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Most Impactful NESC Assessments 


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After reflecting on the more than 1,200 assessments completed by the NESC over the last 20 years, Director Tim Wilson selected these assessments as his top three. They were selected because they would likely have the greatest and most lasting impact on human life and the furtherance of the NESC mission. He shared why their effects were so far-reaching.

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2013-2019 
Assessing Risks of Frangible Joint Designs 

At the request of the Commercial Crew Program, the NESC took on an empirical test program of frangible joints to provide confidence in their use for human spaceflight. “Many programs use these joints, so understanding the margins and what drives their designs has helped us keep flight crews safe and make missions successful,” said Mr. Wilson. 

The joints provide a debris-free separation of launch vehicle stages and payload fairings. To determine the effects various design parameters and environmental factors have on jointseparation capability, the NESC conducted more than 140 tests on a variety of designs and generated more than 100 million lines of data that were used to anchor models, develop design sensitivities, and make reliability estimates. Their comprehensive work was foundational to later assessments for the Space Launch System, Orion, and Launch Services Programs. The NESC also started the FJ Working Group, which serves as the Agency’s technical community of practice. It ensures programs understand the risks associated with their use and is proactive in ensuring NASA is implementing safe and reliable FJ technologies.

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2018-2021
Pilot Breathing Assessment

When the U.S. Navy was experiencing an increase in pilot physiological episodes across their F/A-18 fleet that was leading to mission aborts, “No one really understood what was going on or why,” said Mr. Wilson. “It was a difficult problem, and our NESC team was able to come up with compelling answers.”

Over the NESC’s three-year study, its Pilot Breathing Assessment (PBA) team designed novel instrumentation to measure pilot physiological states and interactions with aircraft life support systems. NASA test pilots flew instrumented NASA F/A-18 and F-15 aircraft through pre-specified flight profiles while wearing specialized breathing equipment augmented with an advanced sensor system. Aligned data streams identified pilot/aircraft interactions with the potential for negative cognitive and physiological impact. After more than 100 scripted flights and 250 million data points, the PBA team determined that breathing pressures and airflows were often mismatched, increasing a pilot’s efforts to maintain sufficient ventilation. The PBA team’s work has benefited the field of aviation and the advancement of human system integration in modern aircraft and has direct application for NASA vehicles such as the T-38, F-15, X-59, and the ISS.

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2020-2023
Unconservatism of LEFM Analysis Post Autofrettage

The NESC has invested significant time and resources to understanding the complex behavior of composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPV), which are used extensively in space-flight. Most recently, an NESC team found there was a lack of conservatism in the damage tolerance analyses conducted on COPV liners using linear-elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), particularly in understanding the influence of autofrettage (AF).

During AF, a COPV is subjected to high pressures to compress the inner surfaces, making them less susceptible to operational stresses later. In verifying damage tolerance life, the team found that separating the AF cycle from subsequent elastic cycles in LEFM analysis led to unconservative life predictions. Cracks remained open during compressive cycles after AF and allowed for a larger stress range to contribute to crack growth in each subsequent elastic cycle. The team provided corrections to NASGRO (programs that analyze fracture and fatigue crack growth) to make predictions less unconservative. “I’m convinced that someday crew will fly, come home, disembark, and never know that it was the improvements to those analytical tools made by this NESC team that kept them safe. I think it’s going to have wide-ranging impact.”

