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Exploration of the Transition Region-Corona Interface With the Multi-Order Solar EUV Spectrograph Project

We propose to observe the solar upper transition region and lower corona in Ne VII 46.5 nm with the Multi-Order Solar EUV Spectrograph (MOSES) rocket payload. The solar plasma in this temperature range, about 500,000 K, has not been imaged at rapid cadence since Skylab (Feldman, 1987). The unique observational capabilities of MOSES, demonstrated already in He II 30.4 nm, enable simultaneous imaging and measurement of line widths and doppler shifts over a large (20&rsquo; x 10&rsquo;) field of view, with typical active region exposure times of 10 s. These observations will reveal the 3D dynamics of outflows and reconnection events in active regions, quiet Sun, and coronal holes. The primary objectives of this one-year proposal are (1) instrument calibration, (2) launch of the rocket in summer of 2012, and (3) data analysis, including exploration of new techniques to recover more spectral information from the MOSES data. Prior NASA funding has enabled data analysis and publication of results from the first flight, upgrades to the payload, and increased reliability of our ground support equipment. Procurement of optics to observe the Ne VII 46.5 nm line is in process. With the help of additional funding from Montana Space Grant Consortium, we have also developed an EUV calibration facility optimized for testing the MOSES payload. N/A

Deep Mapping of Small Solar System Bodies with Galactic Cosmic Ray Secondary Particle Showers Project

Our Phase I study demonstrated that&nbsp;muons, the long-range charged component of GCR showers, can penetrate SSBs on the order of a km in diameter or less, providing&nbsp;information on their interior structure. Muons produced in Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere have been applied to image the interior of large&nbsp;objects, such as the Great Pyramids and volcanos. In Phase I, we found that the production of muons in the solid surfaces of airless&nbsp;bodies is much smaller than in Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere. Nevertheless, the flux of transmitted muons is sufficient to detect inclusions within&nbsp;an asteroid or comet in a reasonable period of time, ranging from hours to weeks, depending on the size of the SSB and the density&nbsp;contrast, position and size of the inclusion. The intrinsic spatial resolution of muon radiography (&ldquo;muography&rdquo;) is on the scale of&nbsp;a few meters. The spatial resolution that can be achieved in practice depends on signal intensity and integration time, the angular&nbsp;resolution of the muon tracker (hodoscope) and details of data reduction and analysis methodology.Our Phase II project will continue to assess remaining unknowns for the application of muography to determining the interior&nbsp;structure of SSBs, assess risks for implementation, and provide a roadmap for development of SSB muography beyond the NIAC&nbsp;program. To achieve our objectives, we will work on four interrelated tasks:<ul><li>Signal and background characterization: Characterize the production and transmission of muons and secondary particle backgrounds&nbsp;made by cosmic ray showers in SSBs;</li><li>Imaging studies: Develop methods to determine the density structure of SSB interiors and near-surface features from radiographic and&nbsp;tomographic data;</li><li>Instrument design: Using simulations and bench-top laboratory experiments, investigate specific concepts for the design of compact&nbsp;hodoscopes that can be deployed on a spacecraft or in situ;</li><li>Synthesis: Determine the range of applicability of the concept, identify the steps needed for maturation of the concept, and explore&nbsp;concepts for a pilot muography mission.</li></ul>Successful implementation of SSB muography requires a thorough understanding of muon production and transmission as well as&nbsp;sources of background. Phase I demonstrated that muon production is sensitive to the density of the top-most meter of the regolith.&nbsp;Thus, unknown variations in regolith density may obscure interior structure. Limb imaging of muons and the use of radar data&nbsp;to remotely map near-surface density will be explored as possible ways to mitigate variations in muon production. A compact,&nbsp;inexpensive system that could be deployed on a spacecraft or in situ appears to be feasible and warrants further study. A successful&nbsp;design must be capable of separately measuring the transmitted muon signal from the primary GCRs and secondary particles that&nbsp;scatter into the field-of-view of the hodoscope. This can be accomplished, for example, using Cherenkov radiators to reject lower&nbsp;energy scattered particles and to determine particle direction. Concepts for imaging systems identified in Phase I will be scrutinized.Phase II will be carried out by a multidisciplinary project team with broad experience in cosmic ray physics, remote sensing,&nbsp;meteoritics and planetary science. While the development of muography for SSBs is risky, the potential benefits are significant.&nbsp;There are presently no established methods to directly characterize the interior structure and macroporosity of an asteroid or comet.&nbsp;Muography could provide a direct and cost-effective means of probing the interior density structure.

