Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “CFS”

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 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

MiR-21–3p triggers cardiac fibroblasts pyroptosis in diabetic cardiac fibrosis via inhibiting androgen receptor

Highlights: • HG aggravates CFs pyroptosis and fibrosis. • MiR-21–3p enhances CFs pyroptosis due to AR down regulation. • MiR-21–3p targeting AR in HG triggers CFs pyroptosis and fibrosis. MicroRNA-21 has been implicated in diabetic complication, including diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, there is limited information regarding the biological role of the miR-21 passenger strand (miR-21–3p) in diabetic cardiac fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-21–3p and its target androgen receptor in STZ-induced diabetic cardiac fibrosis.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Unveiling Carbon Ring Structure Formation Mechanisms in Polyacrylonitrile-Derived Carbon Fibers

As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs) rapidly grows, lower-cost, lighter, and stronger carbon fibers (CFs) are urgently needed to respond to consumers’ call for greater EV traveling range and stronger safety structures for AVs. Converting polymeric precursors to CFs requires a complex set of thermochemical processes; a systematic understanding of each parameter in fiber conversion is still, to a large extent, lacking. Here, we demonstrate the effect of carbonization temperature on carbon ring structure formation by combining atomistic/microscale simulations and experimental validation. Experimental testing, as predicted by simulations, exhibited that the strength and ductility of PAN CFs decreased, whereas the Young’s modulus increased with increasing carbonization temperature. Our simulations unveiled that high carbonization temperature accelerated the kinetics of graphitic phase nucleation and growth, leading to the decrease in strength and ductility but increase in modulus. The methodology presented herein using combined atomistic/microscale simulations and experimental validation lays a firm foundation for further innovation in CF manufacturing and low-cost alternative precursor development.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Summertime Continental Shallow Cumulus Cloud Detection Using GOES‐16 Satellite and Ground‐Based Ceilometer at North Alabama

Abstract Accurate simulations of boundary layer cloud processes remain challenging in Earth system modeling. Observations are essential to evaluate and improve models of such processes. This study introduces a comprehensive validation framework for a satellite‐based detection algorithm of continental shallow cumulus (ShCu) clouds during the daytime, which was initially developed using ground‐based observations of stereo cameras at the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains site (J. Tian et al., 2021, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13122309 , 2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021gl097070 ). To validate this algorithm, the framework employs ground‐based ceilometer measurements from North Alabama (NA) where ShCu populations are prevalent. This study first generates clear‐sky surface reflectance maps at NA and identifies ShCu pixels with a detection threshold using Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) reflectance data. The obtained cloud fractions (CFs) are then compared against CFs from a ground‐based ceilometer, considering factors such as observed area differences, satellite parallax issue, and systematic biases. We found that with a detection threshold (∆R) of 0.05, the ShCu detection algorithm is effective for NA, enabling the reproduction of hourly ShCu CFs using GOES. Our framework is straightforward and easily repeatable to evaluate the effectiveness of a ∆R threshold for detecting ShCu clouds in various geographic regions where ceilometers are deployed. This satellite detection of ShCu provides a crucial regional context for ground‐based measurements, facilitating the tracking of convection initiation and its coupling with land surface conditions. Integrating localized ground‐based and regional satellite data will enhance our ability to conduct thorough studies of cloud morphology and land‐atmosphere interactions in North Alabama.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fractional quantum Hall valley ferromagnetism in the extreme quantum limit

Electrons' multiple quantum degrees of freedom can lead to rich physics, including a competition between various exotic ground states, as well as novel applications such as spintronics and valleytronics. Here we report magnetotransport experiments demonstrating how the valley degree of freedom impacts the fractional quantum states (FQHSs), and the related magnetic-flux-electron composite fermions (CFs), at very high magnetic fields in the extreme quantum limit when only the lowest Landau level is occupied. Unlike in other multivalley two-dimensional electron systems such as Si or monolayer graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides, in our AlAs sample we can continuously tune the valley polarization via the application of in situ strain. We find that the FQHSs remain exceptionally strong even as they make valley polarization transitions, revealing a surprisingly robust ferromagnetism of the FQHSs and the underlying CFs. Our observation implies that the CFs are strongly interacting in our system. In conclusion, we are also able to obtain a phase diagram for the FQHS and CF valley polarization in the extreme quantum limit as we monitor transitions of the FHQSs with different valley polarizations.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Particle-hole mirror symmetries around the half-filled shell: Quantum numbers and algebraic structure of composite fermions

