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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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1,616 records · Page 68
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Process-level cost analysis of hybrid manufacturing pathways for aerospace structural components

Hybrid manufacturing is a promising route for producing complex aerospace components, yet systematic cost benchmarking across multiple additive-subtractive pathways remains limited. This study presents a comprehensive process-based cost analysis of seven hybrid manufacturing routes, including laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), powder- and wire-directed energy deposition (DED), wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), additive friction stir deposition (AFSD), metal binder jetting (MBJ), and agility forging, followed by scanning and finish machining. Parametric cost models incorporating direct material, labor, and energy costs were developed. L-PBF results are discussed in detail for a pickle fork component and directly compared with commercial pricing. Across all hybrid routes, labor emerged as the dominant cost driver, contributing more than 70% of total manufacturing cost in some cases. AFSD exhibited the lowest cost for aluminum components, with MBJ being its 316 L stainless steel counterpart, after accounting for geometric scaling. Benchmarking against industrial quotes suggests that hybrid manufacturing can achieve cost levels comparable to those of commercial services, although labor-intensive processes exhibit greater deviation. The analysis highlights automation of material handling, setup, and supervision as key opportunities for improving economic competitiveness. Overall, the proposed framework provides a quantitative basis for evaluating and optimizing hybrid manufacturing pathways for aerospace applications.

Baruah, Sweta [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000174256207)↗
NASA NTRS2026

Effects of Multisensory Virtual Reality Nature on Affect, Presence, and Restorativeness

Virtual reality (VR) can provide access to restorative environments and sensory stimulation for individuals in isolated, confined, and extreme environments. We developed a nature-based VR intervention featuring three scenes (Garden, Forest, Beach) and examined the effects of multisensory augmentation with location-based olfactory, wind, and thermal stimuli (VR+OWT). Over a two-week period, fifty-one participants were assigned to a no-intervention control, standard audiovisual VR, or augmented VR (VR+OWT) condition. Data collection included weekly assessments of affect, stress, and cognitive performance; post-VR measures of affect, presence, and perceived restorativeness; and open-ended feedback. Both VR and VR+OWT groups produced immediate and sustained reductions in negative affect with no sustained systematic benefits on cognitive performance. The addition of olfactory, wind, and thermal stimuli enhanced presence for some scenes; however, feedback indicated that sensory mismatches and stimulus intensity occasionally detracted from the experience and may have contributed to lower coherence ratings in the VR+OWT group. In contrast, the perceived restorativeness of the VR environment was driven primarily by scene content (Garden vs Forest vs Beach) rather than the level of sensory stimulation. These findings support the potential of virtual nature to promote well-being and underscore the importance of coherence across sensory modalities for multisensory augmentation.

Virtual Reality Intervention↗
DOE OSTI2026

Electronegativity-Guided Site Differentiation in High-Entropy Alloy for pH-universal Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

Enhancing the intrinsic activity of transition metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) remains a critical challenge in sustainable energy conversion. Herein, we report an electronegativity-guided site differentiation strategy in a single-phase CoNiCuMoW high-entropy alloy (HEA) via electrodeposition by incorporating high-electronegativity 4d/5d orbital transition metals (Mo, W) into the face-centered cubic (fcc) matrix (CoNiCu). The as-synthesized HEA demonstrates exceptional HER performance in all pH conditions, delivering an outstanding overpotential of 65 mV (alkaline), 28 mV (acidic), and 155 mV (neutral) at a current density of 100 mA cm−2, showing performance comparable to commercial Pt/C and has excellent long-term stability at high current density (1 A cm−2, 1000 h). X-Ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the incorporation of Mo/W simultaneously alters the local coordination environment and induces element-dependent charge redistribution, accompanied by a system-level d-band center downshift, thereby optimizing the hydrogen binding strength across multimetallic sites. Meanwhile, oxophilic Mo/W sites lower the water dissociation energy barrier. These synergistic effects collectively enable efficient and durable pH-universal HER performance.