Microfluidic Extraction of DNA for Identification of Unknown organisms in Microgravity Project

Expanding human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit poses significant technological challenges. One of these challenges is environmental monitoring, specifically the ability to identify and respond to microbiological threats in real-time. Because returning samples to Earth for analysis is not practical from deep-space, in-flight environmental monitoring is an essential capability for missions away from low-Earth orbit. Microbial identification by direct sequencing is readily achieved by identifying species-specific differences in Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) sequences. These analyses require the extraction and separation of DNA from cells, but current methods for DNA isolation typically require technologies incompatible with spaceflight.In-flight environmental monitoring is an important technology for missions away from low-Earth orbit. An important aspect of environmental monitoring is the ability to identify and respond to microbiological threats. Automatable in situ monitoring technologies are essential when sample return is not practical. Microbial identification is readily achieved by identifying differences in DNA sequences, such as direct sequencing or hybridization of the DNA strands. These analyses require the extraction and separation of DNA from cells. However, current methods for DNA isolation typically require technologies incompatible with spaceflight.We seek to develop a miniaturized MEDIUM device for the extraction of DNA from operationally relevant samples (i.e., potable water sources); the extracted DNA can then be used for microbial identification using one or more DNA-dependent molecular techniques, such as sequencing. Isolation of DNA for sequencing or other analyses typically requires technologies incompatible with spaceflight. For this reason we have carefully chosen digital microfluidics-based extraction cartridges due to their likely compatibility with microgravity. Unlike other DNA extraction methods that rely on gravitational forces, the microfluidics devices use electro-wetting to move liquids. This eliminates the requirement for pumps, centrifuges and other moving parts. The quality of the DNA extracted by the microfluidics-based platform and by conventional kit-based methods will be characterized for its suitability in next-generation sequencing applications.

MagMix project

Estuarine and coastal systems play important roles in society, serving as port facilities, productive fisheries and rookeries, and scenic recreational areas. However, these same values to society mean that these areas can be significantly affected by human activities. Inputs of nutrients, organic matter, and trace metals are among these impacts. The MagMix project seeks to understand the transport and cycling of nutrients and trace elements and relate that to biogeochemical and optical properties in river-dominated coastal systems. The area of study is the outflow region of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River carries high concentrations of plant nutrients derived from fertilizer use on farms in the heartland of the US. These excess nutrients stimulate plant growth in the surface waters of the Louisiana Shelf. These plants, in turn, sink to the bottom waters of the shelf where they serve as food for respiring organisms. The input of this excess food then stimulates an excess of respiration thereby depleting the shelf bottom waters of oxygen during the summer. These oxygen-depleted (or hypoxic) waters then become a dead zone avoided by animals. The overall goal of this research project is to better understand the mixing processes and their relationship to optical and biogeochemical properties as the waters of the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya River enter the Gulf of Mexico.

Last of the Wild Project, Version 2, 2005 (LWP-2): Last of the Wild Dataset (Geographic)

The Last of the Wild Dataset of the Last of the Wild Project, Version 2, 2005 (LWP-2) is derived from the LWP-2 Human Footprint Dataset. The gridded data are classified according to their raster value (wild = 0-10; not wild >10). The ten largest polygons of more than 5 square kilometers within each biome by realm are selected and identified. The dataset in Clarke 1866 Geographic Coordinate System is produced by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).

Groundswell Spatial Population and Migration Projections at One-Eighth Degree According to SSPs and RCPs, 2010-2050

