance. Key materials strategies include the construction of heterojunctions and core–shell architectures, controlled doping, and nanoparticle decoration using noble metals or metal oxides to amplify charge transfer, catalytic activity, and redox responsiveness. GLAD-fabricated nanostructures have been effectively deployed across multiple gas sensing modalities, including resistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, and optical platforms, where their high aspect ratios, tailored porosity, and defect-rich surfaces facilitate enhanced gas adsorption kinetics and efficient signal transduction. These devices exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity toward a range of analytes, including NO2, CO, H2S, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with detection limits often reaching the parts-per-billion level. Emerging innovations, such as photo-assisted sensing and integration with artificial intelligence for data analysis and pattern recognition, further extend the capabilities of GLAD-based systems for multifunctional, real-time, and adaptive sensing. Finally, current challenges and future research directions are discussed, emphasizing the promise of GLAD as a scalable platform for next-generation gas sensing technologies.

Chemistry↗
NASA NTRS1993

An Overview of the Galileo Optical Experiment (GOPEX)

Uplink optical communication to a deep-space vehicle was demonstrated. In the Galileo Optical Experiment (GOPEX), optical transmissions were beamed to the Galileo spacecraft by Earth-based transmitters at the Table Mountain Facility (TMF), California, and Starfire Optical Range (SOR), New Mexico. The demonstration took place over an eight-day period (9 Dec. through 16 Dec. 1992) as Galileo receded from Earth on its way to Jupiter, and covered ranges from 1-6 million km. At 6 million km (15 times the Earth-Moon distance), the laser beam transmitted from TMF eight days after Earth flyby covered the longest known range for transmission and detection.

K E Wilson↗