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NASA NTRS2005

Adopting Internet Standards for Orbital Use

After a year of testing and demonstrating a Cisco mobile access router intended for terrestrial use onboard the low-Earth-orbiting UK-DMC satellite as part of a larger merged ground/space IP-based internetwork, we reflect on and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of integration and standards reuse for small satellite missions. Benefits include ease of operation and the ability to leverage existing systems and infrastructure designed for general use, as well as reuse of existing, known, and well-understood security and operational models. Drawbacks include cases where integration work was needed to bridge the gaps in assumptions between different systems, and where performance considerations outweighed the benefits of reuse of pre-existing file transfer protocols. We find similarities with the terrestrial IP networks whose technologies we have adopted and also some significant differences in operational models and assumptions that must be considered.

Wood, Lloyd↗

NASA NTRS2011

Antiresorptive Treatment for Spaceflight Induced Bone Atrophy - Preliminary Results

Detailed measurements from the Mir and ISS long duration missions have documented losses in bone mineral density (BMD) from critical skeletal sub-regions. The most important BMD losses are from the femoral hip, averaging about -1.6%/mo integral to -2.3%/mo trabecular. Importantly these studies have documented the wide range in individual BMD loss from -0.5 to -5%/mo. Associated elevated urinary Ca increases the risk of renal stone formation during flight, a serious impact to mission success. To date, countermeasures have not been satisfactory. The purpose of this study is to determine if the combined effect of anti-resorptive drugs plus the standard in-flight exercise regimen will have a measurable effect on preventing space flight induced bone loss (mass and strength) and reducing renal stone risk. To date, 4 crewmembers have completed the flight portion of the protocol in which crewmembers take a 70-mg alendronate tablet once a week before and during flight, starting 17 days before launch. Compared to previous ISS crewmembers (n=14) not taking alendronate, DXA measurements of the spine, femur neck and total hip were significantly improved from -0.8 +/- 0.5%/mo to 1.0 +/- 1.1%/mo, -1.1 +/- 0.5%/mo to -0.2 +/- 0.3%/mo, -1.1 +/- 0.5%/mo to 0.04 +/- 0.3%/mo respectively. QCT-determined trabecular BMD of the femur neck, trochanter and total hip were significantly improved from -2.7 +/- 1.9%/mo to -0.2 +/- 0.8%/mo, -2.2 +/- 0.9%/mo to -0.3 +/- 1.9%/mo and -2.3 +/- 1.0%/mo to -0.2 +/- 1.8%/mo respectively. Significance was calculated from a one-tailed t test. Resorption markers were unchanged, in contrast to measurements from previous ISS crewmembers that showed typical increases of 50-100% above baseline. Urinary Ca showed no increase compared to baseline levels, also distinct from the elevated levels of 50% or greater in previous crews. While these results are encouraging, the current n (4) is small, and the large SDs indicate that, while the means are improved, there is still high variability in individual response. Three additional crewmembers have been recruited to participate in this experiment, with expected completion in late 2011.

LeBlanc, Adrian↗

NASA NTRS2009

Discrimination of Spore-Forming Bacilli Using spoIVA

A method of discriminating between spore-forming and non-spore-forming bacteria is based on a combination of simultaneous sporulation-specific and non-sporulation-specific quantitative polymerase chain reactions (Q-PCRs). The method was invented partly in response to the observation that for the purposes of preventing or reducing biological contamination affecting many human endeavors, ultimately, only the spore-forming portions of bacterial populations are the ones that are problematic (or, at least, more problematic than are the non-spore-forming portions). In some environments, spore-forming bacteria constitute small fractions of the total bacterial populations. The use of sporulation-specific primers in Q-PCR affords the ability to assess the spore-forming fraction of a bacterial population present in an environment of interest. This assessment can provide a more thorough and accurate understanding of the bacterial contamination in the environment, thereby making it possible to focus contamination- testing, contamination-prevention, sterilization, and decontamination resources more economically and efficiently. The method includes the use of sporulation-specific primers in the form of designed, optimized deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) oligonucleotides specific for the bacterial spoIVA gene (see table). [In "spoIVA," "IV" signifies Roman numeral four and the entire quoted name refers to gene A for the fourth stage of sporulation.] These primers are mixed into a PCR cocktail with a given sample of bacterial cells. A control PCR cocktail into which are mixed universal 16S rRNA primers is also prepared. ["16S rRNA" denotes a ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequence that is common to all organisms.] Following several cycles of heating and cooling according to the PCR protocol to amplify amounts of DNA molecules, the amplification products can be analyzed to determine the types of bacterial cells present within the samples. If the amplification product is strong, relative to the product of a control PCR sequence, then it is concluded that the bacterial population in the sample consists predominantly of spore-forming cells. If the amplification product is weak or nonexistent, then it is concluded that the bacterial population in the sample consists predominantly or entirely of non-spore-forming cells.

