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At least 19 records

Review of the Natural History of Renal Stones in U.S. Astronauts

BACKGROUND: The formation of renal stones in astronauts may pose a considerable threat to crew health and to the completion of mission objectives. Although a history of prior renal stones is an exclusion criterion for initial selection, there have been reported cases of renal stones that have developed after selection. This led to the establishment, nine years ago, of a standardized protocol to screen for the development of renal stones pre-and post-spaceflight in all active astronauts. OVERVIEW: Literature regarding stone makeup, size, location, time to passage, and outcomes were reviewed, as well as incidence of renal stones in astronaut analog populations such as military pilots and the general population. The Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health (LSAH) database was queried and as of 2015 there have been 22 crew members who have reported 36 renal stone events from a population of 357 astronauts, with an incidence of 0.32 events per year. This compares favorably to the incidence of 0.37 to 0.46events per year in commercial pilots. DISCUSSION: The physiologic changes associated with spaceflight have been thought to present an increased risk for the development of stones, including hypercalciuria, decreased urine pH, and reduced urine volume. NASA’s screening program, based on a rigorous ultrasound method, has now provided nine years of clinical data used to reduce the risk of flying an astronaut with a renal stone that could threaten health and mission objectives. This work and data from the ultrasound screening program was used to update the clinical practice guideline for renal stone surveillance and treatment, and other NASA documents and programs that track this risk.

C McNerlin↗

Aviation Communications Emulation Testbed

Aviation related applications that rely upon datalink for information exchange are increasingly being developed and deployed. The increase in the quantity of applications and associated data communications will expose problems and issues to resolve. NASA Glenn Research Center has prepared to study the communications issues that will arise as datalink applications are employed within the National Airspace System (NAS) by developing a aviation communications emulation testbed. The Testbed is evolving and currently provides the hardware and software needed to study the communications impact of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and surveillance applications in a densely populated environment. The communications load associated with up to 160 aircraft transmitting and receiving ATC and surveillance data can be generated in real time in a sequence similar to what would occur in the NAS.

Sheehe, Charles↗

Aviation Communications Emulation Testbed

Aviation related applications that rely upon datalink for information exchange are increasingly being developed and deployed. The increase in the quantity of applications and associated data communications will expose problems and issues to resolve. NASA s Glenn Research Center has prepared to study the communications issues that will arise as datalink applications are employed within the National Airspace System (NAS) by developing an aviation communications emulation testbed. The Testbed is evolving and currently provides the hardware and software needed to study the communications impact of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and surveillance applications in a densely populated environment. The communications load associated with up to 160 aircraft transmitting and receiving ATC and surveillance data can be generated in realtime in a sequence similar to what would occur in the NAS. The ATC applications that can be studied are the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network s (ATN) Context Management (CM) and Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC). The Surveillance applications are Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) and Traffic Information Services - Broadcast (TIS-B).

Sheehe, Charles↗

Orbital Debris Research in the United States

The presentation includes information about growth of the satellite population, the U.S. Space Surveillance Network, tracking and catalog maintenance, Haystack and HAX radar observation, Goldstone radar, the Michigan Orbital Debris Survey Telescope (MODEST), spacecraft surface examinations and sample of space shuttle impacts. GEO/LEO observations from Kwajalein Atoll, NASA s Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM2008), a LEO-to-GEO Environment Debris Model (LEGEND), Debris Assessment Software (DAS) 2.0, the NASA/JSC BUMPER-II meteoroid/debris threat assessment code, satellite reentry risk assessment, optical size and shape determination, work on more complicated fragments, and spectral studies.

