NASA Tech Breathes Life Into Potentially Game-Changing Antenna Design

Some 30 years ago, a young engineer named Christopher Walker was home in the evening making chocolate pudding when he got what turned out to be a very serendipitous call from his mother.

Taking the call, he shut off the stove and stretched plastic wrap over the pot to keep the pudding fresh. By the time he returned, the cooling air in the pot had drawn the wrap into a concave shape, and in that warped plastic, he saw something – the magnified reflection of an overhead lightbulb – that gave him an idea that could revolutionize space-based sensing and communications.

That idea became the Large Balloon Reflector (LBR), an inflatable device that creates wide collection apertures that weigh a fraction of today’s deployable antennas. Now, with an assist from NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, funded by the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which supports visionary innovations from diverse sources, Walker’s decades-old vision is coming to fruition.

The concept turns part of the inside surface of an inflated sphere into a parabolic antenna. A section comprising about a third of the balloon’s interior surface is aluminized, giving it reflective properties.

With NIAC funding, and a grant from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Walker was able to develop and demonstrate technologies for a 33-foot-diameter (10 meters) LBR that was carried to the stratosphere by a giant balloon. For comparison, the aperture of NASA’s massive James Webb Space Telescope is over 21 feet (6.5 meters) in diameter.

“There was no place other than NIAC within NASA to get this off the ground,” says Walker, now a astronomy and optical engineering professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson. “At first, I was afraid to share the idea with colleagues because it sounded so crazy. You need a program within NASA that will actually look at the radical ideas, and NIAC is it.”

Parabolic dish antennas use their concave shape to capture and concentrate electromagnetic radiation. The larger the antenna’s diameter, or aperture, the more effective it is for capturing light or radio waves and transmitting radio signals over great distances.

In astronomy, there is a tremendous advantage to placing telescopes above the Earth’s atmosphere, which tends to distort or degrade signals coming from space. The challenge is that traditional large reflector antennas are heavy, unwieldy, and difficult to stow, leading to launch constraints and risky in-space deployment schemes.

The LBR design solves both problems. Made of a thin film structure, it inflates like a beachball, providing a stable parabolic-dish shape without the need for bulky and complex deployable hardware, and can fold into a tiny volume.  

In 2018, Freefall Aerospace, a company co-founded by Walker to develop and market the technology, demonstrated the LBR’s potential aboard NASA’s stadium-sized stratospheric balloon, which carried a 3.28-foot scale model to an altitude of 159,000 feet.

Next up for the technology is a high-speed communications demonstration in low Earth orbit aboard a 6-unit CubeSat, about the size of a shoebox, called CatSat. It was selected for flight in 2019 as part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative. It is a joint effort involving NASA, Freefall Aerospace, the University of Arizona, and Rincon Research Corporation in Tucson, Arizona.

After reaching low-Earth orbit, CatSat’s inflatable antenna deployment system will deploy from its container, inflate to a diameter of about one-and-a-half feet, and begin transmitting back high-definition Earth photos. The mission is slated for launch with several other CubeSats on Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket as part of the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) 43 mission.

A more ambitious lunar mission concept is also being explored. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, would use the inflatable antenna in tandem with a new instrument called Terahertz Spectrometer for In-Situ Resource Utilization, a miniature, high-power laser precisely calibrated to detect water, a critical exploration resource.

“The technology demonstrated by CatSat opens the door to the possibility of future lunar, planetary and deep-space missions using CubeSats,” said Walker.

It might be difficult to believe this all started because a young engineer’s idea of dinner one evening was what most would consider dessert. Then again, one could say the proof was in the pudding.

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Loura Hall

IXPE Untangles Theories Surrounding Historic Supernova Remnant

NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) telescope has captured the first polarized X-ray imagery of the supernova remnant SN 1006. The new results expand scientists’ understanding of the relationship between magnetic fields and the flow of high-energy particles from exploding stars.

“Magnetic fields are extremely difficult to measure, but IXPE provides an efficient way for us to probe them,” said Dr. Ping Zhou, an astrophysicist at Nanjing University in Jiangsu, China, and lead author of a new paper on the findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal. “Now we can see that SN 1006’s magnetic fields are turbulent, but also present an organized direction.”

Situated some 6,500 light-years from Earth in the Lupus constellation, SN 1006 is all that remains after a titanic explosion, which occurred either when two white dwarfs merged or when a white dwarf pulled too much mass from a companion star. Initially spotted in spring of 1006 CE by observers across China, Japan, Europe, and the Arab world, its light was visible to the naked eye for at least three years. Modern astronomers still consider it the brightest stellar event in recorded history.

Since modern observation began, researchers have identified the remnant’s strange double structure, markedly different from other, rounded supernova remnants. It also has bright “limbs” or edges identifiable in the X-ray and gamma-ray bands.

“Close-proximity, X-ray-bright supernova remnants such as SN 1006 are ideally suited to IXPE measurements, given IXPE’s combination of X-ray polarization sensitivity with the capability to resolve the emission regions spatially,” said Douglas Swartz, a Universities Space Research Association researcher at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “This integrated capability is essential to localizing cosmic-ray acceleration sites.”

Previous X-ray observations of SN 1006 offered the first evidence that supernova remnants can radically accelerate electrons, and helped identify rapidly expanding nebulae around exploded stars as a birthplace for highly energetic cosmic rays, which can travel at nearly the speed of the light.

Scientists surmised that SN 1006’s unique structure is tied to the orientation of its magnetic field, and theorized that supernova blast waves in the northeast and southwest move in the direction aligned with the magnetic field, and more efficiently accelerate high-energy particles.