Venkateswaran, Kasthuri↗

NASA NTRS2024

Scenario Setup and Forcing Data for Impact Model Evaluation and Impact Attribution Within the Third Round of the Inter-Sectoral Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP3a)

This paper describes the rationale and the protocol of the first component of the third simulation round of the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP3a, http://www.isimip.org, last access: 2 November 2023) and the associated set of climate-related and direct human forcing data (CRF and DHF, respectively). The observation-based climate-related forcings for the first time include high-resolution observational climate forcings derived by orographic downscaling, monthly to hourly coastal water levels, and wind fields associated with historical tropical cyclones. The DHFs include land use patterns, population densities, information about water and agricultural management, and fishing intensities. The ISIMIP3a impact model simulations driven by these observation-based climate-related and direct human forcings are designed to test to what degree the impact models can explain observed changes in natural and human systems. In a second set of ISIMIP3a experiments the participating impact models are forced by the same DHFs but a counterfactual set of atmospheric forcings and coastal water levels where observed trends have been removed. These experiments are designed to allow for the attribution of observed changes in natural, human, and managed systems to climate change, rising CH 4 and CO 2 concentrations, and sea level rise according to the definition of the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC AR6.

Inter Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Projec↗

NASA NTRS2008

Integrated Circuit Chip Improves Network Efficiency

Prior to 1999 and the development of SpaceWire, a standard for high-speed links for computer networks managed by the European Space Agency (ESA), there was no high-speed communications protocol for flight electronics. Onboard computers, processing units, and other electronics had to be designed for individual projects and then redesigned for subsequent projects, which increased development periods, costs, and risks. After adopting the SpaceWire protocol in 2000, NASA implemented the standard on the Swift mission, a gamma ray burst-alert telescope launched in November 2004. Scientists and developers on the James Webb Space Telescope further developed the network version of SpaceWire. In essence, SpaceWire enables more science missions at a lower cost, because it provides a standard interface between flight electronics components; new systems need not be custom built to accommodate individual missions, so electronics can be reused. New protocols are helping to standardize higher layers of computer communication. Goddard Space Flight Center improved on the ESA-developed SpaceWire by enabling standard protocols, which included defining quality of service and supporting plug-and-play capabilities. Goddard upgraded SpaceWire to make the routers more efficient and reliable, with features including redundant cables, simultaneous discrete broadcast pulses, prevention of network blockage, and improved verification. Redundant cables simplify management because the user does not need to worry about which connection is available, and simultaneous broadcast signals allow multiple users to broadcast low-latency side-band signal pulses across the network using the same resources for data communication. Additional features have been added to the SpaceWire switch to prevent network blockage so that more robust networks can be designed. Goddard s verification environment for the link-and-switch implementation continuously randomizes and tests different parts, constantly anticipating situations, which helps improve communications reliability. It has been tested in many different implementations for compatibility.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1999

