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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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At least 19 records

Thermodynamics of the Lu2O3 – SiO2 system and comparison to other Rare Earth Silicates

Environmental barrier coatings are necessary to protect SiC based ceramics and composites from water vapor degradation in harsh engine environments. Currently, rare earth (RE) silicates are the most promising systems to protect SiC based ceramics and composites. This protection is largely based on reduced silica activity in these rare earth silicates which results in a lowered reactivity with water vapor. To that end, previous Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry (KEMS) studies have explored RE = Yb, Y silicates to measure the reduced silica activity and subsequent water vapor reactivity. Similarly, this work employs the KEMS technique to measure the SiO(g) vapor pressure in Lu containing RE silicates to calculate the activity of silica within the monosilicate [log(a(SiO2)) = -2351.1*1/T-1.6731] and the disilicate (log(a(SiO2)) = -4884.0*1/T + 2.2208) as a function of temperature. The enthalpies of formation for Lu monosilicate from the oxides and the elements were calculated to be -45±3 kJ/mol at 1550 K and -2831.1±12 kJ/mol at 298 K, respectively. The measured enthalpy of formation and those found in literature are compared to modeled values from density functional theory and those estimated using electronegativity.

Knudesen Effusion Mass Spectrometry↗

Distributed computing feasibility in a non-dedicated homogeneous distributed system

The low cost and availability of clusters of workstations have lead researchers to re-explore distributed computing using independent workstations. This approach may provide better cost/performance than tightly coupled multiprocessors. In practice, this approach often utilizes wasted cycles to run parallel jobs. The feasibility of such a non-dedicated parallel processing environment assuming workstation processes have preemptive priority over parallel tasks is addressed. An analytical model is developed to predict parallel job response times. Our model provides insight into how significantly workstation owner interference degrades parallel program performance. A new term task ratio, which relates the parallel task demand to the mean service demand of nonparallel workstation processes, is introduced. It was proposed that task ratio is a useful metric for determining how large the demand of a parallel applications must be in order to make efficient use of a non-dedicated distributed system.

Leutenegger, Scott T.↗

Solar System Visualization: Global Science Maps

The goal of the Solar System Visualization (SSV) project is to re-explore the planets using the data from previous National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) planetary missions on and public information.

planetary surfaces↗

Triton: Fascinating Moon, Likely Ocean World, Compelling Destination!

Triton is an important signpost in understanding the diverse populations of both Ocean Worlds and Kuiper Belt Objects. As a likely ocean world, it is unique by virtue of its kidnapped history from the Kuiper Belt: its large orbital inclination makes it the only ocean world thought to be primarily heated by obliquity tides (Nimmo and Spencer, 2015). It is volatile-rich due to its formation in the outer Solar System and its unusual surface geology may be the product of cryovolcanism. Observations from New Horizons and Cassini motivate re-examination of Triton datasets and models, with value for comparative planetology of ocean worlds and KBOs, most notably with Europa, Enceladus, Titan, and Pluto. We re-explore old datasets with the new perspective of the importance of ocean worlds in our Solar System and the search for life.

J Castillo-Rogez↗

Explore Flight: We're With You When You Fly

How NASA is supporting the research and development of a collaborative traffic management system for operations in upper E class airspace. This is uncontrolled airspace that will be used by potential new entrants: airships, hypersonics, supersonics, unmanned and manned aircraft, balloons, etc.

ETM↗

The NASA Solar System Exploration Virtual Institute: International Efforts in Advancing Lunar Science with Prospects for the Future

The NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), originally chartered in 2008 as the NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI), is chartered to advance both the scientific goals needed to enable human space exploration, as well as the science enabled by such exploration. NLSI and SSERVI have in succession been "institutes without walls," fostering collaboration between domestic teams (7 teams for NLSI, 9 for SSERVI) as well as between these teams and the institutes' international partners, resulting in a greater global endeavor. SSERVI teams and international partners participate in sharing ideas, information, and data arising from their respective research efforts, and contribute to the training of young scientists and bringing the scientific results and excitement of exploration to the public. The domestic teams also respond to NASA's strategic needs, providing community-based responses to NASA needs in partnership with NASA's Analysis Groups. Through the many partnerships enabled by NLSI and SSERVI, scientific results have well exceeded initial projections based on the original PI proposals, proving the validity of the virtual institute model. NLSI and SSERVI have endeavored to represent not just the selected and funded domestic teams, but rather the entire relevant scientific community; this has been done through many means such as the annual Lunar Science Forum (now re-named Exploration Science Forum), community-based grass roots Focus Groups on a wide range of topics, and groups chartered to further the careers of young scientists. Additionally, NLSI and SSERVI have co-founded international efforts such as the pan-European lunar science consortium, with an overall goal of raising the tide of lunar science (and now more broadly exploration science) across the world.

