Browsing by Author "Hall, Timothy"

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Exploring the Moon: Preserving the Legacy Through Spacesuit Knowledge Capture and Strategic Communication
(2024 International Conference on Environmnetal Systems, 2024-07-21) Chullen, Cinda; Hall, Timothy; Oliva, Vladenka R.; Andrews, Gordon M.; Rodgers, Diana L.; Krenzel, Jessica; Nuhfer, Zoe
NASA is returning to the Moon to stay. To establish a sustained lunar presence, astronauts will pack spacesuits, surface-mobility tools, rovers, and decades' worth of knowledge. The U.S. Spacesuit Knowledge Capture (SKC) and Strategic Communications (Strat Comm) team is specialized in capturing, preserving, and sharing space-related knowledge with NASA scientists, technicians, engineers, vendors, and the public to support space exploration. Since the SKC Program's 2007 inception, its focus has been to capture and share valuable spacesuit-related knowledge with the NASA community. As the program evolved, its notoriety, funding, scope, and staffing expanded from a one-person, part-time, unfunded operation to a small-team, funded entity. Currently, this team has been formulated with a diverse skillset to meet the requirements of its stakeholders. The SKC and Strat Comm team has used its skills to produce over 260 recorded knowledge captures of subject-matter experts (SMEs) and photoshoots. These knowledge captures are in the form of photographs, lectures, workshops, vignettes, videos, and interviews containing essential space-related knowledge. To help educate the space community and public, this trove of information (e.g., videos of world-class facilities, photographs, and SME lectures), produced inside NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), can be obtained through various sources. During Fiscal Year 2024, the SKC and Strat Comm team will focus on several initiatives. Examples of initiatives include the following: 1) share lessons learned during NASA's internal venues such as Safety & Health Day and Day of Remembrance; 2) share knowledge with the public, educators, and students through a media production titled Exploring the Moon; and 3) highlight NASA's unique capabilities and space experts in a video series titled "What's Behind This Door?" This paper discusses the program's approach, unique capture capability, initiatives, and much more.
Graphene-Copper Hybrid Thermal Straps for Cryogenic Instruments and Optical Systems
(2024 International Conference on Environmnetal Systems, 2024-07-21) Wang, Dan; Hall, Timothy; Snyder, Stephen; Inman, Maria; Godwin, Jessica; Roberts, Nick
The development of next generation materials with enhanced thermal and/or electrical conductivity will be beneficial for both terrestrial and space applications, ranging from thermal links for conduction cooling of cryogenic instruments and optical systems, mirror substrates for space telescopes, coolant tubes for heat exchangers and deployable radiators, space landing systems, to high powered electronics and beyond. The cryogenic cooling systems are essential for the advancement of terrestrial and space's science goals, which enable new capabilities on sensors, detectors, and accelerators, such as for near- and mid-IR instruments on SmallSats and CubeSats for Earth and Lunar observations, for cooling of far- and mid-IR optics, and for extracting heat dissipation of superconducting radio frequency cavity. High conductive thermal straps play a critical role in balancing heat dissipation and reaching the operating temperature of the instruments. The sluggish conduction cooling rate of conventional thermal straps made from copper, aluminum, or graphite hinders the application of thermal straps on the cryogenic cooling systems. Within this context, we will discuss an efficient, scalable, manufacturing-ready approach to produce high conductive graphene-copper hybrid foils and demonstrate their application in thermal straps for the conduction cooling of cryogenic instruments and optical systems. This technology utilizes the intrinsic physiochemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of graphene and copper matrix, combined with advanced electrodeposition techniques for hybrid material fabrication. An innovative manufacturing process based on the use of pulsed electric fields and the combination of electrodeposition and electrophoretic deposition (EPD), have been developed for controlled, reproducible, scalable production of graphene-copper hybrid foils/coatings. The hybrid exhibited enhanced conductivity and mechanical strain for fast conduction cooling processes. Next step, we will work on the thermal strap fabrication using synthesized graphene-copper hybrid foils and their performance evaluation. Acknowledgements: The financial support of DOE SBIR program through grant No. DE-SC0021676 (Phase I&II) is acknowledged.
