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At least 1,459 records · Page 81

Constitutive Modeling of the Facesheet to Core Interface in Honeycomb Sandwich Panels Subject to Mode I Delamination

A new cohesive zone traction-separation law, which includes the effects of fiber bridging, has been developed, implemented with a finite element (FE) model, and applied to simulate the delamination between the facesheet and core of a composite honeycomb sandwich panel. The proposed traction-separation law includes a standard initial cohesive component, which accounts for the initial interfacial stiffness and energy release rate, along with a new component to account for the fiber bridging contribution to the delamination process. Single cantilever beam tests on aluminum honeycomb sandwich panels with carbon fiber reinforced polymer facesheets were used to characterize and evaluate the new formulation and its finite element implementation. These tests, designed to evaluate the mode I toughness of the facesheet to core interface, exhibited significant fiber bridging and large crack process zones, giving rise to a concave downward concave upward pre-peak shape in the load-displacement curve. Unlike standard cohesive formulations, the proposed formulation captures this observed shape, and its results have been shown to be in excellent quantitative agreement with experimental load-displacement and apparent critical energy release rate results, representative of a payload fairing structure, as well as local strain fields measured with digital image correlation.

composites↗

Integration Testing of Ultrasonic Deformation Sensor for TREAT Experiments

Fuel deformation (both axial and radial) information provides insights into fuel performance and failure limits. Traditionally, fuel deformation has been quantified using post-irradiation examinations due to the lack of an appropriate sensor for monitoring deformation in situ. Recent developments in sensor and instrumentation design have led to the use of linear variable differential transformers (LVDT) for monitoring axial strain in fuel during irradiation. Size and operational constraints limit the use of LVDT sensors for radial deformation monitoring, and alternatives are needed. One possible alternative to LVDT sensors is an ultrasonic sensor. Ultrasonic sensors monitor the interaction of high-frequency stress waves with the test object. The resulting response may be analyzed to determine the properties of the material, including stress, strain, microstructure, presence of defects, and the elastic constants. While ultrasonic measurements have been successfully applied for monitoring strain in a number of applications, their use for in-core measurements has been limited. Largely, the limitations are due to the challenges associated with designing sensors that can operate under typical in-core conditions. This report documents testing performed to confirm that the prototypic ultrasonic deformation sensor can be integrated into TREAT irradiation experiments using the SETH capsule.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Synthesis of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@P4VP@ZIF-8 core-shell microspheres and their application in a Knoevenagel condensation reaction

In this work, a core-shell magnetic composite Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@P4VP@ZIF-8 microspheres were successfully designed and synthesized. A polymerization approach on the surface of pre-made Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} microspheres was employed for the synthesis of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@P4VP. The zinc-derived Zeolite Imidazolate Framework (ZIF) shell was introduced through a layer-by-layer strategy. The obtained Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@P4VP@ZIF-8 core-shell structure was employed as an efficient Knoevenagel condensation catalyst for a variety of aldehydes. Furthermore, the inner P4VP layer also served as a basic additive in the condensation reaction process, while much less homogeneous basic additive was used. High catalytic reaction efficiency was achieved when the P4VP layer was utilized in combination with a Lewis acidity bearing ZIF-8 layer. The Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@P4VP@ZIF-8 catalyst was tested for recyclability and no drop in the catalytic activity was observed after more than five cycles. - Highlights: • A newly designed Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@P4VP@ZIF-8 core-shell catalyst is reported. • Layer-by-layer strategy was utilized to achieve core-shell structure at 400 nm. • The Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@P4VP@ZIF-8 core-shell material can be applied in an efficient Knoevenagel reaction. • Rapid catalyst recycling through external magnetic field.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Development of compact tokamak fusion reactor use cases to inform future transport studies

