Briefs: Software
Contact Graph Routing
Contact Graph Routing (CGR) is a dynamic routing system that computes routes through a time-varying topology of scheduled communication contacts in a network based on the DTN (Delay-Tolerant Networking) architecture. It is designed to enable dynamic selection of data transmission routes in a space network based on DTN. This...
Briefs: Software
Parallel Eclipse Project Checkout
Parallel Eclipse Project Checkout (PEPC) is a program written to leverage parallelism and to automate the checkout process of plug-ins created in Eclipse RCP (Rich Client Platform). Eclipse plug-ins can be aggregated in a “feature project.” This innovation digests a feature description (xml file) and...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Programmable Aperture With MEMS Microshutter Arrays
A microshutter array (MSA) has been developed for use as an aperture array for multi-object selections in James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) technology. Light shields, molybdenum nitride (MoN) coating on shutters, and aluminum/ aluminum oxide coatings on interior walls are put on each shutter...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Pallet Manufacturing Process and Machinery Using Recycled Plastic Materials
As the recycling of plastic continues in the United States, there is a great need for the increased utilization of recycled products. Some of the plastic being recycled is extruded into a product known as plastic lumber, which is similar in shape and texture to its wood...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Co-Flow Hollow Cathode Technology
Hall thrusters utilize identical hollow cathode technology as ion thrusters, yet must operate at much higher mass flow rates in order to efficiently couple to the bulk plasma discharge. Higher flow rates are necessary in order to provide enough neutral collisions to transport electrons across magnetic fields so...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Technique for Configuring an Actively Cooled Thermal Shield in a Flight System
Broad area cooling shields are a massefficient alternative to conductively cooled thermal radiation shielding. The shield would actively intercept a large portion of incident thermal radiation and transport the heat away using cryogenic helium gas. The design concept...
Briefs: Materials
Use of Additives to Improve Performance of Methyl Butyrate-Based Lithium-Ion Electrolytes
This work addresses the need for robust rechargeable batteries that can operate well over a wide temperature range. To this end, a number of electrolyte formulations have been developed that incorporate the use of electrolyte additives to improve the...
Briefs: Materials
Li-Ion Cells Employing Electrolytes With Methyl Propionate and Ethyl Butyrate Co-Solvents
Future NASA missions aimed at exploring Mars and the outer planets require rechargeable batteries that can operate at low temperatures to satisfy the requirements of such applications as landers, rovers, and penetrators. A number of terrestrial...
Briefs: Information Technology
Adaptive System Modeling for Spacecraft Simulation
This invention introduces a methodology and associated software tools for automatically learning spacecraft system models without any assumptions regarding system behavior. Data stream mining techniques were used to learn models for critical portions of the International Space Station (ISS)...
Briefs: Medical
Tissue Photolithography
Tissue lithography will enable physicians and researchers to obtain macromolecules with high purity (>90 percent) from desired cells in conventionally processed, clinical tissues by simply annotating the desired cells on a computer screen. After identifying the desired cells, a suitable lithography mask will be generated...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Rad-Hard, Miniaturized, Scalable, High-Voltage Switching Module for Power Applications
A paper discusses the successful development of a miniaturized radiation hardened high-voltage switching module operating at 2.5 kV suitable for space application. The high-voltage architecture was designed, fabricated, and tested using a commercial process...
Briefs: Medical
External Cooling Coupled to Reduced Extremity Pressure Device
Although suited astronauts are currently cooled with a Liquid Cooled Ventilation Garment (LCVG), which can remove up to 85 percent of body heat, their effectiveness is limited because cooling must penetrate layers of skin, muscle, fat, bone, and tissue to reach the bloodstream, where...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Architecture for a 1-GHz Digital RADAR
An architecture for a Direct RF-digitization Type Digital Mode RADAR was developed at GSFC in 2008. Two variations of a basic architecture were developed for use on RADAR imaging missions using aircraft and spacecraft. Both systems can operate with a pulse repetition rate up to 10 MHz with 8 received RF...
