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    • 2020 SUPPORTED RESEARCH & EDUCATION

    Regolith Subsurface Exploration Testbed (R-SET)

    Principal Investigator: Douglas D. Cortes, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico State University, Civil Engineering Department
    Description: The subsurface of Mars and the Moon store a wealth of resources ranging from basic human necessities
    such as water (in the form of ice) to propellants such as methane (in the form of hydrates). While subsurface sampling and testing on earth is relatively simple, there is a need for relatively large and heavy surface equipment to provide the necessary reaction force to drive testing probes into the ground. Emulating earthworms, the research team is developing a new generation of self-excavating subsurface characterization tools that are both light and small, so they could easily be transported to the moon and Mars. Funding for this proposal would allow the team to develop an instrumented regolith subsurface exploration testbed in which the earthworm-inspired devices can be tested under controlled laboratory conditions. As part of this project a 55-gallon cylindrical test bed capable of accommodating probes up to 4 in in diameter will be instrumented with acoustic emission sensors and peripheral electronics to monitor the regolith response during penetration. This project will also be leveraged to secure
    additional funding for the acquisition of a modular loading frame to accommodate the 55-gallon cell and to double the current testing depth range. Upon completion of this project New Mexico will have a platform from which to launch new research efforts in the field of self-excavating robots for terrestrial and extraterrestrial subsurface exploration.

    Curriculum Development in Digital Photogrammetry

    Principal Investigator: Ahmed F. Elaksher, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico State University, Department of Engineering Technology and Survey Engineering
    Description: The New Mexico State University Department of Engineering Technology and Surveying Engineering (ETSE) is seeking funding assistance from the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC) Education Enhancement Program to meet the following objectives during the 2020-2021 grant fiscal year:

    • Develop one technical required course: Digital Photogrammetry. The course is a required class in the curriculum of the current Bachelor of Geomatics and also serve as an elective class for other degrees. Course resources including lecture presentations, assessment activities, and hands-on instructions for applied laboratories and projects will be designed and prepared.
    • Benefit faculty in developing their professional career and enrich departmental
      inventory by procurement supplies required for developing and delivering the class material.
    • Support the growth of digital photogrammetry in the geomatics curriculum.
    • The grant will allow for supporting undergraduate student(s) via assistantship and training to prepare class material on the topic of photogrammetry mapping.
    • Offer new opportunities for under-represented populations in engineering by
      developing their knowledge and technical skills in digital photogrammetry.

    Enhancing the Capstone Design Experience for Materials Students: Micro-Particle Accelerator for Testing Impact of Space Surfaces and Coatings

    Principal Investigator: Paul Fuierer, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
    Description: Damage to orbiting satellites and structures from high velocity (~ 10 law’s) micrometeoroids is a major concern to NASA, international space agencies and commercial spaceflight companies. The Pl has proposed thick ceramic coatings fabricated by the unique dry aerosol deposition process as an alternative means of protection from these impacts. Orbital in-space flight testing and existing hypervelocity test sites (e.g. White Sands Missile Range) are prohibitively expensive for preliminary experiments; thus, it is imperative to have an alternative facility for rapid and affordable impact testing at NMT.
    The proposed EEG grant will enable, with the Pl’s instruction and leadership, senior students in the Materials Engineering Department at NMT to design and build prototype apparatus to accelerate micro­particles to high speeds, and guide them toward target coupons with experimental protective coatings. This EEG grant will support two student teams in developing competing designs: One using an explosive charge accelerator; the other a solid propellant shotgun design. This project will constitute the lab component of the required capstone engineering design course sequence, MTLS 481&L, and 482&L. Learning objectives include high levels of student I) familiarity with the design process, II) satisfaction with project outcome, III) competence in planning and carrying out an engineering project, and IV) confidence in communicating results to a critical audience. Resulting prototype(s) will provide unique high-velocity ballistics testing for research, and also exciting demonstrations of space materials and applications for STEM outreach. The Energetic Materials Research & Testing Center at NMT will provide additional expertise and cost share.

    Mission Specific Design of Structural Materials for Radiation Environment

    Principal Investigator: Ashok K. Ghosh, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering
    Description: Lead, aluminium, and tantalum are the conventional radiation shielding materials that NASA uses to protect its astronauts and sensitive electronics during space missions. These metals are heavy and they function as passive shields and are susceptible to emitting secondary-radiation. To avoid the deficiencies associated with heavy metals, this grant’s proposed Fluid Filled Cellular Composites (FFCC) that not only performs better in radiation environment, but has other desirable characteristics including acoustic isolation, impact resistance, and thermal
    management. The goal of this proposal is to catalog each aspect of the FFCC and other NASA qualified materials using a Monte Carlo simulation code. Using this catalog, NASA material designers will be able to optimize mission specific radiation shielding structural materials that will be lightweight and cost less compared to conventional materials. Based on a preliminary simulation analysis using primary radiation, secondary radiation, density and cost as parameters, it was found that FFCC will be 1.54 time and 1.8 times more effective as a shielding material
    than Aluminum and Tantalum respectively. The goal of the proposed project will be accomplished in 12 months and during this time a close collaboration with scientists/engineers at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) will be established. We will be able to provide the material design that can be used to construct working and living structures on Earth or at any space destination using in-situ regolith. Follow up studies will include modeling of the failure modes and fracture toughness of FFCC and other NASA qualified materials.