Composite fermions (CFs) of the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) are described as spherical products of electron and vortex spinors, built from underlying 𝐿=1/2 ladder operators aligned so that the spinor angular momenta, 𝐿 𝑒 and 𝐿 𝑣 , are maximal. We identify the CF's quantum numbers as the angular momentum 𝐿 in (𝐿𝑒⁢𝐿𝑣)⁢𝐿, its magnetic projection 𝑚𝐿, the electron number 𝑁 [𝐿 𝑣 =(𝑁−1)/2], and magnetic 𝜈 spin, 𝑚 𝜈 = 𝐿 𝑒 −𝐿 𝑣 . Translationally invariant FQHE states are formed by fully filling 𝑝 subshells with their respective CFs, in order of ascending 𝐿 for fixed 𝐿 𝑒 and 𝐿 𝑣 , beginning with the lowest allowed value, 𝐿=|⁢𝑚 𝜈 |. CF subshells are contained entirely within the first Landau level (FLL). Alternatively, we provide an equivalent hierarchical wave function in which the underlying objects are vortices with 𝐿 𝑣 = $\frac{p}{2}$, correlated. Here, we show that CFs can be written as a valence operator carrying the angular momentum quantum numbers 𝐿, 𝑚 𝜈 , 𝑚 𝐿 acting on a scalar half-filled intrinsic state.

2-dimensional systems↗
DOE OSTI2010

Oscillations and instabilities of fast and differentially rotating relativistic stars

We study nonaxisymmetric oscillations of rapidly and differentially rotating relativistic stars in the Cowling approximation. Our equilibrium models are sequences of relativistic polytropes, where the differential rotation is described by the relativistic j-constant law. We show that a small degree of differential rotation raises the critical rotation value for which the quadrupolar f-mode becomes prone to the Chandrasekhar-Friedman-Schutz (CFS) instability, while the critical value of T/|W| at the mass-shedding limit is raised even more. For stiffer equations of state these effects are even more pronounced. When increasing differential rotation further to a high degree, the neutral point of the CFS instability first reaches a local maximum and is lowered afterwards. For stars with a rather high compactness we find that for a large degree of differential rotation the absolute value of the critical T/|W| is below the corresponding value for rigid rotation. We conclude that the onset of the CFS instability is eased for a small degree of differential rotation and for a large degree at least in stars with a higher compactness. Moreover, we were able to extract the eigenfrequencies and the eigenfunctions of r-modes for differentially rotating stars and our simulations show a good qualitative agreement with previous Newtonian results.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-274: Modified Dose Calibration Methods for IMRT QA

Purpose: To investigate IMRT QA uncertainties caused by dose calibration and modify widely used dose calibration procedures to improve IMRT QA accuracy and passing rate. Methods: IMRT QA dose measurement is calibrated using a calibration factor (CF) that is the ratio between measured value and expected value corresponding to the reference fields delivered on a phantom. Two IMRT QA phantoms were used for this study: a 30×30×30 cm3 solid water cube phantom (Cube), and the PTW Octavius phantom. CF was obtained by delivering 100 MUs to the phantoms with different reference fields ranging from 3×3 cm2 to 20×20 cm{sup 2}. For Cube, CFs were obtained using the following beam arrangements: 2-AP Field - chamber at dmax, 2-AP Field - chamber at isocenter, 4-beam box - chamber at isocenter, and 8 equally spaced fields and chamber at isocenter. The same plans were delivered on Octavius and CFs were derived for the dose at the isocenter using the above beam arrangements. The Octavius plans were evaluated with PTW-VeriSoft (Gamma criteria of 3%/3mm). Results: Four head and neck IMRT plans were included in this study. For point dose measurement with Cube, the CFs with 4-Field gave the best agreement between measurement and calculation within 4% for large field plans. All the measurement results agreed within 2% for a small field plan. Compared with calibration field sizes, 5×5 to 15×15 were more accurate than other field sizes. For Octavius, 4-Field calibration increased passing rate by up to 10% compared to AP calibration. Passing rate also increased by up to 4% with the increase of field size from 3×3 to 20×20. Conclusion: IMRT QA results are correlated with calibration methods used. The dose calibration using 4-beam box with field sizes from 5×5 to 20×20 can improve IMRT QA accuracy and passing rate.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

