Digital Commons Network^™

Dynamics And Timescales Of Magmatic Processes At Cerro Uturuncu, Bolivia, Sarah Rasor

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

Between 12-25°S latitude there is prolific volcanism fueled by the Altiplano-Puna Magmatic Body (APMB), a mid-crustal magma body above the 30° subduction of the Nazca plate and within 70-80 km thick South American crust. Cerro Uturuncu, the volcano directly above the APMB, demonstrates that the APMB experiences considerable mixing with the surrounding continental crust. Within the past 1 Ma, Uturuncu has experienced six distinct stages of andesitic to dacitic lava. With this research, we contribute greater understanding to the homogenization of and mixing within the APMB and comment on how this relates to magma residence times. The influx and recharge …

Using Refracted Light To Put Electricity On The Moon, Anika Reece

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

This study aims to research the conversion of solar energy into electricity on the moon. The approach is to use a heliostat system designed to guide reflective light from tandem reflective mirrors into the darkest craters on the moon. This study's purpose is to explore a system that uses a Fresnel lens and Keplerian telescope optics to capture, collect, and focus sunlight on a solar cell using refracted light. The main findings are that this is a plausible concept and would reduce the loss of light energy immensely. The significant components of this concept are the use of a heliostat's …

Using Methane As An Energy Source On The Moon, Trenton Henderson

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

Energy is needed on the moon for many different purposes. It can be used for powering household appliances such as stoves, for powering laboratory equipment, as well as for many other things. By creating and maintaining a methane-powered electrical generation system, powered by the moon’s methane, the applications’ user will be able to produce electricity that can be utilized for many applications in daily life on the moon. This methane-powered generator will be similar to a vehicle engine, in that it will use the sun light on the moon and methane gas. Heat, carbon dioxide, and water would be the …

Analysis Of Laser Cut Living Hinge Pattern Design, Andrew Weber, Hussein Nassar

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

Living hinges are flexure bearings that consist of one material which makes up both the hinge and rigid end connections. They are typically made of plastics that can naturally bend without causing permanent strain. Plastic living hinges usually consist of a flat, thin strip of material connecting two ends, and have a wide range of commercial applications. The function of these living hinges can be replicated in plywood samples through subtractive manufacturing. Laser cut patterns produced in plywood samples reduce the flexural rigidity of the material and are popular amongst hobbyists.

Input Data Preparation For Ai Gravity Prediction Pipeline, Jacob Wilson, Emily Sigmund

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

The AI Gravity Project uses machine learning techniques to predict the actual value of gravity anomalies in places where data cannot be physically collected due to multiple constraining factors. Artificial intelligence is used to predict these anomalies. The predicted anomalies combined with the physically collected anomalies will eventually be combined to create higher resolution gravity models of the Earth. Here, the details of the first steps of the AI Gravity Project are presented. This includes the data pulling, cleaning, and analyzing the data prior to training the model.

What Rocket Design Team Does, Tyler Dorsey

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Multi-Disciplinary Analysis Surrogate Based On Twin-Generator Generative Adversarial Networks For Electric Drone, Samuel Sisk

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Missouri Satellite Design Team (M-Sat), Aneliese Hebenstreit

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Modeling And Simulation Of An Electrostatic Lunar Particle Sieve, Aaron Berkhoff

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project, Abigail Richner

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Attachment And Growth Of Pc12 Neural Cells In Presence Of Multifunctional Nanocarriers For Early Detection Of Radiation Induced Damages, Malsha Nanayakkara, Nishan Luitel, Nikini Subawickrama

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Over-Determined Control Systems On Time Scales, Drew Barnes, Danian Castillok

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

2023 Argonia Cup Rocket, Abigail Penfield, Ryan Milewski

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Miner Aviation Design Team, Dominic Zanti, John Mitchell, Anya Carpenter

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Slu Aircraft Laboratory: Student Team Participation In The 2022-2023 Auvsi-Suas Competition, Fauzan Hasanbasri, Fransisco Bueno