Institute↗

Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer observations of the magnetic cataclysmic variable RE 1938-461

The magnetic cataclysmic variable RE 1938-461 was observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) Deep Survey instrument on 1992 July 8-9 during in-orbit calibration. It was detected in the Lexan/ boron (65-190 A) band, with a quiescent count rate of 0.0062 +/- 0.0017/s, and was not detected in the aluminum/carbon (160-360 A) band. The Lexan/boron count rate is lower than the corresponding ROSAT wide-field camera Lexan/boron count rate. This is consistent with the fact that the source was in a low state during an optical observation performed just after the EUVE observation, whereas it was in an optical high state during the ROSAT observation. The quiescent count rates are consistent with a virtual cessation of accretion. Two transient events lasting about 1 hr occurred during the Lexan/boron pointing, the second at a count rate of 0.050 +/- 0.006/s. This appears to be the first detection of an EUV transient during the low state of a magnetic cataclysmic variable. We propose two possible explanations for the transient events.

Warren, John K.↗

Air Traffic Management Response to Vertiport Closure

Increasing quantities of urban air mobility operations requires consideration of various contingencies associated with novel operational tempos and airspace management practices. This paper explores a contingency scenario in which a single vertiport closes unexpectedly during high tempo operations. Dynamic re-planning is explored as a function performed both by operators using common operating procedures and through emergency assistance from air traffic control. Implications for airspace capacity, infrastructure requirements, and vehicle energy reserves are discussed.

UAM↗

Air Traffic Management Response to Vertiport Closure

Increasing quantities of urban air mobility operations requires consideration of various contingencies associated with novel operational tempos and airspace management practices. This paper explores a contingency scenario in which a single vertiport closes unexpectedly during high tempo operations. Dynamic re-planning is explored as a function performed both by operators using common operating procedures and through emergency assistance from air traffic control. Implications for airspace capacity, infrastructure requirements, and vehicle energy reserves are discussed.

UAM↗

Advantages of a Modular Mars Surface Habitat Approach

Early crewed Mars mission concepts developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) assumed a single, large habitat would house six crew members for a 500-day Mars surface stay. At the end of the first mission, all surface equipment, including the habitat, -would be abandoned and the process would be repeated at a different Martian landing site. This work was documented in a series of NASA publications culminating with the Mars Design Reference Mission 5.0 (NASA-SP-2009-566). The Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC) explored whether re-using surface equipment at a single landing site could be more affordable than the Apollo-style explore-abandon-repeat mission cadence. Initial EMC assumptions preserved the single, monolithic habitat, the only difference being a new requirement to reuse the surface habitat for multiple expedition crews. A trade study comparing a single large habitat versus smaller, modular habitats leaned towards the monolithic approach as more mass-efficient. More recent work has focused on the operational aspects of building up Mars surface infrastructure over multiple missions, and has identified compelling advantages of the modular approach that should be considered before making a final decision. This paper explores Mars surface mission operational concepts and integrated system analysis, and presents an argument for the modular habitat approach.

Rucker, Michelle A.↗

Advantages of a Modular Mars Surface Habitat Approach

Early crewed Mars mission concepts developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) assumed a single, large habitat would house six crew members for a 500-day Mars surface stay. At the end of the first mission, all surface equipment-including the habitat-would be abandoned and the process would be repeated at a different Martian landing site. This work was documented in a series of NASA publications culminating with the Mars Design Reference Architecture 5.0. More recent work, dubbed the Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC), explored whether re-using surface equipment at a single landing site could be more affordable than the Apollo-style explore-abandon-repeat mission cadence. Initial EMC assumptions preserved the single, monolithic habitat-the only difference being a new requirement to reuse the surface habitat for multiple expedition crews. A trade study comparing a single large habitat versus smaller, modular habitats leaned towards the monolithic approach as more mass-efficient. More recent work has focused on the operational aspects of building up Mars surface infrastructure over multiple missions, and has identified compelling advantages of a modular approach that should be considered before making a final decision. This paper explores Mars surface mission operational concepts and integrated system analysis, and presents an argument for the modular habitat approach.