Effects of spaceflight on rhesus quadrupedal locomotion after return to 1G

Effects of spaceflight on Rhesus quadrupedal locomotion after return to 1G. Locomotor performance, activation patterns of the soleus (Sol), medial gastrocnemius (MG), vastus lateralis (VL), and tibialis anterior (TA) and MG tendon force during quadrupedal stepping were studied in adult Rhesus before and after 14 days of either spaceflight (n = 2) or flight simulation at 1G (n = 3). Flight simulation involved duplication of the spaceflight conditions and experimental protocol in a 1G environment. Postflight, but not postsimulation, electromyographic (EMG) recordings revealed clonus-like activity in all muscles. Compared with preflight, the cycle period and burst durations of the primary extensors (Sol, MG, and VL) tended to decrease postflight. These decreases were associated with shorter steps. The flexor (TA) EMG burst duration postflight was similar to preflight, whereas the burst amplitude was elevated. Consequently, the Sol:TA and MG:TA EMG amplitude ratios were lower following flight, reflecting a "flexor bias." Together, these alterations in mean EMG amplitudes reflect differential adaptations in motor-unit recruitment patterns of flexors and extensors as well as fast and slow motor pools. Shorter cycle period and burst durations persisted throughout the 20-day postflight testing period, whereas mean EMG returned to preflight levels by 17 days postflight. Compared with presimulation, the simulation group showed slight increases in the cycle period and burst durations of all muscles. Mean EMG amplitude decreased in the Sol, increased in the MG and VL, and was unchanged in the TA. Thus adaptations observed postsimulation were different from those observed postflight, indicating that there was a response unique to the microgravity environment, i.e., the modulations in the nervous system controlling locomotion cannot merely be attributed to restriction of movement but appear to be the result of changes in the interpretation of load-related proprioceptive feedback to the nervous system. Peak MG tendon force amplitudes were approximately two times greater post- compared with preflight or presimulation. Adaptations in tendon force and EMG amplitude ratios indicate that the nervous system undergoes a reorganization of the recruitment patterns biased toward an increased recruitment of fast versus slow motor units and flexor versus extensor muscles. Combined, these data indicate that some details of the control of motor pools during locomotion are dependent on the persistence of Earth's gravitational environment.

Bion 11 Project↗

NASA NTRS2013

Multi-User Space Link Extension (SLE) System

The Multi-User Space (MUS) Link Extension system, a software and data system, provides Space Link Extension (SLE) users with three space data transfer services in timely, complete, and offline modes as applicable according to standards defined by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS). MUS radically reduces the schedule, cost, and risk of implementing a new SLE user system, minimizes operating costs with a lights-out approach to SLE, and is designed to require no sustaining engineering expense during its lifetime unless changes in the CCSDS SLE standards, combined with new provider implementations, force changes. No software modification to MUS needs to be made to support a new mission. Any systems engineer with Linux experience can begin testing SLE user service instances with MUS starting from a personal computer (PC) within five days. For flight operators, MUS provides a familiar-looking Web page for entering SLE configuration data received from SLE. Operators can also use the Web page to back up a space mission's entire set of up to approximately 500 SLE service instances in less than five seconds, or to restore or transfer from another system the same amount of data from a MUS backup file in about the same amount of time. Missions operate each MUS SLE service instance independently by sending it MUS directives, which are legible, plain ASCII strings. MUS directives are usually (but not necessarily) sent through a TCP-IP (Transmission Control Protocol Internet Protocol) socket from a MOC (Mission Operations Center) or POCC (Payload Operations Control Center) system, under scripted control, during "lights-out" spacecraft operation. MUS permits the flight operations team to configure independently each of its data interfaces; not only commands and telemetry, but also MUS status messages to the MOC. Interfaces can use single- or multiple-client TCP/IP server sockets, TCP/IP client sockets, temporary disk files, the system log, or standard in, standard out, or standard error as applicable. By defining MUS templates in ASCII, the flight operations team can include any MUS system variable in telemetry or command headers or footers, and/or in status messages. Data fields can be arranged within messages in different sequences, according to the mission s needs. The only constraints imposed are on the format of MUS directive strings, and some bare minimum logical requirements that must be met in order for MUS to read the mission control center's spacecraft command inputs. The MUS system imposes no limits or constraints on the numbers and combinations of missions and SLE service instances that it will support simultaneously. At any time, flight operators may add, change, delete, bind, connect, or disconnect.