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AIAA 2023-2078, https:// doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-2078, AIAA Scitech 2023, National Harbor, MD, January 23-27, 2023.  Soltz, B.; Sivess, A.; Hickman, M.; Ghazari, A. and Shimizu, L.: Static Load Testing and Analysis Recommendations For Space Vehicles. OTR 2023-00653, 33rd Aerospace Testing Seminar, The Aerospace Corporation, May 16, 2023.  Song, K.; Mikulas, M.; Mahlin, M.; and Cassady, J.: Sizing and Design Tool for Tall Lunar Tower. AIAA-2023-0382, SciTech 2023, National Harbor, MD, January 2023.  Hammel, J.: Utilizing 3D-DIC on the Mars 2020 Rover Wheel Assembly: Test-Analysis Correlation. IEEE, March 2023.  Song, K.; Stark, A.; Amundsen, R.; Mikulas, M.; Mahlin, M.; and Cassady, J.: Sizing, Buckling, and Thermal-Structural Analysis of Tall Lunar Tower. 2023 AIAA ASCEND, Las Vegas, NV, October 2023.  TerMaath, S.: Multi-scale Computational Structural Mechanics. Turing- Oden Workshop on Data Science and Machine Learning. Alan Turing Institute, London, January 25-27, 2023.  TerMaath, S.; Crusenberry, C.; and Arndt, C.: Reduced Order Modeling of Progressive Failure in Composite/Metal Structure. 6th International Conference on Protective Structures, Auburn University, May 14-17, 2023.  TerMaath, S.: Probabilistic multi-scale characterization and prediction of bimaterial bondline structural reliability. Canadian National Research Council, Ottawa, June 1, 2023.  TerMaath, S.; Ingling, B.; Noland, J.; and Hart, D.: Evaluation of low-velocity impact damage in metal/composite layered structure. 8th International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE). Milano, Italy, July 2-6, 2023.  Twombly, E.; Hill, L.; Wilkowski, G.; Brust, B.; Lin, B.; and Tregoning, R.: Evaluation of the Inherent LBB Behavior of Small-Diameter Class 1 and 2 Nuclear Piping Systems. ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, Paper PVP2023-107685, Atlanta, GA, July 2023.  Ytuarte, E.; Ragheb, H.; Sobey, A.; and TerMaath, S.: Peridynamics with stochastic bond strengths for determination of final failure in composite laminates. ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, June 6-9, 2023.2022, Park City, UT. Systems Engineering
      Driscoll, A. and Vining, G.: Debunking Stress Rupture Theories Using Weibull Regression Plots. Fall Technical Conference, October 12-14, 2022, Park City, UT  Driscoll, A.: Advances in Stress Rupture Modeling: A Case Study for Predicting COPV Reliability. Joint Statistical Meetings, August 5-10, 2023, Toronto, Canada.  Huang, Z. C.: Toward Closed Form Formulas for System Reliability and Confidence Quantification. 2023 Annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium (RAMS), January 23-26, 2023, DOI: 10.1109/RAMS51473.2023.10088214.  Parker, P. and Wilson, S.: Motivating Statistical Research for NASA Applications. Joint Statistical Meetings, August 5-10, 2023, Toronto, Canada.  Thermal Control and Protection 
      Rickman, S.: Re-Architecting the NASA Wire Derating Approach, Phase II, Wire and Wire Bundle Ampacity Testing and Analysis. Aerospace Electrical Interconnect Symposium, October 2022, Houston, TX.  Rickman, S.: Space Mission Thermal Control and Protection Challenges – Past, Present, and Future. The Intersociety Conference on Thermal and Thermomechanical Phenomena in Electronic Systems (ITherm), June 2023, Orlando, FL.  Rickman, S.: Introduction to Orbits. Rice/Envision Aerospace and Aviation Academy, June 2023, Houston, TX.  Rickman, S.: Development and Application of a Novel Calorimetry Technique for the Study of Lithium-Ion Cell Thermal Runaway., International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES), July 2023, Calgary, Canada.  Rickman, S.: Introduction to On-Orbit Thermal Environments. Thermal and Fluids Analysis Workshop (TFAWS), August 2023, College Park, MD.  Shafirovich, E. and Rickman, S.: A Warm Garage for a Lunar Rover, Commercial Lunar Payload Services. Survive the Night Technology Workshop, December 2022, Cleveland, OH.  View the full article
    • By NASA
      NESC Honor Awards are given each year to NASA employees, industry representatives, and other stakeholders for their efforts and achievements in engineering, leadership, teamwork, and communication. These awards formally recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the NESC mission, demonstrate engineering and technical excellence, and foster an open environment. 
      2022 Honorees from left to right: (Front Row) Tim Wilson (NESC Director); Yuan Chen (LaRC), Elspeth Peterson (KSC), Grace Belancik (ARC), Jing Pei (LaRC), Mark Vande Hei (NESC Chief Astronaut); (Second row) James Walker (MSFC), Carlton Faller (JSC), Jason Vaughn (MSFC), Shane Cravens (Syncom Space Services, SSC), Shawn Brechbill (MSFC), Kevin Dickens (GRC); (Third row) Christopher Johnston (LaRC).   NESC Director’s Award 
      Honors individuals for defending a technical position that conflicts with a program or organization’s initial or prevailing engineering perspectives and for taking personal initiative to foster clear and open communication and resolve controversial issues. 
      DANIEL L. DIETRICH – In recognition of the development and advocacy of the technical rationale to assess the safety and effectiveness of breathing systems for pilots of tactical aircraft. 

