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Characterization of a Mechanical Pumped Fluid Loop (MFPL) by test campaign
No full textMirian Diego, Arquimea Space, SpainFrancisco Romera, Arquimea Space, SpainAndrei Kulakov, Arquimea Space, SpainSamuel Gilliland, Arquimea Space, SpainSergio De Vera, Arquimea Space, SpainStéphane Lapensée, European Space Agency (ESA) / European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), NetherlandsICES201: Two-Phase Thermal Control TechnologyThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Payload power in spacecrafts has increased during the last
decades, a trend that is expected to continue in the
future. The need for flexibility, the increase of payload
power and payload power density mean that spacecrafts
thermal control systems development is gaining importance.
Mechanical Pumped Fluid Loop (MFPL) is the best solution
for this problem as it can handle high heat fluxes and can
flexibly remove heat from multiple payloads. Two-phase
loops use the heat vaporization of the refrigerant fluid to
transport heat and they present advantages over one-phase
loops, like reducing fluid flow rates, decreasing
temperature gradients and increasing heat transfer
coefficients. Arquimea Space has developed a Mechanically
Pumped Advanced Control Loop (M-ACL) under an ESA’s
contract. Although it was planned to use a NACPA pump from
RealTechnologie AG, this pump did not reach the planned and
needed performance due to performance degradation from
previous testing campaigns. Therefore, an industrial pump
with expected characteristics has been used. The main
components of this M-ACL are: HP Network (to introduce
power), four evaporators, one accumulator, four condenser
plates, one subcooler plate, two control valves, one
centrifugal pump and transport lines. Additionally, two
flowmeters and six pressure transducers have been
introduced in the loop to monitor the performance. An
exhaustive test campaign has been carried out to fully
characterize its behaviour: test without pump with all
evaporators operative and test with pump with one, two and
all evaporators operative. During those tests, different
conditions were imposed on the sink temperature and power
levels and the influence of parameters, like temperature
difference between accumulator and liquid stabilization
chamber, and vapor quality at evaporator outlet in the
thermal performance, are evaluated. A detailed
thermo-hydraulic model was developed in EcosimPro
simulation tool. Predictions where ambient conditions and
heat leaks were considered, were made before testing
Comparison of temperature and humidity from 2001, 2012, and 2023 in the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in romaine lettuce (Latuca sativa) from California and Texas
No full textOutbreaks linked to E. coli O157:H7 related to leafy and romaine lettuce vary from year to year; factors such as temperature and humidity may contribute to this irregularity. The planet’s temperature has been rising since the beginning of the 21st century, affecting the quality of food production and the survival of pathogens. Outbreaks in leafy greens, particularly romaine lettuce, have been linked to E. coli O157:H7 in almost all cases. This pathogen can survive in soil, roots, and leaves, allowing lettuce to reach the market with traces of E. coli O157:H7.The first chapter of this thesis presents a literature review, providing an overview of the weather conditions and rising temperature levels affecting the planet, with a focus on their impact on food production. It also discusses lettuce production in the United States and the market demand for romaine lettuce. Finally, it addresses outbreaks related to romaine lettuce and survival studies of E. coli O157:H7 in romaine lettuce. The second chapter focused on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 under varying temperature and humidity conditions from three different years in Salinas Valley, California: 2001 (no outbreaks), 2012 (7 outbreaks), and 2023 (a recent year with one outbreak). Growth chambers were used to copy the weather, and overhead irrigation was simulated. The Year 2023 had significantly higher temperatures than 2001 and 2012 (P 0.05). Regarding bacterial counts, it was necessary to transform them to Log CFU/ml to adjust the normality of the data. Results showed that the day of sampling and the year had a strong interaction with E. coli O157:H7 counts (P 0.05). Instead of 28 days, microbial counts were evaluated for 23 days after inoculation and showed significant differences between days (P < 0.05). The results showed that 2012 had a higher survival rate of E. coli O157:H7 in leaves than 2001 (P < 0.05), but 2023 shared similarities with both years
A panomics-driven framework for the improvement of major food legume crops: advances, challenges, and future prospects