The OMFIT STEP (Meneghini et al. , Nucl. Fusion , vol. 10, 2020, p. 1088) workflow has been used to develop inductive and steady-state H-mode core plasma scenario use cases for a $B_0 = 8 \, {\rm T}$ , $R_0 = 4 \, {\rm m}$ machine to help guide and inform future higher-fidelity studies of core transport and confinement in compact tokamak reactors. Both use cases are designed to produce 200 MW or more of net electric power in an up-down symmetric plasma with minor radius $a = 1.4 \, {\rm m}$ , elongation $\kappa = 2.0$ , triangularity $\delta = 0.5$ and effective charge $Z_{{\rm eff}} \simeq 2$ . Additional considerations based on the need for compatibility of the core with reactor-relevant power exhaust solutions and external actuators were used to guide and constrain the use case development. An extensive characterization of core transport in both scenarios is presented, the most important feature of which is the extreme sensitivity of the results to the quantitative stiffness level of the transport model used as well as the predicted critical gradients. This sensitivity is shown to arise from different levels of transport stiffness exhibited by the models, combined with the gyroBohm-normalized fluxes of the predictions being an order of magnitude larger than other H-mode plasmas. Additionally, it is shown that although heating in both plasmas is predominantly to the electrons and collisionality is low, the plasmas remain sufficiently well coupled for the ions to carry a significant fraction of the thermal transport. As neoclassical transport is negligible in these conditions, this situation inherently requires long-wavelength ion gyroradius-scale turbulence to be the dominant transport mechanism in both plasmas. These results are combined with other basic considerations to propose a simple heuristic model of transport in reactor-relevant plasmas, along with simple metrics to quantify coupling and core transport properties across burning and non-burning plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

SPC-71260 Rev 0 MARVEL Heat Extraction Subsystem Secondary Coolant Equipment (SCE) Design/Build

A. The Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) reactor will offer experimental capabilities that are not currently available at DOE’s national laboratories. Idaho National Laboratory (INL), operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA) (Contractor hereafter) is procuring services for the design, analysis, fabrication, testing and delivery of a Secondary Coolant Equipment system (SCE). This specification contains the requirements for design, analysis, fabrication, testing and delivery of the SCE as described herein. The MARVEL reactor is a microreactor which uses eutectic sodium-potassium alloy (NaK) as a primary coolant. The primary coolant is circulated through four primary loops by natural convection of the coolant. In each loop is a closed well which will accommodate an intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) for extracting heat from the loop. These wells will be referred to in this specification as the “IHX wells.” It is intended for the IHX containment to also be filled with NaK. The MARVEL design team has determined that a Heat Extraction System (HES) using pumped NaK will be used to extract heat from the IHXs and deliver it to a downstream system for power generation or alternate process heat users. This Heat Extraction System will enable MARVEL operations including the ability to test, demonstrate, and address issues related to installation, startup, and operations. In addition, it will allow down-stream utilization of process heat for various uses. The objective of this specification is to develop the final design for the HES Secondary Coolant Equipment system (SCE) that will be used as the core of the HES. This system provides control of the NaK circulation between the MARVEL reactor and the subsequent process heat utilization systems. It does not include design of the Intermediate Heat Exchangers and piping inside the T-REXc pit in which the reactor is located. B. The MARVEL microreactor will be installed in the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) building in the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Micro-Reactor Experiment Cell (T-REXc) C. An INL Subcontractor has developed a conceptual design for this system per SPC-71145, referred to in that specification as the Process Heat Extraction System. SPC-71260 is based on the pumped NaK loop concept developed under SPC-71145. D. The SCE system design and (as option scope) fabrication shall be provided by the awardee of the subcontract (Subcontractor hereafter) pertaining to this Specification. Prior to shipment, the SCE will be fabricated, assembled, and tested at the Subcontractor’s facility. After successful completion of acceptance testing, the SCE and associated equipment will be shipped to the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) at the INL (Contractor’s Facility hereafter) to be installed by others in TREAT/T-REXc.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗

Improved Heat Transfer and Volume Scaling through Novel Heater Design

In 2014, the University of California, Berkeley, Nuclear Engineering Thermal Hydraulics Laboratory completed construction of the Compact Integral Effects Test (CIET) facility, a scaled thermal hydraulics scaled integral effects test facility designed to model the Mark-1 pebble-bed fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (Mk1 PB-FHR or simply Mk1). CIET uses an organic simulant fluid, Dowtherm A, to match the Prandtl, Reynolds, Froude, and Grashof numbers of important fluoride salt candidates for molten salt reactors, such as flibe. The FHR reactor core is simulated using a resistively heated tube, which heats the oil flowing through the annulus between the heated tube and a non-heated inner tube. However, the volume fraction of the coolant in the CIET heater was dramatically lower than the volume fraction of the primary coolant in the Mk1 PB-FHR design (3% in CIET vs. 17% in Mk1) because the CIET heater was initially scaled to match an earlier FHR design. Also, the maximum core heater power in CIET is limited by the melting point of Teflon components in CIET, approximately 330 deg. C. For conservatism, the CIET heater power is limited to keep the maximum surface temperature of the heater below 250 deg. C. At the nominal mass flow rate of 0.18 kg/s, this power was about 5 kW. A higher heat transfer coefficient from the heater wall to the oil was needed to increase the effective power delivered to the oil. In order to alleviate these two limitations, a new heater insert was designed and constructed for CIET. This new heater insert uses a twisted tape to augment heat transfer. The twisted tape is supported inside a perforated inner tube that has the same diameter as the original inner tube of the heater, in order to make it compatible with CIET's original heater design. The heat transfer and pressure drop properties of the new heater insert designs were tested in CIET and compared to the previous design in terms of pressure drop and convective heat transfer coefficient. The new heater inserts are intended to increase the range of power levels and mass flow rates that can be tested in CIET in order to augment understanding of FHR thermal hydraulic phenomena. Also, obtaining different data points for CIET response dynamics under different heater coolant residence times will be valuable in evaluating the Mk1 design.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