Stansbery, Gene↗

NASA Orbital Debris Large-Object Baseline Population in ORDEM 3.0

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) has created and validated high fidelity populations of the debris environment for the latest Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM 3.0). Though the model includes fluxes of objects 10 um and larger, this paper considers particle fluxes for 1 cm and larger debris objects from low Earth orbit (LEO) through Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). These are validated by several reliable radar observations through the Space Surveillance Network (SSN), Haystack, and HAX radars. ORDEM 3.0 populations were designed for the purpose of assisting, debris researchers and sensor developers in planning and testing. This environment includes a background derived from the LEO-to-GEO ENvironment Debris evolutionary model (LEGEND) with a Bayesian rescaling as well as specific events such as the FY-1C anti-satellite test, the Iridium 33/Cosmos 2251 accidental collision, and the Soviet/Russian Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite (RORSAT) sodium-potassium droplet releases. The environment described in this paper is the most realistic orbital debris population larger than 1 cm, to date. We describe derivations of the background population and added specific populations. We present sample validation charts of our 1 cm and larger LEO population against Space Surveillance Network (SSN), Haystack, and HAX radar measurements.

Krisco, Paula H.↗

The Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health (LSAH) Project

From 1989-2010 NASA conducted a research study, the Longitudinal Study of Astronaut Health, to investigate the incidence of acute and chronic morbidity and mortality in astronauts and to determine whether their occupational exposures were associated with increased risk of death or disability. In 2004, the Institute of Medicine recommended that NASA convert the longitudinal study into an occupational health surveillance program and in 2010, NASA initiated the Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health project. The new program collects data on astronaut workplace exposures, especially those occurring in the training and space flight environments, and conducts operational and health care analyses to look for trends in exposure and health outcomes. Astronaut selection and retention medical standards are rigorous, requiring an extensive clinical testing regimen. As a result, this employee population has contributed to a large set of health data available for analyses. Astronauts represent a special population with occupational exposures not typically experienced by other employee populations. Additionally, astronauts are different from the general population in terms of demographic and physiologic characteristics. The challenges and benefits of conducting health surveillance for an employee population with unique occupational exposures will be discussed. Several occupational surveillance projects currently underway to examine associations between astronaut workplace exposures and medical outcomes will be described.

Bopp, Eugenia↗

Immunological characterization of pulmonary intravascular macrophages

Pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs) are lung macrophages found apposed to the endothelium of pulmonary capillaries. In many species, they are responsible for the clearance of blood-borne particulates and pathogens; however, little else is known about their roles as immunologic effector cells. We compared PIMs with pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) to determine the relative immunological activities of these two cell populations. Our results suggested that both populations possess similar phagocytic and bactericidal activities. In assays measuring cytotoxicity, PIMs were more cytotoxic than PAMs against virally infected target cells; however, differences between these macrophage populations were not as marked when noninfected targets were used. LPS-stimulated PIMs produced more T-cell proliferative cytokines than PAMs, and both populations of nonstimulated macrophages produced similar amounts of the cytokines. In contrast, PAMs produced more TNF alpha and NO2- than PIMs when both populations were stimulated with LPS; however, nonstimulated PAMs and PIMs produced similar amounts of TNF alpha and NO2. These data suggest that bovine PIMs are immunologically active. Differences between the degrees of activity of PIMs and PAMs indicate that these macrophage populations may have different roles in lung surveillance.

NASA Discipline Cell Biology↗

Monitoring the Heavens, Today, and Tomorrow

The current Earth satellite population in LEO for all sizes is relatively well-established by a combination of deterministic and statistical means. At higher altitudes, the population of satellites with diameters of less than 1 m is not well defined. Although a few new sensors might become operational in the near- to mid-term, no major improvement in environment characterization is anticipated during this period. With the increasing deployment of micro- and pico-satellites and with the continued growth of the small debris population, a need exists for better space surveillance to support spacecraft design and operations.

Johnson, Nicholas L.↗

Characterizing Fractures Across the Astronaut Corps: Preliminary Findings from Population-Level Analysis

Despite evidence of bone loss during spaceflight and the implementation of countermeasures to mitigate this loss, the subsequent risk of fracture among astronauts is not known. Multiple factors such as age, sex, fracture history, and others may combine to increase fracture risk. The purpose of this study was to describe fractures among the astronaut population and generate questions for future occupational surveillance studies.

