Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Technology Development Office”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 937 records · Page 52
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2018

New Crop Selection Experiment

The mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is to reach for new heights for the benefit of humankind. In order for space flight to be feasible over further distances and longer durations of time, food must be sustainably produced under the unique conditions of space. Freeze drying, the method commonly used by astronauts for food supply, is not suitable for prolonged space flight because the food loses its nutritional value as time passes. Kennedy Space Center’s Utilization and Life Sciences Office (UB-A), under the Exploration Research and Technology Program (UB), conducts research on plant growth and development under International Space Station (ISS) conditions. The New Crop Selection experiments are testing the suitability of leafy crops to ISS conditions. Through this particular experiment, we seek to optimize food production by analyzing the growth responses of leafy greens through the manipulation of CO2 levels.

Mangrum, Diamond↗
DOE OSTI2015

Rail Shock and Vibration Pre-Test Modeling of a Used Nuclear Fuel Assembly

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), Office of Fuel Cycle Technology, has established the Used Fuel Disposition Campaign (UFDC) to conduct the research and development activities related to storage, transportation, and disposal of used nuclear fuel (UNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW). The mission of the UFDC is to identify alternatives and conduct scientific research and technology development to enable storage, transportation and disposal of used nuclear fuel and HLW generated by existing and future nuclear fuel cycles. The Storage and Transportation staff within the UFDC is responsible for addressing issues regarding the long-term or extended storage (ES) of UNF and its subsequent transportation. Available information is not sufficient to determine the ability of ES UNF, including high-burnup fuel, to withstand shock and vibration forces that could occur when the UNF is shipped by rail from nuclear power plant sites to a storage or disposal facility. There are three major gaps in the available information – 1) the forces that UNF assemblies would be subjected to when transported by rail, 2) the mechanical characteristics of fuel rod cladding, which is an essential structure for controlling the geometry of the UNF, a safety related feature, and 3) modeling methodologies to evaluate multiple possible degradation or damage mechanisms over the UNF lifetime. In order to address the first gap, options for tests to determine the physical response of surrogate UNF assemblies subjected to shock and vibration forces that are expected to be experienced during normal conditions of transportation (NCT) by rail must be identified and evaluated. The objective of the rail shock and vibration tests is to obtain data that will help researchers understand the mechanical loads that ES UNF assemblies would be subjected to under normal conditions of transportation and to fortify the computer modeling that will be necessary to evaluate the impact those loads may have on the integrity of the UNF assembly. The shock and vibration testing along with computer modeling is a vital part of research to achieve closure of a gap in information related to the ability of ES UNF to maintain its safety function when subjected to NCT. In support of this effort, preliminary structural dynamics modeling is presented herein. The modeling investigates the rigidity of a hypothetical cask and cradle structure by comparing it to a monolithic concrete mass. The concrete mass represents a practical option for achieving the necessary cask and cradle mass on a flatbed railcar, but this comparative modeling study investigates whether or not the dynamic loads transmitted through a monolithic concrete configuration are adequately representative of a realistic cask and cradle system. This modeling highlights the need for rail testing by reporting the phenomenon of structural transmissibility. As shown herein, this structural transmissibility can cause an amplification of shock and vibration loads through the structure, which could potentially lead to accelerated mechanical degradation of UNF under NCT.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2018

Using EPA's Risk Assessment Tools for Superfund When Addressing Removal Actions and Late-Phase Response to Terrorist Attacks - 18228