Perkins, Toby↗

NASA NTRS1999

Physiologic and thermal responses of male and female patients with multiple sclerosis to head and neck cooling

Personal cooling systems are used to alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis and to prevent increased core temperature during daily activities. The objective of this study was to determine the thermal and physiologic responses of patients with multiple sclerosis to short-term maximal head and neck cooling. A Life Support Systems, Inc. Mark VII portable cooling system and a liquid cooling helmet were used to cool the head and neck regions of 24 female and 26 male patients with multiple sclerosis in this study. The subjects, seated in an upright position at normal room temperature (approximately 22 degrees C), were cooled for 30 min by the liquid cooling garment, which was operated at its maximum cooling capacity. Oral, right, and left ear temperatures and cooling system parameters were logged manually every 5 min. Forearm, calf, chest, and rectal temperatures, heart rate, and respiration rate were recorded continuously on a U.F.I., Inc. Biolog ambulatory monitor. This protocol was performed during the winter and summer to investigate the seasonal differences in the way patients with multiple sclerosis respond to head and neck cooling. No significant differences were found between the male and female subject group's mean rectal or oral temperature responses during any phase of the experiment. The mean oral temperature decreased significantly (P < 0.05) for both groups approximately 0.3 degrees C after 30 min of cooling and continued to decrease further (approximately 0.1-0.2 degrees C) for a period of approximately 15 min after removal of the cooling helmet. The mean rectal temperatures decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both male and female subjects in the winter studies (approximately 0.2-0.3 degrees C) and for the male subjects during the summer test (approximately 0.2 degrees C). However, the rectal temperature of the female subjects did not change significantly during any phase of the summer test. These data indicate that head and neck cooling may, in general, be used to reduce the oral and body temperatures of both male and female patients with multiple sclerosis by the approximate amount needed for symptomatic relief as shown by other researchers. However, thermal response of patients with multiple sclerosis may be affected by gender and seasonal factors, which should be considered in the use of liquid cooling therapy.

NASA Discipline Environmental Health↗

NASA NTRS2009

Muscle Volume Increases Following 16 Weeks of Resistive Exercise Training with the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) and Free Weights

Space flight-induced muscle atrophy, particularly in the postural and locomotorymuscles, may impair task performance during long-duration space missions and planetary exploration. High intensity free weight (FW) resistive exercise training has been shown to prevent atrophy during bed rest, a space flight analog. NASA developed the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) to simulate the characteristics of FW exercise (i.e. constant mass, inertial force) and to be used as a countermeasure during International Space Station (ISS) missions. PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of ARED and FW training to induce hypertrophy in specific muscle groups in ambulatory subjects prior to deploying ARED on the ISS. METHODS: Twenty untrained subjects were assigned to either the ARED (8 males, 3 females) or FW (6 males, 3 females) group and participated in a periodizedtraining protocol consisting of squat (SQ), heel raise (HR), and deadlift(DL) exercises 3 d wk-1 for 16 wks. SQ, HR, and DL muscle strength (1RM) was measured before, after 8 wks, and after 16 wks of training to prescribe exercise and measure strength changes. Muscle volume of the vastigroup (V), hamstring group (H), hip adductor group (ADD), medial gastrocnemius(MG), lateral gastrocnemius(LG), and deep posterior muscles including soleus(DP) was measured using MRI pre-and post-training. Consecutive cross-sectional images (8 mm slices with a 2 mm gap) were analyzed and summed. Anatomical references insured that the same muscle sections were analyzed pre-and post-training. Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs (p<0.05) were used to test for differences in muscle strength and volume between training devices. RESULTS: SQ, HR, and DL 1RM increased in both FW (SQ: 49+/-6%, HR: 12+/-2%, DL: 23+/-4%) and ARED (SQ: 31+/-4%, HR: 18+/-2%, DL: 23+/-3%) groups. Both groups increased muscle volume in the V (FW: 13+/-2%, ARED: 10+/-2%), H (FW: 3+/-1%, ARED: 3+/-1 %), ADD (FW: 15=/-2%, ARED: 10+/-1%), LG (FW: 7+/-2%, ARED: 4+/-1%), MG (FW: 7+/-2%, ARED: 5+/-2%), and DP (FW: 2+/-1%; ARED: 2+/-1%) after training. There were no between group differences in muscle strength or volume. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in muscle volume and strength following ARED training is not different than FW training. With the training effects similar to FW and a 600 lb load capacity, ARED likely will protect against muscle atrophy in microgravity.