Rossi, Meredith M.↗

The NASA Orbital Debris Engineering Model 3.1: Development, Verification, and Validation

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office has developed the Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM) primarily as a tool for spacecraft designers and other users to understand the long-term risk of collisions with orbital debris. The newest version, ORDEM 3.1, incorporates the latest and highest fidelity datasets available to build and validate representative orbital debris populations encompassing low Earth orbit (LEO) to geosynchronous orbit (GEO) altitudes for the years 2016-2050. ORDEM 3.1 models fluxes for object sizes > 10 μm within or transiting LEO and > 10 cm in GEO. The deterministic portion of the populations in ORDEM 3.1 is based on the U.S. Space Surveillance Network (SSN) catalog, which provides coverage down to approximately 10 cm in LEO and 1 m in GEO. Observational datasets from radar, in situ, and optical sources provide a foundation from which the model populations are statistically extrapolated to smaller sizes and orbit regions that are not well-covered by the SSN catalog, yet may pose the greatest threat to operational spacecraft. Objects in LEO ranging from approximately 5 mm to 10 cm are modeled using observational data from ground-based radar, namely the Haystack Ultrawideband Satellite Imaging Radar (HUSIR – formerly known as Haystack). The LEO population smaller than approximately 3 mm in size is characterized based on a reanalysis of in situ data from impacts to the windows and radiators of the U.S. Space Transportation System orbiter vehicle, i.e., the Space Shuttle. Data from impacts on the Hubble Space Telescope are also used to validate the sub-millimeter model populations in LEO. Debris in GEO with sizes ranging from 10 cm to 1 m is modeled using optical measurement data from the Michigan Orbital DEbris Survey Telescope (MODEST). Specific, major debris-producing events, including the Fengyun-1C, Iridium 33, and Cosmos 2251 debris clouds, and unique populations, such as sodium-potassium droplets, have been re-examined and are modeled and added to the ORDEM environment separately. The debris environment greater than 1 mm is forecast using NASA’s LEO-to- GEO ENvironment Debris model (LEGEND). Future explosions of intact objects and collisions involving objects greater than 10 cm are assessed statistically, and the NASA Standard Satellite Breakup Model is used to generate fragments from these events. Fragments smaller than 10 cm are further differentiated based on material density categories, i.e., high-, medium-, and low-density, to better characterize the potential debris risk posed to spacecraft. The future projection of the sub-millimeter environment is computed using a special small-particle degradation model where small particles are created from intact spacecraft and rocket bodies. This work discusses the development, features, and capabilities of the ORDEM 3.1 model; the ne new data analyses used to build the model populations; and sample verification and validation results.

Matney, M.↗

Recent Radar Observations of the Sub-Centimeter Orbital Debris Environment

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) has conducted radar observations of the orbital debris environment since the early 1990’s to provide measurement data that supports orbital debris models and risk mitigation activities in support of NASA mission objectives. Orbital debris radar observations are a unique mode for radar operation, employing a fixed beam configuration to statistically sample the environment. An advantage of conducting operations in this fashion is that it enables observations of smaller classes of orbital debris than would otherwise be available from the same sensor operating in a traditional tracking mode. Orbital debris-mode radar observations are used to fill in the gaps, which exist in the currently available data from the Space Surveillance Network (SSN), on small size orbital debris populations that represent significant risk to NASA programs. These gaps have typically covered orbital debris with characteristic sizes less than approximately 10 cm down to approximately 3 mm in low Earth orbit (LEO) – depending upon the altitude and sensor configuration. The value of orbital debris radar measurements lies in the ability to extract partial orbital element information about orbital debris in the centimeter to several millimeter size regimes in low Earth orbit – which are not available from other measurement sources. This paper will discuss observations of this smaller class of orbital debris observed in recent years from the radars at the MIT Haystack Observatory in Westford, Massachusetts, and the Goldstone Solar System Radar near Barstow, California. The former radar is able to observe orbital debris down to approximately 5 mm, and the latter, orbital debris with characteristic sizes near 3 mm – at altitudes less than 1000 km. The characteristics and inferences about the current LEO orbital debris environment, and the different subpopulations that are identifiable in the observations are highlighted.