EPA's Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) has three internet based calculators, or risk assessment models, for developing risk based Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRGs) for radioactively contaminated CERCLA sites. These PRG calculators are EPA's recommended methodology for developing risk-based concentrations for remedial actions for soil and water (PRG), inside buildings (BPRG), and outside hard surfaces (SPRG). EPA has three equivalent calculators for dose assessment, which are the Dose Compliance Concentration (DCC) calculator for soil and water, inside buildings (BDCC), and outside hard surfaces (SDCC). The three PRG calculators also include default PRG tables provided for each of the calculators showing concentrations corresponding to 1 x 10-6 when the calculators are run using all of their default parameters. This presentation will provide information on how users may employ these tools beyond their original intended uses in the remedial program, to develop risk based cleanup levels during the late-phase portion of an actual response after a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) or Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) terrorist attack or a major accident at a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), or a simulation during an exercise of an RDD/IND/NPP event, they may want to run the calculator using more site-specific data. This presentation will provide information on how users may employ these tools beyond their original intended uses in the remedial program, and focus on some of the more conservative default parameters that are likely candidates for replacement by site-specific information. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2026

2026 Annual Molten Salt Reactor Campaign Review

This report documents the 2026 Annual Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) Campaign Review held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from April 21–24, 2026. The review was organized by Dr. Patricia Paviet, National Technical Director of the Advanced Reactor Technology (ART) MSR program for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), and included participation from principal investigators, federal managers, developers, regulators, and members of the broader MSR community. The 2026 review expanded beyond the ART-MSR campaign to include related DOE-NE programs supporting molten salt reactor advancement, including the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program, the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies (AMMT) program, Advanced Reactor Safeguards and Security (ARSS), Material Protection, Accounting and Control Technologies (MPACT), and relevant advanced fuels activities. Three days were dedicated to technical presentations and panel discussions covering thermal properties, off-gas management, modeling and simulation, safety and licensing, safeguards and security, materials and corrosion, and irradiation activities. A fourth day was dedicated to technical tours of Sandia National Laboratories and Kairos Power facilities. Attendance was strong and comparable to the prior annual review, with approximately 75 in-person participants per day, 75–80 virtual attendees per day, and approximately 30 participants in the tour day. The review fostered significant technical exchange across national laboratories, universities, industry, regulators, and international participants. This report summarizes the review structure, technical themes, participation, tours, feedback, and conclusions relevant to future planning for the MSR campaign.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Final Report – Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between National Energy Technology Laboratory and Oxergy, Inc.

The NETL Raman Gas Analyzer (RGA) has been demonstrated to have an extremely fast response (<1 second) multi-gas analysis capability. All but the noble gases are Raman active, although the Raman interaction is weak. The RGA uses a reflectively lined capillary as the optical cell, providing both a small sample volume for fast gas exchange, and a much greater Raman signal collection than traditional instrument configurations. This allows very fast measurement of fuel gases (hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane) as well as other common industrial gases (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and water). This provides a new enabling technology for faster, smarter process control based on the chemical composition of the gases in the process – including improved fuel flexibility and efficiency for power generation systems. Research and development up to 2016 resulted in the construction of two field prototypes of the NETL RGA, which has been in applied to various laboratory applications for testing. The results of the testing have been used to improve the RGA design, with the intent to support technology transfer. The quality of the optical capillary used in the RGA is critical to its performance, and prior work at NETL produced a few optical capillaries superior to those commercially available. The production of high optical quality capillaries, however, was inconsistent in its results. With the support of the DOE Office of Technology Transitions, through the Technology Commercialization Fund program, this project was undertaken to address this commercialization barrier and to also evaluate the possible application of Raman gas analysis to a supercritical water gasification process being developed by Oxergy Inc. Oxergy, a small business located in Fairbanks, Alaska, is developing ultra-compact thermochemical reaction devices built with advanced manufacturing processes. Chief Technology Officer Jonathan Kamler holds the (pending) patent to Oxergy’s core reactor technology. Oxergy maintains wet-lab and combustion-lab space at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Center for Sustainable Living in Palmer, Alaska, where Mr. Kamler operates a pilot-scale, supercritical water gasification system designed and built by Oxergy. Mr. Kamler also operates an All Powers Labs Power Pallet gasifier coupled to a 10KW electrical generator as a dry biomass test platform at the Palmer facility. Both systems are suitable for real-world, collaborative testing of Raman gas analysis applications. The objectives of the CRADA include making the production of high-quality optical capillaries consistent and high yield, investigating other options for optical waveguides, and testing the capillaries for measurements in supercritical water gasification. Success on these objectives will support commercialization of both the RGA and supercritical water gasification technologies. Through the work performed on this project, a new apparatus was constructed and optimized to provide consistent production of high-quality optical capillaries. Several thick-walled capillaries were coated using this apparatus and shipped to Oxergy in September 2018 for testing in both dry gasification and supercritical water gasification process monitoring applications at University of Alaska Fairbanks facilities in Palmer. The strong earthquake near Anchorage and Palmer in November 2018 caused extensive damage and closure of the facilities used by Oxergy, preventing Oxergy from proceeding with experimental testing before the end of the project; the facility has been closed indefinitely. Earthquake damage prohibited the completion of all the project objectives prior to the end of the project. However, significant progress was made toward addressing a core technology commercialization barrier. The largest and most mature potential market for Raman gas analysis is its use in analytical instruments, which require sensitivity and low detection limits, and Oxergy’s market research found that market inertia is a barrier to commercial success in this market. Although NETL’s innovations in capillary coating have substantially improved Raman gas analysis capability, the likely market is expected to be niche applications that value the fast detection of real-time changes in gas composition.