    Space Science & Engineering: Materials Under Extreme Dynamic Tension

    Principal Investigator: Seokbin Lim, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering
    Description: The dynamic tension fracture has brought much interest in various engineering applications ranging from the simple pressure vessel/pipe failure or dynamic fragmentations in the commercial/space/military applications, to the hypervelocity space debris or planetary impact. There has been a great improvement in the similar area of study by many researchers, but the question regarding the fundamental mechanism of extreme tension physics remains unanswered.
    There has been much research on shock physics where the extreme dynamic compression of materials is considered. This research focuses only on the dynamic compressive nature of materials because of the dominance of compressive shock effects in the given materials, lacking detailed information concerning the extreme tension side. As a result, the conventional shock Hugoniot is only about the positive (or compressive) side of the material behavior, and there is little (or no) information about the negative (or tension) side of Hugoniot in public domain (Spall is driven by the compressive shock, and it is not considered here).
    This project aims to understand the material behavior under the extreme dynamic tension (up to several km/s of pulling speed) followed by necking/fractures. In more details, an investigation of the extreme dynamic tension theory based on the conservation equations will be performed. Then, it will be evaluated by a series of numerical simulations, hoping to provide a scientific clue to understand the fundamental of the extreme dynamic tension. Once the formal theory is validated, it will be applied to understand the unique wave pattern during extreme tension.

    Safe and Augmented Human-Robotic Interaction for Space (SAHRIS)

    Principal Investigator: Fernando Moreu, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: University of New Mexico, Department of Civil, Construction and Environment Engineering
    Description: Current researchers are interested in new designing interfaces to optimize human-robotic interfaces. AR allows for a rich learning experience, including interactivity, immediate feedback, immersion in an authentic context, and engagement in authentic tasks. Multiple systematic reviews found a positive impact of AR on learning outcomes, including motivation, satisfaction, engagement, attitude, and so on. However, research also found limitations of AR, such as limits on the complexity of the learning environment, usability issues, extra cognitive load added to the learners, and instructional design challenges . To date, the linkage between AR and HRI has not been fully studied. This project seeks to increase the human robot interface using AR in the context of space operations, and more specifically for the augmented interface in real time with increased safety. The PI, an Assistant Professor from the University of New Mexico (UNM) and will collaborate with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to: (1) increase human cognition of robot operations; (2) enable new control of robots; (3) increase the ability to solve problems faster with increased operations across time and space, and (4) increase safety for humans when collaborating with robots.

    Cell Culture Systems for Space Neuroscience Research

    Principal Investigator: Elba Serrano, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico State University, Department of Biology
    Description: This research is undertaken with the long-term goal of evaluating the impact of spaceflight on the
    nervous system. The project is motivated by the fundamental need to better understand how living organisms respond to sustained altered gravity environments, and by emerging concerns about the potentially adverse effect of prolonged spaceflight on human cognitive function. Outcomes will be relevant for research in space and gravitational biology that is in alignment with the mission of NASA Ames Space Biosciences at Moffett Field. The approach will leverage two NASA Ames resources: the open data repository, GeneLab, and the legendary Ames long-arm centrifuges for hypergravity research. The 12 month project work plan will be accomplished in collaboration with
    Ames research scientist, Dr. Sigrid Reinsch. The project aims are: (1) to increase resources for neural high-throughput transcriptomic and lipidomic data analysis in NASA GeneLab, and (2) to establish tissue culture protocols for animal and human cell lines that can be adapted for hypergravity experiments on the Ames 20-g Centrifuge. The observed changes in white matter in the brains of human astronauts warrants proposed research that will evaluate the lipid profiles of the neuroglial cells of the central nervous system. The project will build the national STEM workforce through inclusion of NMSU students and will broaden participation by engaging faculty, staff, and students who are underrepresented minorities and/or women in space biology research. Outcomes support the NASA mission described in the Space Biology Science Plan (2016-2025) and are expected to provide pilot data in support of future agency proposals.