No full textFood legume crops, including common bean, faba bean, mungbean, cowpea, chickpea, and pea, have long served as vital sources of energy, protein, and minerals worldwide, both as grains and vegetables. Advancements in high-throughput phenotyping, next-generation sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have significantly expanded genomic resources for food legumes, ushering research into the panomics era. Despite their nutritional and agronomic importance, food legumes still face constraints in yield potential and genetic improvement due to limited genomic resources, complex inheritance patterns, and insufficient exploration of key traits, such as quality and stress resistance. This highlights the need for continued efforts to comprehensively dissect the phenome, genome, and regulome of these crops. This review summarizes recent advances in technological innovations and multi-omics applications in food legumes research and improvement. Given the critical role of germplasm resources and the challenges in applying phenomics to food legumes—such as complex trait architecture and limited standardized methodologies—we first address these foundational areas. We then discuss recent gene discoveries associated with yield stability, seed composition, and stress tolerance and their potential as breeding targets. Considering the growing role of genetic engineering, we provide an update on gene-editing applications in legumes, particularly CRISPR-based approaches for trait enhancement. We advocate for integrating chemical and biochemical signatures of cells (‘molecular phenomics’) with genetic mapping to accelerate gene discovery. We anticipate that combining panomics approaches with advanced breeding technologies will accelerate genetic gains in food legumes, enhancing their productivity, resilience, and contribution to sustainable global food security
Ionic Liquid CO2 Capture: CO2 Desorption Technology Review
Get PDFJoseph C. Shy, University of Colorado - Boulder, United StatesJames A. Nabity, University of Colorado - Boulder, United StatesICES302: Physico-Chemical Life Support- Air Revitalization
Systems -Technology and Process DevelopmentThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Historically, solid sorbents have removed carbon dioxide
(CO2) from space habitat atmospheres. For long-duration
human spaceflight, regenerable CO2 sorbents reduce system
mass compared to non-regenerable alternatives. To
regenerate a sorbent, CO2 and other adsorbed constituents
must be extracted (i.e., desorbed). The endothermic
thermal-vacuum desorption of CO2 from flight-proven
sorbents requires the following heats of desorption:
monoethanolamine-coated beads (solid-phase amines) ~ 1.7
MJ/kgCO2, 5A zeolites ~ 2.8 MJ/kgCO2, 13X zeolites ~ 2.0
MJ/kgCO2, and silver oxide (i.e., METOX) ~ 1.85 MJ/kgCO2.
More energy-efficient CO2 sorbents are being investigated
for technology readiness level maturation; ionic liquids
(ILs) are a candidate. One, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium
acetate (EMIM [Ac]), experimentally requires ~ 0.62
MJ/kgCO2 for desorption. Room temperature ILs, those that
are liquid phase at room temperature, have negligible vapor
pressure, are chemically stable, and thus, are not expected
to degrade or produce toxic vapors at conditions favorable
for CO2 sorption. Further, ILs can be uniquely configured
within architectures to allow for continuous IL
regeneration and CO2 removal, rather than batch mode
operation. The most common architecture involves IL flowing
between two modules. The absorption module, typically a
hollow-fiber contactor, provides a contacting surface
between the IL and CO2-laden cabin airstream. The CO2-laden
ionic liquid subsequently flows into a desorption module
for IL regeneration. Thermal-vacuum swing can regenerate
the IL; however, at elevated temperatures, ILs can begin to
thermally decompose, degrading the CO2 removal performance
over time. The aim of this review article is to investigate
potential energy-efficient IL regeneration strategies that
could increase IL performance lifetime. Strategies
investigated include the following (and their possible
combinations): vacuum, sweep gas, ultrasonic, and microwave
CO2 desorption. This article will report and compare
aforementioned desorption technologies and their possible
applications, and it will recommend further experimental
investigations to advance IL desorption technologies
Portable Tunable Laser Spectrometer (PTLS) Technology Demonstration on the International Space Station: Performance and Reliability Before Launch and Science Objectives
No full textIsabelle C. Sanders, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) / California Institute of Technology, United StatesLance E. Christensen, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) / California Institute of Technology, United StatesShaun R. Ryan, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) / California Institute of Technology, United StatesFang Zhong, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) / California Institute of Technology, United StatesAndres Hernandez, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) / California Institute of Technology, United StatesKristen Peterson, Southwest Sciences Inc., United StatesJoel Silver, Southwest Sciences Inc., United StatesAdriana Reyes-Newell, Southwest Sciences Inc., United StatesChris Hovde, Southwest Sciences Inc., United StatesPatrick Opsahl, Southwest Sciences Inc., United StatesICES205: Advanced Life Support Sensor and Control TechnologyThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.The Portable Tunable Laser Spectrometer (PTLS) is an
environmental monitoring sensor designed for human space
exploration that measures carbon dioxide, water vapor, and
oxygen. It is a collaborative effort between NASA Jet
Propulsion Laboratory and Southwest Sciences Inc. (SWS).