Chorpening, Benjamin↗
NASA NTRS2013

Thermal Design and Analysis of the Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test Vehicle for the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator Project

The thermal design and analysis of the experimental Supersonic Flight Dynamics Test (SFDT) vehicle is presented. The SFDT vehicle is currently being designed as a platform to help demonstrate key technologies for NASA's Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project. The LDSD project is charged by NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) with the task of advancing the state of the art in Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) systems by developing and testing three new technologies required for landing heavier payloads on Mars. The enabling technologies under development consist of a large 33.5 meter diameter Supersonic Ringsail (SSRS) parachute and two different types of Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (SIAD) devices - a robotic class, SIAD-R, that inflates to a 6 meter diameter torus, and an exploration class, SIAD-E, that inflates to an 8 meter diameter isotensoid. As part of the technology development effort, the various elements of the new supersonic decelerator system must be tested in a Mars-like environment. This is currently planned to be accomplished by sending a series of SFDT vehicles into Earth's stratosphere. Each SFDT vehicle will be lifted to a stable float altitude by a large helium carrier balloon. Once at altitude, the SFDT vehicles will be released from their carrier balloon and spun up via spin motors to provide trajectory stability. An onboard third stage solid rocket motor will propel each test vehicle to supersonic flight in the upper atmosphere. After main engine burnout, each vehicle will be despun and testing of the deceleration system will begin: first an inflatable decelerator will be deployed around the aeroshell to increase the drag surface area, and then the large parachute will be deployed to continue the deceleration and return the vehicle back to the Earth's surface. The SFDT vehicle thermal system must passively protect the vehicle structure and its components from cold temperatures experienced during the ascent phase of the mission as well as from the extreme heat fluxes produced during the supersonic test phase by the main motor plume and aeroheating. The passive thermal design approach for the SFDT vehicle relies upon careful and complex bounding analysis of all three modes of heat transfer - conduction, convection, and radiation - coupled with a tightly managed transient power dissipation timeline for onboard electronics components throughout all mission phases.

thermal desktop↗
NASA NTRS2026

The Habitable Worlds Observatory Technology Development Plan

The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is NASA’s next large space telescope, selected by the 2020 Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics to search for and characterize habitable exoplanets while enabling a broad range of transformative astrophysics. In August 2024, the HWO Technology Maturation Project Office (TMPO) was formed to begin exploring the HWO science, technology, and mission architectures toward a Mission Concept Review (MCR) at the end of the decade. A primary deliverable of this effort is this technology development plan that identifies critical technologies that enable the mission, defines a process for assessing the readiness of those technologies, and outlines a strategy for developing those technologies to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 before the MCR. This document covers technologies organized along three “tracks”: Coronagraph System technologies, Ultra-stable Telescope System technologies, and High-sensitivity Ultraviolet and Visible Instrumentation technologies. Additional emerging and enhancing technologies are also discussed.

