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At least 1,513 records · Page 84

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NASA NTRS1994

Feasibility of an integrated X-ray instrument for Mars exobiology and geology

By employing an integrated X-ray instrument on a future Mars mission, data obtained will greatly augment those returned by Viking; details relevant to the possibility of the origin and evolution of life on Mars will be acquired. An integrated combined X Ray Fluorescence/X Ray Detection (XRF/XRD) instrument has been breadboarded and demonstrated to accommodate important exobiology and geology experiment objectives outlined for Mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) and future Mars missions. Among others, primary objectives for the exploration of Mars include: the intense study of local areas on Mars to 'establish the chemical, mineralogical, and petrological character of different components of the surface material; to determine the distribution, abundance and sources and sinks of volatile materials, including an assessment of the biologic potential, now and during past epochs; and to establish the global chemical and physical characteristics of the Martian surface'. The XRF/XRD breadboard instrument identifies and quantifies soil surface elemental, mineralogical, and petrological characteristics and acquires data necessary to address questions on volatile abundance and distribution. Additionally, the breadboard is able to characterize the biogenic element constituents of soil samples providing information on the biologic potential of the Mars environment.

Fonda, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1996

An Intelligent Crop Planning Tool for Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems

This paper describes a crop planning tool developed for the Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) project which is in the research phases at various NASA facilities. The Crop Planning Tool was developed to assist in the understanding of the long term applications of a CELSS environment. The tool consists of a crop schedule generator as well as a crop schedule simulator. The importance of crop planning tools such as the one developed is discussed. The simulator is outlined in detail while the schedule generator is touched upon briefly. The simulator consists of data inputs, plant and human models, and various other CELSS activity models such as food consumption and waste regeneration. The program inputs such as crew data and crop states are discussed. References are included for all nominal parameters used. Activities including harvesting, planting, plant respiration, and human respiration are discussed using mathematical models. Plans provided to the simulator by the plan generator are evaluated for their 'fitness' to the CELSS environment with an objective function based upon daily reservoir levels. Sample runs of the Crop Planning Tool and future needs for the tool are detailed.

Whitaker, Laura O.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Latent Viruses: A Space Travel Hazard??

A major issue associated with long-duration space flight is the possibility of infectious disease causing an unacceptable medical risk to crew members. Our proposal is designed to gain information that addresses several issues outlined in the Immunology/Infectious disease critical path. The major hypothesis addressed is that space flight causes alterations in the immune system that may allow latent viruses which are endogenous in the human population to reactivate and shed to higher levels than normal which can affect the health of crew members during a long term space-flight mission. We will initially focus our studies on the human herpesviruses and human polyomaviruses which are important pathogens known to establish latent infections in the human population. Both primary infection and reactivation from latent infection with this group of viruses can cause a variety of illnesses that result in morbidity and occasionally mortality of infected individuals. Effective vaccines exist for only one of the eight known human herpesviruses and the vaccine itself can still reactivate from latent infection. Available antivirals are of limited use and are effective against only a few of the human herpesviruses. Although most individuals display little if any clinical consequences from latent infection, events which alter immune function such as immunosuppressive therapy following solid organ transplantation are known to increase the risk of developing complications as a result of latent virus reactivation. This proposal will measure both the frequency and magnitude of viral shedding and genome loads in the blood from humans participating in activities that serve as ground based models of space flight conditions. Our initial goal is to develop sensitive quantitative competitive PCR- based assays (QC-PCR) to detect the herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and the polyomaviruses SV40, BKV, and JCV. Using these assays we will establish baseline patterns of viral genome load in the blood and viral shedding from normal volunteers in a longitudinal study over I year in length. As a comparison, we will measure patterns of viral genome loads and shedding from individuals who are severely immunosuppressed, in whom herpesvirus reactivation or primary infection with a herpesvirus is known to cause complications. In addition, we will proceed to testing ground based analogs in collaboration with Dr. Duane Pierson (Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center). This will include measuring samples obtained from individuals living and working in the extreme environment of Antarctica. We expect to detect viral shedding or reactivation from most of the test groups, although the magnitude of shedding or reactivation cannot be predicted. The data accumulated from studies in this proposal should allow us to evaluate whether events that simulate certain aspects of space flight reactivate viral infections severe enough in nature that they may compromise the success of long-term space flight missions. These studies will also provide a foundation to monitor viral reactivation and shedding from crew members participating in actual space flight missions. We will present data showing the establishment of our QC-PCR assay for detection of EBV.

