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Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) is an open-science database for physical science data from experiments conducted in microgravity, as well as some ground-based studies. Data is stored and made available to the public. Each year, several new investigations are published within the database. PSI is a resource that's not well-known and this highlights the investigations released in 2023.
The NASA Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) database is NASA’s archival for physical sciences research in microgravity – on ISS and also other reduced gravity platforms. The database has been making data from microgravity physical science investigations publicly available since its launch late 2014. The database was an early investment in Open Science for NASA’s Biophysics and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), who conducts fundamental and applied physical sciences yielding research data in 6 disciplines: biophysics, combustion science, complex fluids, fluid physics, fundamental physics, and materials science. PSI started initially with data from 14 microgravity investigations. Receipt of data through the years and an annual NRA to fund ground investigations extending flight datasets has increased the total to 72 investigations available with 8 new datasets in the 2020 NRA (NNH20ZDA014N). These new datasets are open for public access at the PSI website at https://www.nasa.gov/PSI.
An overview of the baselined fluid physics experiments to be conducted aboard the International Space Station.
On October 16 and 17, 2019, NASA’s Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications (SLPSRA) Division held the 2019 NASA SLPSRA Fluid Physics Workshop at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Researchers from academia, industry, and Government agencies gathered to provide recommendations to NASA on exploration-related microgravity challenges in multiphase systems and thermal transport processes. The goal of the workshop was to identify overarching future research themes relevant to NASA’s exploration goals in three key areas: (1) boiling and condensation; (2) water recovery; and (3) heat pipes.
This paper presents viewgraphs of physical sciences research priorities and plans at the Office of Biological and Physical Sciences Research (OBPR). The topics include: 1) Sixth Microgravity Fluid Physics and Transport Phenomena Conference; 2) Beneficial Characteristics of the Space Environment; 3) Windows of Opportunity for Research Derived from Microgravity; 4) Physical Sciences Research Program; 5) Fundamental Research: Space-based Results and Ground-based Applications; 6) Nonlinear Oscillations; and 7) Fundamental Research: Applications to Mission-Oriented Research.
The Physical Science Informatics (PSI) system is the next step in this an effort to make NASA sponsored flight data available to the scientific and engineering community, along with the general public. The experimental data, from six overall disciplines, Combustion Science, Fluid Physics, Complex Fluids, Fundamental Physics, and Materials Science, will present some unique challenges. Besides data in textual or numerical format, large portions of both the raw and analyzed data for many of these experiments are digital images and video, requiring large data storage requirements. In addition, the accessible data will include experiment design and engineering data (including applicable drawings), any analytical or numerical models, publications, reports, and patents, and any commercial products developed as a result of the research. This objective of paper includes the following: Present the preliminary layout (Figure 2) of MABE data within the PSI database. Obtain feedback on the layout. Present the procedure to obtain access to this database.
This is the first 2020 issue of Physical Sciences Vistas, with a focus on “excellence in mission-focused science, technology, and engineering.” Excellence in mission-focused ST&E comprises one of the four elements of the Laboratory Agenda, focusing on sustaining and enhancing LANL’s science base. This issue highlights the diverse efforts of personnel in our Physical Sciences Directorate (ALDPS) to enhance science, technology, and engineering at the Laboratory. As we reflect on work at the Laboratory, mostly from our homes due to COVID-19, it is gratifying to see the important, diverse contributions to ST&E across ALDPS.
I am pleased to introduce the second 2021 issue of Physical Sciences Vistas, with a focus on “excellence in mission-focused science, technology, and engineering.” Excellence in mission-focused ST&E within the Physical Sciences Directorate (ALDPS) spans a broad spectrum of accomplishments in nuclear physics and materials science that sustains and enhances LANL’s science base.
Conceptual models are a key part of the foundation of scientific study. Scientific data discovery and retrieval are often inaccurate and incomplete because these models are not sufficiently well-incorporated into data retrieval systems. Systems often don’t provide the necessary tools to those producing scientific data to fully and unambiguously annotate them and the result is consumers of the data cannot find them efficiently. The capability of data archives to provide these tools to link data to underlying conceptual models is one of dimensions of the recently developed “FAIR” principles (https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/ ), and is key to many automated processes being able to operate on these data, particularly analytics involving artificial intelligence. We used an open-source web service to measure the FAIR compliance of the three data archives operated by NASA for the biological and physical sciences: the Life Sciences Data Archive, the Physical Sciences Informatics database, and GeneLab. The service ingests references to data sets in these archives, and then executes domain-non-specific examinations of these data and metadata that test compliance to the FAIR principles. Of the 22 metrics tested, GeneLab passed 11 (50%), and PSI and LSDA each passed 7 (32%). These data were gathered using only one representative data set from each archive and we anticipate variability in results as we continue to apply these metrics to other data. A preliminary study of the failure traces for each metric suggests there is a wide range of effort and complexity in the enhancements required for each system to elevate FAIR compliance, and this is the subject of continued investigation. This information has been and will likely continue to be important information in planning these enhancements, with the goal of increased readiness of the data for automated processes.