technology development↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Habitable Worlds Observatory Technology Development Plan

The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is NASA’s next large space telescope, selected by the 2020 Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics to search for and characterize habitable exoplanets while enabling a broad range of transformative astrophysics. In August 2024, the HWO Technology Maturation Project Office (TMPO) was formed to begin exploring the HWO science, technology, and mission architectures toward a Mission Concept Review (MCR) at the end of the decade. A primary deliverable of this effort is a technology development plan that identifies critical technologies that enable the mission, defines a process for assessing the readiness of those technologies, and outlines a strategy for developing those technologies to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 before the MCR. In this paper we summarize the HWO technology development plan which comprises three “tracks”: Coronagraph System technologies, Ultra-stable Telescope System technologies, and High-sensitivity Ultraviolet and Visible Instrumentation technologies. Each track has completed an initial assessment of technology gaps, prioritized the gaps for investment, and laid out development roadmaps to mature candidate technologies to close those gaps.

Matthew R Bolcar↗
DOE OSTI2017

Proposed Adaptation of the Standard Review Plan NUREG-0800, Chapter 4 (Reactor) for Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors and Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors

This report provides a proposed adaptation of a previous regulatory gap analysis of Chapter 4 (Reactor) of NUREG-0800 , Standard Review Plan (SRP) for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: LWR [Light Water Reactor] Edition, for applicability to advanced reactors; specifically, the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) and the modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor (mHTGR). SRP Chapter 4, which addresses reactor components, was selected for the review because of the possible significant differences in advanced non-light water reactor (non-LWR) technologies compared with the current LWR-based Chapter 4. SFR and mHTGR technologies were chosen for this gap analysis because of their diverse designs and the availability of significant historical design detail. This report satisfies M3AT-16OR2001042, “Complete Development of an Advanced Reactor Adaptation of Chapter 4 NUREG-0800,” in support of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) Advanced Reactor Technology program.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Land-Based Wind Reference Architecture

This report describes a summary and the final deliverables for the Wind Reference Architecture project funded by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Wind Energy Technology Office (WETO). The project objective was to further refine the reference architecture of the existing wind power plant reference architecture developed by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) by expanding the wind turbine generator (WTG) into a separate individual wind turbine reference architecture. Additional details regarding the wind turbine system and how it integrates with a wind power plant were researched and reflected in the reference architecture. This addition is important because it allows researchers to understand the components and devices in a wind turbine, how they function and how a wind turbine integrates into a wind power plant to be able to perform cybersecurity evaluations on the system. The communication and control systems were the focus while developing this reference architecture to understand the cybersecurity posture of a wind turbine and power plant. The information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems perspective are integral in helping improve the cybersecurity posture by creating a starting point to study how wind energy can be safely designed and deployed in our power grid from an integrated systems standpoint. A holistic wind power plant and turbine reference architecture and simulation was developed and made open-sourced for further research efforts.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

DOE-EM/HBCU Projects for Environmental Management Research and Workshop Development at SCSU [Conference Papers/Proceedings]. Final Report

The Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with nine HBCUs in South Carolina and Northeast Georgia. The nine HBCUs (Allen University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Clinton Junior College, Demark Technical College, Morris College, South Carolina State University, Voorhees College and Paine College of Northeast Georgia) have formulated a consortium to address the technical and workforce development needs of the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. These institutions have the qualifications and expertise to provide the technical cooperation and operations support in the areas of environmental remediation, nuclear regulatory and transportation safety, modeling, technology transfer and workforce development. Several of the HBCUs have received awards from the DOE to address issues related to ground water, surface water, plant communities, the development of an interdisciplinary waste management institute, and the establishment of an environmental science field station. Also, the acquisition of these grant awards have afforded the participating institutions with the ability to instruct students by providing them with the appropriate skill sets to address the future employment needs of DOE to include: Hands-on field experiences; Classroom demonstrations; and, Research and education experiences. South Carolina State University will build upon its existing relationships with DOE-EM by creating a "pipeline" for minorities in Mathematics, Science & Technology, Engineering, Research, and other related fields. Students will be specifically trained and mentored to enter the DOE workforce in these technical areas of need. The integration of technology in research and education is essential for meeting the demanding need to develop a workable mechanism to optimize the effectiveness of research and education in this nation. This is extremely critical in this age of unprecedented technological advances when information delivery, training, and continuous research to improve performance and skill enhancement hold the key to competition. This development relies on a program of applied science to identify and help implement the technologies, as well as programs that energize and mentor the next generation of scientists and engineers. To foster these goals, SCSU proposes research and educational projects that will support the integration of technology in research and education.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2012

Hydrocarbon Rocket Technology Impact Forecasting

Ever since the Apollo program ended, the development of launch propulsion systems in the US has fallen drastically, with only two new booster engine developments, the SSME and the RS-68, occurring in the past few decades.1 In recent years, however, there has been an increased interest in pursuing more effective launch propulsion technologies in the U.S., exemplified by the NASA Office of the Chief Technologist s inclusion of Launch Propulsion Systems as the first technological area in the Space Technology Roadmaps2. One area of particular interest to both government agencies and commercial entities has been the development of hydrocarbon engines; NASA and the Air Force Research Lab3 have expressed interest in the use of hydrocarbon fuels for their respective SLS Booster and Reusable Booster System concepts, and two major commercially-developed launch vehicles SpaceX s Falcon 9 and Orbital Sciences Antares feature engines that use RP-1 kerosene fuel. Compared to engines powered by liquid hydrogen, hydrocarbon-fueled engines have a greater propellant density (usually resulting in a lighter overall engine), produce greater propulsive force, possess easier fuel handling and loading, and for reusable vehicle concepts can provide a shorter turnaround time between launches. These benefits suggest that a hydrocarbon-fueled launch vehicle would allow for a cheap and frequent means of access to space.1 However, the time and money required for the development of a new engine still presents a major challenge. Long and costly design, development, testing and evaluation (DDT&E) programs underscore the importance of identifying critical technologies and prioritizing investment efforts. Trade studies must be performed on engine concepts examining the affordability, operability, and reliability of each concept, and quantifying the impacts of proposed technologies. These studies can be performed through use of the Technology Impact Forecasting (TIF) method. The Technology Impact Forecasting method is a normative forecasting technique that allows the designer to quantify the effects of adding new technologies on a given design. This method can be used to assess and identify the necessary technological improvements needed to close the gap that exists between the current design and one that satisfies all constraints imposed on the design. The TIF methodology allows for more design knowledge to be brought to the earlier phases of the design process, making use of tools such as Quality Function Deployments, Morphological Matrices, Response Surface Methodology, and Monte Carlo Simulations.2 This increased knowledge allows for more informed decisions to be made earlier in the design process, resulting in shortened design cycle time. This paper will investigate applying the TIF method, which has been widely used in aircraft applications, to the conceptual design of a hydrocarbon rocket engine. In order to reinstate a manned presence in space, the U.S. must develop an affordable and sustainable launch capability. Hydrocarbon-fueled rockets have drawn interest from numerous major government and commercial entities because they offer a low-cost heavy-lift option that would allow for frequent launches1. However, the development of effective new hydrocarbon rockets would likely require new technologies in order to overcome certain design constraints. The use of advanced design methods, such as the TIF method, enables the designer to identify key areas in need of improvement, allowing one to dial in a proposed technology and assess its impact on the system. Through analyses such as this one, a conceptual design for a hydrocarbon-fueled vehicle that meets all imposed requirements can be achieved.

