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The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR): Thermal Control System Design, Challenges and Solutions for a Large Rotating Instrument
Get PDFAlberto Franzoso, OHB-Italia SpA, ItalyDavide Rizzo, OHB-Italia SpA, ItalyLuca Monti, OHB-Italia SpA, ItalyMatteo Chiappi, TAS-I, ItalyPaula Prado Montes, ESA European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), NetherlandsICES202: Satellite, Payload, and Instrument Thermal ControlThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) is one
of the six Copernicus Expansion Missions, that are part of
the Copernicus Space Component being implemented by the
European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission.
The primary mission objectives of CIMR are to measure Sea
Ice Concentration and Sea Ice Extent at a spatial
resolution of ≤5 km and Sea Surface Temperature at a
spatial resolution of ≤15 km with a focus on sub-daily
coverage of Polar Regions and daily coverage of Adjacent
Seas. CIMR will additionally ensure European operational
continuity of L-band measurement capability to enhance
monitoring of the Polar Regions. CIMR is a complex mission
involving a rotating microwave radiometer working in
L/C/X/K/Ka bands with a deployable antenna with a mesh
reflector. This paper aims to introduce the instrument
thermal control: its design drivers, challenges and
technical solutions. Due to the complex interfaces between
the instrument, its subsystems and spacecraft platform, an
advanced and innovative thermal management approach is
applied, consisting of both active and passive thermal
control. Several challenges have been identified, including
the environment definition for the rotating scan mechanism,
the behavior of heat pipes under centrifugal forces and the
temperature gradients and thermal stability requirements of
the sensitive elements. This paper describes the instrument
thermal control system design, often driven by the
instrument rotation, and the solutions which have been
identified to properly manage the complex interfaces and
the challenging environment. It is foreseen that the CIMR
thermal control design will serve as heritage for future
Earth observation missions involving large rotating
payloads
Full-Scale Ultrasonic Clothes Washer/Dryer Evaluation Results
Get PDFAyyoub M. Momen, Ultrasonic Technology Solutions, United StatesConnor Shelander, Ultrasonic Technology Solutions, United StatesDennis Chertkovsky, Ultrasonic Technology Solutions, United StatesMelissa McKinley, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), United StatesMichael Ewert, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), 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.NASA's Life Support and Habitation Systems Focus Area
prioritizes the development of advanced technologies to
support extended human missions in deep space. One critical
challenge is the absence of an efficient, integrated
washer-dryer system capable of functioning in lunar,
Martian, and microgravity environments. Conventional
thermal drying methods require significant energy to
evaporate water, whereas the direct-contact ultrasonic
drying approach explored in this study provides a more
energy-efficient alternative. By utilizing piezoelectric
transducers, this method generates high-frequency
vibrations at the micron scale, mechanically displacing
water from fabric and reducing dependence on evaporation.
This enhances both energy efficiency and drying speed
across various textiles. Additionally, ultrasonic cleaning
was investigated as a potential washing technique,
eliminating the gyroscopic instability, vibration, and lint
production commonly associated with traditional washing
methods. The resulting system is compact, highly
energy-efficient, and well suited for space missions. This
paper presents the performance evaluation of a full-scale
ultrasonic garment washer and dryer, examining its
sequential washing and drying capabilities and its
potential for disinfection. The findings contribute to the
development of the first space-compatible laundry system,
enabling sustainable human habitation aboard the ISS and
future lunar and Martian missions
Characterization of the performance of the Higher Plants Chamber in the MELiSSA Pilot Plant under Staggered Operation Mode using Brassica oleracea
Get PDFCarolina Arnau, MELiSSA Pilot Plant – Claude Chipaux Laboratory / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, SpainCarles Ciurans, MELiSSA Pilot Plant – Claude Chipaux Laboratory / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, SpainArnau Vizcarra, MELiSSA Pilot Plant – Claude Chipaux Laboratory / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, SpainEnrique Peiro, MELiSSA Pilot Plant – Claude Chipaux Laboratory / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, SpainFrancesc Gòdia, MELiSSA Pilot Plant – Claude Chipaux Laboratory / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, SpainAntonio Pannico, University of Naples, ItalyStefania de Pascale, University of Naples, ItalyICES204: Bioregenerative Life SupportThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Plants will play a pivotal role in future crewed space
missions by providing, food, recycling water, and
regenerating air. The MELiSSA project develops and
integrates a regenerative life support system for
long-duration space missions. Its demonstration site, the
MELiSSA Pilot Plant, operates a closed-loop of
compartments, each with specific functions and
interconnected flows. One of these compartments is the
Higher Plant Chamber (HPC), a 5 m² chamber primarily tested
