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<p>A miniaturized, solid-state frequency-quadrupled Nd:YAG laser system  will be tested for performance and mechnically packaged to support future mission-driven instrumentation.</p>

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<p>Availability of a safe, low-pressure, lightweight, compact hydrogen storage system is an enabling technology for hydrogen electric fuel cell usage for space exploration and advanced aircraft electric propulsion systems.  Titanium hydride is being be used as a model material for proof of concept.  Other hydrides with more hydrogen per unit mass will then be evaluated.  Ultimately, nanostructured materials (such as carbon nanotube sheets) with potential to store large quantities of hydrogen in a very small volume will be explored.</p>

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<p>The high-permittivity substrate (er = 10.2) allows individual antenna patches to be made smaller and also mimics substrates (Si, SiC, GaAs, InP, GaN) used in MMIC and OEIC technology. If successful, the antennas may be integrated together with receiver components on the same substrate for miniaturization. Another important benefit is that surface waves are inhibited so that devices on the same substrate are isolated from each other.</p>

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<p>The goal of this study is to build a breadboard spectrometer and prove the functionality of the optical-mechanical assembly for the COEDI instrument concept.  We will verify spectrometer performance in the lab using off-the-shelf optics, existing sources and integrating spheres through test measurements of image quality, dispersion, slit curvature, and optical throughput.  The design concept will be further refined based on optical and mechanical modeling analysis.</p><p> </p>

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<p>Quantum-well structures embodied on single crystal silicon germanium drastically enhanced carrier mobilities.  The cell-to-cell circuits of quantum-well PV cells are laid out at the bottom of epitaxial layers, unlike the circuits laying out at the top of the conventional PV cells which cut off the incident solar flux up to 15% level. Since the circuit layout is built at the bottom of PV array, the circuits are densely laid out to reduce the internal resistance substantially. Again since silicon germanium compound has much broader bandgap structure than silicon alone, it can utilize more solar energy to free up valence band electrons. Structurally, the sapphire substrate surface of quantum-well PV cells is very strong and does not require any special protective coatings and frames to hold them. Therefore, the anticipated life of quantum-well PV cells is more than ten-times longer than Si PV cells. Summing up these advantages of quatum-well PV cells, the overall conversion efficiency would reach well beyond 35% and the energy density would be tripled as compared to the conventional PV cells. The overall cost factor would be 5 cents per kWh competitively.  </p>

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<p> Optimize the performance of Gallium Antimonide (GaSb)-based 2.05 mm lasers (previously developed under JPL’s Research and Technology Development (R&TD) Program) for emission at the precise wavelength of 2.05 mm with an angular emission for efficient coupling into polarization maintained (PM) optical fiber<br /> Develop a robust fiber coupled hermitically sealed package to house the diode laser while maintaining its high power and narrow linewidth performance<br />  Integrate these lasers in the frequency locked system (currently developed under under JPL R&TD Program) to demonstrate a frequency stable laser with at least 10 mW output power (with a 40-50mW goal), ~100 KHz linewidth, and 1 MHz long-term stability<br />  </p>

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<p>The objectives of this proposal are twofold: 1) develop a suite of flight software tools for utilizing the advanced capabilities inherent in the guide-mode features of the present generation of near-infrared detectors, and 2) develop an implementation of sample-up-the-ramp processing for NIR detector readouts that gracefully handles signal saturation and cosmic-ray hits during an exposure.</p><p> </p><p>The objectives of the guide mode software development are to learn how to generate optimal clocking sequences for interleaving rapid readout of multiple guide windows with slower readout of science data from the rest of the detector, and to develop software to implement these sequences in the SIDECAR™ ASIC for use in flight applications.</p><p> </p>

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<p>A CubeSat is a volume-limited, standardized smallsat form factor (typ. 1-6U, where 1U = 10 cm<sup>3</sup>) that occasionally needs to be equipped with an active attitude control system, e.g. reaction wheels needed for high-resolution science imaging, orbit maintenance, and maximum irradiance on solar cells. The proposed architecture provides improved performance over traditional wheels and satisfies the push for component miniaturization, increased pointing accuracy, and power efficiency on CubeSats.</p>

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Volcanic ash is a significant hazard to aircraft engine and electronics and has caused damage to unwary aircraft and disrupted air travel for thousands of travelers, costing millions of dollars. Michigan Aerospace Corporation (MAC) proposes to demonstrate the concept feasibility of a Raman Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system to obtain real-time information from volcanic ash clouds, to be named VADER (Volcanic Ash DEtection Raman LIDAR). The instrument will be designed to operate from an airborne platform, and as such, will be compact and light weight. This approach benefits from returning real-time measurements, in contrast to sampling methods (impactors) that require post-mission analysis. This project will utilize MAC's extensive heritage of rugged LIDAR system design and construction.