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Astrobiology Research & Outreach At Truman State University, Nothan Shaw, Autumn Winslett, Daphne Zakarian

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

We present light curves for three potential exoplanet candidates: TIC 950525831.01 and TIC 346015394.01. These targets were chosen from the TESS Follow-Up Observing Program (TFOP) database¹. The primary goal of the TESS Follow-up Observing Program (TFOP) Working Group (WG) is to provide follow-up observations that will facilitate achievement of the Level One Science Requirement to measure masses for 50 transiting planets smaller than 4 Earth radii². Students remotely used the 1-m NPOI Lowell telescope on Anderson Mesa near Flagstaff, Arizona to target these objects. In total, students observed eight “TFOP” potential exoplanet targets. Students are working …

Competing In Suas 2023 Competition, Fauzan H. Hasanbasri, Fransisco Bueno

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Mizzou Space Program’S Argonia Cup Rocket, Ryan Milewski, Abigail Penfield

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

Modeling And Simulation Of An Electrostatic Lunar Particle Sieve, Aaron Berkhoff

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

The following research was conducted to develop a kinetic particle model, which simulates an electromagnetic sieve used for in-situ material utilization on the lunar surface. A code package was developed to simulate an electromagnetic sieve that uses electrodes to transport fine particles within a cylindrical device. Specifically, this research generates an initial working model for the sieve and tests different electrode configurations. The simulation models different electric fields generated by electrodes, kinetic particle dynamics, and lunar particle distribution. During the case study, which investigates different electrode configurations, it was determined that electrodes oriented such that electrodes located above and below …

Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project: April 2023 Status Report, Jill Schmidt

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

This report details the progress of the Missouri S&T Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project as of April 2023 and the future work the team will complete throughout the remainder of 2023 and 2024. This project began in January 2023, and students have been completing preliminary training activities, so they are prepared to begin assembling and testing the eclipse payloads during summer 2023. Throughout the summer, all team members will be actively engaged in this research project and participating in outreach events related to high altitude ballooning.

Quantifying And Reducing Light Pollution, Trace Ackley, Margaret Ferney, Addie Vandewalle

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

Faculty and undergraduate students at Truman State University participated in activities related to quantifying light pollution and creating awareness about the dangers associated with bad outdoor lighting. The research activities students were involved in include continuing our work on using “all-sky-cameras” and the TESS all-sky photometer to quantify the sky brightness at various locations in-and-around Kirksville; and starting a new interdisciplinary project involving counting bird-strikes near glass windows around the Truman campus. With regards to outreach & activism, students have continued to reach out to school administrators, the Truman State Physical Plant, and the local Kirksville city management to continue …

High Pressure Injection Process For Ceramic Composites, Samuel Weiler

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

Ceramic materials are valued for good heat resistance and corrosion resistance. Due to these benefits, they are widely used in the aviation, automotive, medical, construction, and other industries. Ceramic materials are also both hard and brittle, qualities that are not ideal in many applications. To reduce brittleness, and other undesirable characteristics of ceramics, engineers have turned to composites to increase the mechanical properties of these materials. By adding composite particles or fibers, these characteristics can be improved. Constructing ceramic composites is not without its challenges, however. Current processes are prone to high porosity, high shrinkage, and poor accuracy of parts. …

Performance Evaluation Of Additively Manufactured Carbon/Peek Composites, Matik S. Heskin

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

Carbon/PEEK composites have a broad range of applications due to their combinations of superior creep properties and excellent strength to weight ratios. Like all fiber-based composites they are limited geometrically by their required manufacturing processes. Additively manufactured (AM) materials overcome this issue and can be formed into incredibly complex shapes. By combining these two fields, a material limited in application by geometry can have its shortcomings supported with AM processes.