with Lactuca sativa (lettuce) as a plant model. To broaden
the crop portfolio, new experiments were conducted with
Brassica oleracea (kale), focusing on oxygen production and
physiological responses under two CO₂ concentrations (1,000
ppm and 10,000 ppm). This information is highly relevant
for the next stages of the MELiSSA Pilot Plant’s program,
specifically the connection of the HPC to other
compartments of the MELiSSA. Kale seeds were germinated for
14 days and then transferred to the chamber, where 100
plants were grown hydroponically for 28 days. Plants were
grouped into four age (7, 14, 21 and 28) Days after
transplant) categories to assess growth over time. Minerals
were supplemented via a hydroponic culture system. Under
the tested conditions, similar O2 production rates (3 g O2
h-1) were obtained. However, differences of dry biomass and
leaf area at harvest were detected between the tests. It
can be concluded that the higher CO2 concentration in the
gas phase did not compromise the performance of Kale. Kale
results were also compared with previous studies using
Lettuce. Kale exhibited 1.5 fold higher oxygen production
compared to Lettuce, highlighting its potential as a
promising crop in biological closed life support systems
Trash to Supply Gas: Optimizing Propellant Production
Get PDFDana M. Lobmeyer, Amentum, United StatesThomas T. Chen, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), United StatesMichael K. Ewert, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), 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.Extended missions on the moon and beyond are expected to
generate a significant amount of waste that must be
managed. While different storage and removal options are
being considered, there has been a push to increase
sustainability on long-term missions by reusing or
repurposing resources. Converting waste into useful gases
through trash-to-gas technologies is a promising method to
reuse the elemental resources contained within the waste
stream while simultaneously reducing volume. This paper
looks at several promising trash to supply gas (TtSG)
technologies and discusses ways the waste processing
methods could be optimized for propellant production. The
optimized methods are traded against one another based on
an ESM analysis that accounts for the reduction in waste
volume and production of propellant over extended lunar
surface missions. The results of this work inform waste
management tactics and technological developments necessary
for long-term sustainable space missions
Using CFD to Predict Inspired CO2 and O2 after Ventilation Shutoff During a Gateway Emergency Response or Maintenance
Get PDFMarshall C. McCray, Amentum / JSC Engineering, Technology, and Science (JETS), United StatesRachel A. Sturtz, Amentum / JSC Engineering, Technology, and Science (JETS), United StatesICES300: ECLSS Modeling and Test CorrelationsThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.On Gateway there are several emergency or maintenance
scenarios where ventilation will be completely or partially
shut off. In response to a cabin fire or toxic atmosphere,
cabin intramodular ventilation and intermodule ventilation
(IMV) is ceased to limit the spread of toxins. Ventilation
is temporarily shut off during emergency depressurization
to aid in using the hatch air direction indicator to locate
the source of the leak. There are also several routine and
off-nominal maintenance tasks that require complete or
partial ventilation shutoff. To ensure a safe environment
for the crew while ventilation is off, a computational
fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to evaluate local
concentration buildup of CO2 and depletion of O2 that arise
from crewmember respiration. The model simulated a
spherical crewmember’s head with realistic breathing
patterns and tracked how inhaled concentrations changed
over time after the fans were shut off. A variety of
turbulence models, mesh sizes, crew location, and number of
crew within the module were assessed. The model was used to
predict the timeto-effect for crewmembers to inhale
dangerous levels of CO2 or O2. Results showed the partial
pressure of CO2 inspired for a single crewmember in
habitation and lunar outpost (HALO) reached 10 mmHg after 2
hours, and for two crew the same concentration was reached
in 1.4 hours
Application of Phase Change Material for On-board Processing Payload – Simulations and Testing
Get PDFArtur Jurkowski, KP Labs sp. z o.o., PolandRadosław Paluch, KP Labs sp. z o.o., PolandKamil Lysek, KP Labs sp. z o.o., PolandMarcin Wójcik, KP Labs sp. z o.o., PolandICES104: Advances in Thermal Control TechnologyThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.With rising demands for on-board data processing come
thermal challenges associated with increased power
requirements of the processing payload. High power
dissipation in spacecraft electronics often leads to
undesirable operational temperatures (exceeding 75°C).
Moreover, periodic duty cycles create thermal cycling that
diminishes component reliability. To address these issues
KP Labs proposes a novel Data Processing Unit (DPU), that
incorporates Phase Change Material (PCM) technology to act
as a thermal capacitor. This approach embeds PCM within a
3D-printed, aluminum mechanical enclosure at the module
level. The goal of this design is to absorb heat directly
from highly dissipative chips during hot operational phases
and release it during low-power duty cycles. By reducing
temperature fluctuations, this design enhances the
reliability of spacecraft electronics.