iDDS: intelligent distributed dispatch and scheduling for workflow orchestration

The intelligent distributed dispatch and scheduling (iDDS) service is a versatile workflow orchestration system designed for large-scale, distributed scientific computing. iDDS extends traditional workload and data management by integrating data-aware execution, conditional logic, and programmable workflows, enabling automation of complex and dynamic processing pipelines. Originally developed for the ATLAS experiment at the large hadron collider, iDDS has evolved into an experiment-agnostic platform that supports both template-driven workflows and a Function-as-a-Task model for Python-based orchestration. This paper presents the architecture and core components of iDDS, highlighting its scalability, modular message-driven design, and integration with systems such as PanDA and Rucio. We demonstrate its versatility through real-world use cases: fine-grained tape resource optimization for ATLAS, orchestration of large Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) workflows for the Rubin Observatory, distributed hyperparameter optimization for machine learning applications, active learning for physics analyses, and AI-assisted detector design at the electron–ion collider. By unifying workload scheduling, data movement, and adaptive decision-making, iDDS reduces operational overhead and enables reproducible, high-throughput workflows across heterogeneous infrastructures. We conclude with current challenges and future directions, including interactive, cloud-native, and serverless workflow support.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Integration of Mirror Design with Suspension System using NASA's New Mirror Modeling Software

Advances in mirror fabrication is making very large space based telescopes possible. In the many applications, only monolithic mirrors meet the performance requirements. The existing and near-term planned heavy launch vehicles place a premium on lowest possible mass. Again, available and planned payload shroud size limits near term designs to 4 meter class mirror. Practical 8 meter and beyond designs could encourage planners to include larger shrouds if it can be proven that such mirrors can be manufactured. These two factors lower mass and larger mirrors, presents the classic optimization problem. There is a practical upper limit to how large a mirror can be supported by a purely kinematic mount system and be launched. This paper shows how the design of the suspension system and mirror blank needs to be designed simultaneously. We will also explore the concepts of auxiliary support systems, which act only during launch and disengage on orbit. We will define required characteristics of these systems and show how they can substantially reduce the mirror mass. The AMTD project is developing and maturing the processes for future replacements for HUBBLE, creating the design tools, validating the methods and techniques necessary to manufacture, test and launch extremely large optical missions. This paper will use the AMTD 4 meter "design point" as an illustration of the typical use of the modeler in generating the multiple models of mirror and suspension systems used during the conceptual design phase of most projects. The influence of Hexapod geometry, mirror depth, cell size and construction techniques (Exelsis Deep Core Low Temperature Fusion (c) versus Corning Frit Bonded (c) versus Schott Pocket Milled Zerodur (c) in this particular study) are being evaluated. Due to space and time consideration we will only be able to present snippets of the study in this paper. The advances in manufacturing techniques for lightweight mirrors, such as EXELSIS deep core low temperature fusion, Corning's continued improvements in the Frit bonding process and the ability to cast large complex designs, combined with water-jet and conventional diamond.

Arnold, William↗

Biodegradable transient battery built on core-double-shell zinc microparticle networks

A transient or biodegradable battery is provided having a filament structure that limits the speed of reaction allowing for a longer duration of battery power with a controlled current limit. In one embodiment, the filament may be constructed of zinc microparticles or nanoparticles having a thin outer insulation whereby a chemical reaction at the center core results in the progressive disintegration of the insulation revealing more core material. In one embodiment, microparticles or nanoparticles are coated with outer layers of chitosan and Al2O3 nanofilms, respectively, with designable discharge current and battery lifespan by controlling the exposed cross-sectional area of the zinc microparticle center core and the length of the filament, respectively. This novel structure of biodegradable battery provides improved control of battery life and power output, providing a promising solution to power transient medical implants.