Kennedy, Timothy↗

Current and Near-Term Future Measurements of the Orbital Debris Environment at NASA

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office places great emphasis on obtaining and understanding direct measurements of the orbital debris environment. The Orbital Debris Program Office's environmental models are all based on these measurements. Because OD measurements must cover a very wide range of sizes and altitudes, one technique realistically cannot be used for all measurements. In general, radar measurements have been used for lower altitudes and optical measurements for higher altitude orbits. For very small debris, in situ measurements such as returned spacecraft surfaces are utilized. In addition to receiving information from large debris (> 5-10 cm diameter) from the U.S. Space Surveillance Network, NASA conducts statistical measurements of the debris population for smaller sizes. NASA collects data from the Haystack and Goldstone radars for debris in low Earth orbit as small as 2- 4 mm diameter and from the Michigan Orbital DEbris Survey Telescope for debris near geosynchronous orbit altitude for sizes as small as 30-60 cm diameter. NASA is also currently examining the radiator panel of the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 which was exposed to space for 16 years and was recently returned to Earth during the STS- 125 Space Shuttle mission. This paper will give an overview of these on-going measurement programs at NASA as well as discuss progress and plans for new instruments and techniques in the near future.

Stansbery, Gene↗

An Automated Flying-Insect Detection System

An automated flying-insect detection system (AFIDS) was developed as a proof-of-concept instrument for real-time detection and identification of flying insects. This type of system has use in public health and homeland-security decision support, agriculture and military pest management, and/or entomological research. Insects are first lured into the AFIDS integrated sphere by insect attractants. Once inside the sphere, the insect s wing beats cause alterations in light intensity that is detected by a photoelectric sensor. Following detection, the insects are encouraged (with the use of a small fan) to move out of the sphere and into a designated insect trap where they are held for taxonomic identification or serological testing. The acquired electronic wing-beat signatures are preprocessed (Fourier transformed) in real time to display a periodic signal. These signals are sent to the end user where they are graphically. All AFIDS data are preprocessed in the field with the use of a laptop computer equipped with LabVIEW. The AFIDS software can be programmed to run continuously or at specific time intervals when insects are prevalent. A special DC-restored transimpedance amplifier reduces the contributions of low-frequency background light signals, and affords approximately two orders of magnitude greater AC gain than conventional amplifiers. This greatly increases the signal-to-noise ratio and enables the detection of small changes in light intensity. The AFIDS light source consists of high-intensity Al-GaInP light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The AFIDS circuitry minimizes brightness fluctuations in the LEDs and when integrated with an integrating sphere, creates a diffuse uniform light field. The insect wing beats isotropically scatter the diffuse light in the sphere and create wing-beat signatures that are detected by the sensor. This configuration minimizes variations in signal associated with insect flight orientation. Preliminary data indicate that AFIDS has sufficient sensitivity and frequency measuring capability to differentiate between male and female mosquitoes (Figure 1, bottom panel) and fruit flies (data not shown). Similar studies show that AFIDS can be utilized to detect discrete differences between two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. When fully deployable, a wireless network of AFIDS monitors could be used in combination with other remotely sensed data and visually displayed in a geographic information system (GIS) to provide real-time surveillance (see Figure 2). More accurate and sensitive insect population forecasts and effective rapid response and mitigation of insect issues would then be possible.