In-Situ Electrochemical Generation and Utilization of Hydrogen Peroxide for Disinfection
(51st International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/10/2022) Vijapur, Santosh; Hall, Timothy; Taylor, E. Jennings; More, Santosh; Sweterlitsch, Jeffrey; Ewert, Michael; L. Castro-Wallace, Sarah; Byrne, Vicky; Dunbar, Brandon; Nguyen, Hang; Smith, Melanie
Disinfection needs to meet personal hygiene requirements at the International Space Station (ISS) is currently accomplished through the use of pre-packaged, disposable, wetted wipes, which represent an appreciable carry-along mass and disposal burden. However, as human missions travel further into the solar system the availability of resources to resupply will be diminished. Therefore, next-generation system should use onboard utilities to create on demand disinfectants thereby reducing the dependence on earth-based supplies and further eliminating storage and disposal problems. Accordingly, we are developing an in-situ approach to electrochemically generate hydrogen peroxide disinfecting solution utilizing onboard life support supplies (Air/Water) to neutralize surface microorganisms present in closed living systems. As discussed within our 2019 and 2021 ICES papers (ICES-2019-38; ICES-2021-273), we have continued to improve our TRL by scaling the electrochemical generation production process and validating the system in a zero-gravity parabolic loop flight test. In this paper/presentation we will demonstrate a system that can achieve over 1 L of 2 w/w% peroxide per day with DI water and air reactor feeds. These electrolytes were then sent to NASA for microbial control property characterization. Overall, the electrochemical peroxide generation system offers a more economical and practical alternative, with the disinfectant being generated on demand and in-situ (using available life support materials (Air/Water)); and applied to reusable cloths. The specific application of interest to this program is crew contact surfaces in space vehicles, but this approach could be utilized for waste water disinfection, heat exchanger biofouling remediation, and laundry applications. The peroxide generation system will also be able to address Earth-based needs in various settings such as field hospitals, restaurants, military, warehouses, movie theatres, among many others. Acknowledgements: Financial support of NASA Contracts No. NNX16CA43P and NNX17CJ12C are acknowledged.
In-Situ Resource Utilization for Electrochemical Generation of Hydrogen Peroxide for Disinfection
(50th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/12/2021) Vijapur, Santosh; Hall, Timothy; Taylor, E. Jennings; Radhakrishnan, Rajeswaran; Wang, Dan; Snyder, Stephen; Skinn, Brian; Cabrera, Carlos; Duarte, Armando Pe�a
Disinfection needs to meet the personal hygiene requirements of interplanetary travel community in space vehicles is currently accomplished through the use of pre-packaged, disposable, wetted wipes, which represent an appreciable carry-along mass and disposal burden. There is a stated need to develop a system that could use onboard utilities to create on demand disinfectants thereby reducing the astronaut�s dependence on earth-based supplies and further eliminating storage and disposable problems. Within this context, we are developing an in-situ approach to electrochemically generate hydrogen peroxide disinfectant utilizing onboard life support supplies (Air/Water) to eliminate many of the surface contaminants present in closed living systems. As discussed within our 2018 paper we have demonstrated the potential to produce up to 1 w/w% peroxide with DI water and oxygen utilizing our optimized system. This paper will build upon that work and discuss the results from our zero-gravity flight test and system scale-up activities. Furthermore, the system has been shown to be amenable to utilize various water streams (DI, RO, and Tap water) with or without I or Ag additions as well as air or pure oxygen supplies. Finally, we have scaled the system to produce up to 6 L per day of 1 w/w% peroxide and are working to increase the output concentration up to 6 w/w% peroxide. The peroxide generation system offers a more economical and practical alternative, with the disinfectant solution being generated on demand and in-situ; and applied to reusable cloths, reducing both the carried and disposed mass associated with the disinfection process. The peroxide generation system demonstrates a strong potential to address a critical need of disinfection within ISS and will also be able to address Earth-based needs in various settings such as hospitals, restaurants, movie theatres, among many others. Acknowledgements: Financial support of NASA Contracts NNX16CA43P, NNX17CJ12C, and 80NSSC20C0070.