Nash, R. E.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Proposed Protocols for Defining Requirements and Sizing of Media-Based Filters for Spacecraft and Planetary Lander Applications

The air quality control equipment aboard future deep space exploration vehicles provide the vital function of maintaining a clean cabin environment for the crew and the hardware. This becomes a serious challenge in pressurized space compartments since no outside air ventilation is possible, and a larger particulate load is imposed on the filtration system due to lack of sedimentation in low gravity, and can experience short duration peak loading of dust from planetary surfaces for Lunar or Mars landers. The filter industry has established methods to properly size filters for a given particulate load, but requirements for the space or planetary application introduce additional consideration. In this work, a methodology for properly evaluating and sizing particulate filters for a Lunar surface pressurized environment will be presented, including estimating the loading and particle size distributions of the loading based on mission requirements. In addition, a scaling analysis from single filter media sheet to full-scale filters for this application, based on recent testing, will also be presented. These results of this study may provide meaningful guidance for properly designing media-based particulate filters for the air revitalization challenges in future deep space exploration missions.

media-based filters↗

NASA NTRS1996

Studies of Vestibular Neurons in Normal, Hyper- and Hypogravity

During the past year, pre-, in- and postflight studies were conducted in association with the Axon project for Bion 10 (Cosmos 2229). Recordings were made during pre- and postflight studies, from 118 horizontal semicircular canal afferents and 27 vestibular nucleus neurons in 7 rhesus monkeys; 137 pulse rotation protocols alone were executed (548 acceleration and deceleration responses were curve fit). Usable data was obtained from 127 horizontal afferents concerning their spontaneous discharge. Curve fits and analysis was made of sinusoidal and sum of sinusoidal responses from 42 and 35 horizontal afferents, respectively. Also recordings were made from neurons inflight from the two flight animals. The mean spontaneous rate varied from 128 spikes/sec. during preflight to 92 spikes/sec during postflight (day 5) - a change of 28%. In direct contrast to the results of Cosmos 2044, the best fitted neural adaptation operator (k) and the gain of the pulse response were decreased during post flight when compared to preflight. Surprisingly, the best fitted gain and k values for the sum of sines were slightly elevated during post flight tests. The gain and phase of single sine responses were compared for pre- and post flight tests and compared to a larger population of afferents. In contrast to Cosmos 2044 results where on the first day of post flight testing the gains of the best fitted sine response were skewed toward the higher values of the Miles and Braitman distribution, the gain of the best fitted sine responses during the first day of post flight testing (day 2) during Cosmos 2229 were exactly on the mode of the Miles and Braitman distribution. Thus, at least for the periodic stimuli, (pulses and sine waves) we found no change in gain and neural adaptation during post flight testing following Cosmos 2229. This conclusion is different from the one derived following the Cosmos 2044 flight. Cosmos flight 2229 differed from Cosmos flight 2044 in several significant ways: For example, during preflight, (1) The animals preflight training was different (less well trained on the gaze task) and (2) the animals were exposed to more experimental manipulations (surgical and rotational). Inflight, (1) the animals were required to make a pointing gesture (motor response) in association with eye movements to obtain reward, (2) the inflight diet was different (more balanced), (3) the feeder for one of the animals clogged following 9 days of flight resulting in evident dehydration and probably less head motion exposure in that monkey and (4) there was limited video taping of the monkeys in space. During postflight, (1) we were unable to test the flight animals until 26 hours postflight as compared to 14.5 hours during Cosmos 2044, (2) the animals received significantly more exposure to motion stimuli during postflight testing than during Cosmos 2044. These differences in the vestibular environment will require analysis of several parameters other than just neural and eye movement responses. For example, computer programs will have to be written and used to recover and quantify the number of head movements made by each animal during flight. This activity is critical to the production of neural adaptation and increased gain.