jacobteter/CropWatR

Biofuels policies induce land use changes (LUC), including cropland expansion and crop switching, and this in turn alters water and soil management practices. Policies differ in the extent and type of land use changes they induce and therefore in their impact on water resources. We quantify and compare the spatially varying water impacts of biofuel crops stemming from LUC induced by two different biofuels policies by coupling a biophysical model with an economic model to simulate the economically viable mix of crops, land uses, and crop management choices under alternative policy scenarios. We assess the outputs of an economic model with a high-resolution crop-water model for major agricultural crops and potential cellulosic feedstocks in the US to analyze the impacts of three alternative policy scenarios on water balances: a counterfactual ‘no-biofuels policy’ (BAU) scenario, a volumetric mandate (Mandate) scenario, and a clean fuel-intensity standard (CFS) scenario incentivizing fuels based on their carbon intensities. While both biofuel policies incentivize more biofuels than in the counterfactual, they differ in the mix of corn ethanol and advanced biofuels from miscanthus and switchgrass (more corn ethanol in Mandate and more cellulosic biofuels in CFS). The two policies differ in their impact on irrigated acreage, irrigation demand, groundwater use and runoff. Net irrigation requirements increase 0.7% in Mandate and decrease 3.8% in CFS, but in both scenarios increases are concentrated in regions of Kansas and Nebraska that rely upon the Ogallala aquifer for irrigation water. Our study illustrates the importance of accounting for the overall LUC and shifts in agricultural production and management practices in response to policies when assessing the water impacts of biofuels.

Teter, Jacob↗
DOE OSTI2018

Water impacts of U.S. biofuels: Insights from an assessment combining economic and biophysical models

Biofuels policies induce land use changes (LUC), including cropland expansion and crop switching, and this in turn alters water and soil management practices. Policies differ in the extent and type of land use changes they induce and therefore in their impact on water resources. We quantify and compare the spatially varying water impacts of biofuel crops stemming from LUC induced by two different biofuels policies by coupling a biophysical model with an economic model to simulate the economically viable mix of crops, land uses, and crop management choices under alternative policy scenarios. We assess the outputs of an economic model with a high-resolution crop-water model for major agricultural crops and potential cellulosic feedstocks in the US to analyze the impacts of three alternative policy scenarios on water balances: a counterfactual ‘no-biofuels policy’ (BAU) scenario, a volumetric mandate (Mandate) scenario, and a clean fuel-intensity standard (CFS) scenario incentivizing fuels based on their carbon intensities. While both biofuel policies incentivize more biofuels than in the counterfactual, they differ in the mix of corn ethanol and advanced biofuels from miscanthus and switchgrass (more corn ethanol in Mandate and more cellulosic biofuels in CFS). The two policies differ in their impact on irrigated acreage, irrigation demand, groundwater use and runoff. Net irrigation requirements increase 0.7% in Mandate and decrease 3.8% in CFS, but in both scenarios increases are concentrated in regions of Kansas and Nebraska that rely upon the Ogallala aquifer for irrigation water. Our study illustrates the importance of accounting for the overall LUC and shifts in agricultural production and management practices in response to policies when assessing the water impacts of biofuels.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Simulation of Columbia River Floods in the Hanford Reach

