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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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114 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2023

CESO 22-4: Parabolic and Suborbital Glovebox in Support of Space Crop Production

Space crop production research approaches and technologies can be validated for microgravity using parabolic or suborbital flight opportunities, and this will save considerable risk, time, and money for implementing new strategies in spaceflight. While the durations of microgravity in these tests are insufficient to grow crops, there are numerous examples of the value of microgravity testing for subsystems such as plant water and nutrient delivery, where multiphase fluid flow can be elucidated in short durations, and horticultural operations, such as harvesting and produce sanitation where containment and contamination can be assessed. Containment in any operational test is essential, as crop operations involve fluids and biological samples, which are potential hazards. This project consists of designing, developing, and constructing a parabolic/suborbital glovebox for experiment containment. The design involves modifications and upgrades to an existing glovebox developed at the University of Louisville. The University of Louisville glovebox was used by KSC researchers for space crop parabolic flight tests in 2021, and lessons learned from that testing have driven design modifications and improvements in the KSC-generated glovebox. Requirements were identified, parts were ordered, an operational science glovebox was fabricated, and a detailed materials specification list was generated. Analyses that are required for flight, remain to be performed to meet airworthiness requirements, and that work will have to be conducted in the future before use in flight.

Food Production↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A HIRF-Map Certification Approach for UAM, AAM, and UAS Vehicles

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Urban Air Mobility (UAM), and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) vehicles will fly in airspace similar to Transport Category Rotorcraft, requiring them to meet stringent requirements for High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF) certification. The environment is notably severe, particularly compared to fixed-wing aircraft, due to operations at lower altitudes. This potentially exposes the vehicles to high-power transmitters on the ground, leading to significant challenges. High-level HIRF exposure can result in avionic system upsets, interference, and undesirable effects. Shielding and circuit protection against HIRF pose significant barriers concerning size, weight, and cost, especially for emerging electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) vehicles. This paper proposes a novel HIRF protection approach, aiming to reduce costs by certifying vehicles to a "vehicle tolerance level" lower than that required for Transport Category Rotorcraft. The remaining protection is achieved by maintaining a safe distance from known HIRF sources. This distance is calculated based on the vehicle's tolerance level and transmitter characteristics, such as transmit power, antenna beamwidth, and direction. Tailored flight maps are developed to identify transmitters and avoidance zones within an operating area or along a flight path, enabling restricted vehicle operations. Vehicles with higher tolerance levels could have smaller HIRF avoidance zones, allowing them to operate closer to transmitters. Transmitter data are sourced from government databases, such as those of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A map tool is developed using Matlab to calculate and visualize HIRF avoidance zones based on available databases. The tool determines stand-off distances based on input vehicle tolerance levels, displaying results on various base maps depicting HIRF-restricted areas. Illustrations cover various FCC transmitters, including AM/FM/TV transmitters, satellite earth stations, and NOAA weather radars. The HIRF zones of smaller transmitters, such as land-mobile radios, pagers, microwave links, and cellular towers, are also illustrated. An example of flight planning around transmitters is provided. For now, airports and government-owned lands are excluded due to limited access to sensitive transmitter data. Despite this approach, a minimum HIRF tolerance level for vehicles may still be necessary to cover mobile devices, cellular base stations, transmitters on other AAM vehicles, and other small power devices not included in the FCC databases. The paper discusses findings and areas for improving existing databases and suggests an approach for better access to sanitized data in more restricted government databases. This method significantly deviates from the standard approach and introduces slightly higher flight-planning complexity. However, the potential cost savings are considerable. Future AAM/UAM/UAS aeronautical charts could potentially incorporate these new HIRF avoidance zones. Keywords—HIRF; Map; AAM; UAM; UAS; Advanced Air Mobility; Urban Air Mobility; Unmanned Aerial Systems; Certification.

HIRF↗
NASA NTRS2024

Space Rated High Voltage Plasma Generating Supply

The use of plasma for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) applications (such as water treatment, acid production, plant seed activation, biofilm sanitization, or waste gasification) is an active area of research at the KSC Applied Chemistry Lab (ACL). The generation of plasma for experimentation has thus far been done with lab-rated power supplies which are unsuitable for space applications, and no suitable supply is readily available for purchase. This project tackled the development of a low TRL prototype 500 W power supply intended for generating plasma in space. The design was based on similar power electronic circuits used for electric propulsion systems and was adapted for use in ISRU applications. This technology will enable KSC’s plasma-based ISRU related technologies to be demonstrated in the space environment.