Briefs: Medical
Method for Impeding Degradation of Porous Silicon Structures
This invention relates to surface modification of porosified silicon (pSi) structures with poly(alkylene) glycols for the purpose of controlled degradation of the silicon matrix and tailored release of encapsulated substances for biomedical applications. The pSi structures are...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
To date, the method for astronauts to drink liquids in microgravity or weightless environments is to suck the liquid from a bag or pouch through a straw. A new beverage cup works in...
Briefs: Information Technology
Lidar-Based Navigation Algorithm for Safe Lunar Landing
The purpose of Hazard Relative Navigation (HRN) is to provide measurements to the Navigation Filter so that it can limit errors on the position estimate after hazards have been detected. The hazards are detected by processing a hazard digital elevation map (HDEM). The HRN process takes...
Briefs: Information Technology
Tracking Object Existence From an Autonomous Patrol Vehicle
An autonomous vehicle patrols a large region, during which an algorithm receives measurements of detected potential objects within its sensor range. The goal of the algorithm is to track all objects in the region over time. This problem differs from traditional multi-target tracking...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
The “polished panel” optical receiver concept described here makes use of aluminum panels on the main reflector of the Deep Space Network’s...
Products: Photonics/Optics
The Universal Workholder (UVG) from Krell Technologies (Morganville, NJ) is designed to polish any fiber optic component that incorporates a UPC-style ferrule with a diameter between 1.25 mm and 3.2 mm. The...
Products: Photonics/Optics
From high-speed automated inspection of printed circuit boards to rapid 3D mapping of disaster areas, Imperx (Boca Raton, FL) supports a wide range of high-resolution video-capture applications with two 29-Mpx B6620...
Products: Photonics/Optics
Vision Research (Wayne, NJ) has introduced the Phantom® v1210 and v1610 cameras. The devices feature high-definition and widescreen 1280 × 800 CMOS sensors. Both cameras are based on proprietary sensors...
Products: Photonics/Optics
Austriamicrosystems (Raleigh, NC) has announced a 30V, 40mA, 16-channel LED driver with 12-bit pulse width modulation (PWM), dot correction, and diagnostics. With a 30V LED supply voltage, the AS1121 reduces external support...
Products: Photonics/Optics
ROHM Semiconductor (San Diego, CA) has announced the SCS1xxAGC series of silicon carbide (SiC) Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs). The SiC diode maintains low forward voltage over a wide operating temperature...
Products: Photonics/Optics
The TXG02 from Baumer (Southington, CT) features VGA resolution and a frame rate of up to 140 fps. Available in both monochrome and color versions, the TXG02 has integrated ExView HAD technology for the visible and...
Products: Photonics/Optics
National Semiconductor Corp. (Santa Clara, CA) has released ten SolarMagic™ integrated circuits (ICs) that meet photovoltaic renewable energy-grade qualification requirements. Each IC is engineered specifically for...
Products: Photonics/Optics
Synopsys (Mountain View, CA) has released enhancements to its LightTools® illumination 3D optical design and analysis software. The LightTools LumViewer, an interactive charting capability, customizes...
Products: Photonics/Optics
Therma Klear Flex™ thin flexible transparent heaters from Dontech (Doylestown, PA) provide the warmth necessary to extend operating temperature of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) in cold environments (0° to below -40...
Products: Photonics/Optics
General Photonics (Chino, CA) has announced its PolaX™ (PXA-1000) distributed polarization crosstalk (x-talk) analyzer. The technology, an enhanced version of a white light interferometer, analyzes...
Products: Photonics/Optics
The uEye RE camera series from IDS GmbH (Woburn, MA) now offers versions with GigE or USB connections, as well as a choice of CCD or CMOS sensors up to 10 Megapixels. All 56 uEye RE models meet IP65 and IP67...
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