Columbia River water elevations and flows in the Hanford Reach affect the environment and facilities along the shoreline, including movement of contaminants in groundwater, fish habitat, and infrastructure subject to flooding. This report describes the hydraulic simulation of hypothetical flood flows using the best available topographic and bathymetric data for the Hanford Reach and the Modular Aquatic Simulation System in 1 Dimension (MASS1) hydrodynamic model. The MASS1 model of the Hanford Reach was previously calibrated to field measurements of water surface elevations. The current model setup can be used for other studies of flow, water levels, and temperature in the Reach. The existing MASS1 channel geometry and roughness and other model configuration inputs for the Hanford Reach were used for this study, and previous calibration and validation results for the model are reprinted here for reference. The flood flows for this study were simulated by setting constant flow rates obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima Rivers, and a constant water level at McNary Dam, and then running the model to steady state. The discharge levels simulated were all low-probability events; for example, a 100-year flood is one that would occur on average every 100 years, or put another way, in any given year there is a 1% chance that a discharge of that level or higher will occur. The simulated floods and their corresponding Columbia River discharges were 100-year (445,000 cfs), 500-year (520,000 cfs), and the USACE-defined Standard Project Flood (960,000 cfs). The resulting water levels from the steady-state floods can be viewed as “worst case” outcomes for the respective discharge levels. The MASS1 output for water surface elevations was converted to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 and projected across the channel and land surface to enable mapping of the floodplain for each scenario. Floodplain maps show that for the 100-year and 500-year discharge levels, flooding is mainly confined to the topographic trench that is the river channel. The flooded area for the Standard Project Flood extends out of the channel area in some places, particularly in the 100-F Area. All of the output from the simulations have been archived and are available for future investigations in the Hanford Reach.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2010

Cryogenic Flow Sensor

An acousto-optic cryogenic flow sensor (CFS) determines mass flow of cryogens for spacecraft propellant management. The CFS operates unobtrusively in a high-pressure, high-flowrate cryogenic environment to provide measurements for fluid quality as well as mass flow rate. Experimental hardware uses an optical plane-of-light (POL) to detect the onset of two-phase flow, and the presence of particles in the flow of water. Acousto-optic devices are used in laser equipment for electronic control of the intensity and position of the laser beam. Acousto-optic interaction occurs in all optical media when an acoustic wave and a laser beam are present. When an acoustic wave is launched into the optical medium, it generates a refractive index wave that behaves like a sinusoidal grating. An incident laser beam passing through this grating will diffract the laser beam into several orders. Its angular position is linearly proportional to the acoustic frequency, so that the higher the frequency, the larger the diffracted angle. If the acoustic wave is traveling in a moving fluid, the fluid velocity will affect the frequency of the traveling wave, relative to a stationary sensor. This frequency shift changes the angle of diffraction, hence, fluid velocity can be determined from the diffraction angle. The CFS acoustic Bragg grating data test indicates that it is capable of accurately determining flow from 0 to 10 meters per second. The same sensor can be used in flow velocities exceeding 100 m/s. The POL module has successfully determined the onset of two-phase flow, and can distinguish vapor bubbles from debris.

Justak, John↗
NASA NTRS2010

Architecture-Based Unit Testing of the Flight Software Product Line

This paper presents an analysis of the unit testing approach developed and used by the Core Flight Software (CFS) product line team at the NASA GSFC. The goal of the analysis is to understand, review, and reconunend strategies for improving the existing unit testing infrastructure as well as to capture lessons learned and best practices that can be used by other product line teams for their unit testing. The CFS unit testing framework is designed and implemented as a set of variation points, and thus testing support is built into the product line architecture. The analysis found that the CFS unit testing approach has many practical and good solutions that are worth considering when deciding how to design the testing architecture for a product line, which are documented in this paper along with some suggested innprovennents.

Ganesan, Dharmalingam↗
NASA NTRS2014

Assessment of NASA GISS CMIP5 and Post-CMIP5 Simulated Clouds and TOA Radiation Budgets Using Satellite Observations. Part I: Cloud Fraction and Properties