Wu, Yutong↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Space Launch System Artemis I & II Post Flight Ascent Aerothermal Environments Overview

Since 2011 the Aerosciences Branch/EV33 at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has been involved with the development of ascent external aerothermal environments for the NASA Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1 launch vehicle for the purposes of supporting thermal analysis and the design of thermal protection systems. The SLS Block 1 Artemis I and II launch vehicles successfully launched from Pad39B at NASA Kennedy Space Center on November 16th, 2022 and April 1st, 2026, respectively. Over 70 aerothermal islands, consisting of over 265 operational instruments captured aerodynamic heating and plume induced environments throughout the launch vehicles. Gauges consisted of calorimeters, radiometers, gas temperature probes, pressure transducers, bi-directional pressure probes and thermocouples. Prior to launch, aerothermal design environment models were generated to predict ascent aerodynamic heating and plume induced environments over a design space that covered a range of vehicle trajectories that varied atmospheric, vehicle performance, and off-nominal, engine-out conditions. Post flight reconstruction models were developed for each flight island using the Day-of-Launch (DOL) Best Equivalent Trajectory (BET) that provided freestream conditions and propulsion system boundary conditions. This paper discusses a summary of the ascent aerothermal environments observed during the flights and the respective modelling approaches and the performance of them through comparisons of flight data and predictions.

aerothermodynamics↗
NASA NTRS2026

CFD-Assisted Nodal Modeling of Sloshing in a Cryogenic Propellant Tank

During autogenous pressurization, tank sloshing causes a significant increase in pressurant consumption to maintain constant ullage pressure during draining of the tank. This increase in pressurant consumption is caused by a significant increase in condensation at the liquid-vapor interface. Sloshing strongly affects the liquid side heat transfer coefficient and thereby the condensation rate. Traditionally, sloshing is modeled by CFD code using the VOF (Volume of Fluid) method to track the liquid vapor interface during sloshing. CFD calculations require a very fine grid to accurately compute the heat and mass transfer at the interface. Therefore, computations are time consuming and prohibit performing many parametric studies often needed during the design of a new system. This paper describes an alternative approach by developing a CFD-assisted nodal model to predict system parameters more economically with reasonable accuracy. In this approach, a multi-node model of tank pressurization was developed using GFSSP. A multi-node model was needed to account for stratification. The model computes heat and mass transfer at the interface to calculate the condensation rate. The liquid side heat transfer is computed using the parameters of sloshing dynamics such as frequency, wave amplitude, and interface area. The parameters of sloshing dynamics are computed by the CFD code LOCI-Stream. The model predictions were compared with test data for several cases.

Cryogenic Tank Sloshing↗
DOE OSTI2026

Mechanics and Cooling of the CMS Phase-II Tracker Barrel

The CMS upgrade for the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) era will allow for an incredibly high rate of data collection, to be used in the next generation of precision measurements and searches for beyond the standard model physics. A key element of this upgrade is the full replacement of the silicon strip tracker to enable level-1 triggering on track level primitives, produced by pixel-strip (PS) and strip-strip (2S) modules, tiled together to form the new detector. Mechanically supporting and cooling these modules is not trivial, as material budget in the tracker volume is highly constrained, and as the modules accrue radiation damage they risk becoming entirely non-functional if the silicon sensors are not sufficiently cooled. To address this, each region of the tracker has a bespoke solution for housing and cooling their modules, mostly depending on carbon-fiber and carbon-foam structures, with dual phase CO2 cooling. For the most central part of the tracker, the Flat Barrel with PS modules (Flat TBPS) covers the pseudorapidity range out to $|\eta|=0.4$, and the mechanical structures are manufactured, assembled, and tested entirely by Fermilab and UC Davis. This presentation will describe the intense design and testing requirements for these components, and how they will ensure strong performance of the tracker through the HL-LHC era.

Cosby, Christopher [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2026

All-Polyester Multilayer Plastics (‘All-Polyester MLPs’): A Redesign for Inherently Recyclable Plastics

Multilayer plastics (MLPs) are widely used in modern packaging because they combine multiple functions such as oxygen and moisture barriers, mechanical strength, puncture resistance, and heat sealability into lightweight and cost-effective packaging solutions. These attributes are essential for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods packaging. However, conventional commercial MLPs typically consist of five to twelve layers made from chemically incompatible materials, including polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH), adhesives, and tie layers. This complexity makes MLPs extremely difficult to recycle. As a result, the vast majority of multilayer plastics (MLPs) are disposed of through landfilling or incineration. This disposal pathway perpetuates demand for virgin material production, thereby driving high industrial energy consumption, increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and contributing to the long-term accumulation of plastic waste. The scope of work included: (1) Design and fabrication of all-polyester multilayer structures using commercially relevant processing methods; (2) Experimental validation of barrier, mechanical, and sealing performance; (3) Demonstration of both mechanical and chemical recycling pathways; and (4) Comprehensive techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify cost, energy, and environmental impacts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2026