Correia, Manning J.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Reflectance-Based Imaging Spectrometer Error Budget Field Practicum at the Railroad Valley Test Site, Nevada

Calibration and validation determine the quality and integrity of the data provided by sensors and have enormous downstream impacts on the accuracy and reliabilityof the products generated by these sensors. With the imminent launch of the next generation of space borne imaging spectroscopy sensors, the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society's (GRSS's) Geoscience Spaceborne Imaging Spectroscopy Technical Committee (GSIS TC) initiated a calibration and validation initiative.This article reports on a recent reflectance-based imaging spectrometer error budget field practicum focused on radiometric calibration of spaceborne imaging spectroscopy sensors. The field exercise, conducted at Railroad Valley in Nevada, provided valuable training for personnel in a variety of Earth observation (EO) areas, from engineers developing future sensors to calibration scientists actively working in the field. Future work in this area will focus on analyzing the data acquired as part of the training to answer numerous scientific questions, e.g., understanding the spatial and spectral homogeneity of the site being measured, identifying the optimal sampling to characterize the site, and optimizating the sampling techniques, including looking into the automation of some measurement protocol aspects. The training exercise was recorded to ensure that the knowledge can be disseminated across the GRSS and wider imaging spectroscopy community.

Ong, Cindy↗

NASA NTRS2003

Studies of Trace Gas Chemical Cycles Using Inverse Methods and Global Chemical Transport Models

We report progress in the first year, and summarize proposed work for the second year of the three-year dynamical-chemical modeling project devoted to: (a) development, testing, and refining of inverse methods for determining regional and global transient source and sink strengths for long lived gases important in ozone depletion and climate forcing, (b) utilization of inverse methods to determine these source/sink strengths using either MATCH (Model for Atmospheric Transport and Chemistry) which is based on analyzed observed wind fields or back-trajectories computed from these wind fields, (c) determination of global (and perhaps regional) average hydroxyl radical concentrations using inverse methods with multiple titrating gases, and (d) computation of the lifetimes and spatially resolved destruction rates of trace gases using 3D models. Important goals include determination of regional source strengths of methane, nitrous oxide, methyl bromide, and other climatically and chemically important biogenic/anthropogenic trace gases and also of halocarbons restricted by the Montreal protocol and its follow-on agreements and hydrohalocarbons now used as alternatives to the restricted halocarbons.

Prinn, Ronald G.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Development of a fully integrated analysis system for ions based on ion-selective optodes and centrifugal microfluidics

A fully integrated, miniaturized analysis system for ions based on a centrifugal microfluidics platform and ion-selective optode membranes is described. The microfluidic architecture is composed of channels, five solution reservoirs, a measuring chamber, and a waste reservoir manufactured onto a disk-shaped substrate of poly(methyl methacrylate). Ion-selective optode membranes, composed of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) impregnated with an ionophore, a proton chromoionophore, and a lipophilic anionic additive, were cast, with a spin-on device, onto a support layer and then immobilized on the disk. Fluid propulsion is achieved by the centrifugal force that results from spinning the disk, while a system of valves is built onto the disk to control flow. These valves operate based on fluid properties and fluid/substrate interactions and are controlled by the angular frequency of rotation. With this system, we have been able to deliver calibrant solutions, washing buffers, or "test" solutions to the measuring chamber where the optode membrane is located. An analysis system based on a potassium-selective optode has been characterized. Results indicate that optodes immobilized on the platform demonstrate theoretical responses in an absorbance mode of measurement. Samples of unknown concentration can be quantified to within 3% error by fitting the response function for a given optode membrane using an acid (for measuring the signal for a fully protonated chromoionophore), a base (for fully deprotonated chromoionophore), and two standard solutions. Further, the ability to measure ion concentrations by employing one standard solution in conjunction with acid and base and with two standards alone were studied to delineate whether the current architecture could be simplified. Finally, the efficacy of incorporating washing steps into the calibration protocol was investigated.