Stuber, Eric↗
NASA NTRS2002

NASA's Advanced Space Transportation Hypersonic Program

NASA's has established long term goals for access-to-space. NASA's third generation launch systems are to be fully reusable and operational in approximately 25 years. The goals for third generation launch systems are to reduce cost by a factor of 100 and improve safety by a factor of 10,000 over current conditions. The Advanced Space Transportation Program Office (ASTP) at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL has the agency lead to develop third generation space transportation technologies. The Hypersonics Investment Area, part of ASTP, is developing the third generation launch vehicle technologies in two main areas, propulsion and airframes. The program's major investment is in hypersonic airbreathing propulsion since it offers the greatest potential for meeting the third generation launch vehicles. The program will mature the technologies in three key propulsion areas, scramjets, rocket-based combined cycle and turbine-based combination cycle. Ground and flight propulsion tests are being planned for the propulsion technologies. Airframe technologies will be matured primarily through ground testing. This paper describes NASA's activities in hypersonics. Current programs, accomplishments, future plans and technologies that are being pursued by the Hypersonics Investment Area under the Advanced Space Transportation Program Office will be discussed.

Hueter, Uwe↗
DOE OSTI2017

Research and Technology Development Activities to Address the DOE-EM Environmental Mercury Challenge

Human activities have altered trace metal distributions globally. This is especially true for the trace metal mercury (Hg), a pervasive global pollutant that can be methylated to form highly toxic methylmercury (MeHg), which bioaccumulates in aquatic food webs, endangering humans and other biota. Currently there are more than 3,000 mercury-contaminated sites identified worldwide and the United Nations Environment Programme has recently highlighted the risk of this contamination to human health [1, 2]. The Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) represents an example of one of these mercury-contaminated sites. Unlike other contaminants metals, radionuclides, and organic solvents that impact the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) cleanup program at the ORR and other DOE sites, mercury has several unique characteristics that make environmental remediation of the Y-12 National Security Complex one of the most formidable challenges ever encountered. These distinctive physicochemical properties for mercury include the following: it is a liquid at ambient temperature and pressure; it is the only metal that biomagnifies; and it is the only contaminant transported as a cation, as a dissolved or gaseous elemental metal (similar to an organic solvent), or as both a cation and a dissolved or gaseous elemental metal under environmental conditions. Because of these complexities, implementing cost effective and sustainable solutions that reduce mercury flux from various primary and secondary contamination sources will require linking basic science understanding and applied research advancements into Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management s (OREM) cleanup process. Currently, DOE is investing in mercury-related research through a variety of programs, including the Office of Science sponsored Critical Interfaces Science Focus Area, EM headquarters sponsored Applied Field Research Initiative, OREM-sponsored Lower East Fork Poplar Creek (LEFPC) Mercury Technology Development Program, Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR), and EM s Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program. Collectively, these multi-institutional and multidisciplinary programs are generating new tools, knowledge, and remediation approaches that will enable efficient cleanup of mercury contaminated systems locally and globally. In this talk we will highlight the progress made to date in addressing key knowledge gaps required to solve this watershed-scale conundrum.