Ling, P. D.↗

NASA NTRS2000

JSC Stardust Curation Team

STARDUST, a NASA Discovery-class mission, is the first to return samples from a comet. Grains from comet Wild 2's coma-the gas and dust envelope that surrounds the nucleus-will be collected as well as interstellar dust. The mission which launched on February 7, 1999 will encounter the comet on January 10, 2004. As the spacecraft passes through the coma, a tray of silica aerogel will be exposed, and coma grains will impact there and become captured. Following the collection, the aerogel tray is closed for return to Earth in 2006. A dust impact mass spectrometer on board the STARDUST spacecraft will be used to gather spectra. of dust during the entire mission, including the coma passage. This instrument will be the best chance to obtain data on volatile grains, which will not be well-collected in the aerogel. The dust impact mass spectrometer will also be used to study the composition of interstellar grains. In the past 5 years, analysis of data from dust detectors aboard the Ulysses and Galileo spacecraft have revealed that there is a stream of interstellar dust flowing through our solar system. These grains will be captured during the cruise phase of the STARDUST mission, as the spacecraft travels toward the comet. The sample return capsule will parachute to Earth in February 2006, and will land in western Utah. Once on y the ground, the sample return capsule will be placed into a dry nitrogen environment and flown to the curation lab at JSC.

Zolensky, Michael E.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Outgassing of Flown and Unflown MIR Solar Cells

A solar panel array with more than ten years space exposure was removed from the Mir core module in November 1997, and an eight panel section was returned to Earth in January 1998. Several solar cells were removed from panel eight of the returned array and placed in a high vacuum system with a residual gas analyzer (200 amu mass spectrometer) and a cold finger. Similar unflown solar cells of the same vintage were later obtained from Energia. Several of the unflown cells were also placed in the vacuum system and outgassed residues were collected on the LN2 cold finger. Almost 3 mg of outgassed residue was collected -from a string of three unflown solar cells over a period of 94 hours under vacuum. The collected residue was weighed with a microbalance, and then the residue was analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy, and by gas chromatograph-mass spectroscopy. About 25 outgassed constituents were separated by the gas chromatograph, and a high-resolution mass spectrum was obtained of each constituent. Molecular identifications have been made for the constituents. The constituents are primarily cyclic siloxanes, and several of the constituents are isomers of the same molecule. Most of the outgassed constituents have a molecular mass of about 500 amu. Almost one mg of residue was extracted from one sq cm of coverglass/adhesive from a flown solar cell by soaking in isopropyl alcohol for 30 minutes. The gas chromatograph separated about 20 constituents. The constituents are mostly cyclic siloxanes with linear branches, hydrocarbons, and phthalates. The typical molecular mass is about 600 amu. These identifications of specific outgassing molecules have resulted in a more complete understanding of the SiO(x) contamination on the Mir solar cell coverglasses, and on the MEEP experiment trays and optical specimens during the Shuttle-Mir Phase One flight experiment program. Adjusted outgassing rates based on the data reported here, and/or measured outgassing rates and specific molecular identifications of ISS hardware samples are needed to input into model predictions of induced environment effects of the ISS.

Harvey, Gale A.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Towards Measurement of the Time-resolved Heat Release of Protein Conformation Dynamics

We present a way to observe time-resolved heat release using a laminar flow diffusional mixer coupled with a highly sensitive infrared camera which measures the temperature change of the solvent. There are significant benefits to the use of laminar flow mixers for time-resolved calorimetry: (1) The thermal signal can be made position and time- stationary to allow for signal integration; (2) Extremely small volumes (nl/s) of sample are required for a measurement; (3) The same mixing environment can be observed spectroscopically to obtain state occupation information; (4) The mixer allows one to do out of equilibrium dynamic studies. The hope is that these measurements will allow us probe the non-equilibrium thermodynamics as a protein moves along a free energy trajectory from one state to another.