Wang, Xudong↗

Chemical Design of Spin Frustration to Realize Topological Spin Glasses

Patterning spins to generate collective behavior is at the core of condensed matter physics. Physicists develop techniques, including the fabrication of magnetic nanostructures and precision layering of materials specifically to engender frustrated lattices. As chemists, we can access such exotic materials through targeted chemical synthesis and create new lattice types by chemical design. Here, in this study, we introduce a new approach to induce magnetic frustration on a modified honeycomb lattice through a competition of alternating antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferromagnetic (FM) nearest-neighbor interactions. By subtly modulating these two types of interactions through facile synthetic modifications, we created two systems: (1) a topological spin glass and (2) a frustrated spin-canted magnet with low-temperature exchange bias. To design this unconventional magnetic lattice, we used a metal–organic framework (MOF) platform, Ni 3 (pymca) 3 X 3 (NipymcaX where pymca = pyrimidine-2-carboxylato and X = Cl, Br). We isolated two MOFs, NipymcaCl and NipymcaBr, featuring canted Ni 2+ -based moments. Despite this similarity, differences in the single-ion anisotropies of the Ni 2+ spins result in distinct magnetic properties for each material. NipymcaCl is a topological spin glass, while NipymcaBr is a rare frustrated magnet with low-temperature exchange bias. Density functional theory calculations and Monte Carlo simulations on the NipymcaX lattice support the presence of magnetic frustration as a result of alternating AFM and FM interactions. Our calculations enabled us to determine the ground-state spin configuration and the distribution of spin–spin correlations relative to paradigmatic kagomé and triangular lattices. This modified honeycomb lattice is similar to the electronic Kekulé-O phase in graphene and provides a highly tunable platform to realize unconventional spin physics.

Exchange bias↗

Backplane Design Considerations for High Speed SpaceWire Networks

SpaceWire is becoming a preferred protocol for board to board communication over a backplane in addition to its existing use over cabled interfaces, replacing other protocols due to its simplicity and readily available flight quality physical layer devices, IP cores and test equipment. However, without specific guidelines for implementing SpaceWire over a backplane, designers are left to make trade decisions regarding connector selection, layout design rules and test accessibility issues. This paper will discuss NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center s implementation of high speed SpaceWire over backplane on James Webb Space Telescope and other missions.

Pagen, Shahana Aziz↗

Electrical power system design for the U.S. Space Station

The power systems for the Space Station manned core and platforms that have been selected in definition studies are described in this paper. The selected system for the platforms uses silicon arrays and Ni-H2 batteries. The power system for the manned core is a hybrid employing arrays and batteries identical to those on the platform along with solar dynamic modules using either Brayton or organic Rankine engines. The power system requirements, candidate technologies, and configurations that were considered, and the basis for selection, are discussed.

Nored, D. L.↗

Direct measurement of the electron turbulence-broadening edge transport barrier to facilitate core–edge integration in tokamak fusion plasmas

Abstract The integration of a high-performance core and a dissipative divertor, or the so-called ‘core–edge integration,’ has been widely identified as a critical gap in the design of future fusion reactors. In this letter, we report, for the first time, direct experimental evidence of electron turbulence at the DIII-D H-mode pedestal that correlates with the broadening of the pedestal and thus facilitates core–edge integration. In agreement with gyrokinetic simulations, this electron turbulence is enhanced by high η e ( η e = L n / L T e , where L n is the density scale length and L T e is the electron temperature scale length), which is due to a strong shift between the density and temperature pedestal profiles associated with a closed divertor. The modeled turbulence drives significant heat transport with a lower pressure gradient that may broaden the pedestal to a greater degree than the empirical and theoretically predicted pedestal width scalings. Such a wide pedestal, coupled with a closed divertor, enables us to achieve a good core–edge scenario that integrates a high-temperature low-collisionality pedestal (pedestal top temperature T e,ped > 0.8 keV and a pedestal top collisionality ν * ped < 1) under detached divertor conditions. This paves a new path toward solving the core–edge integration issue in future fusion reactors.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Conceptual design of a noncontacting power transfer device for the ASPS Vernier system

The conceptual of electrical power transfer across a magnetically controlled gap as discussed for several years. The design represents the culmination of the first serious attempt to design a very low force, noncontracting power transfer mechanism. The electromagnetic device advanced herein is an ironless, translatable secondary transformer in which one of the two coils is fixed to the entire magnetic core. The second coil is free to move within the core over the full range of motions required. The specific application considered for this design was the Vernier subsystem of the Annular Suspension and Pointing System (ASPS). The development of and rationale for the electromagnetics design is presented. Similar documentation is provided for the Electronics Design. The Appendices detail the results of small scale model tests, disturbance force calculations, the baseline transformer fabrication drawings, the AVS Converter Parts List, and model schematic diagrams.