Pierce, Eric M↗
NASA NTRS1994

A hypertext-based Internet-assessable database for the MSFC Technology Transfer Office

There exists a continuing need to disseminate technical information and facilities capabilities from NASA field centers in an effort to promote the successful transfer of technologies developed with public funds to the private sector. As technology transfer is a stated NASA mission, there exists a critical need for NASA centers to document technology capabilities and disseminate this information on as wide a basis as possible. Certainly local and regional dissemination is critical, but global dissemination of scientific and engineering facilities and capabilities gives NASA centers the ability to contribute to technology transfer on a much broader scale. Additionally, information should be disseminated in a complete and rapidly available form. To accomplish this information dissemination, the unique capabilities of the Internet are being exploited. The Internet allows widescale information distribution in a rapid fashion to aid in the accomplishment of technology transfer goals established by the NASA/MSFC Technology Transfer Office. Rapid information retrieval coupled with appropriate electronic feedback, allows the scientific and technical capabilities of Marshall Space Flight Center, often unique in the world, to be explored by a large number of potential benefactors of NASA (or NASA-derived) technologies. Electronic feedback, coupled with personal contact with the MSFC Technology Transfer Office personnel, allows rapid responses to technical requests from industry and academic personnel as well as private citizens. The remainder of this report gives a brief overview of the Mosaic software and a discussion of technology transfer office and laboratory facilities data that have been made available on the Internet to promote technology transfer.

Jackson, Jeff↗
NASA NTRS2002

NASA's Hypersonic Program: A Status Report

NASA's has established long term goals for access-to-space. NASA's third generation launch systems are to be fully reusable and operational in approximately 25 years. The goals for third generation launch systems are to reduce cost by a factor of 100 and improve safety by a factor of 10,000 over current conditions. The Advanced Space Transportation Program Office (ASTP) at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL has the agency lead to develop third generation space transportation technologies. The Hypersonics Investment Area, part of ASTP, is developing third generation launch vehicle technologies in two main areas, propulsion and airframes. The current program's major investment is in hypersonic airbreathing propulsion since it offers the greatest potential for meeting the third generation launch vehicles goals thus enabling the opening of new space markets. The program will methodically improve the technologies in three key propulsion areas, scramjets, rocket-based combined cycle and turbine-based combination cycle. Ground and flight propulsion tests are planned. A airframe technologies will be matured through ground testing. The invited paper describes NASA's activities in hypersonic. Current programs, future plans and technologies that are being pursued by the Hypersonics Investment Area under the Advanced Space Transportation Program Office will be discussed.

Hueter, Uwe↗
DOE OSTI2017

Technetium Management Program Plan - 17376

Technetium management is a high-priority activity for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) complex. Waste management and remediation issues involving technetium represent environmental risks and challenges that are unique to DOE. This plan lays out the technology development activities that are underway as well as future technology needs to address technetium issues across DOE EM sites and across programmatic areas of tank waste, groundwater and soils, and facility decommissioning and deactivation in order to be comprehensive and to allow integration of similar activities. The program was developed in close coordination with site representatives and program offices. Activities and needs that were identified share common themes and were grouped into areas of characterization, treatment, and disposition. Characterization includes understanding the inventory at particular locations, the chemical species, and chemical and physical behavior, whether in a treatment process flowsheet or a geological setting that displays periodic contaminant releases. The tools for characterization in these different environments might use the same sensors or protocols. Treatment options include methods to capture technetium such as ion-exchange or manipulation of oxidation states, which also may be applied across program areas. Disposition includes end-points of the processes and environmental risk, including waste form behavior, mobility of technetium once it is treated or remediated, and long-term monitoring. Disposition represents integration of all cleanup actions at a site. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1985

NASA Space controls research and technology program

The NASA technological organization is outlined. The Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST) is one of the four major technical offices that comprise NASA. The Office of Space Science and Applications administers programs directed towards using space-based or related techniques to further understanding of the total universe and to apply that understanding to practical applications in such areas as Astrophysics, Solar System exploration, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Communications and Information Systems. The Office of Space Flight administers the programs for all U.S. civil launch capability, plus Spacelab development and operations. The Office of Space Tracking & Data Systems administers the programs that operate and maintain a world-wide network of facilities for data acquisition, processing, and ground to spacecraft communications for all NASA missions. The OAST has primary responsibility within NASA for conducting space research and technology development to support commercial and military as well as NASA space interests.

Mciver, D. E.↗