NASA Discipline Life Sciences Technologies↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Supporting Exploration Missions by Enabling Exploration Mission System Software

Future exploration missions will consist of a multitude of data sources, systems, and operators collaborating to complete mission objectives. Presently, NASA is instantiating the contractual mechanisms, such as the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) and Human Landing System (HLS) contracts, to produce these mission assets. Architectural planning is also underway to establish the networking protocols and infrastructure to digitally create and connect mission elements, such as LunaNET. However, without new horizontally integrated data systems, these advancements will be limited in their ability to get mission data appropriately integrated into the plan, train, fly, explore workflow of the flight operations workforce. Here we describe several mission system software development efforts underway that are designed to support human spaceflight missions. This paper describes the current iterations of a suite of tools to support EVA procedure authoring and execution, and mission context creation for both International Space Station (ISS) and Artemis missions. These tools have been developed iteratively and continue to be used in present-day ISS operations on orbit and in several NASA facilities such as the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) and Artemis field testing. These solutions demonstrate how software development can be aligned with ongoing operations development activities to discover the features that best support both current and future human spaceflight missions.

Matthew J. Miller↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Supporting Exploration Missions by Enabling Exploration Mission System Software

Matthew Miller↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Trace Oxygen Measurements of Asteroid Sample Storage Desiccators

The Astromaterials Curation facility at the NASA Johnson Space Center is currently curating more than 120 g of carbonaceous asteroid Bennu material as well as over 500 mg of asteroid Ryugu [1 and 2]. These astromaterials are stored in isolating desiccators and gloveboxes under a continuous purge of pure (<1 ppm O 2 ) gaseous nitrogen. The oxygen and moisture concentrations in our OSIRIS-REx sample processing gloveboxes are continuously monitored via integrated sensors; however, our sample storage desiccators lack integrated oxygen and humidity sensors. In previous studies, we used PreSens Fibox 4 trace oxygen meters and optochemical PSt9 spot sensors to measure the oxygen concentrations in candidate asteroid sample containers that had been sealed in nitrogen; we determined that Eagle stainless steel containers inhibit the ingress of external oxygen for several weeks [3]. This optochemical sensor technology allowed us to take precise, contactless measurements within a trace range of 0 to 200 ppmv O 2 . The effectiveness of the trace oxygen sensors in our container experiments inspired us to utilize them to assess the performance of our desiccators that previously lacked trace oxygen monitoring. In this study, our goal was to determine the quality of the nitrogen purge in the isolating desiccator under normal operating conditions by measuring the trace oxygen content. Utilizing optochemical sensor technology, we determined how long the oxygen concentration takes to reach an equilibrium in the desiccator; that is, determine the rate at which the oxygen diffusion into the desiccator equals the rate at which oxygen diffuses out of the desiccator via N2 purge. Additionally, we wanted to determine the oxygen concentration at this equilibrium, the state in which our desiccators are in during normal operating conditions. We tested a custom three chamber desiccator manufactured by Germfree using a PSt9 trace oxygen sensor spot that was mounted into a ¼” National Pipe Tapered (NPT) metal flow-through cell and attached it to the desiccator exhaust. The desiccator consists of top, middle, and bottom isolating chambers. The top chamber door was opened for several minutes to simulate a sample exchange, it was sealed, and then purged ~15 Standard Cubic Feet per Hour (SCFH). Oxygen measurements were automatically recorded via the Fibox 4 trace oxygen meter in 5-minute intervals over the course of a 24-hour period. Our results indicate the desiccator reached an equilibrium value of 10-15 ppm O 2 after ~5 hours (Fig. 1). This data allows us to explore standards for purging and exchange protocols that can be applied to similar types of desiccators in Hayabusa2, OSIRIS-REx, and for sample return collections. The assessment of the internal gaseous compositions of desiccators also allows us to share with the community the N 2 environment in which many of our asteroid samples and hardware are securely curated. Future measurements will include other nitrogen flow rates and measuring the trace oxygen concentration as a function of time for the levels of the previous commercial desiccator in which the Hayabusa2 sample collection was stored. We will also analyze how long the desiccators hold N2 after being disconnected from their N2 source, an extended measurement for sample security reassurance.