Rucker, Michelle A.↗

Advantages of a Modular Mars Surface Habitat Approach

Early crewed Mars mission concepts developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) assumed a single, large habitat would house six crew members for a 500-day Mars surface stay. At the end of the first mission, all surface equipment?including the habitat--would be abandoned and the process would be repeated at a different Martian landing site. This work was documented in a series of NASA publications culminating with the Mars Design Reference Mission 5.0 (NASA-SP-2009-566). The Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC) explored whether re-using surface equipment at a single landing site could be more affordable than the Apollo-style explore-abandon-repeat mission cadence. Initial EMC assumptions preserved the single, monolithic habitat?the only difference being a new requirement to reuse the surface habitat for multiple expedition crews. A trade study comparing a single large habitat versus smaller, modular habitats leaned towards the monolithic approach as more mass-efficient. More recent work has focused on the operational aspects of building up Mars surface infrastructure over multiple missions, and has identified compelling advantages of the modular approach that should be considered before making a final decision. This paper explores Mars surface mission operational concepts and integrated system analysis, and presents an argument for the modular habitat approach.

Rucker, Michelle↗

Impact of novel energy sources: OTEC, wind, goethermal, biomass

Alternate energy conversion methods such as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), wind power, geothermal wells and biomass conversion are being explored, and re-examined in some cases, for commercial viability. At a time when United States fossil fuel and uranium resources are found to be insufficient to supply national needs into the twenty-first century, it is essential to broaden the base of feasible energy conversion technologies. The motivations for development of these four alternative energy forms are established. Primary technical aspects of OTEC, wind, geothermal and biomass energy conversion systems are described along with a discussion of relative advantages and disadvantages of the concepts. Finally, the sentiment is voiced that each of the four systems should be developed to the prototype stage and employed in the region of the country and in the sector of economy which is complimentary to the form of system output.

Roberts, A. S., Jr.↗

Effect of Time-Step Duration and Other Parameters on Ice Accretion

This work addresses the ice prediction cases studies for the 1st AIAA Ice Prediction Workshop generated using a mix of commercial and in-house tools. All predictions are compared with those by LEWICE. Results from both 2D NACA 23012 airfoil cases and 3D NACA 0012 swept wing cases have been included. It is observed that the computational tools have a much better correlation with experimental data for rime icing conditions. For glaze icing conditions, the ice horns are not accurately predicted. The impact of parameters such as surface temperature, heat transfer coefficient, and time-step for flow and droplet field re-computation is explored.

Icing, Rotorcraft↗

Real Time Nitrogen Monitoring and Quality Control System for NASA Astromaterials Collection

The Nitrogen system is a vital utility supporting the curation office within NASA's Astromaterials Re-search and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at the Johnson Space center (JSC). Since the Apollo samples were returned in 1969. It has played an essential role in preserving NASA’s astromaterial collections (now nine collections) by maintaining contamination-free, controlled environments required for long term curation and advanced scientific research. To meet the stringent purity requirements for contamination control, high purity modified Grade C Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) is delivered weekly by an industrial gas vendor to a 15,000-gallon tank located outside at NASA JSC near the ARES facility. This nitrogen is vital for creating an inert atmosphere to store the collection in, ensuring they are continuously shielded from contaminants and alterations through a constant N2purge. For most of the past 65 years deliveries of LN2 have required a CoA (Certificate of Analysis) prior to delivery. If those were not available, then LN2 deliver were sent to third-party laboratories for verification, creating an operational bottleneck and quality gap. To address this challenge and maintain rigorous quality control, NASA JSC Infrastructure and Astromaterials Acquisition & Curation Office initiated the development of an on-site Analytical Gas Sampling (AGS) Laboratory. Designed to streamline quality verification if a CoA unavailable, the AGS lab was constructed by a subcontractor in Newton, NJ. After a successful factory acceptance test conducted by the NASA ARES Infrastructure team, the lab was trans-ported to NASA JSC, where it was anchored and integrated into the site’s nitrogen pressure system using stainless steel, oxygen-cleaned tubing. The ARES nitrogen system was modified to provide parallel flows to the AGS lab for quality control and to the astromaterials collection labs for maintaining an inert environment. The AGS lab features two operational modes: (1)Primary: Gaseous Nitrogen (GN2) Quality Monitoring –The AGS system continuously samples the site’s GN2 supply every 15 minutes to ensure compliance with required purity levels. (2) Secondary: LN2 Quality Verification when a comprehensive CoA is not available, a cryogenic vaporizer converts LN2 to GN2, which is then analyzed for impurities: H₂, Ar, O₂, CO, CO₂, H₂O, and total hydrocarbons (THC). By significantly enhancing on-site analytical capabilities, the AGS lab eliminates reliance on external testing, ensures uninterrupted quality monitoring of the nitrogen pressure system, and reinforces NASA’s commitment to preserving pristine astromaterials under the highest standards of curation and research integrity.

glove box↗