    Silicon Detectors that Multiply Charge: a Strategy for Radiation Hardness in Extra-Terrestrial Applications

    Principal Investigator: Sally Seidel, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy
    Description: Silicon sensors have proven effective as detectors of charged particles up to fluences on the order of 2 x 10″16 neq/cm”2. This fact, combined with their low mass, compactness, and mechanical robustness, suggests that their applications to exploration of extra-terrestrial environments will continue to expand. They are already in use in radiation monitors on Mars, in solar particle event detectors, and in human dosimetry. Their radiation lifetime is presently limited by charge trapping which, beyond the realm of 10″16 neq/cm”2, prevents regions of the bulk farther than a few tens of microns from the electrode from contributing to the signal. We are exploring a technology in which controlled multiplication of charge is initiated in silicon detectors through a design that combines very small inter-electrode separations with field shaping structures that inhibit breakdown. We propose to measure the charge collection efficiency of prototype devices before and after exposure to protons and gammas, for several design variations. Preliminary pre-irradiation measurements have established the measurement technique and yielded interesting results. Post-irradiation measurements will be made at temperatures below -10°C, as silicon leakage current, a primary contributor to noise, depends strongly upon temperature. The deliverable will be a report on the properties of these devices and a plan for expanding into collaboration with NASA on mission-specific applications.

    Micromechanics of Defects in Additively Manufactured Materials

    Principal Investigator: Igor Sevostianov, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico State University, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
    Description: The project aims at the development of a quantitative model for prediction of mechanical performance of materials produced by Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies. Additive Manufacturing is increasingly used in the development of new products from conceptual design to functional parts and tooling. However, variability in part quality due to technological defects limits its broader acceptance for critical applications. According to NASA, Materials development and characterization and Modeling and control are among the main challenges for AM use in space [1]. One of the main challenges on this way is the lack in micromechanics based quantitative methods to estimate the damage in structural elements, produced during the technological process, from the point of view of mechanical performance and thus make structural life predictions based on the knowledge of microstructural information – volume content and shapes of the micropores and microcracks appeared during the manufacturing. In the proposed seed research, we suggest to develop such a model supported by computer simulations and experiments. The research is directly applicable to the topics of particular interest of NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate [2]. The objectives of the proposed research are:

    • Develop a solid theoretical background for in-situ mechanical performance evaluation and
      life prognosis of AM manufactured parts using electrical conductivity measurements.
    • Contribute to and strengthen New Mexico aerospace engineering educational and
      research programs at NMSU.
    • Develop nationally competitive research expertise and research programs in the proposed
      and related areas in preparation for obtaining follow-up research funding.

    Post-Doctoral Fellowship

    Principal Investigator: Marlena Fraune, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico State University, Department of Psychology
    Description: Our objective is to improve astronaut mental models of co-present robots on the ISS. We will develop robot behaviors that can improve human understanding of a robot’s states and abilities (see Table). When people do not know what to expect from robots, they behave in ways that robots cannot support (e.g., humans may employ natural language that robots cannot interpret). This mismatch causes task errors [4, 6, 7], impacts trust, and has other negative consequences. To address this, we study how robots can behave to improve people’s mental model of them. This can include understanding and responding to typical initial expectations of the robot and by working to avoid or repair misunderstandings. Robots that do
    this will increase the situation awareness of astronauts and reduce the training necessary to successfully work with robots. We will advance understanding of how people can more effectively interact with robots
    and propose design recommendations for improving space robots.

    Screening for Salt and Drought Tolerance in Edible Crops Selected for Space Plant Breeding Program

    Principal Investigator: Elena Sevostianova, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico State University, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
    Description: The project aims to screen several monocotyledons (grasses) and dicotyledons (broad leaf crops) that can be used for a space plant breeding program. The grass family (Poaceae) includes species from a wide diversity of habitats and shows a considerable measure of ecological adaptation. While many of the grasses can be grown under extreme conditions such as drought, heat, and low quality irrigation water, they also possess characteristics that make them particularly well suited for this program, such as compact size, tolerant to stress, rapid growth, and reliable germination. In addition to grasses, two crops with high levels of beneficial phytonutrients or antioxidants values will be included in the study to identify other potential candidates for the space breeding program.
    If funded, we propose to screen two grasses and two broad leaf crops of high nutritional value in greenhouse conditions to identify plants that tolerate irrigation with treated effluent water under deficit evapotranspiration (ET) replacement while maintaining high level of nutrients. This research is directly applicable to the topics of particular interest of the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate [1]. The objectives of the proposed research are:
    􀁸 Use ground-based facilities to simulate conditions in outer space by growing grasses and broad leaf crops with high nutritional values that can tolerate irrigation with low quality water under deficit ET replacement
    􀁸 Contribute to and strengthen New Mexico agricultural educational and research programs at NMSU
    􀁸 Develop nationally competitive research expertise and research programs in the proposed and related areas to build capacity and assist in securing future external funding.

