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Vehicle Modeling During the Burn Events in the Saffire VI Experiments
No full textJustin Niehaus, NASA Glenn Research Center, United StatesJohn Brooker, NASA Glenn Research Center, United StatesDavid Urban, NASA Glenn Research Center, United StatesGary Ruff, NASA Glenn Research Center, United StatesICES509: Fire Safety in Spacecraft and Enclosed HabitatsThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.In order to design a fire-safe environment inside a
spacecraft, knowledge of the transport of heat and
combustion products in a reduced gravity environment is
needed. After a resupply mission to the ISS, the Saffire
project provided large-scale fire data in a microgravity
environment inside of Northrup Grumman’s Cygnus vehicle.
Solid materials were burned, including a thin cotton-based
sample and thick thermoplastic samples, to study a
large-scale fire’s effect on a spacecraft. Sensors were
placed in Cygnus that measured temperature and species
concentration at four different standoffs, as well as nadir
and zenith locations. Pyrosim was used to develop a model
to predict the three burn events from Saffire VI using
inlet and outlet data from the Saffire payload. The
convective heat transfer coefficient between the cargo and
the cabin air that was previously calibrated in the Saffire
V model was used to predict the temperature response in the
Saffire VI burn events. Good predictions of the CO2 and
temperature responses for the remote sensors throughout
Cygnus were realized
Point-of-Sampling Isolation of Microbial and Chemical Samples for Biofilm Collection and Improved Monitoring of the ISS Water Recycling System (WRS)
No full textEric Beitle, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), United StatesElizabeth L. Sandvik, Montana State University, United StatesKathryn Ollenburg, Amentum Space Exploration Group, United StatesAyden Kemp, Amentum Space Exploration Group, United StatesConnor Murphy, Amentum Space Exploration Group, United StatesYo-Ann Velez Justiniano, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), United StatesICES303: Physico-Chemical Life Support- Water Recovery &
Management Systems- Technology and Process DevelopmentThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Biofilm in the International Space Station’s (ISS)
wastewater processing assembly is an ongoing issue. Due to
microbial growth in the wastewater tank, downstream
equipment is impacted through clogging, higher differential
pressure effects, and equipment failure. Biofilms are often
surface-associated and coat internal walls of equipment but
can detach or form suspended biofilm aggregates, also known
as flocs, due to bacterial colonization of filamentous
fungi. The performance of the Water Recycling System (WRS)
on the ISS is monitored by removing periodic water samples
from various locations that are returned to ground for
biological and chemical assessment. While samples are rich
in data, concerns exist about storage of microorganisms
with the chemical constituents prior to analysis.
Additionally, although bacterial and fungal strains
contributing to this issue have been sequenced and studied,
an isolated biofilm or floc sample has not been taken from
the ISS for analysis. Several efforts have been undertaken
to improve WRS monitoring by separating the biological and
chemical samples at the point of sampling via filtration
upstream of the standard sampling bag. In this paper, we
will discuss the design considerations for this
application, stabilization of the microbial sample through
nutrient removal and storage conditions, pros and cons of
commercially available versus custom flight hardware for
filtration, and the construction of a specialty test stand
which simulates the pressure and flow seen during sampling
on the ISS
Sustainable synthesis of iron-doped manganese oxide nanoparticles for effective photo-accelerated detoxification of tetracycline
No full textThe widespread use of antibiotics has severely impacted water bodies and ecosystems, necessitating well-designed photocatalysts for effective degradation. In this regard, present work reports the synthesis of MnO2:xFe3+ (MF-x, x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) nanoparticles via the bio-mediated process using Tridax procumbens as the reducing and stabilizing agents. Various physicochemical approaches confirmed the structural, optical, and morphological properties of MF-x nanoparticles, revealing a reduced optical bandgap (2.06–0.97 eV) for visible-light photocatalysis. PXRD analysis reveals cubic crystalline nature of MF-x nanoparticles belonging to space group number 206 (I a-3) with crystallite sizes ranging 39–70 nm, which was further refined using Rietveld method with acceptable χ2 value of 2.3 for the doped sample. Raman spectra confirmed the existence of Fg and Eg + Fg active modes from the bixbyite structure corresponding to the space group I a-3. Furthermore, the FESEM and TEM analyses showed a highly crystalline uniform porous morphology with evaluated particle sizes in agreement with the PXRD results. Additionally, the quantitative aspects of precursor elements were confirmed through XPS studies. The photocatalytic activity of MF-10 in degrading Tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) was evaluated under optimized pH, catalyst dosage, and TC-HCl concentration under visible light. Results show that optimized weight (100 mg) of as-synthesized nanoparticles exhibit high photocatalytic performance with a 94.23% degradation against optimized 20 ppm TC-HCl in 90 min. On the other hand, pH variation and reusability test indicated that the degradation efficiency was significant at neutral pH and reduced at the 5th cycle (64.28) which was further authenticated by pHPZC evaluation (7.55). Thus, the present work showcased the potential application of MnO2: Fe3+ nanoparticles as low-cost and environmentally friendly material in water treatment applications