Puchalla, Jason↗

NASA NTRS2008

Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Supernovae: The First Two Years of Swift Observations

We present the entire sample of ultraviolet (1JV) spectra of supernovae (SNe) obtained with the Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) on board the Swift satellite during the first 2 years of observations (2005/2006). A total of 31 UV-grism and 22 V-grism spectra of 9 supernovae (SNe) have been collected. of which 6 are thermonuclear (type Ia) and 3 core collapse (type Ibc/II) SNe. All the spectra have been obtained during the photospheric phase. After a comparison of the spectra of our sample with those in the literature (SNe 1992A. 1990N and 1999em). we confirm some degree of diversity in the UV emission of Type Ia SNe and a greater homogeneity in the Type I1 Plateau SN sample. Signatures of interaction between the ejecta and the circumstellar environment have been found in the UV spectrum of SN 2006jc, the only SN Type Ib/c for which UVOT grism data are available. Currently, Swift LJVOT is the best suited instrument for early SN studies in the UV due to its fast response and flexible scheduling capabilities. However. in order to increase the quality of the data and significantly improve our understanding of the lJV properties of SNe and to fully maximize the scientific potential of UVOT grism observations. a larger investment in obsen~ing time and longer exposures are needed.

Immler, Stefan↗

NASA NTRS2010

Cold Stowage Flight Systems

The International Space Station (ISS) provides a test bed for researchers to perform science experiments in a variety of fields, including human research, life sciences, and space medicine. Many of the experiments being conducted today require science samples to be stored and transported in a temperature controlled environment. NASA provides several systems which aide researchers in preserving their science. On orbit systems provided by NASA include the Minus Eighty Laboratory freezer for ISS (MELFI), Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubator (MERLIN), and Glacier. These freezers use different technologies to provide rapid cooling and cold stowage at different temperature levels on board ISS. Systems available to researchers during transportation to and from ISS are MERLIN, Glacier, and Coldbag. Coldbag is a passive cold stowage system that uses phase change materials. Details of these current technologies will be provided along with operational experience gained to date. With shuttle retirement looming, NASA has protected the capability to provide a temperature controlled environment during transportation to and from the ISS with the use of Glacier and Coldbags, which are compatible with future commercial vehicles including SpaceX's Dragon Capsule, and Orbital s Cygnus vehicle. This paper will discuss the capability of the current cold stowage hardware and how it may continue to support NASA s mission on ISS and in future exploration missions.

Campana, Sharon↗

NASA NTRS2011

Cold Stowage Flight Systems

The International Space Station (ISS) provides a test bed for researchers to perform science experiments in a variety of fields, including human research, life sciences, and space medicine. Many of the experiments being conducted today require science samples to be stored and transported in a temperature controlled environment. NASA provides several systems which aid researchers in preserving their science. On orbit systems provided by NASA include the Minus Eighty Laboratory freezer for ISS (MELFI), Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubator (MERLIN), and Glacier. These freezers use different technologies to provide rapid cooling and cold stowage at different temperature levels on board ISS. Systems available to researchers during transportation to and from ISS are MERLIN, Glacier, and Coldbag. Coldbag is a passive cold stowage system that uses phase change materials to maintain temperature. Details of these current technologies are provided along with operational experience gained to date. This paper discusses the capability of the current cold stowage hardware and how it may continue to support NASA s mission on ISS and in future exploration missions.

Campana, Sharon E.↗

NASA NTRS2014

NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations: Science Operations Development for Human Exploration

The purpose of NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) mission 16 in 2012 was to evaluate and compare the performance of a defined series of representative near-Earth asteroid (NEA) extravehicular activity (EVA) tasks under different conditions and combinations of work systems, constraints, and assumptions considered for future human NEA exploration missions. NEEMO 16 followed NASA's 2011 Desert Research and Technology Studies (D-RATS), the primary focus of which was understanding the implications of communication latency, crew size, and work system combinations with respect to scientific data quality, data management, crew workload, and crew/mission control interactions. The 1-g environment precluded meaningful evaluation of NEA EVA translation, worksite stabilization, sampling, or instrument deployment techniques. Thus, NEEMO missions were designed to provide an opportunity to perform a preliminary evaluation of these important factors for each of the conditions being considered. NEEMO 15 also took place in 2011 and provided a first look at many of the factors, but the mission was cut short due to a hurricane threat before all objectives were completed. ARES Directorate (KX) personnel consulted with JSC engineers to ensure that high-fidelity planetary science protocols were incorporated into NEEMO mission architectures. ARES has been collaborating with NEEMO mission planners since NEEMO 9 in 2006, successively building upon previous developments to refine science operations concepts within engineering constraints; it is expected to continue the collaboration as NASA's human exploration mission plans evolve.