Vann, Timi↗

An Implementation Analysis of Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) Technologies for Unmanned Air Systems (UAS)

The aviation industry and government agencies face a rapidly-emerging need for integrating large-scale populations of Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) into the worldwide controlled and uncontrolled airspace. Critical components for integration include the Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) technologies necessary for ensuring safe UAS operations. Under NASA program NNA16BD84C, our work on CNS architectural concepts for the safe operation of UAS in controlled and uncontrolled airspace has introduced CNS architectures which must be analyzed in terms of implementation readiness.Controlled airspace operations for UAS are consistent with the needs for manned aviation in the worldwide Air Traffic Management (ATM) service. Uncontrolled airspace operations are consistent with the NASA Unmanned (air) Traffic Management (UTM) concept of operations. Implementation readiness is based on the NASA concept of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) ranging from TRL1 (basic principles observed and reported) to TRL9 (actual system flight proven through successful mission operations). In the architecture concepts, we have introduced a number of new CNS architectural elements which need to be correlated with TRL levels. In this paper, we present our implementation analysis for communications networks, communications data links, navigation, and surveillance. Each area has been under active research and development during the course of the current NASA program which has produced studies on UAS CNS Requirements, UAS CNS Architecture for Controlled Airspace and UAS CNS Architecture for Uncontrolled Airspace. We have published our architecture concepts in major UAS-related conferences (including iCNS2017, IEEE Aerospace 2018, and iCNS2018) and will continue to seek additional publication opportunities. We look forward to continuing our work to realize a full integration testing scenario for both controlled and uncontrolled airspace operation.

Unmanned (Air) Traffic Management (UTM) service↗

An Implementation Analysis of Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) Technologies for Unmanned Air Systems (UAS)

The aviation industry and government agencies face a rapidly-emerging need for integrating large-scale populations of Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) into the worldwide controlled and uncontrolled airspace. Critical components for integration include the Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) technologies necessary for ensuring safe UAS operations. Under NASA program NNA16BD84C, our work on CNS architectural concepts for the safe operation of UAS in controlled and uncontrolled airspace has introduced CNS architectures which must be analyzed in terms of implementation readiness.Controlled airspace operations for UAS are consistent with the needs for manned aviation in the worldwide Air Traffic Management (ATM) service. Uncontrolled airspace operations are consistent with the NASA Unmanned (air) Traffic Management (UTM) concept of operations. Implementation readiness is based on the NASA concept of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) ranging from TRL1 (basic principles observed and reported) to TRL9 (actual system flight proven through successful mission operations). In the architecture concepts, we have introduced a number of new CNS architectural elements which need to be correlated with TRL levels.In this paper, we present our implementation analysis for communications networks, communications data links, navigation, and surveillance. Each area has been under active research and development during the course of the current NASA program which has produced studies on UAS CNS Requirements, UAS CNS Architecture for Controlled Airspace and UAS CNS Architecture for Uncontrolled Airspace. We have published our architecture concepts in major UAS-related conferences (including iCNS2017, IEEE Aerospace 2018, and iCNS2018) and will continue to seek additional publication opportunities. We look forward to continuing our work to realize a full integration testing scenario for both controlled and uncontrolled airspace operation.

Ponchak, Denise↗

Orbital Debris Research at NASA

The United States has one of the most active programs of research of the orbital debris environment in the world. Much of the research is conducted by NASA s Orbital Debris Program Office at the Johnson Space Center. Past work by NASA has led to the development of national space policy which seeks to limit the growth of the debris population and limit the risk to spacecraft and humans in space and on the Earth from debris. NASA has also been instrumental in developing consistent international policies and standards. Much of NASA's efforts have been to measure and characterize the orbital debris population. The U.S. Department of Defense tracks and catalogs spacecraft and large debris with it's Space Surveillance Network while NASA concentrates on research on smaller debris. In low Earth orbit, NASA has utilized short wavelength radars such as Haystack, HAX, and Goldstone to statistically characterize the population in number, size, altitude, and inclination. For higher orbits, optical telescopes have been used. Much effort has gone into the understanding and removal of observational biases from both types of measurements. NASA is also striving to understand the material composition and shape characteristics of debris to assess these effects on the risk to operational spacecraft. All of these measurements along with data from ground tests provide the basis for near- and long-term modeling of the environment. NASA also develops tools used by spacecraft builders and operators to evaluate spacecraft and mission designs to assess compliance with debris standards and policies which limit the growth of the debris environment.

Stansbery, Eugene G.↗