The Groundswell Spatial Population and Migration Projections at One-Eighth Degree According to SSPs and RCPs, 2010-2050, data set provides a baseline population distribution for 2010 and projections from 2020 to 2050, in ten-year increments, of population distribution and internal climate-related and other migration. The projections are produced using the NCAR-CIDR Spatial Population Downscaling Model developed by the CUNY Institute for Demographic Research (CIDR) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The model incorporates assumptions based on future development scenarios (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways or SSPs) and emissions trajectories (Representative Concentration Pathways or RCPs). The SSPs include SSP2, representing a middle-of-the road future, and SSP4, representing an unequal development future. Climate models using low and high emissions scenarios, RCP2.6 and RCP8.5, then drive climate impact models on crop productivity and water availability from the Inter-Sectoral Impacts Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP). Sea-level rise impacts in the coastal zone are estimated to be 1 meter under RCP2.6 and 2 meters under RCP8.5, to account for potential storm surge or coastal flooding. Three scenarios are generated, a pessimistic reference scenario combining SSP4 and RCP8.5, a more climate-friendly scenario combining SSP4 and RCP2.6, and a more inclusive development scenario combining SSP2 and RCP8.5, and each scenario represents an ensemble of four model runs combining different climate impact models. The modeling work was funded and developed jointly with The World Bank, and covers most World Bank client countries, with reports released in 2018 and 2021 that address different regions and provide full methodological details.

Last of the Wild Project, Version 1, 2002 (LWP-1): Top One Percent Wild Areas Dataset (Geographic)

The Top One Percent Wild Areas Dataset of the Last of the Wild Project, Version 1, 2002 (LWP-1) is derived from the LWP-1 Human Footprint Dataset. The gridded data are classified according to their raster value (wild = 0-1; not wild >1). The top 1% of the wild areas within each biome by realm are selected and identified. The dataset in Clarke 1866 Geographic Coordinate System is produced by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).

A 2-Micron Pulsed Laser Transmitter for Direct Detection Column CO2 Measurement from Space Project

Develop a compact, efficient 2&micro;m pulsed laser for a lidar instrument to make accurate, high-resolution atmospheric CO2 column measurements in support of the ASCENDS mission. Develop a pulsed 2&micro;m laser that is based on a Thulium fiber-laser pumped Holmium (Ho) solid state laser in a Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) configuration. Demonstrate 65mJ at 50Hz needed for the space&nbsp; Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) instrument in a robust prototype format.

Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project, Version 1 (GRUMPv1): Urban Extent Polygons, Revision 02

The Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project, Version 1 (GRUMPv1): Urban Extent Polygons, Revision 02 is an update to Revision 01, which included new settlements and represented the first time that SEDAC released polygons (in Esri shapefile format) with the settlement name (or name of the largest city in the case of multi-city agglomerations). The shapefile consists of polygons defined by the extent of the nighttime lights and approximated urban extents (circles) based on buffered settlement points. Revision 01 also included new urban extents identified from multiple sources and corrected georeferencing for some settlements (see separate documentation for Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project, Version 1 (GRUMPv1): Settlement Points, Revision 01 for the data and methods). Revision 01 was produced by the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) in collaboration with CUNY Institute for Demographic Research (CIDR). Revision 02 was produced by CIESIN.

Laser frequency stabilization and stray light issues for LISA and other future multi-spacecraft missions Project

"The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is a joint NASA/ESA project which will use laser interferometry between drag-free proof masses to measure gravitational waves from many galactic and cosmological sources. The same interferometer technology is also the key to future multi-spacecraft missions such as multi-aperture telescope missions. These missions could include several spacecraft all separated by potentially 10s of km, flying in a fixed formation with sub-wavelength variations in their distances. These multi-aperture or distributed aperture telescopes will revolutionize the angular resolution in the infrared, optical, and even X-ray band. This proposal addresses two components which are both critical to these missions. The first component introduces a new technique to stabilize the laser frequency to an optical reference cavity. Laser frequency noise will be the limiting factor for most of the distributed aperture telescope missions; in contrast, LISA can trade frequency noise against ranging precision. This new technique is based on heterodyne interferometry which is also used to measure changes in the distances between the spacecraft. Because of this similarity, this technology can easily be integrated into the payload. It requires the same photo detectors and digital signal processing systems that are used for the interferometry. It utilizes to a large degree existing components, reducing R&D time and cost for all interferometric space missions. We have already started initial proof of principle experiments and have reached already a performance remarkably close to the performance of the standard and long time-favored modulation/demodulation technique. Now we propose to study this technique in more detail, study the limiting noise sources experimentally and theoretically, and push it to the limitations of the reference cavity itself. The expected final fractional frequency noise should be better than 0.01ppt for measurement times of a 1000s. This

Last of the Wild Project, Version 1, 2002 (LWP-1): Global Human Footprint Dataset (Geographic)

The Global Human Footprint Dataset of the Last of the Wild Project, Version 1, 2002 (LWP-1) is the Human Influence Index (HII) normalized by biome and realm. The HII is a global dataset of 1-kilometer grid cells, created from nine global data layers covering human population pressure (population density, population settlements), human land use and infrastructure (built up areas, nighttime lights, land use/land cover), and human access (coastlines, roads, railroads, navigable rivers). The dataset in Clarke 1866 Geographic Coordinate System is produced by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).