      NESC Leadership Award 
      Honors individuals for sustained leadership excellence demonstrated by establishing a vision, developing and managing a plan, and building consensus to proactively resolve conflicts and achieve results. 
      YUAN CHEN – In recognition of outstanding leadership in  the electrical, electronic, electromechanical parts’ community and the development of recommendations on the use of commercial parts in NASA missions. 
      NIKOLAUS GRAVENSTEIN – In recognition of outstanding technical leadership in support of Verification of Testing Standard for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Partial Pressure in Extravehicular Activity Suits. 
      ELSPETH M. PETERSEN – In recognition of outstanding leadership to the Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator Assessment Team in negotiating creative solutions and facility challenges. 
      PATRICK A. SIMPKINS – In recognition of outstanding technical leadership in support of numerous NESC assessments to reduce risk to NASA’s most critical human and robotic spaceflight programs. 

      NESC Engineering Excellence Award 
      Honors individuals for making significant engineering contributions, developing innovative approaches, and ensuring appropriate levels of engineering rigor are applied to the resolution of technical issues in support of the NESC mission. 
      KEVIN W. DICKENS – In recognition of engineering excellence and sustained commitment to the NESC Propulsion Technical Discipline Team and NASA missions. 
      View the full article
    • By NASA
      5 Min Read Webb Unlocks Secrets of One of the Most Distant Galaxies Ever Seen
      NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument shows a portion of the GOODS-North field of galaxies. At lower right, a pullout highlights the galaxy GN-z11. Credits:
      NASA, ESA, CSA, Brant Robertson (UC Santa Cruz), Ben Johnson (CfA), Sandro Tacchella (Cambridge), Marcia Rieke (University of Arizona), Daniel Eisenstein (CfA) Looking deeply into space and time, two teams using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have studied the exceptionally luminous galaxy GN-z11, which existed when our 13.8 billion-year-old universe was only about 430 million years old.
      Initially detected with NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, this galaxy — one of the youngest and most distant ever observed  — is so bright that it is challenging scientists to understand why. Now, GN-z11 is giving up some of its secrets.
      Vigorous Black Hole Is Most Distant Ever Found
      A team studying GN-z11 with Webb found the first clear evidence that the galaxy is hosting a central, supermassive black hole that is rapidly accreting matter. Their finding makes this the farthest active supermassive black hole spotted to date.
      “We found extremely dense gas that is common in the vicinity of supermassive black holes accreting gas,” explained principal investigator Roberto Maiolino of the Cavendish Laboratory and the Kavli Institute of Cosmology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. “These were the first clear signatures that GN-z11 is hosting a black hole that is gobbling matter.”
      Image: GOODS-North field of galaxies
      This image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument shows a portion of the GOODS-North field of galaxies. At lower right, a pullout highlights the galaxy GN-z11, which is seen at a time just 430 million years after the big bang. The image reveals an extended component, tracing the GN-z11 host galaxy, and a central compact source whose colors are consistent with those of an accretion disk surrounding a black hole. NASA, ESA, CSA, Brant Robertson (UC Santa Cruz), Ben Johnson (CfA), Sandro Tacchella (Cambridge), Marcia Rieke (University of Arizona), Daniel Eisenstein (CfA) Using Webb, the team also found indications of ionized chemical elements typically observed near accreting supermassive black holes. Additionally, they discovered a very powerful wind being expelled by the galaxy. Such high-velocity winds are typically driven by processes associated with vigorously accreting supermassive black holes.
      “Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) has revealed an extended component, tracing the host galaxy, and a central, compact source whose colors are consistent with those of an accretion disk surrounding a black hole,” said investigator Hannah Übler, also of the Cavendish Laboratory and the Kavli Institute.
