Frontier Space

Dive into underexplored ideas and questions in Top Engaging Tweets from Kole's Twitter in 2022.  

https://twitter.com/kolelutz 

Dive into Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of the HD 189733 star-planet system in order to predict radio transit modulations of exoplanets. Learn how MHD simulations can model electromagnetic field interactions between local stars and exoplanet magnetospheres at varying planetary radii, and field intensities to generate synthetic radio images (10MHz-1GHz), EM field strength, viewing phase angles, and local star parameters.

Topics include: Alfven Wave Solar Atmosphere Model (AWSOM),ray tracing algorithm,Plasma Physics Absorption coefficient,imaging Modulated waves, spacebased instruments, Scar telescope mission, and future research with radio, EUV, and Xray transits to run algorithms on datasets to classify 1,000 Earth-sized planets within 50ly

Soumitra Hazra, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology

Exoplanet Radio Transits as a Probe for Exoplanetary Magnetic Fields -- Time-dependent MHD Simulations

Soumitra Hazra, et al, 2022, Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2208.06006

Dive into plasmas for electrolysis, gas decomposition, climate change, and in situ resource utilization (ISRU) to produce oxygen, fuels, life support, and agriculture on Mars, Venus, Earth, and beyond. Lead author and speaker Vasco Guerra, from IST Uni de Lisboa shares team’s findings, journey, experiment results. 

After testing in Martian composition & Pressure for CO2 decomposition, plasma enhanced solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) comparable to MOXIE yields 14g of O2 /hr for P=250W with 5kg 25x20x5cm payload @3.5g O2 per hour per kg with 13lb plasma reactor, which is 1/3weight of MOXIE and 6X higher values. Topics include with Yttria reactor for ion conducting membrane, Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactors, Fast ionisation waves(FIW), CO2 microwave plasma torch. Learn about how plasma can be utilised for gas conversion, static charge removal, thrusters for space propulsion, and many markets on Earth

Study on Plasmas for ISRU: Fuels, life support, and agriculture

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0098011

Dive into Pod episode with  Rogue Space systems and engineering, three on orbit servicing ‘orbots’ including: 19kg Laura Orbot with 1mm res radar/hyperspectral from 500-550m to measure space materials, debris, and rotational behaviour (yaw,pitch,roll), as well as Barry Orbot 1U Cubesat with 360deg 8x8MP imaging. 

Topics include: vibrometer applications, Continuous scan laser Doppler vibrometry (CSLDV), surface material imaging, debris mitigation, down stream applications, coatings on orbit,  in-space nanomaterial characterisation and 3D AM printing. 

Speaker: Jeromy Grimmett, Rogue CEO and Founder

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromy-grimmett-85770041/

Learn about SISTINE missions with 5 min suborbital flight in Summer 2022 with Far UV imaging spectroscopy imaging 100k photons at 100 to 160 nm for emission lines associated with atmospheres of low mass stars and exoplanets. With advanced optical mechanical designs, this enables SISTINE to achieve high signal-to-noise observations of emission lines from planet-hosting dwarf stars with moderate spectral resolution (R ~ 10,000) and sub-arcsecond angular imaging. Topics include: exoplanet atmospheres, borosilicate microchannel plate  detectors, al coating mirror, 1200lb mass, Alfvén waves , alpha centauri, UV Flux, atomic oxygen, and significance for discovering habitable exoplanets

Speaker: Kevin France PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Astrophysical and. Planetary Sciences & LASP – University of Colorado.

The large-scale magnetic field of Proxima Centauri near activity maximum

https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.14311?context=astro-ph

Plunder in to explore takeaways with Alex Madurowicz from Stanford on his 2022 SGL Study below outlining the orbital mechanics, to send craft to Solar Gravitational Lens (SGL), how to maintain alignment with target planet and optical effects and sources of noise, and a special algorithm designed undistort the light by reversing the bending from the gravitational lens, which turns the Einstein ring back into a pixelated round planet. SGL telescopes can improve the precision of imaging of exoplanet surfaces by 1,000X.

Join us on a special edition to the farthest we have gone beyond Earth in an episode, to the Solar Gravitational Lens past 550 Astronomical units, 14X farther away than pluto-sun distance. Topics include Einstein ring, applications of microlensing, 1metre scale telescope demo to SGL by ~2030,  radio beacon for interstellar comms and first contact.