NASA open-source code projects with A.I.-generated tags

A JSON that is used to build the content on code.nasa.gov. This JSON contains names, descriptions, links, and keyword tags for all NASA open-sourced code projects released through the SRA (Software Release Authority) and available on code.nasa.gov. It was updated on August, 2019.

Portable Data Acquisition System Project

Armstrong researchers have developed a portable data acquisition system (PDAT) that can be easily transported and set up at remote locations to display and archive data in real time. The PDAT was developed to collect data from strain gages and fiber optic sensors installed on a revolutionary wing flap while it was being constructed by NASA partner FlexSys, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as part of the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) project. The PDAT enabled the Armstrong team to monitor and analyze data collected during the construction process and provide vital feedback to designers onsite at FlexSys instead of having to wait until construction was completed and shipped to Armstrong&rsquo;s facility.Work to date: This unique and flexible system has 64 channels for analog data, 32 channels for thermocouples, and utilizes Ethernet technology to capture&nbsp;6,000 parameters of fiber optic data. It is currently configured to gather strain gage and thermocouple inputs, but a variety of other hardware can be installed, including cards for pressure transducers, voltages, currents, motion paks, accelerometers, MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC 429 aircraft data buses, and Ethernet packets.Looking ahead: The PDAT has been an integral part of the ACTE project, and the team believes the technology is versatile enough to become a successful component of many current and future Armstrong projects.Benefits<ul><li>Convenient: This innovation enables real-time analysis of data collected at remote locations.</li><li>Portable: The hardware is easily removable, attaches to a single heat sink pallet, and fits into a single small case for quick transport. It can be used in a variety of locations (laboratory, hangar, and flight line).</li><li>Flexible: The technology can be quickly reprogrammed to support various tests and can display and archive data from virtual streams.</li><li>Economical: The system reduces manufacturing and testing costs associated with multiple data collection and analysis sites.</li></ul>ApplicationsCollects sensor, voltage, current, pressure, aircraft avionics, and Ethernet data

AirMSPI verison 6 ellipsoid-projected georegistered radiance product acquired during the NASA ACEPOL flight campaign Oct-Nov 2017

AirMSPI_ACEPOL_Ellipsoid-projected_Georegistered_Radiance_Data are AirMSPI ellipsoid-projected georegistered radiance products acquired during the Aerosol Characterization from Polarimeter and Lidar (ACEPOL) flight campaign.AirMSPI Level 1B2 products contain radiometric and polarimetric images of clouds, aerosols, and the surface of the Earth. In particular, products contain map-projected data at 8 wavelengths: 355, 380, 445, 470, 555, 660, 865, and 935 nm. The data products include radiance, time, solar zenith, solar azimuth, view zenith, and view azimuth for all spectral bands. Wavelengths for which polarization information is available (470, 660, and 865 nm) also include the Stokes parameters Q and U, as well as degree of linear polarization (DOLP) and angle of linear polarization (AOLP). Q, U, and AOLP are reported relative to both the scattering and view meridian planes. Files are distributed in HDF-EOS-5 format.This release of AirMSPI data contains all targets acquired during the Aerosol Characterization from Polarimeter and Lidar (ACEPOL) flight campaign. ACEPOL was based out of Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, CA, and focused on assessing the capabilities of proposed future instruments by the ACE pre-formulation study to answer fundamental science questions associated with aerosols, clouds, air quality and global ocean ecosystems. AirMSPI data were acquired from October 19 through November 9, 2017.

Poverty Mapping Project: Small Area Estimates of Poverty and Inequality

The Poverty Mapping Project: Small Area Estimates of Poverty and Inequality data set consists of consumption-based poverty, inequality and related measures for subnational administrative Units in approximately twenty countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. These measures are derived on a country-level basis from a combination of census and survey data using small area estimates techniques. The collection of data have been compiled, integrated and standardized from the original data providers into a unified spatially referenced and globally consistent data set. The data products include shapefiles (vector data), tabular data sets (csv format), and centroids (csv file with latitude and longitude of a geographic Unit and associated poverty estimates). Additionally, a data catalog (xls format) containing detailed information and documentation is provided. This data set is produced by the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) in collaboration with a number of external data providers.