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<p> Develop an Automated Event Service system that:<br /> Methodically mines custom-defined events in the reanalysis data sets of global atmospheric models.<br /> Enables researchers to specify their custom, numeric event criteria using a user-friendly web interface to search the reanalysis data sets.<br /> Supports Event Specification Language (ESL) for more flexibility and versatility.<br /> Contains a social component that enables the dynamic formation of collaboration groups for researchers to cooperate on event definitions of common interest.<br /> Provides rapid results via high performance computing and advanced search technologies.<br />  </p>

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<p>The Digital Radio Prototype project evaluates and tests digital receiver and spectral analyiss tools for various planetary environment.</p>

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<p>The Improved Mass Spectrometer project will develop system requirements and analyze the path to space qualification.   The results of this project will provide substantially improved analytical capabilities for in situ analysis for future missions.</p>

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<p>The effort will involve a mechanical and thermal study for installation of CRS into the Global Hawk, RF design for integrating the HIWRAP Ka-band transceiver with CRS and a new subscale prototype antenna for ACE, and specification and testing of a Ka-/W-band radome necessary in front of the antenna. The proposed work will be a solid design concept for a dual-frequency CRS that can be readily implemented on the Global Hawk. Since CRS is currently single frequency (W-band) and the NGES antenna is dual-frequency (Ka- and W-band), this effort investigates what is necessary to use the HIWRAP Ka-band transceiver with CRS timing and other interfaces. Finally, the Global Hawk installation will require a dual-frequency radome and part of this effort will investigate suitable radome materials that is transparent at at both operating frequencies.</p>

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<p>Crewmembers undergo strenuous suited training for EVA missions. Frequent exposure to such activities can eventually lead to Cumulative Trauma Disorders/Injuries and reduced performance (results which are already well documented for the EVA suit). Engineering data such as dynamic fit, mobility and human-suit contact measurements within the suit are currently difficult to obtain, but is sorely needed to enable designers to make the necessary changes to current designs and optimize future designs. Physical performance and human-suit interaction data are thus essential to shed new insight into what is happening inside the HUT.  Relevant and currently hard to obtain human interaction data inside the suit should enable NASA to build a 21st century suit.</p><p>A transparent EVA-type suit HUT with adjustable components was designed and manufactured. The transparent HUT can be attached to an adjustable-height stand, or worn directly on the body with a restraining harness to keep the transparent HUT’s relative position the same as an actual HUT when worn. The transparent HUT was designed to weigh a mere fraction of the actual HUT and therefore facilitate functional testing. </p><p>A brief pilot study showed that the HUT did indeed fit the subject similarly to an actual EMU HUT, with restrictive internal volume and mobility, and that it greatly improved the ability to gather internal volumetric and interference data and allowed visual/video inspection of internal interfaces.</p>

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<p>The Instrument for Trace Gas Measurements will provide advances in situ measurement instrumentation for planetary atmospheres and surfaces.</p>

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<p> Integrate LVIS lidar capability onto the Global Hawk (GH) to enable high altitude mapping of land, vegetation, and ice<br /> Provide operational capability and data storage for 30+ hours of GH operations<br /> Demonstrate operations on Global Hawk platform with test flights</p>

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<p>The Deployable Entry-system ProjecT (ADEPT) will develop requirements for the ADEPT flight test.  Prior entry systems used high mass thermal protection systems.  This project is focused on increasing the TRL of an alternative, deployable entry system that is appropriate for medium size planetary missions.</p>

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<p> Develop, integrate and demonstrate a 2-micron pulsed Integrated Path Differential Absorption Lidar (IPDA) instrument CO2 Column Measurement from Airborne platform<br /> Conduct ground validation test to demonstrate CO2 retrieval<br /> Conduct engineering test flights to demonstrate CO2 retrieval from UC-12 aircraft<br /> Conduct post flight data analysis for the purpose of evaluation of CO2 measurement capability<br />  </p>