Bell, Mary S.↗

NASA NTRS2017

X-Ray Diffraction on Mars: Scientific Discoveries Made by the CheMin Instrument

The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity landed in Gale crater in August 2012 with the goal to identify and characterize habitable environments on Mars. Curiosity has been studying a series of sedimentary rocks primarily deposited in fluviolacustrine environments approximately 3.5 Ga. Minerals in the rocks and soils on Mars can help place further constraints on these ancient aqueous environments, including pH, salinity, and relative duration of liquid water. The Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence instrument on Curiosity uses a Co X-ray source and charge-coupled device detector in transmission geometry to collect 2D Debye-Scherrer ring patterns of the less than 150 micron size fraction of drilled rock powders or scooped sediments. With an angular range of approximately 2.52deg 20 and a 20 resolution of approximately 0.3deg, mineral abundances can be quantified with a detection limit of approximately 1-2 wt. %. CheMin has returned quantitative mineral abundances from 16 mudstone, sandstone, and aeolian sand samples so far. The mineralogy of these samples is incredibly diverse, suggesting a variety of depositional and diagenetic environments and different source regions for the sediments. Results from CheMin have been essential for reconstructing the geologic history of Gale crater and addressing the question of habitability on ancient Mars.

Rampe, E. B.↗

NASA NTRS2017

PHYS: Division of Physical Chemistry 258 - Properties and Origins of Cometary and Asteroidal Organic Matter Delivered to the Early Earth

Comets and asteroids may have contributed much of the Earth's water and organic matter. The Earth accretes approximately 4x10(exp 7) Kg of dust and meteorites from these sources every year. The least altered meteorites contain complex assemblages of organic compounds and abundant hydrated minerals. These carbonaceous chondrite meteorites probably derive from asteroids that underwent hydrothermal processing within the first few million years after their accretion. Meteorite organics show isotopic and chemical signatures of low-T ion-molecule and grain-surface chemistry and photolysis of icy grains that occurred in cold molecular clouds and the outer protoplanetary disk. These signatures have been overprinted by aqueously mediated chemistry in asteroid parent bodies, forming amino acids and other prebiotic molecules. Comets are much richer in organic matter but it is less well characterized. Comet dust collected in the stratosphere shows larger H and N isotopic anomalies than most meteorites, suggesting better preservation of primordial organics. Rosetta studies of comet 67P coma dust find complex organic matter that may be related to the macromolecular material that dominates the organic inventory of primitive meteorites. The exogenous organic material accreting on Earth throughout its history is made up of thousands of molecular species formed in diverse processes ranging from circumstellar outflows to chemistry at near absolute zero in dark cloud cores and the formative environment within minor planets. NASA and JAXA are currently flying sample return missions to primitive, potentially organic-rich asteroids. The OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2 missions will map their target asteroids, Bennu and Ryugu, in detail and return regolith samples to Earth. Laboratory analyses of these pristine asteroid samples will provide unprecedented views of asteroidal organic matter relatively free of terrestrial contamination within well determined geological context. Studies of extraterrestrial materials and returned samples are essential to understand the origins of Solar System organic material and the roles of comets and asteroids to providing the starting materials for the emergence of life.

Messenger, Scott↗

NASA NTRS2019

Compositional Characteristics and Trends Within the Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater, Mars as Determined by APXS: Sedimentary, Diagenetic and Alteration History

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover has spent the last two years investigating a prominent resistant ridge, informally named the Vera Rubin Ridge (VRR), at the base of Mount Sharp (Aeolis Mons). The ridge has been a high priority science target for the MSL mission since landing in Gale crater more than 6 years ago because of the detection of a strong hematite spectral signature, and its distinct topography. Examining the chemistry of the ridge can aid in determining the relationship to other rocks analyzed during the rover traverse, specifically the Murray formation (fm) encountered below the ridge. We can also determine compositional trends with elevation and/or laterally within the ridge, and whether spectral properties observed on the ridge, both from orbit and in situ, correspond with changes in chemistry. The composition of the ridge, combined with mineralogy of drilled samples, can help to elucidate bigger picture questions regarding depositional environment, possible changing lake water chemistry and diagenetic/alteration history.