Kroeger, J.↗

ECAR-6580 Rev 0 ASME Section III, Division 5 Analysis of the MARVEL PCS and GVS Top Corner

The purpose of this Engineering Calculations and Analysis Report (ECAR) is to document the structural evaluation for part of the Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) Primary Coolant System (PCS) and Guard Vessel System (GVS). For the PCS this relates specifically to the Distribution Plenum (DP), The Intermediate Heat Exchanger (IHX), and the Upper Downcomer (UD). For the GVS, this will include only the top corner that is machined into the DP Top Plate. These components will be evaluated using the 2021 version of ASME Section III, Division 5 [1] which is a design code that governs the construction of vessels, storage tanks, piping, pumps, valves, supports, core support structures and nonmetallic core components for use in high temperature reactor systems and their supporting systems. Materials at high temperature are subject to creep and fatigue mechanisms that require additional analyses that aren’t covered in ASME Section III, Division 1 rules. Division 5 contains two approaches: elastic or inelastic, however, additional Code Cases specific to Division 5, allow for an Elastic-Perfectly Plastic (EPP) approach. The components analyzed in this ECAR will use a combination of the elastic and EPP approach. Only Design and Service Levels A and B are evaluated in this ECAR. Service Level D evaluations for the entire PCS are documented in ECAR-6564, “MARVEL Project Primary Coolant System Pressure Vessel Stress Documentation” [2] and for the entire GVS are documented in ECAR-6574, “MARVEL Guard Vessel System FEA and ASME Analysis” [3]. The Design and Service Level A and B analyses for the PCS Downcomer piping and Core Barrel are documented in ANL-24/36, "Engineering Calculations and Analysis of the Core Barrel and Downcomer Piping in the MARVEL PCS” [4], and the GVS (except for the top corner) is in ECAR-6574, “MARVEL Guard Vessel System FEA and ASME Analysis.” See Section 2.0 for more detail on the analysis boundaries.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗

Status of the Space Station environmental control and life support system design concept

The current status of the Space Station (SS) environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) design is outlined. The concept has been defined at the subsystem level. Data supporting these definitions are provided which identify general configuratioons for all modules. Requirements, guidelines and assumptions used in generating these configurations are detailed. The basic 2 US module 'core' Space Station is addressed along with system synergism issues and early man-tended and future growth considerations. Along with these basic studies, also addressed here are options related to variation in the 'core' module makeup and more austere Station concepts such as commonality, automation and design to cost.

Ray, C. D.↗

Development of Two High-Energy Bus ‘Cores’ for Rapid Support of Low-TRL and Educational Payloads: A Software-Configured EPS Combined with Flexible C&DH