Nathaniel Cain↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Plasma Processing of Water and Inedible Biomass Ash Leaching

Researchers at Kennedy Space Center have developed a technology that generates plasma activated water in pH ranges that allow for the addition of nitrates and other nutrients to the water while maintaining a healthy pH for plants. A plasma torch is used to treat inedible biomass, generating ash containing nutrients useful for plant growth. The same plasma torch is also used to treat water, which results in the formation of nitric acid that lowers the pH of the water. Adding the plasma generated ash to the plasma treated water can balance the pH of the water to make it suitable for plant growth while simultaneously adding nutrients recycled from the inedible biomass to further enhance plant development. Plasma treatment of water to high and low pH extremes can also be used for sanitation purposes, causing pH shock to undesired organisms. The uniqueness of this process is the adjustability of the pH with one system. The same plasma system can be used to treat both the water and the biomass. Additionally, the technology can be used as an on-demand, point-of-use method for producing nitric acid.

Space Crop Production↗
NASA NTRS2024

3D Printed Materials Characterization for Rapid Prototyping and Plant Growth

Through KSC IRTD funding in 2022, this project brought a list of 18, 3D printed filaments into formal characterization testing to provide a reference for their behaviors under relevant applications. The project format set up a series of tests to expose 3D printed specimens. A total of 1,989 individual 3D printed test specimens were sent across KSC to be scrutinized by three laboratories to fulfill a multidisciplinary assessment of each material TRL. Testing started with 18 materials. Initially, seed germination assays in the PPA, sample materials were enclosed in petri dishes with lettuce seeds on damp germination paper. No significant impacts on lettuce seed germination were observed in this testing. Next, sample coupons were printed and sent for materials testing to the KSC Analysis/Mechanical and Environmental Testing Laboratory, where they were subjected to 14- and 30-day soak periods in solutions used to provide nutrients to plants or to sanitize hardware before and after use. Following a long soak typical of a 30-day plant growout in Hoagland’s solution, 14 materials gained more than 10% of their own mass. This indicated an increased potential for leaching or providing conditions that are not food safe. Materials that exceeded 15% absorption by mass were eliminated from further testing. Based off this result, the team continued with a core list of nine filaments to fulfill Tensile, Flexural, Biofilm formation, and plant growth testing. Those materials were PLA (Raise3D), ABS (Raise3D), PETG (PolyethyleneTerephthalate Glycol) (Raise3D), ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) (Raise3D), PC (Polycarbonate) (Raise3D), TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane)-95 (Raise3D), PLA Copper (Gizmodorks), PP (Polypropylene) (Braskem), and HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) (Gizmodorks). Testing also quantified the spectral impact of using different color 3D printed surfaces in a growth chamber. The material used for spectral testing was PLA. Printing employed a standard surface texture representative of all materials. It was shown through Tensile Testing (ASTM D638-22) that the breaking force of a 3D printed part greatly varied depending on layer orientation. This is common through all materials, and demonstrates that the strength of a 3D printed component can be maximized by layering the material normal to the primary force on the part. Four-point flexural testing (ASTM D790) provided quantities of interest, Flexural modulus, Flexural strength, Flexural stress, and strain at break within a 5% strain limit from each of nine materials. Biofilm formation testing was conducted in the Molecular and Microbiological Laboratory. Testing completed on specimens from each material showed equal formation on the surface. Additional plant growth testing was conducted in the PPA beyond the initial germination testing. The final assessment documents that three materials (PLA, ABS, and PC) have reached TRL 6 through extensive testing, and ultimate end-to-end applied use in experimental or testing conditions (flight and ground). TRL 5 materials (ASA, TPU-95, PLA Copper, PP, PETG, and HIPS) have all been successfully applied in Research and Development for crop growth applications and are ready to be applied in formal testing. TRL 4 materials Nylon910, PLA Carbon Fiber, PPA CF, PPA Glass Fiber (GF), NinjaFlex, and P-filament 721 are materials that were able to be printed and tested, but have yet to show data meeting applied requirements. TRL 3 NylonX, Flex TPE-185, and Nylon were unable to be reliably printed to fulfill testing. These results provide researchers with reference for materials to use during plant growth experimentation, and also set a standard for future characterization work applying 3D printing and materials to testing, research, and experimentation.

Gioia Massa↗