Although many improvements have been made in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5), clouds remain a significant source of uncertainty in general circulation models (GCMs) because their structural and optical properties are strongly dependent upon interactions between aerosol/cloud microphysics and dynamics that are unresolved in such models. Recent changes to the planetary boundary layer (PBL) turbulence and moist convection parameterizations in the NASA GISS Model E2 atmospheric GCM(post-CMIP5, hereafter P5) have improved cloud simulations significantly compared to its CMIP5 (hereafter C5) predecessor. A study has been performed to evaluate these changes between the P5 and C5 versions of the GCM, both of which used prescribed sea surface temperatures. P5 and C5 simulated cloud fraction (CF), liquid water path (LWP), ice water path (IWP), cloud water path (CWP), precipitable water vapor (PWV), and relative humidity (RH) have been compared to multiple satellite observations including the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System-Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (CERES-MODIS, hereafter CM), CloudSat- Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO; hereafter CC), Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E). Although some improvements are observed in the P5 simulation on a global scale, large improvements have been found over the southern midlatitudes (SMLs), where correlations increased and both bias and root-mean-square error (RMSE) significantly decreased, in relation to the previous C5 simulation, when compared to observations. Changes to the PBL scheme have resulted in improved total column CFs, particularly over the SMLs where marine boundary layer (MBL) CFs have increased by nearly 20% relative to the previous C5 simulation. Globally, the P5 simulated CWPs are 25 gm22 lower than the previous C5 results. The P5 version of the GCM simulates PWV and RH higher than its C5 counterpart and agrees well with the AMSR-E and AIRS observations. The moister atmospheric conditions simulated by P5 are consistent with the CF comparison and provide a strong support for the increase in MBL clouds over the SMLs. Over the tropics, the P5 version of the GCM simulated total column CFs and CWPs are slightly lower than the previous C5 results, primarily as a result of the shallower tropical boundary layer in P5 relative to C5 in regions outside the marine stratocumulus decks.

General circulation models↗
NASA NTRS2017

Using CCSDS Standards to Reduce Mission Costs

NASA's open source Core Flight System (cFS) software framework has been using several Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) standards since its inception. Recently developed CCSDS standards are now being applied by NASA, ESA and other organizations to streamline and automate aspects of mission development, test, and operations, speeding mission schedules and reducing mission costs. This paper will present the new CCSDS Spacecraft Onboard Interfaces Services (SOIS) Electronic Data Sheet (EDS) standards and show how they are being applied to data interfaces in the cFS software framework, tool chain, and ground systems across a range of missions at NASA. Although NASA is focusing on the cFS, it expected that these technologies are well suited for use in other system architectures and can lower costs for a wide range of both large and small satellites.

Wilmot, Jonathan↗
NASA NTRS2017

OpenSatKit Enables Quick Startup for CubeSat Missions

The software required to develop, integrate, and operate a spacecraft is substantial regardless of whether its a large or small satellite. Even getting started can be a monumental task. To solve this problem, NASAs Core Flight System (cFS), NASA's 42 spacecraft dynamics simulator, and Ball Aerospaces COSMOS ground system have been integrated together into a kit called OpenSatKit that provides a complete and open source software solution for starting a new satellite mission. Users can have a working system with flight software, dynamics simulation, and a ground command and control system up and running within hours.Every satellite mission requires three primary categories of software to function. The first is Flight Software (FSW) which provides the onboard control of the satellites and its payload(s). NASA's cFS provides a great platform for developing this software. Second, while developing a satellite on earth, it is necessary to simulate the satellites orbit, attitude, and actuators, to ensure that the systems that control these aspects will work correctly in the real environment. NASAs 42 simulator provides these functionalities. Finally, the ground has to be able to communicate with the satellite, monitor its performance and health, and display its data. Additionally, test scripts have to be written to verify the system on the ground. Ball Aerospace's COSMOS command and control system provides this functionality. Once the OpenSatKit is up and running, the next step is to customize the platform and get it running on the end target. Starting from a fully working system makes porting the cFS from Linux to a users platform much easier. An example Raspberry Pi target is included in the kit so users can gain experience working with a low cost hardware target. All users can benefit from OpenSatKit but the greatest impact and benefits will be to SmallSat missions with constrained budgets and small software teams. This paper describes OpenSatKits system design, the steps necessary to run the system to target the Raspberry Pi, and future plans. OpenSatKit is a free fully functional spacecraft software system that we hope will greatly benefit the SmallSat community.

Software↗
NASA NTRS2018

Plan Execution Interchange Language (PLEXIL) Software User's Manual

Plan Execution Interchange Language (PLEXIL) is a Core Flight System (or Core Flight Software) (cFS) based application, developed by the Autonomy Operating System project at NASA. cFS is open-source, reusable flight software, also developed by NASA and targeted to space missions. PLEXIL runs within the cFS framework, and is a wrapper integrating the open source PLEXIL Executive into the cFE (core Flight Executive) infrastructure. Software features include: Executes PLEXIL plans stored on local file system; Can be event-driven or clock-driven; and, Intended for "soft real time" discrete control.