The key novelty of this solution lays in integrating PCM
technology within the electronic modules compliant with
SpaceVPX and ADHA (developed by ESA) standards. KP Labs’
manufactured and tested such assembly based on in-house
developed DPU named Lion. The design was evaluated using
detailed Finite Volume Method model (Simcenter FloEFD) and
a simplified nodal model (ESATAN-TMS). The simplified model
was used to accelerate computations and parametric studies,
while the detailed model allowed to analyze the physical
processes and design in detail.
The thermal test campaign was performed in the Thermal
Vacuum Chamber, demonstrating that the PCM-based system
effectively mitigates temperature peaks, protects the
electronics from overheating and reduces temperature
amplitudes in the space environment thereby improving
reliability. The tests confirmed the feasibility of
utilizing additive manufacturing to incorporate PCM thermal
management of space electronics at the module level.
Results from simulations and TVAC testing will be presented
during the conference enriched with recommendations for the
scope of the application which could be beneficial for
engineering and scientific communities
Evaluating the Relative Qualities of Arundo donax L. for the Manufacture of Double Reeds
Get PDFThis document explores the art and science of reed making. Both bassoonists and oboists dedicate extensive time and effort to crafting reeds that meet their precise musical standards. Performance success hinges on technical proficiency and the interplay between reed and instrument quality. While many reed makers have distinct preferences for specific cane sources and suppliers, these choices are often anecdotal, indicating a lack of data regarding the superiority of different sources.
To address this, the research focuses on Arundo donax L., the primary material for crafting woodwind reeds. This species predominantly thrives in Mediterranean regions, particularly in the Var region of France. Interestingly, Arundo donax L. has also been found growing in the urban environment of Lubbock, West Texas, an area with a climate significantly different from southern France. Preliminary experiments have successfully transformed this local cane into functional bassoon reeds, prompting investigation for potential applications.
This study aims to rigorously compare cane samples from Lubbock and those from renowned cane-producing regions in France, Turkey, Argentina, Spain, Italy, China, and other parts of the U.S., such as Arkansas and Corpus Christi in South Texas. This will highlight the differences in various properties. Ultimately, research data is provided with a scientific basis rather than solely relying on traditional reputation or anecdotal preferences. Through experimentation, this project seeks to contribute to the bassoon pedagogy literature in reed making with deeper understanding of the factors influencing quality and offers valuable insights for musicians and reed makers.Related performance for this degree -- Ian Resurreccion's DMA Bassoon Recital 1: https://hdl.handle.net/2346/103868
Ian Resurreccion's DMA Bassoon Recital 2: https://hdl.handle.net/2346/103870
Ian Resurreccion's DMA Bassoon Recital 3: https://hdl.handle.net/2346/103871
Ian Resurreccion's DMA Bassoon Recital 4: https://hdl.handle.net/2346/10387
Experimental Investigation on the Thermal Performance of Axial Groove Heat Pipe with Various Orientations
Get PDFAmawasee Rukruang, Thaksin University / National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, TaiwanMeng-Hao Chen, Taiwan Space Agency, TaiwanJong-Shinn Wu, Taiwan Space Agency, TaiwanChi-Chuan Wang, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, TaiwanICES201: Two-Phase Thermal Control TechnologyThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.Heat pipes are highly efficient thermal management devices
widely utilized in aerospace applications, particularly
aluminum/ammonia heat pipes. They remain a subject of
continuous interest for researchers, engineers, and
scientists. This study investigates the thermal performance
of an aluminum/ammonia heat pipe with an axial groove wick.
The heat pipe has a total length of 1000 mm, consisting of
a 250-mm evaporator, 250-mm condenser, and 500-mm adiabatic
section. Experiments were conducted under heat loads
ranging from 50 W to 450 W, with a cooling water
temperature of 30 °C and a flow rate of 1 LPM. The heat
pipe was tested in both horizontal (0°) and vertical (90°)
orientations. Results indicate that the vertical
orientation significantly improves thermal performance,
yielding lower axial temperatures and overall thermal
resistance. At the maximum heat load, the evaporator
temperature in the vertical position was 18–21 °C lower
than that in the horizontal position. Additionally, the
overall thermal resistance in the vertical orientation was
37.5–52.5% lower compared to the horizontal arrangement.
The minimum total thermal resistance was recorded at 250 W,
measuring 0.0494 °C/W in the vertical position and 0.0823
°C/W in the horizontal position. Furthermore, axial and
circumferential temperature distributions were analyzed
across the evaporator, adiabatic, and condenser sections. A
comprehensive discussion of these findings is presented in
this investigation
Box 5, Folder 4, Misc. MGN Transcriptions
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