Multi-year Operation of the Organic Processor Assembly for the Treatment and Resource Recovery from Fecal Waste
No full textAlexandra Smith, University of South Florida, United StatesDaniel Yeh, University of South Florida, United StatesValerie Harwood, University of South Florida, United StatesRosaura Munoz-Luna, University of South Florida, United StatesDaniella Saetta, Kennedy Space Center / Bennett Aerospace, United StatesJason Fischer, Kennedy Space Center / Aetos Systems, United StatesLuke Roberson, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United StatesICES304: Physico-Chemical Life Support- Waste Management
Systems- Technology and Process DevelopmentThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Recognizing the need for a sustainable and closed-loop
approach to fecal waste management in lunar habitats, an
organic processor assembly (OPA) was developed by the
University of South Florida and NASA’s Kennedy Space
Center. The OPA is a hybrid treatment technology which
couples the high-performance of membrane ultrafiltration
with anaerobic digestion for the breakdown and conversion
of organic solids. The OPA is designed to treat and recover
resources from the fecal waste generated by a crew of four
astronauts on an early planetary base. Design aspects and
water quality data of the OPA’s early operations on canine
fecal waste as surrogate to human waste were presented at
ICES 2022. Nutrient-rich permeate produced from the treated
and ultrafiltered canine fecal waste was collected and used
in a hydroponics system where its nutrient composition
successfully supported the growth of extra dwarf Bok Choy.
Preliminary data from two grow-outs were presented at ICES
2023. This conference paper will highlight the long-term
stability and robustness of the OPA by examining the
system’s ability to resume treatment after an extended
dormancy period of approximately one year. This conference
paper will present data on the OPA’s overall long duration
(>1000 days) treatment of canine fecal waste and permeate
water quality, with emphasis on post-dormancy operations
and system response to dormancy. Overall, the OPA is an
enabling technology capable of managing fecal waste over an
extended period, minimizing fecal storage volume, and
contributing to closing nutrient cycles on early planetary
habitats
Characterization of Lunar Dust Simulants by Automated Particle Analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy
No full textKristin L. Bunker, RJ Lee Group, United StatesTraci L. Lersch, RJ Lee Group, United StatesClaire Fortenberry, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), United StatesMarit E. Meyer, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United StatesICES510: Planetary and Spacecraft Dust Properties and
Mitigation TechnologiesThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Understanding the physical and chemical properties of
extraterrestrial dust is crucial for extended human and
robotic exploration on the Moon or Mars. Lunar and Martian
dust can affect everything from equipment and spacesuits to
habitable spaces in the lunar modules and may also serve as
a potential resource for future space missions. Due to
limited availability of lunar dust from the Apollo
missions, simulant materials have been manufactured to
replicate specific properties of the dust for testing on
Earth. A total of 8 commercial and government-based
simulants provided by NASA, SolySys Mining, and Space
Resource Technologies were analyzed by automated particle
analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with
energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The focus of
the analysis was on the fine fraction of particles less
than 20 micrometers. The fine size fraction has not been
studied as extensively as the coarse fraction, but an
understanding of the fine particle characteristics is
essential for dust mitigation strategies. The behavior of
dust particles in the small size fractions is vastly
different than particles in the visible range. Transport
and adhesion of particles below 20 micrometers pose risks
to hardware and human health, and specialized microscopic
characterization techniques are warranted. The automated
SEM-EDS analysis provided data on size, shape, and
elemental composition. Particle size distributions by
number were determined as well as particle type
concentrations based on elemental compositions. Optical and
SEM relocation were also performed on the larger fraction
of particles to correlate the color, surface morphology,
and elemental composition. A comparison of the particle
size distribution, elemental composition, and particle
morphology was made between the lunar dust simulants and
published data from Apollo mission studies
Bridging Education and Community: Teacher Insights on Engagement Education Strategies
No full textRural communities often have their own unique challenges and opportunities compared to their urban counterparts, including educational systems. As the educational realm continues to shift to meet the needs of students, new models are being created to enhance the quality of education a student receives. Educational policy initiatives, such as College and Career Readiness, have been on the rise to ensure students are equipped to be successful in life beyond high school. However, challenges such as resource disparities, varying levels of community engagement, and access to career pathways can create barriers to achieving these goals in both rural and urban settings.