In-Situ Resource Utilization for Electrochemical Generation of Hydrogen Peroxide for Disinfection
(49th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2019-07-07) Vijapur, Santosh; Hall, Timothy; Taylor, E. Jennings; Wang, Dan; Snyder, Stephen; Skinn, Brian; Cabrera, Carlos; Peña Duarte, Armando; Sweterlitsch, Jeffrey
Technological innovations are essential to enable energy-efficient maintenance of closed air, water, and waste systems for interplanetary travel with limited resupply options and microgravity living conditions. One particular need for the interstellar travel community is disinfection to meet personal hygiene requirements. At present, surface disinfection in space vehicles is accomplished through the use of pre-packaged, disposable, wetted wipes, which represent an appreciable carry-along mass and disposal burden. Therefore, next-generation system should use onboard utilities to create on demand disinfectants thereby reducing the astronaut’s dependence on earth based supplies and further eliminating storage and disposable problems. Within this context, we are demonstrating a technology to generate disinfectants that can neutralize or eliminate many of the contaminants while improving system maintenance and disinfection. Specifically, we are exploring an electrochemical system for generating hydrogen peroxide, a well-established disinfectant with non-toxic decomposition products (viz., oxygen and water), that is safe enough for human contact to be sold commercially as a 3 w/w% solution. This concept is founded on the electrochemical reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide using readily available on-board supplies of oxygen and water. Initial trials confirmed that the developed system utilizing oxygen and RO water can generate >1 w/w% peroxide concentration. The proposed hydrogen peroxide generation system offers a more economical and practical alternative, with the disinfectant solution being generated on demand and in-situ; and applied to reusable cloths, reducing both the carried and disposed mass associated with the disinfection process. A zero gravity flight test is scheduled for March 2019 to validate the technology in microgravity environments. The specific application of interest to this program is crew contact surfaces in space vehicles, but this approach could be utilized for waste water disinfection, heat exchanger biofouling remediation, and laundry applications. Acknowledgements: Financial support of NASA Contracts No. NNX16CA43P and NNX17CJ12C are acknowledged.
Next Generation Water Recovery for a Sustainable Closed Loop Living
(50th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/12/2021) Vijapur, Santosh; Hall, Timothy; Taylor, E. Jennings; Liu, Danny; Snyder, Stephen; Cabrera, Carlos; Vazquez, Delmaliz Barreto; Cardona, Wilfredo; Perez, Arnulfo Rojas
The Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) within the International Space Station (ISS) recovers and recycles up to 85% water from human waste with lifetime/durability limitations requiring the supply of hazardous chemicals and filter units to treat the system components to maintain their targeted performance. However, as human missions travel further into the solar system the availability of resources to resupply will be diminished. Therefore, next-generation system is required to reduce waste, recover water, and improve efficiency. Accordingly, Faraday Technology and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) are developing a bio-electrochemical system to efficiently treat urine waste streams with ~95% urea to improve the water recovery system�s efficiency/durability. Within this system, a bioreactor will convert urea from the waste water to ammonia by hydrolysis: NH2(CO)NH2 + H2O ? 2NH3 + CO2 (1) The effluent of the bioreactor will then flow through the ammonia oxidation reactor: 2NH3 ? N2 + 3H2 (2) thus, generating urea free waste water effluent for further enhancement. Faraday and UPR have (1) leveraged existing knowledge to design and test the bio-electrochemical reactor; (2) explored the efficacy of (P. Vulgaris) bacteria for bioreactor, (3) evaluated electrocatalyst for ammonia reactor, (4) optimized the efficiency and waste water treatment rate with urine simulants. By doing so, the ammonia reactor demonstrated nearly 100% ammonia removal during optimized operation. The data from bench scale system was utilized to design and build a demonstration-scale bio-electrochemical reactor capable of meeting NASA specifications. A zero-gravity flight test is scheduled for May 2021 to validate the technology in microgravity. Furthermore, this technology has the potential to be compatible with the existing ECLSS infrastructure and be an integral part of the closed loop living systems required for long term life support on NASA�s manned space missions. Acknowledgements: Financial support of NASA Contract NNX17CA30P and 80NSSC18C0222.