Fundamental Hyperelastic Material Study Project

This research is part of an innovative effort to use hyperelastic materials&nbsp;to produce flexible and seamless aircraft structures that reduce drag&nbsp;and minimize acoustic noise. Hyperelastic materials, such as rubber,&nbsp;have a non-linear stress-strain relationship, which often complicates the&nbsp;modeling process. Therefore, CIF funding is being used to gain increased&nbsp;knowledge regarding the properties of hyperelastic materials and develop&nbsp;improved finite element analysis (FEA) models. This research effort&nbsp;builds on the knowledge gained from the Adaptive Compliant Trailing&nbsp;Edge (ACTE) experimental flight research project. The ACTE project&nbsp;will demonstrate the structure technology in flight, and this technology&nbsp;has been shown to improve aircraft aerodynamic efficiency and reduce&nbsp;airport-area noise generated during takeoffs and landings.Work to date: The Armstrong development team has fabricated the biaxial&nbsp;strain test hardware and completed initial bubble test planning. The team&nbsp;is working to obtain biaxial strain properties and develop an FEA model&nbsp;that simulates the material properties and failure characteristics. In 2014, the team fine-tuned the modeling by&nbsp;comparing the predicted output to an actual bubble test of the material.Partner: FlexSys Inc. is the industry partner on this effort, as it owns the&nbsp;design patent.Benefits<ul><li>Economical: Use of hyperelastic material&nbsp;increases fuel efficiency by reducing drag</li><li>Quieter: Novel wing flap reduces noise&nbsp;associated with takeoffs and landings both in&nbsp;the aircraft cabin and on the ground</li></ul>Applications<ul><li>Aircraft wing flaps</li><li>Helicopter blades</li><li>Motor vehicles</li><li>Trains</li><li>Ships</li></ul>

Design and Fabrication of a Breadboard, Fully Conductively Cooled, 2-Micron, Pulsed Laser for the 3-D Winds Decadal Survey Mission Project

Design and fabricate a space-qualifiable, fully conductively cooled, 2-micron pulsed laser breadboard meeting the projected 3-D Winds mission requirements. Utilize improvements in key technologies including high-power, long life space proven 804 nm pump diodes; derated diode operation, and heat pipe conductive cooling.

A deployable 4-meter 180 to 680 GHz antenna for the Scanning Microwave Limb Sounder Project

Build and test a full size (4x2 meter aperture) breadboard antenna for SMLS. <ul> <li> Demonstrate critical azimuth scanning capability of a 4m SMLS antenna and its performance under thermal load environments.</li> </ul>

AirMSPI verison 6 ellipsoid-projected georegistered radiance product acquired during the RADEX flight campaign

AirMSPI_RADEX_Ellipsoid-projected_Georegistered_Radiance_Data is an AirMSPI ellipsoid-projected georegistered radiance product acquired during the Radar Definition Experiment (RADEX) flight campaign.AirMSPI Level 1B2 products contain radiometric and polarimetric images of clouds, aerosols, and the surface of the Earth. In particular, products contain map-projected data at 8 wavelengths: 355, 380, 445, 470, 555, 660, 865, and 935 nm. The data products include radiance, time, solar zenith, solar azimuth, view zenith, and view azimuth for all spectral bands. Wavelengths for which polarization information is available (470, 660, and 865 nm) and include the Stokes parameters Q and U, as well as degree of linear polarization (DOLP) and angle of linear polarization (AOLP). Q, U, and AOLP are reported relative to both the scattering and view meridian planes. Files are distributed in HDF-EOS-5 format.This release of AirMSPI data contains all targets acquired during the Radar Definition Experiment (RADEX) flight campaign, which was based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The campaign focused on characterizing new radar instruments being tested for future NASA satellite missions with AirMSPI providing additional cloud characterization. AirMSPI data were acquired from November 10 through December 13, 2015.

Automated Event Service: Efficient and Flexible Searching for Earth Science Phenomena Project

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