For several years the TechEdSat flight series (TES-n), developed by the Nano Orbital Workshop (NOW) group at NASA Ames, has relied upon an in-house developed unit to serve both EPS (Electrical Power System) and C&DH (Command and Data Handling) roles along with low data-rate telemetry functions, i.e., serving as the ‘core’ of the spacecraft bus. This ‘core’ has a considerable task given the rapid cadence of the TES program and the typically low-TRL of payloads; configurability and compatibility are key to prevent mission-specific hardware. However, at only 15 watts the current core has become insufficient to support the program’s growing missions and increasingly demanding payloads. To this end, the NOW program is developing new cores to support two TES mission classes: a single-PCB ‘MiniCore’ designed to support 80-watt missions 6U or smaller in LEO, and a three-PCB, radiation-tolerant ‘StackCore’ designed to support 6U and larger missions over 500 watts in LEO and beyond. The ‘MiniCore’ design consists of three main segments: a processor-agnostic C&DH, a software-configured EPS, and a backup low data-rate radio. The design philosophy was to enable rapid-manufacture in a turbulent supply chain, hence the design consists of COTS parts with a focus on those able to be drop-in replaced with radiation-tolerant versions when demanded by the mission. As a single PC-104 sized circuit board, power density and ease of integration also dominated design, demanding the use of modern features such as single-point USB-C for easy charging and monitoring of the spacecraft on the ground. The ‘MiniCore’ can support 80 watts of load, 140 watt-hours of storage, and over 20 watts of optimized solar generation with extensive power monitoring throughout. The ‘MiniCore’ supports one battery pack, six solar-panels, six loads, five actuators, Iridium SBD, and an internal 802.15.4 network. Additionally, the processor-agnostic design can accept any PJRC Teensy 3.x or Adafruit Feather microcontroller unit to enable processor scaling with mission requirements or environment. It is expected a development unit of this design will be completed before conference. The ‘StackCore’ design consists of three stacked PC-104 sized circuit boards: one dedicated to power generation and storage, one dedicated to power distribution, and one dedicated to C&DH tasks. This delineation is necessary to support the transition from highly integrated ICs to discrete analog circuitry, enabling a primarily analog control power system able to operate without software in a radiation environment with finer monitoring compared to the ‘MiniCore’ design. The planned base architecture supports over 500 watts of load, 250 watt-hours of storage, and over 80 watts of optimized solar generation. The power distribution board allows for the use of daughter cards hosting custom converters or interfaces for payloads, in addition to the software-configured supplies used on the ‘MiniCore’. This core stack will be managed by a Vorago ARM M4 microcontroller and support the same wireless communications as the ‘MiniCore’, with optional integration of a NOW S-band radio and attitude determination sensors for ‘black box’ functionality. It is expected the prototype will still be in development during conference.

Spacecraft↗

Development of Two High-Energy Bus ‘Cores’ for Rapid Support of Low-TRL and Educational Payloads: A Software-Configured EPS Combined with Flexible C&DH

For several years the TechEdSat flight series (TES-n), developed by the Nano Orbital Workshop (NOW) group at NASA Ames, has relied upon an in-house developed unit to serve both EPS (Electrical Power System) and C&DH (Command and Data Handling) roles along with low data-rate telemetry functions, i.e., serving as the ‘core’ of the spacecraft bus. This ‘core’ has a considerable task given the rapid cadence of the TES program and the typically low-TRL of payloads; configurability and compatibility are key to prevent mission-specific hardware. However, at only 15 watts the current core has become insufficient to support the program’s growing missions and increasingly demanding payloads. To this end, the NOW program is developing new cores to support two TES mission classes: a single-PCB ‘MiniCore’ designed to support 80-watt missions 6U or smaller in LEO, and a three-PCB, radiation-tolerant ‘StackCore’ designed to support 6U and larger missions over 500 watts in LEO and beyond. The ‘MiniCore’ design consists of three main segments: a processor-agnostic C&DH, a software-configured EPS, and a backup low data-rate radio. The design philosophy was to enable rapid-manufacture in a turbulent supply chain, hence the design consists of COTS parts with a focus on those able to be drop-in replaced with radiation-tolerant versions when demanded by the mission. As a single PC-104 sized circuit board, power density and ease of integration also dominated design, demanding the use of modern features such as single-point USB-C for easy charging and monitoring of the spacecraft on the ground. The ‘MiniCore’ can support 80 watts of load, 140 watt-hours of storage, and over 20 watts of optimized solar generation with extensive power monitoring throughout. The ‘MiniCore’ supports one battery pack, six solar-panels, six loads, five actuators, Iridium SBD, and an internal 802.15.4 network. Additionally, the processor-agnostic design can accept any PJRC Teensy 3.x or Adafruit Feather microcontroller unit to enable processor scaling with mission requirements or environment. It is expected a development unit of this design will be completed before conference. The ‘StackCore’ design consists of three stacked PC-104 sized circuit boards: one dedicated to power generation and storage, one dedicated to power distribution, and one dedicated to C&DH tasks. This delineation is necessary to support the transition from highly integrated ICs to discrete analog circuitry, enabling a primarily analog control power system able to operate without software in a radiation environment with finer monitoring compared to the ‘MiniCore’ design. The planned base architecture supports over 500 watts of load, 250 watt-hours of storage, and over 80 watts of optimized solar generation. The power distribution board allows for the use of daughter cards hosting custom converters or interfaces for payloads, in addition to the software-configured supplies used on the ‘MiniCore’. This core stack will be managed by a Vorago ARM M4 microcontroller and support the same wireless communications as the ‘MiniCore’, with optional integration of a NOW S-band radio and attitude determination sensors for ‘black box’ functionality. It is expected the prototype will still be in development during conference.

Spacecraft↗