      Together, this evidence shows that GN-z11 hosts a 2-million-solar-mass, supermassive black hole in a very active phase of consuming matter, which is why it’s so luminous.
      Pristine Gas Clump in GN-z11’s Halo Intrigues Researchers
      A second team, also led by Maiolino, used Webb’s NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) to find a gaseous clump of helium in the halo surrounding GN-z11.
      “The fact that we don’t see anything else beyond helium suggests that this clump must be fairly pristine,” said Maiolino. “This is something that was expected by theory and simulations in the vicinity of particularly massive galaxies from these epochs — that there should be pockets of pristine gas surviving in the halo, and these may collapse and form Population III star clusters.”
      Finding the never-before-seen Population III stars — the first generation of stars formed almost entirely from hydrogen and helium — is one of the most important goals of modern astrophysics. These stars are anticipated to be very massive, very luminous, and very hot. Their expected signature is the presence of ionized helium and the absence of chemical elements heavier than helium.
      The formation of the first stars and galaxies marks a fundamental shift in cosmic history, during which the universe evolved from a dark and relatively simple state into the highly structured and complex environment we see today.
      Image: Pristine Gas Clump Near GN-z11
      This two-part graphic shows evidence of a gaseous clump of helium in the halo surrounding galaxy GN-z11. In the top portion, at the far right, a small box identifies GN-z11 in a field of galaxies. The middle box shows a zoomed-in image of the galaxy. The box at the far left displays a map of the helium gas in the halo of GN-z11, including a clump that does not appear in the infrared colors shown in the middle panel. In the lower half of the graphic, a spectrum shows the distinct “fingerprint” of helium in the halo. The full spectrum shows no evidence of other elements and so suggests that the helium clump must be fairly pristine, made of hydrogen and helium gas left over from the big bang, without much contamination from heavier elements produced by stars. Theory and simulations in the vicinity of particularly massive galaxies from these epochs predict that there should be pockets of pristine gas surviving in the halo, and these may collapse and form Population III star clusters. NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI) In future Webb observations, Maiolino, Übler, and their team will explore GN-z11 in greater depth, and they hope to strengthen the case for the Population III stars that may be forming in its halo.
      The research on the pristine gas clump in GN-z11’s halo has been accepted for publication by Astronomy & Astrophysics. The results of the study of GN-z11’s black hole were published in the journal Nature on January 17, 2024. The data was obtained as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), a joint project between the NIRCam and NIRSpec teams.
      The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.
      Downloads
      Right click the images in this article to open a larger version in a new tab/window.
      Download full resolution images for this article from the Space Telescope Science Institute.
      Read/download the research results on the pristine gas clump in GN-z11’a halo.
      Read/download the research results of the study of GN-z11’s black hole.
      Media Contacts
      Laura Betz – laura.e.betz@nasa.gov, Rob Gutro – rob.gutro@nasa.gov
      NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
      Christine Pulliam – cpulliam@stsci.edu
      Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.
      Related Information
      Galaxy Basics
      Galaxy Evolution
      More Webb News – https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/latestnews/
      More Webb Images – https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/multimedia/images/
      Webb Mission Page – https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/
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      Last Updated Mar 04, 2024 Related Terms
      Astrophysics Galaxies Goddard Space Flight Center James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Science & Research The Universe View the full article
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