Madurowicz, Alexander & Macintosh, Bruce. (2022). Integral field spectroscopy with the solar gravitational lens, Astrophysical Journal, May 2022.

https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac5e9d

Additional Readings:

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2020_Phase_I_Phase_II/Direct_Multipixel_Imaging_and_Spectroscopy_of_an_Exoplanet/

Envisioning a life expanding solar system with high power orbital lasers (GEO or Lagrange) for uG transit with Dr. Young Bae, Founder of PTL and YK Bae Corp. Learn about advantages of Beam Laser Propulsion (BLP)  and Photon Laser Thrusters (PLT) to achieve high delta V departure to launch cargo to nearby planets Mars and Venus within a few weeks and Earth to Moon in 14-20 hours. Topics include YAG laser, active resonant optical cavity, primary and secondary mirror, first cubesat laser beam ground 2008 demo, (Yb:YAG) thin-disk gain medium and network of high reflectance lightweight mirrors, laser/solar sails, and more !

https://ykbcorp.com/ 

First Demonstration of Photonic Laser Thruster (PLT), Proceedings of the High-Power Laser Ablation, SPIE, Taos,  pp. 700510 (2008).https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265813101 

Prospective of Photon Propulsion for Interstellar Flight, Physics Procedia, Vol. 38, pp. 253 – 279 (2012).https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268423813 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347522562 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRW2JZXA8wg

Explore the significance of sonocytology, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and other nanoprobes to measure the sounds/songs from the cell, abiotic matierals, and to bioengineer cells beyond Earth from AFM sound pioneer Dr. James Gimzewski, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the UCLA and Director of the Nano & Pico Characterization Core.

Topics include nanomechanical analysis of cells from cancer patients, quantifying intracellular frequencies, applications of AFM for eukaryotic/prokaryotic cells, piezoelectric actuators, data vibration/math acoustic analysis, microgravity (uG) experiments, and future research opportunities.

References

www.scienceabc.com/pure-sciences/how-do-our-cells-produce-sound.html

Cross, Sarah E et al. “Nanomechanical analysis of cells from cancer patients.” Nature nanotechnology vol. 2,12 (2007): 780-3.

https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2007.388

Kirmizis, Dimitrios, and Stergios Logothetidis. “Atomic force microscopy probing in the measurement of cell mechanics.” International journal of nanomedicine vol. 5 137-45. 7 Apr. 2010, doi:10.2147/ijn.s5787

Take a gander into acoustic analysis of laser-induced graphene (LIG) with our guest, John Li, PhD Candidate from Stanford University and pod host Kole Lutz. Researchers used a $31 microphone attached to the CO2 laser writing head, followed by a simple acoustic signal processing scheme that allows for far greater quality control capabilities that are orders of magnitude faster than characterization of laser-induced graphene by microscopy techniques. 

By applying Fourier and integral analyses, reseachers observed the local quality and morphology of the produced material graphene. Learn about how the acoustic analysis and signal processing can evaluate material properties and synthesis with implications for a wide range of applications including sintering, phase engineering, strain engineering, chemical vapor deposition, combustion, annealing, laser-cutting, gas evolution, distillation, spacecraft, bioengineering, and more. 

Li, V. D., Li, J. T., Beckham, J. L., Chen, W., Deng, B., Luong, D. X., Kittrell, C., Tour, J. M., Sounds of Synthesis: Acoustic Real-Time Analysis of Laser-Induced Graphene. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 2110198. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202110198 

DATAQ Instruments Brand Data Loggers Model DI-1100, $50 data logger system with Windaq software. DATAQ Instruments' WinDaq Waveform Browser (WWB) playback software (FREE) contains a Fourier transform algorithm. 

https://www.dataq.com/data-logger/dataq/

Dive into Masten Space’s near-instant landing pads called in-Flight Alumina Spray Technique (FAST) method with our guest Matthew Kuhns, VP R&D, to in-situ manufacture near-instant 6meter+ diameter landing pads with dust free zone.

In partnering with Texas A&M, UCF, and Honeybee Robotics and collaborating with a NASA NIAC Phase 1 program, Masten conducted a series of tests and experiments in 2021 on Earth using the High velocity oxygen thermal spraying (HVOF) concept to release .5 mm alumina ceramic powder nanoparticles from the rocket exhaust, to build up spray coating in lunar regolith, and to deploy a thin pad from 30m deployment height and prevent ejecta plume/debris. 

 Traditionally, each lunar landing pad was expected to cost $120 million and kick up high-velocity regolith that can travel up to 3,000+ meters per second. Learn about results from test flights on Earth simulating delivery of 300kg mass payload to Lunar surface, future research, material science, math, compressive strengths, dust debris mitigation, plume impingement analysis, pressure injection, localised melting/point stresses, future applications, and more.

researchgate.net/publication/356422803_FAST_Landing_Pads_for_Moon_and_Mars

masten.aero/blog/mitigating-lunar-dust-masten-completes-fast-landing-pad-study/

Speaker

Matthew Kuhns, VP R&D at Masten Space Systems

With over a decade of experience in aerospace and startups, Matthew has co-founded several companies. Matthew plays key roles around technology development and advanced concepts, holding 5 patents and the title NASA NIAC Fellow. He is a leader in enabling technologies including LOX/Methane propulsion systems, electric pumps, and advanced additive manufacturing. 

Masten Space Systems is a aerospace R&D and Earth and Moon transportation company creating and deploying reliable, reusable rocket vehicles and components. Because landing on the Moon, Mars, or anywhere else in the solar system is what Masten Space Systems can do for you. With more than 600 successful rocket-powered landings, 17 years of business and 5 rocket platforms, Masten puts landers and payloads right where they need to be every time.