Six identical PTLS instruments have been manufactured and
are scheduled to be deployed on the International Space
Station (ISS) in mid to late 2025 as part of a multiyear
technology demonstration. The system of PTLSs will be
distributed around the U.S. Lab, interconnected and
transmitting data to a central base station via a Zigbee
wireless mesh network. Deployment includes assessing
instrument and network performance, analyzing timeseries
data as it pertains to crew health, and conducting focused
experiments (during which the instruments will be relocated
by crew) exercising the capabilities of the sensors. To
ensure successful, safe on-orbit operation, we carried out
design, manufacturing, and testing processes to meet
stringent requirements and with great emphasis on crew
interfacing, reliability, and system safety engineering
principles
Arm-Based Tablet Holder for Analog Astronaut EVA Missions: Design, Development, and Evaluation
Get PDFPremith Satish, Space is More, United StatesRachel L. Weeresinghe, Space is More, United StatesICES403: Extravehicular Activity: Space Suit and Surface
Mobility OperationsThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.The paper presents the prototyping, design, and evaluation
of an arm-based tablet holder to improve access to digital
devices during analog astronaut EVA missions, specifically
during isolation analog missions. The holder is designed to
address challenges associated with traditional
tablet-carrying methods, often hindering mobility and the
ability to perform essential tasks. Focused on ergonomics,
stability, and flexibility, the device is optimized for use
in environments similar to those in space missions. The
holder is constructed from lightweight, 3D-printed PETG
filament, and it provides enhanced maneuverability and
optimal tablet positioning, while accommodating bulky suits
and gloves. Usability testing and ergonomic assessments
indicate that the design reduces physical strain and
improves user satisfaction
Box 1, Folder 4, MGN Cuestiones públicas
Get PDFThe Boyd Carter Papers represent a significant archival collection housed in the Hispanic Studies Collection in Texas Tech University's CMLL building. Dr. Boyd Carter was a distinguished scholar of Latin American literature who was active from the 1940s to his death in 1980. He held professorships at the University of Nebraska, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Missouri before concluding his career at Texas Tech University (1978-1980). Upon joining TTU, Carter donated his extensive archive to the university, including rare books, microfilm collections, bibliographical notes, and periodicals focusing on Latin American literature from 1850-1950, with particular emphasis on the famed Mexican writer Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera
Concurrent Prediction of Performance-Critical Cognitive States from Physiological Signals
Get PDFKieran J. Smith, University of Colorado - Boulder, United StatesTorin K. Clark, University of Colorado - Boulder, United StatesTristan C. Endsley, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., United StatesICES513: Human Health and Performance AnalysisThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Crew behavioral health is critical to spaceflight mission
success. As future missions move further from Earth, crews
will have to rely less on ground control for support. In
its place, novel methods to monitor, understand, and
respond to changes in their behavioral health could inform
the timing of full cognitive assessments or automated
crew-resource management decisions. Physiological signals
offer a non-disruptive, objective method for capturing
continuous information about crew cognitive state; however,
limited work has evaluated predictive performance from
combinations of these signals. In this work, we collected a
multimodal suite of neurophysiological,
psychophysiological, and behavioral signals from 31
participants (16F) while they completed the Multi-Attribute
Task Battery II. Additionally, we collected gold-standard
or proxy measures of cognitive states, including workload,
attentional allocation, working memory, vigilance, and
engagement. We present predictive models of these measures
along a continuum and validate model performance on unseen
data. For instance, we predict overall weighted NASA TLX
scores on a continuous 100-point scale with mean absolute
error (MAE) of 11.22 and with a Q2 of 0.47. To evaluate
baseline model performance, we shuffle our TLX labels to
align them with unrelated physiology, and we show that MAE
increases (worsens) to 13.95 and Q2 decreases (worsens) to
-0.31. We present predictive features and their
coefficients, including respiratory tidal volume,
oxygenated prefrontal hemoglobin, and deoxygenated
prefrontal hemoglobin. Model type and performance metric
necessarily change based on dependent variable, and we
discuss the implications of these different strategies and
performance metrics. Overall results show that
physiological signals could provide critical insight into a
crew’s cognitive state where other methods may prove
impractical or infeasible
Reactive Transition Scheduling for Deep Space Habitats
Get PDFLuca Vaccino, Purdue University, United StatesEthan Emil Vallerga, Purdue University, United StatesDawn R. Whitaker, Purdue University, United StatesShirley J. Dyke, Purdue University, United StatesLeila Chebbo, University of Connecticut, United StatesMohsen Azimi, Mississippi State University, United StatesAli Bazzi, University of Connecticut, United StatesICES501: Life Support Systems Engineering and AnalysisThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Deep space exploration is becoming a key focus for space
agencies. Given the extended durations and vast distances
of these missions, alternating between crewed and uncrewed
states will be essential. The transition between those two
states will introduce new challenges. During these
transitions, numerous actions involving various subsystems
must be meticulously coordinated to ensure the safety of
both crew and equipment. In case of a disruptive event, the
crew may not be able to depend on ground support and must
make rapid decisions. When time and resources are limited a
reduced set of actions can be executed before the available
resources are depleted. Therefore, the transition schedule
may need to be continuously adjusted based on recovery
strategies, available resources, and the extent of damage
to complete as many actions as possible with the available
resources. A reactive scheduler is a potential choice for
managing these transitions effectively. This paper compares
different meta-heuristic and exact scheduling algorithms to
identify the most suitable one for reactive transition
rescheduling during disruptive events. The problem is
formulated as the minimization of the total consumed energy
of an action sequence, subject to precedence constraints.
Specifically, a scenario with a micrometeorite impact
during a transition between dormant and crewed states is
used herein to demonstrate the effectiveness of the
proposed reactive scheduler. The goal of this paper is to
demonstrate the effectiveness of a scheduling algorithm in
improving transition flexibility and optimizing resource
consumption