Engagement education is the intersection of schools, students, and the community, framed by the Engagement Education Model. This model is made of four components: place-based education, project-based learning, asset-based community development, and democratic orientation. The purpose of this study was to explore how the Engagement Education Model impacts student development and readiness for post-secondary life. A quantitative survey research design was utilized to gain teacher perceptions of each component of the model, and their level of importance to the classroom. A region of 41 counties in the High Plains Region of Texas was used as the target population, yielding 166 participants.
The findings show how educator backgrounds and experiences shape their perceptions of the Engagement Education Model components. The participants seem to have moderately positive perceptions of Engagement Education, yet may not have the resources or connections to implement each component effectively. Future research should explore more experimental designs, explore specific subject areas, and examine the influence on college and career readiness
On Active Radiation Shielding Efficacy of a Point Design for Lunar Applications
No full textJona Hoppe, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), United StatesDragan Nikolić, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), United StatesStojan Madzunkov, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), United StatesDan Fry, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), United StatesErik Viges, University of Michigan, United StatesPatrick McNally, University of Michigan, United StatesGian Luca Delzanno, Los Alamos National Laboratory, United StatesLuke Stegeman, Kansas State University, United StatesAmir Bahadori, Kansas State University, United StatesICES503: Radiation Issues for Space FlightThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.We report on improvements to the simulation architecture
and the resultant evaluations of the 3D point design of a
highly charged electrode structure to enhance the shielding
efficacy against solar energetic particles in a lunar
habitat. The lunar infrastructure was enclosed by a
half-sphere and a circular surface with a radius of 1km. A
habitat was positioned at the plane's center with
dimensions of 11.0x3.0x2.5m. The electrode structure, with
dimensions of 131.4x131.4x80.7m, was set up around it, with
these specific dimensions chosen to accommodate five anode
stacks, each made up of four grids and four cathode
antennas.
The evaluation process was comprehensive. The first
scenario, devoid of the electrode structure, was used to
calibrate the particle injection and analyze the
unobstructed particle deposition onto the surface.
Considering the uncharged electrodes, the second scenario
assessed material shielding effects. The third scenario,
with the anode charged with +1MV and the cathode with −1MV,
was designed to approximate the radiation shielding against
protons, alpha particles, Fe6+ ions, and electrons of
varying energies.
For each particle species, the energy-weighted average
shielding efficacy of the electrode setup was determined
compared to the first scenario, leading to 70.7% for the
protons with significant particle-reduced areas at low
energies, 14.4% for the alpha-particles, and 6.5% for the
Fe6+ ions. The obtained results indicate that a significant
particle-reduced area was formed in the case of low-energy
electrons, whereas ultra-relativistic electrons experienced
a shielding efficacy of 21.7%.
We will present the results of particle energy studies,
which assess the potential impact damage and
parametrization in the structure's geometry to maximize the
shielding efficacy. These optimization studies are not just
theoretical exercises but offer practical insight into the
limitations of the current technologies for electrostatic
radiation shielding of future lunar habitats, sparking
further research and development in the field
Smoke Aerosol Experiments and Data for the Next Generation of Space Vehicles
No full textClaire F. Fortenberry, NASA Glenn Research Center, United StatesMarit E. Meyer, Northrop Grumman, United StatesICES504: Management of Air Quality in Sealed EnvironmentsThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Air quality in confined environments where people operate
is critical. A submarine's atmosphere is a confined
environment where air purification systems are needed.
Furthermore, in the case of a submarine that experiences a
casualty, such as a fire, passive scrubber technology is
required. Hazardous chemicals produced by the casualty will
build inside the submarine’s atmosphere over time. Gases
produced, such as ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon
monoxide, are all hazardous to the crew's health.
Therefore, improved passive sorbents are needed to enhance
the probability of crew rescue.
Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as premium
sorbents with unprecedented potential in various
applications, notably filtration technology. MOFs are
highly crystalline materials where the pore size, aperture,
and chemical functionality can be controlled at the
nanoscale. Precise control at the nanoscale enables
adsorption, separation, and catalysis applications.
Numat is a company focused on the commercialization of
MOFs. Numat has identified MOFs that can adsorb the gases
generated during a “disabled” submarine event with
capacities of 5x - 20x greater than traditional sorbents.
Furthermore, Numat has spent over ten years addressing MOF
scaling and integration challenges and developing MOF
prototype technologies that will accelerate the deployment
of these materials. This talk will highlight Numat’s effort
to identify, scale, and deploy MOFs for use in passive gas
filters in the event of a “disabled” submarine. Numat has
partnered with QinetiQ Group, PLC to enable this
application