Thompson, L. M.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

In Situ Measurements of Ammonia In Plumes Emitted From Wildfires And Agricultural Fires in the US

Emissions of trace gases and particles from fires have a major impact on climate, visibility, air quality, and public health. Biomass burning emissions include reactive nitrogen gases, among which ammonia (NH3) plays a prominent role. NH3 is a short-lived gas that acts as precursor for secondary inorganic aerosols. This process is still poorly constrained in downwind fire plumes. In summer 2019, NASA and NOAA carried out the joint airborne FIREX-AQ (Fire Influence on Regional to global Environments and Air Quality) mission over the continental US to sample plumes from wildfires and agricultural fires. On board the NASA DC-8, we used a modified PTR-ToF-MS instrument for measuring NH3 in situ and at high time resolution. Over the course of the mission, we collected a large set of NH3 data in plumes emitted from fires differing in fuel type and burning stage. Herein, we will present the measured NH3 emissions ratios and factors, compare them with the literature, and investigate the dependence of NH3 emissions on fuel type and burning conditions.

ammonia↗

NASA NTRS2020

Microscopic Object Classification through Passive Motion Observations with Holographic Microscopy

Digital holographic microscopy provides the ability to observe throughout a volume that is large compared to its resolution element without the need to refocus through the volume. This capability enables simultaneous observations of large numbers of small objects within such a volume. We have constructed a microscope that can observe a volume 0.4 x 0.4 x 1.0 µm with submicrometer resolution for observation of microorganisms and minerals in liquid environments in earth and on potential planetary missions. Because environmental samples are likely to contain mixtures of inorganics and microorganisms that are of comparable sizes near the resolution limit of the instrument, discrimination of living and non-living objects may be difficult. The motion of motile organisms can be used to readily distinguish them from non-motile objects (live or inorganic), but additional methods are required to distinguish non-motile organisms and inorganic objects that are of comparable size, but different composition and structure. In this paper we evaluate the use of passive motion to make this discrimination by evaluating diffusion and buoyancy characteristics of objects in the field of view.

Lindensmith, Christian↗

NASA NTRS2022

Characterization of Lunar Polar Volatiles for Curation and ISRU - Executive Summary

The goal of this project is to support lunar exploration by simulating and characterizing ice and volatile-rich materials expected to be found at the lunar poles. These materials are highly sensitive to heating, which could significantly alter their composition and prevent scientific studies on lunar samples. During FY19, we obtained materials for and designed a simulated lunar environment, within which volatile-rich simulant could be made. We also refined the procedure for moderate-fidelity lunar simulants at cryogenic temperatures. In FY20, we completed our test setup, and we can now reach cryogenic temperatures and near-lunar pressures with active compositional monitoring of volatiles in the vapor phase. For FY21, we: 1) progressed towards developing sample storage temperature requirements for volatile-rich samples by completing storage testing, along with materials testing for Artemis geologic sampling, 2) obtained instrumentation for solid sample monitoring to characterize solid species, and 3) progressed towards water extraction testing for ISRU. Our test results will directly feed into Artemis science requirements, hardware designs for sample return, vehicle requirements (HLS, Gateway, Orion), and operations planning for lunar exploration activities.

Julie L Mitchell↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Smooth Particle Hydrodynamic Code Predictions for Meteoroid Damage to Thermal Protection Systems Shielded By Composite Structures

Interplanetary spacecraft are exposed to meteoroid fluxes with characteristics far exceeding the physical simulation capabilities of test facilities for predicting the likelihood that a meteoroid will penetrate a spacecraft’s critical systems. Accurate risk predictions are crucial to ensuring that important interplanetary missions, such as sample returns, can survive years of exposure to the meteoroid environment and safely reenter the Earth’s atmosphere with their scientific cargo. In this paper, we summarize a series of meteoroid impact damage computational simulations into two types of spacecraft composite protective structures using the Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics Code. We consider the effects of both meteoric materials and non-meteoric materials on a shielded forebody thermal protection system (TPS) for an extreme entry environment and on an unshielded aftbody TPS that is similar to the material covering the space shuttle’s external tank.

Brooke Corbett↗

DOE OSTI2019

Identifying specific cryomodule and cleanroom particulate contamination: understanding legacy issues and providing new feedback standards

While the techniques used to provide "UHV clean" and "particle-free" beamline components, including SRF cavities, continue to evolve, "real-world" operating machines must deal with actual accumulated and latent contamination issues that produce non-trivial cryogenic heatload, radiation, activation, and degradation via field emission. We have developed a standardized and automated particulate contamination assay method for use in characterizing particulates found on beamline components and in cleanroom assembly environments. We present results from using this system to analyze samples taken from reworked cryomodules from CEBAF. Particle sizes are much larger than anticipated. Utility for feedback on sources to enable improved source reduction is explored.

Reece, C. E.↗