AM carbon/PEEK composites have already been created but this relatively new material still needs property characterization. Therefore, the objective of this work will be to evaluate the structural performance of …

Electricity On The Moon Through Reactors, Joseph Bui

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

There are many different ways to create electricity. One of the most common methods nowadays that people conclude to use is nuclear reactors. There are many different types of reactors but they all use similar methods to produce electricity. The most widely used method for reactors is fission, nuclear reactors. Reactors that use fission are common nowadays within the United States and across other countries, countries that are not able to afford nuclear reactors or have not moved to that method are in the works of doing so as it’s powerful, long lasting, reliable, and very low maintenance compared to …

Computations Of Flow Past A Three-Element 30p30n Airfoil Using Wray-Agarwal One Equation Turbulence Model, Karsten Hendrickson

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

The predictions of flow phenomenon that occur in high lift systems have proven to be challenging using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with turbulence models. The complex interactions that occur among different elements of the wing can be difficult for turbulence models to accurately predict. Results from the recently developed Wray-Agarwal (WA) one-equation turbulence model, the frequently used Spalart-Allmaras (SA) and shear stress transport (SST) k-ω turbulence models are compared to experimental results to evaluate each model’s relative accuracy. The quadratic constitutive relation (QCR) is also used to produce results with the SA and WA models. It is shown that …

Evaluation Of Sustainable Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Aircraft Configurations Using Liquid Hydrogen Fuel, Bryce Thomas

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

There is pressing need for increase in efficiency and reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the next generation commercial passenger aircraft in order to reduce the environmental impact of the aviation industry. The focus of this work is on the design considerations for a mid-range single aisle commercial aircraft using liquid hydrogen for propulsion. A matrix of aircraft configurations is considered with varying size of fuel tanks placed external or internal to the fuselage. In particular, an aircraft configuration with a high aspect ratio truss braced wing is investigated to improve lift and range in comparison to a more …

Experimental Studies Of Volatile Fractionation In The Early Solar System, Emily Rapp

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

Isotopic Fractionation is a useful tool for investigating the formation of planetary bodies in the Solar System. Moderately volatile elements such as Potassium, Copper and Zinc can provide insight into the formative process and the origin of rocky planets. In this experiment Ortenberg basalt is heated to 1400° Celsius for different durations of time ranging from 1 minute at temperature to 7 hours at temperature under high vacuum conditions. The fractionation factor for K has been determined to be 0.9944 and the fractionation factor for Cu was found to be 0.9961. The fractionation factors of the Moon were found to …

Masses And Radii Of Subdwarf B Stars - Sed Fitting Method, Noah Singer

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

The goal of this project is to determine masses and radii of hot subdwarf B stars in hopes of connecting these fundamental intrinsic properties to the evolutionary history of such stars. Subdwarf B stars burn helium in their core, serving as interesting physical laboratories, and the abundance of public data, including GAIA parallaxes and archival photometry, can be used to determine stellar characteristics. In this study, observed photometry is compared to synthetic photometry, calculated from a similar-stellaratmosphere model spectrum. This match determines the effective stellar temperature and radius. With an estimate of surface gravity, mass can be determined. Such determinations …

Distant Giant Planets And Their Influence On Inner Planet Formation, Caroline Witt

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

The most common planets within 1 AU of a star are a few Earth radii in size, dubbed 'super- Earths', and these planets exhibit a wide range of compositions and orbit properties. Yet our Solar system lacks a super-Earth. It is also known that it is possible for exoplanet systems to include a massive planet with an orbit distance of a few AU from the host star, similar to Jupiter in our solar system. It is natural to then question how the presence of such a massive, distant planet may affect the overall exoplanet system. This project investigated how the …

Investigating Outcomes Of Inner Planet Formation Influenced By A Jupiter-Like Perturber, Simarpreet Girn

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

The most common planets within 1 AU of a star are a few Earth radii in size, dubbed ‘super-Earths.’ Yet the Solar system lacks a super-Earth, and potentially the presence of Jupiter played a role. For this project, the outcomes of in situ inner planet formation under the influence of a massive outer planet were analyzed. Ninety-two N-body dynamical simulations were conducted of the in-situ formation process with a Jupiter-mass planet at a distance of five astronomical units from a host star. These simulations were then compared with the same inner planet conditions without a massive outer planet. The simulations …