In this issue of Physical Sciences Vistas we highlight examples of “excellence in nuclear security.” In this issue, highlights of our outstanding work supporting the Laboratory’s nuclear security enterprise include the following: The complete refurbishment of Sigma’s surface finishing lab. Pride in the lab’s revitalized condition on the part of the operations and R&D staff responsible for this complex operation is well justified. Development of advanced materials and processes enabling next-generation weapons designs, much of which has been facilitated by projects supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program. The use of proton radiography in illuminating elements important to validating high explosive burn models. The experimental series was a collaboration between Los Alamos researchers and staff at Lawrence Livermore and Sandia national laboratories and the United Kingdom’s Atomic Weapons Establishment. Deployment of a sophisticated remote handling unit to safely transfer highly radioactive materials required to support mission-critical projects. The skillful swap of an electrical transformer at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). The deliberate operation restored power to the accelerator in less than estimated time. A look at George Goff ’s role in translating fundamental science into applied solutions essential to the Lab’s nuclear security mission.
Marine cloud brightening (MCB) is the deliberate injection of aerosol particles into shallow marine clouds to increase their reflection of solar radiation and reduce the amount of energy absorbed by the climate system. From the physical science perspective, the consensus of a broad international group of scientists is that the viability of MCB will ultimately depend on whether observations and models can robustly assess the scale-up of local-to-global brightening in today’s climate and identify strategies that will ensure an equitable geographical distribution of the benefits and risks associated with projected regional changes in temperature and precipitation. To address the physical science knowledge gaps required to assess the societal implications of MCB, we propose a substantial and targeted program of research—field and laboratory experiments, monitoring, and numerical modeling across a range of scales.
This report addresses both these features new science enabled by NASAs exploration initiative and enabling science that is critical to ensuring a safe return to the Moon and onward to Mars. The areas of interest are structured into four main themes: Theme 1: Heliophysics Science of the Moon Studies of the Moons unique magnetodynamic plasma environment. Theme 2: Space Weather, Safeguarding the Journey Studies aimed at developing a predictive capability for space weather hazards. Theme 3: The Moon as a Historical Record Studies of the variation of the lunar regolith to uncover the history of the Sun, solar system, local interstellar medium, galaxy, and universe. Theme 4: The Moon as a Heliophysics Science Platform Using the unique environment of the lunar surface as a platform to provide observations beneficial to advancing heliophysics science.
The paper compares PASCAL and FORTRAN for problem solving in the physical sciences, due to requests NASA has received to make PASCAL available on the Numerical Aerodynamic Simulator (scheduled to be operational in 1986). PASCAL disadvantages include the lack of scientific utility procedures equivalent to the IBM scientific subroutine package or the IMSL package which are available in FORTRAN. Advantages include a well-organized, easy to read and maintain writing code, range checking to prevent errors, and a broad selection of data types. It is concluded that FORTRAN may be the better language, although ADA (patterned after PASCAL) may surpass FORTRAN due to its ability to add complex and vector math, and the specify the precision and range of variables.
Issue 1 highlights of the Los Alamos Physical Sciences Vistas newsletter include: Finding and aiding success through the Lab's employee scholarship fund; Volunteer vignettes: helping others throughout Northern New Mexico; X-ray topography instrument reimagined for use at Oregon State University; Potentially activated metal recycle project triples its goal; Adaptive 3D machine-learning method for 3D coherent diffraction imaging; and, Sigma team aims for excellence in safety, quality, productivity.
This report summarizes the results of a workshop sponsored by the Microgravity Research Division of NASA to define contributions the microgravity research community can provide to advance the human exploration of space. Invited speakers and attendees participated in an exchange of ideas to identify issues of interest in physical sciences and process technologies. This workshop was part of a continuing effort to broaden the contribution of the microgravity research community toward achieving the goals of the space agency in human exploration, as identified in the NASA Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) strategic plan. The Microgravity program is one of NASA'a major links to academic and industrial basic research in the physical and engineering sciences. At present, it supports close to 400 principal investigators, who represent many of the nation's leading researchers in the physical and engineering sciences and biotechnology. The intent of the workshop provided a dialogue between NASA and this large, influential research community, mission planners and industry technical experts with the goal of defining enabling research for the Human Exploration and Development of Space activities to which the microgravity research community can contribute.
This is the first 2022 issue of Physical Sciences Vistas, with a focus on “excellence in community relations.” The achievements in this area help LANL realize the goal of being "recognized as a force for good" and promotes the lab's "strategic objectives of nuclear deterrence, threat reduction, technical leadership, and trustworthy operations." Some of the highlights in this issue include LANL's new outreach program, featuring interactive travel labs, outstanding achievements in pollution prevention and how LANL is "supporting opportunities for Indigenous women in physics."
The restructuring of the research capabilities of the International Space Station has forced a reassessment of the Physical Sciences research plans and a re-targeting of the major scientific thrusts. The combination of already selected peer-reviewed flight investigations with the initiation of new research and technology programs will allow the maximization of the ISS scientific and technological potential. Fundamental and applied research will use a combination of ISS-based facilities, ground-based activities, and other experimental platforms to address issues impacting fundamental knowledge, industrial and medical applications on Earth, and the technology required for human space exploration. The current flight investigation research plan shows a large number of principal investigators selected to use the remaining planned research facilities. c2003 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
I am proud to kick off calendar year 2024 with our first Physical Sciences Vistas awards edition, which celebrates the remarkable achievements by staff across our directorate over the past year.