    Temperature-dependent Ellipsometry and Thermal Stability of Phase Change Materials for Tunable Optics Applications

    Principal Investigator: Stefan Zollner, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico State University, Department of Physics
    Description: NMSU will determine the transmission spectra and ellipsometric angles of several one-inch CaF2 wafers coated with germanium-antimony-tellurium based phase change memory alloys covered with a silicon dioxide capping layer over a broad spectral (190 nanometers to 40 micrometers) and temperature range (80 to 750 degrees Kelvin) at an incidence angle of 70 degrees in an ultra high vacuum cryostat. Data from two different instruments (J. A. Woollam variable angle of incidence spectroscopic ellipsometer and J. A. Woollam Fourier-transform infrared variable angle of incidence spectroscopic ellipsometer) will be merged to achieve this broad spectral range. A custom window correction will be applied to avoid merging discontinuities. The back
    side of the wafers will be sand blasted before the ellipsometry measurements for roughening.  The combined data set will be analyzed to determine the optical constants (complex dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient) as a function of wavelength and temperature for the design of active optical devices, such as optical filters. Other measurements, such as atomic force microscopy, x-ray reflectance, and powder x-ray diffraction will be performed as needed for the analysis of the ellipsometric angles. These layers will be provided by NASA. Regular meetings with NASA will be scheduled to coordinate sample preparation, data acquisition, and analysis.

    Design, Build, Fly

    Principal Investigator: Andreas Gross, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico State University, Department of Engineering
    Description: The Design Build Fly (DBF) competition is a competitive fixed wing aircraft challenge hosted yearly by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). AIAA develops unique and challenging design criteria governing the entire airframe and flight mission. After working on their designs for the better part of a school year, over 100 teams from across the world congregate to the deserts of Tucson, AZ to show off and compete with their designs. AIAA judges and volunteer personnel perform tech inspection on airframes and score team’s designs before allowing the teams to fly the mission specified by that year’s challenge. Design Build Fly is an amazing opportunity for developing applied aerospace engineering skills and team members of every skill level, age, and academic background are essential in developing a well-rounded design from multiple engineering perspectives. NMSU’s Design Build Fly club has existed since the early 2000’s and has had varying success over the years – but NMSU’s 2020/2021 season DBF team has the opportunity to improve on advanced manufacturing techniques and design points integrated by the teams of previous years. With the support of funds from NMSGC’s Student Competition Program, Design Build Fly will be able to push the limits of integrating cutting edge aerospace materials and advanced manufacturing techniques into the design of the 2020/2021 airframe. Additionally, the logistics of taking a team of ~15 students to competition out of state for multiple days are extremely taxing on the DBF design budget – NMSGC funds could allow us to focus more of our current budget on accomplishing the most professional airframe design possible.

    Plant the Moon Challenge (Higher Education Team)

    Principal Investigator: Nicole Pietrasiak, Ph.D.
    Affiliation/Dept.: New Mexico State University, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
    Description: Our student team would like to participate in the Plant the Moon Challenge hosted by the Institute of Competition Sciences on behalf of NASA and supported by the University of Central Florida’s CLASS Exolith Lab. The competition is a nationwide/global science competition and is linked to NASA Artemis’ near future mission to return to the moon for a detailed exploration of the moon’s surface which will require astronauts to spend a considerable amount of time in space. Such a mission necessitates the availability of healthy food for the crew over a long period. Sustainable plant production on the moon could help optimize logistics and economics of the mission. Our objective is to design and conduct space biological research that will test a variety of experimental conditions aiming to grow healthy and nutritious food from moon regolith simulant. Specifically, we will focus our experimental design on crop selection, regolith amendments, and microbial inoculants. Our team aims to particularly focus on growing nutritious drought tolerant plant and mushroom crops. Drought tolerant plant crop species such as the heirloom Anasazi beans are adapted to low fertility soils and have been selected and bred under arid climate for millennia. Mushrooms also need very little water or fertilizer to grow, do not require sunlight, and have been shown to be high in 12 vitamins and minerals including antioxidants (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2019).

    Plant the Moon Challenge (K – 12 Team)

    Principal Investigator: Andrew Moralez
    Affiliation/Dept.: 21st Century Academic Enrichment Programs
    Description: The Plant the Moon Challenge, hosted by Institute of Competition Sciences on behalf of NASA, is a global science experiment, learning activity and inspirational competition to see who can grow the best crops using lunar regolith simulant. Design and conduct a set of plant growth experiments using lunar soil simulant provided by the University of Central Florida’s CLASS Exolith Lab – part of a NASA virtual institute. Our student team will report experimental parameters and results to help NASA scientists understand how to use lunar soil to provide nutritious crops for future Moon missions! Per the Plant the Moon Challenge website, all dignitaries with completed projects will be invited to showcase their projects at a virtual symposium with NASA scientists, program executives, and other dignitaries.