PROTECT: Production and Reuse of Thermally Efficient Ceramic Thermal Protection Systems

PROTECT (Production and Reuse Of Thermally Efficient Ceramic TPS) is a NASA Early Career Initiative focused on developing the next generation of reusable ceramic thermal protection systems (TPS). This project addresses key challenges in TPS design, including temperature capability, thermal stability, and refurbishment time, by integrating novel material development with predictive modeling. Leveraging enhanced capabilities in NASA’s Porous Microstructure Analysis (PuMA) software, PROTECT introduces new modeling tools to predict the thermal and mechanical behavior of fibrous ceramic materials. These tools enable accurate prediction of performance metrics such as thermal conductivity and structural integrity, reducing reliance on costly physical testing. Preliminary advances in these areas will be presented. To support model validation, PROTECT is building a comprehensive database of raw material properties using advanced characterization techniques, including micro computed tomography (CT) scanning in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The presentation will detail the sampling workflows and analysis methods used to generate this detailed microstructural data and how it is used to develop improved models in PuMA. This multi-center collaboration, spanning NASA (JSC, ARC, KSC, GRC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, UIUC, and SpaceX, is developing tailored TPS solutions for LEO, lunar, and Martian missions. By bridging heritage systems with the demands of modern spaceflight, PROTECT contributes to the advancement of reusable TPS technologies for future exploration missions.

Propulsion, Refractory, and Coating Materials↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The HEROIX Broadband X-Ray Space Telescope Mission Concept

The High EneRgy Observatory for Imaging X-rays (HEROIX) Medium-Class Mission concept envisions a next-generation broadband X-ray observatory designed to meet the astrophysics community’s need for high-angular-resolution studies of the Cosmic X-ray Background. Building on the science legacy of NASA’s NuSTAR mission and more than 30 years of advances in replicated NiCo shell technology at NASA Marshall, HEROIX proposes a space observatory comprising four co-aligned telescopes achieving 5 arcsecond half-power diameter (HPD) angular resolution. This capability, approached by the resolution demonstrated in the FOXSI-4 sounding rocket mission and under development through the SuperHERO balloon mission, will be extended to energies up to 80 keV through multilayer coatings. Marshall’s inhouse precision optics manufacturing enables an integrated effective area of 380 cm² at 30 keV, which, combined with high-resolution optics, opens new windows into extreme astrophysical non-thermal processes.

Nick Thomas↗
NASA NTRS1974

Development of a battery status monitor

A prototype battery status monitor system has been developed. The functions of the system are: (1) to provide the energy status of the battery, (2) to measure and transmit basic battery parameters, (3) to process these measurements required to determine abnormal functioning of the battery, and (4) to transmit warning signals of the abnormal condition along with a go/no go signal. The system was developed for use with the space shuttle.

Zimmerman, R. I.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dark matter and baryon asymmetry from monopole-axion interactions

We introduce a novel mechanism where the kinetic energy of a rotating axion can be dissipated by the interactions with dark magnetic monopoles. This mechanism leads to a framework where the QCD axion and dark monopoles account for the dark matter density, and the observed baryon asymmetry is generated through the rotating QCD axion via axiogenesis. The monopoles acquire masses from a nonzero axion field, and they can transition between different quantized dyonic levels in the presence of a rotating axion field. The axion kinetic energy is dissipated by the transition, and thus the axion abundance is depleted to the observed dark matter abundance. We predict that the axion decay constant should be below 10 9 GeV to explain the observed dark matter and baryon densities.

Axions and ALPs↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) Rocket Ready for Artemis II Lunar Mission

In early 2026, NASA will launch the Artemis II mission, an approximately 10-day long lunar mission that will fly three NASA astronauts and one CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut on a free-return trajectory around the Moon, following a one-day checkout of their Orion spacecraft in Earth orbit. The mission will be the first to launch astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft and on top of the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The mission will also deploy four 12U CubeSats as secondary payloads from the Orion stage adapter, following Orion separation and departure. The payloads, developed by four of NASA’s international partners, will perform a variety of science and technology investigations. The SLS and Orion for the mission are currently stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and are undergoing final preparations to rollout to Launch Pad 39B for a tanking test before launch. In addition to preparations for the Artemis II mission, significant progress is being made on the SLS for the Artemis III mission, which is targeted to return astronauts to the lunar surface no later than 2029. Major components of the core stage and solid rocket boosters are already at NASA Kennedy undergoing build-up for the mission. Data from the Artemis II launch and mission, as well as progress to subsequent missions, as available, will be presented.