Curation↗

NASA NTRS2014

Maiden Voyage of the Rodent Habitat on ISS: Opportunities for Investigating Molecular Mechanisms and Biomedical Consequences of Long Duration Spaceflight

Research using rodents is an essential tool for advancing biomedical research on Earth and in space. The National Research Counsel’s Decadal survey (1) emphasized the importance of expanding NASAs life sciences research to perform long duration, rodent experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). To accomplish this objective, flight hardware, operations, and science capabilities were developed at NASA ARC to support both commercial and government-sponsored research. In preparation for the maiden voyage of the Rodent Habitat hardware and operations system (Rodent Research-1), and in close consultation with a Science Working Group comprised of veterinarians and experienced spaceflight investigators, we modified existing Animal Enclosure Module hardware, developed new hardware, operations, and science activities, and performed a series of ground-based verification tests. Preflight, ground based hardware tests included a simulation of SpaceX Dragon launch conditions (vibration and hypergravity) using the Transporter, and also two long-term biocompatibility tests (32 and 92 days) using the Habitat developed for long term housing on the ISS. The launch simulation test showed that adult mice housed in Transporter hardware adapted well, even if launch simulation was followed by a period of simulated weightlessness (via hind limb unloading). The biocompatibility tests demonstrated that the Habitat successfully supported animal health and also provided a useful video imaging system that enables frequent monitoring of animal health and behavior by veterinary and scientific experts on the ground, independent of ISS crew intervention. At the conclusion of all tests, mice were deemed healthy and suitable for conducting biological research. Additional preflight analyses of tissues preserved by freezing or fixation for gene expression analyses revealed that spleen and liver tissues recovered under conditions that simulated on-orbit activities yielded high quality RNA (RIN values 8-10) and liver enzyme activities and protein content (e.g. catalase). In addition, new methods were developed to optimize future science return by dissecting tissues post-euthanasia and storage. Various tissues were harvested from either intact or partially dissected, frozen carcasses after storage for ~2-6 months; most of the tissues (brain, heart, kidney, eye, adrenal glands and skeletal muscle) were of high RNA quality for science return, whereas some tissues (small intestine, bone marrow and bones) were not. These data demonstrated the protocols developed for future flight experiments supported science return despite delayed preservation post-euthanasia or prolonged storage, and furthermore, that high-quality RNA samples from many different tissues can be recovered by dissection following prolonged storage of the tissue in situ at -80˚C. The first flight experiments carrying 20 mice were launched on Sept 21, 2014 in an unmanned Dragon Capsule, SpaceX4; Rodent Research-1 is dedicated to achieving both NASA validation and CASIS science objectives. Ground based control groups (housed in flight hardware or standard cages) were maintained in environmental chambers at Kennedy Space Center. Crewmembers previously trained in animal handling transferred mice from the Transporter into Habitats under simultaneous veterinary supervision by video streaming and were deemed healthy. Health and behavior of all mice on the ISS was monitored by video feed on a daily basis. The 10 mice for validation (16wk old, female C57Bl6/J) ambulated freely and actively throughout the Habitat, relying heavily on their forelimbs for locomotion. The first on-orbit dissections of mice were performed successfully on Oct 12 and 13, 2014, and the validation mice will reside on ISS for up to 30 days. In conclusion, new capability for long duration rodent research is under development, including in-flight sample collection (which avoids the complication of reentry); results obtained to date will be described. This new Rodent Research system enables achievement of both basic science and translational research objectives to advance human exploration of space.

maiden voyage↗