Fry, Charles R.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

TPSAS-NF1676L-11082-DND

Analysis of one decade of radar-lidar and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) observations at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program Southern Great Plains (SGP) site reveals that there is excellent agreement in the long-term mean cloud fractions (CF) derived from the surface and GOES data, and the CF is independent of temporal resolution and spatial scales for grid boxes of size 0.5o to 2.5°. When computed over a 0.5-hr (4-hr) period, cloud frequency of occurrence (FREQ) and amount when present (AWP) derived from the point surface data agree very well with the same quantities determined from GOES for a 0.5o (2.5o) region centered on the ARM SGP site. The values of FREQ (AWP) derived from the radar-lidar observations at a given altitude increase (decrease) as the averaging period increases from 5 min to 6 hours. Similarly, CF at a given altitude increases as the vertical resolution increases from 90 to 1000 m. The profiles of CF have distinct bimodal vertical distributions with a lower peak between 1 and 2 km and a higher one between 8 and 11 km. The 10-year mean total CF, 46.9%, varies seasonally from a summer minimum of 39.8% to a maximum of 54.6% during the winter. The annual mean CF is 1-2% less than that from previous studies, ~48-49%, because fewer clouds occurred during 2005 and 2006, especially during winter. The differences in single- and multi-layered CFs between this study and an earlier analysis can be explained by the different temporal resolutions used in the two studies where single-layered CFs decrease but multilayered CFs increase from a 5-min resolution to a 1-hr resolution. The vertical distribution of nighttime GOES high-cloud tops agrees well with surface observations, but during daytime, fewer high clouds are retrieved by the GOES analysis than seen from the surface observations. The frequencies of occurrence for both daytime and nighttime GOES low-cloud tops are significantly higher than surface observations, but the cloud fractions are in good agreement.

B Xi↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Rapid Spacecraft Payload Development: In-Orbit Demonstration of Flight Software Reuse, Scalability, and Dependability

As space mission design trends towards shared, multi-mission platforms and high-performance onboard computing architectures, the number of spacecraft launched into operation is also steadily rising. Through ridesharing, spacecraft miniaturization, and other cost-reduction measures, the barriers to space are lowering, resulting in compounded growth in the amount of flight software being deployed. To meet the needs of both the growing quantity and evolving nature of spacecraft, flight software design must accordingly adapt to support more efficient development, solutions to computational resource-sharing, and software reusability. This paper focuses on a software payload demonstrating several core technologies that improve the state-of-the-art in these identified areas. Launched into low-earth orbit in January 2022, our software payload was conceived, designed, and delivered in a span of merely two months. It was developed on top of the NASA core Flight System (cFS) framework and the Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy (DSA) Comm cFS application, which translates cFS software bus messages across a Data Distribution Service (DDS) network. The flight software, packaged in Linux container images, was deployed as one of 18 flight applications managed through the Unibap SpaceCloud Framework. The applications were run on a Unibap iX5-102 radiation-tolerant payload computer, hosted on the D-Orbit SCV-004 spacecraft as part of an ESA-sponsored in-orbit technology test. Our payload, referred to as the DSA D-Orbit software, demonstrates the reusability of the DSA Comm app in a substantially different context and purpose as its original mission. Comm’s original design goal was to reliably distribute messages between spacecraft swarms of arbitrary size and dynamic network topology. However, we leverage this same functionality to introduce redundancy and opportunistic parallel data processing in the context of a representative onboard image processing workload. This adaptive mission architecture was enabled in part by the SpaceCloud Framework’s use of container virtualization as the payload integration interface. By using a base container image with common high-level language runtimes and libraries, we were able to rapidly design, develop, and validate our image processing application without many of the technological barriers common to flight software development. We present details the goals, approach, results, and lessons learned through this technology demonstration experiment and contextualize those observations against present and future challenges in spacecraft software development.

computer programming↗