Bruce Askins↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nine lensed quasars and quasar pairs discovered through spatially extended variability in Pan-STARRS

We present the proof of concept of a method for finding strongly lensed quasars using their spatially extended photometric variability through difference imaging in cadenced imaging survey data. We applied the method to Pan-STARRS, starting with an initial selection of 14 107Gaiamultiplets with quasar-like infrared colours from WISE. We identified 229 candidates showing notable spatially extended variability during the Pan-STARRS survey period. These include 20 known lenses and an additional 12 promising candidates for which we obtained long-slit spectroscopy follow-up. This process resulted in the confirmation of four doubly lensed quasars, four unclassified quasar pairs, and one projected quasar pair. Only three are pairs of stars or quasar+star projections. The false-positive rate accordingly is 25%. The lens separations are between 0.81″ and 1.24″, and the source redshifts lie betweenz = 1.47 andz = 2.46. Three of the unclassified quasar pairs are promising dual-quasar candidates with separations ranging from 6.6 to 9.3 kpc. We expect that this technique is a particularly efficient way to select lensed variables in the upcomingRubin-LSST, which will be crucial given the expected limitations for spectroscopic follow-up.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2026

Queued Up: 2026 Edition, Characteristics of Power Plants Seeking Transmission Interconnection As of the End of 2025 [Slides]

Electric transmission system operators (ISOs, RTOs, or utilities) require proposed power plants seeking to connect to the transmission grid to undergo a series of impact studies before they can be built. This process establishes what new transmission equipment or upgrades may be needed before a project can connect to the system and assigns the costs of that equipment. The lists of projects in this process are known as “interconnection queues”. In collaboration with https://www.interconnection.fyi. Berkeley Lab compiled, aggregated, and cleaned interconnection queue data from >50 transmission grid operators (7 ISO/RTOs and 50 non-ISO balancing areas), which collectively represent ~98% of currently installed U.S. electric generating capacity.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Anomalous lattice expansion of bcc Ta in helium-loaded diamond anvil cells

Anomalous lattice expansion of bcc Ta is observed in helium-loaded diamond anvil cell (DAC) experiments near 6 GPa and above 400 K, while co-loaded W, Mo, and Au exhibit normal thermal expansion. The Ta volume expansion increases with temperature, reaching ~14% near 650 K before plateauing, and is largely retained after recovery to ambient conditions. Time-resolved measurements at 500 K reveal progressive expansion over several hours, consistent with gradual, thermally activated He incorporation. The largely retained expansion during subsequent cooling and holding at 400 K indicates that the incorporated He is predominantly kinetically trapped. The data reveal two distinct regimes: below ~550 K, modest and spatially uniform expansion consistent with interstitial He trapping at isolated, randomly distributed vacancies; above ~550 K, He-vacancy cluster growth producing dramatically larger expansion, peak broadening, and a core–shell microstructure revealed by micron-resolution X-ray diffraction mapping. These results demonstrate that He is not always a passive pressure medium in DAC experiments and reveal a previously unrecognized regime of He-mediated lattice modification in Ta, complementing conventional ion-implantation studies relevant to nuclear and fusion structural materials.

Diamond anvil cell↗
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 NTRSDate not supplied

NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) Rocket Ready for Artemis II Lunar Mission

In early 2026, NASA will launch the Artemis II mission, an approximately 10-day long lunar mission that will fly three NASA astronauts and one CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut on a free-return trajectory around the Moon, following a one-day checkout of their Orion spacecraft in Earth orbit. The mission will be the first to launch astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft and on top of the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The mission will also deploy four 12U CubeSats as secondary payloads from the Orion stage adapter, following Orion separation and departure. The payloads, developed by four of NASA’s international partners, will perform a variety of science and technology investigations. The SLS and Orion for the mission are currently stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and are undergoing final preparations to rollout to Launch Pad 39B for a tanking test before launch. In addition to preparations for the Artemis II mission, significant progress is being made on the SLS for the Artemis III mission, which is targeted to return astronauts to the lunar surface no later than 2029. Major components of the core stage and solid rocket boosters are already at NASA Kennedy undergoing build-up for the mission. Data from the Artemis II launch and mission, as well as progress to subsequent missions, as available, will be presented.

Bruce R Askins↗