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<p>Detection of toxic vapors from aerospace fluids such as propellants is vital to the protection of those working in and around spacecraft.  Chemical reaction based sensors relying on changes in color, electrical or thermal properties have the potential to be extremely sensitive. One of the limiting factors to the sensitivity of these devices is the nature of the substrate which contains the active agent. New substrates can be coupled with, and tailored to, new and existing detection chemistries for increased sensitivity.  Aerogels and porous low density ceramics may have promise of increasing sensitivity of chemical detection. Aerogels in particular hold promise because the detection chemistry is in three dimensions giving an increased optical path length resulting in increased sensitivity and increased dynamic range.  Alternative indicator chemistries such as tetrabromoaurate will be evaluated with these new substrates.</p>

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<p> Design, fabricate, and calibrate a compact helium magnetometer for high-accuracy measurements of Earth’s magnetic field<br /> Provide vector and scalar measurements from a single instrument<br /> Utilize scalar measurements to self-calibrate the vector component measurements<br /> Intended for surface, sub-orbital, and orbital platforms<br /> Achieve superior calibrated vector accuracy (±1 nT per component) not possible with fluxgate magnetometers<br />  </p>

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<p> Facilitate use of Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE), Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF), and Goddard Multi-scale Modeling Framework (MMF) with bin microphysics schemes that model aerosol-cloud-radiation interaction to:<br /> remove the largest source of uncertainty in climate modeling<br /> allow large-domain, long-term integrations to significantly improve the modeling capability of the aerosol effects for weather prediction and climate change studies<br />  </p>

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<p> Environmental regulation will force current baseline  precision cleaning solvent (AK-225) to be phased out starting 2015. We plan to develop  a new solvent or solvent blend that will replace the current baseline solvent ( AK225). The Plan is to test at least  3 solvent blends for cleaning efficiency on coupons exposed to known contaminants. The project has already created a test process that can tie results back to work done in the 1990’s. We will use this data to support the Precision Cleaning and Contamination Control  (PC3) efforts over the next few  years.</p>

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<p> This is a one-year project to apply a GIS analysis tool to new orbital data for lunar resource assessment and martian habitability identification.  We used ArcGIS, the state-of-the-art software for mapping, integrating, and analysis of spatial data. We focused on the assessment of several regional lunar pyroclastic deposits and habitability analysis in the Chryse-Acidalia portion of the martian lowlands.  This work expands upon a previous 3-year project enabled through IRD funds.</p> <p>  </p> <p> As a direct result of this project three scientific papers have been published:</p> <p> Allen, C.C., Greenhagen, B.T., Donaldson Hanna, K.L., and Paige, D.P. (2012) Analysis of lunar pyroclastic deposit FeO abundances by LRO Diviner, <em>Journal of Geophysical Research, 117</em>, E00H28, doi:10.1029/2011JE003982.</p> <p> Oehler, D.Z. and Allen, C.C. (2012) Giant polygons and mounds in the lowlands of Mars: signatures of an ancient ocean ?, <em>Astrobiology</em>, 12, 1-15.</p> <p> Oehler, D.Z. and Allen, C.C.  (2012)  Focusing the search for biosignatures on Mars:  Facies prediction with an example from Acidalia Planitia, in <em>Sedimentary Geology of Mars</em> (J.P. Grotzinger and R.E. Milliken, eds.),<em> SEPM Special Publication No. 102</em>, 183-194.</p>

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<p> Fuse high performance reconfigurable processors with emerging fault-tolerance & autonomous processing techniques for a 10-100x decrease in processing time.<br /> This means more science experiments conducted per day & more thorough, timely analysis of captured data.<br /> Addresses the ability to quickly react & adapt processing or mission objectives in real-time, by combining autonomous agents with reconfigurable computing.<br /> Enables Autonomous On-board Processing for Sensor Systems (A-OPSS), via a tool-suite that generates a run-time system for sensor systems to autonomously detect changes in collected data & tune processing in a controlled manner to adapt to unforeseen events.<br /> Decadal Survey Missions: Primary - DESDynl, HyspIRI, GEO-CAPE; Secondary – SMAP, SWOT<br />  </p>

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<p> Support the vision of Earth Science research as a community enterprise and provide building blocks for the Earth Science Collaboratory.  Leverage the evolving technology landscape to design an architecture for scalable collaboration<br /> Collaborations can scale from individuals sharing science resources, to sharing within groups such as science mission teams, to sharing with the entire science community.<br /> Design and build software components that fit the way researchers currently perform scientific analysis.<br /> These new components should work as part of researchers’ current analysis tools.<br />  </p>