IXPE’s new findings helped validate and clarify those theories, said Dr. Yi-Jung Yang, a high-energy astrophysicist at the University of Hong Kong and coauthor of the paper.

“The polarization properties obtained from our spectral-polarimetric analysis align remarkably well with outcomes from other methods and X-ray observatories, underscoring IXPE’s reliability and strong capabilities, Yang said.

For the first time, we can map the magnetic field structures of supernova remnants at higher energies with enhanced detail and accuracy – enabling us to better understand the processes driving the acceleration of these particles.

Dr. Yi-Jung Yang

High-energy astrophysicist at the University of Hong Kong

Researchers say the results demonstrate a connection between the magnetic fields and the remnant’s high-energy particle outflow. The magnetic fields in SN 1006’s shell are somewhat disorganized, per IXPE’s findings, yet still have a preferred orientation. As the shock wave from the original explosion passes through the surrounding gas, the magnetic fields become aligned with the shock wave’s motion. Charged particles are trapped by the magnetic fields around the original point of the blast, where they quickly receive bursts of acceleration. Those speeding high-energy particles, in turn, transfer energy to keep the magnetic fields strong and turbulent.

IXPE has observed three supernova remnants – Cassiopeia A, Tycho, and now SN 1006 – since launching in December 2021, helping scientists develop a more comprehensive understanding of the origin and processes of the magnetic fields surrounding these phenomena.

Scientists were surprised to find that SN 1006 is more polarized than the other two supernova remnants, but that all three show magnetic fields oriented such that they point outward from the center of the explosion. As researchers continue to explore IXPE data, they are re-orienting their understanding of how particles get accelerated in extreme objects like these.

IXPE is a collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency with partners and science collaborators in 12 countries. IXPE is led by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations together with the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder.

Learn more about IXPE’s ongoing mission here:

https://www.nasa.gov/ixpe

Elizabeth Landau
NASA Headquarters
elizabeth.r.landau@nasa.gov
202-358-0845

Jonathan Deal

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
jonathan.e.deal@nasa.gov
256-544-0034

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La comandante Callie sigue su misión en segunda novela gráfica de NASA

La astronauta de ficción Callie Rodríguez continúa explorando el espacio como la primera mujer que camina en la Luna en un nuevo tomo de la serie novelada “La primera mujer” de la NASA. Actualmente disponible en formato digital en inglés y español, “La primera mujer: Expandiendo nuestro universo” sigue la historia de Callie y sus compañeros de tripulación mientras trabajan juntos para explorar lo desconocido, hacer descubrimientos científicos y cumplir los objetivos de su misión.

Este segundo número de la serie de novelas gráficas presenta a una tripulación de astronautas diversa en la superficie de la Luna, que aprenden y crecen como equipo enfrentándose a situaciones inesperadas mientras realizan experimentos y demostraciones de tecnología para el beneficio de la humanidad.

Mediante la serie “La primera mujer”, la NASA está inspirando a la nueva generación de exploradores, la Generación Artemis, mientras trabaja en la vida real para llevar a la primera mujer y a la primera persona de color a la Luna con el programa Artemis.

“La diversidad está en el núcleo de las misiones de la NASA y es la razón por la que seguimos superando los límites de lo posible. “La primera mujer” encarna la rica historia de innumerables mujeres que rompieron barreras y siguen guiando a la NASA hacia las estrellas”, dijo el administrador de la NASA, Bill Nelson. “Gran parte de lo que hace la NASA es inspirar a futuros exploradores, porque cada miembro de la Generación Artemis debe sentirse representado en nuestras misiones. La historia de Callie nos recuerda que haremos lo que nunca se ha hecho antes: llevar a la primera mujer a la Luna, y esto inspirará al mundo.”

La última vez que los lectores vieron a Callie, ella y su robot RT estaban refugiados dentro de un túnel de lava en la Luna. Descubre lo que sucede a continuación visitando el renovado sitio web de “La primera mujer” —el cual incluye una nueva opción en español— y la aplicación actualizada First Woman de la NASA, que está disponible para descargar en iOS y Android.

El sitio web y la aplicación inmersiva permiten al público explorar un nuevo entorno virtual en 3D, tecnologías y objetos relacionados con la exploración lunar. Los seguidores también pueden explorar contenido actualizado de “La primer mujer”, que incluye videos, juegos interactivos y otros materiales relacionados con las misiones actuales y futuras de la NASA.

“Callie es un personaje inspirador para las comunidades subrepresentadas y, como persona de ascendencia india con hijos pequeños, entiendo profundamente el poder de una base diversa de seguidores que se ven a sí mismos ocupando un lugar dentro de

nuestras ambiciosas misiones. Para resolver los numerosos desafíos de la exploración lunar sostenible, necesitamos ideas innovadoras que provengan de diversas fuentes y de comunidades no tradicionales”, dijo el doctor Prasun Desai, administrador asociado interino de la Dirección de Misiones de Tecnología Espacial en la sede de la NASA en Washington. “Continuamos con ese tema aspiracional en nuestro segundo tomo, profundizando en la compleja misión y los antecedentes personales de la tripulación, a la vez que ampliamos una gran cantidad de contenido interactivo y en varios idiomas sobre ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas en nuestras plataformas digitales”.

El tomo que marcó el debut de la serie, “La primera mujer: Del sueño a la realidad”, obtuvo una gran respuesta en Estados Unidos y en el resto del mundo, logrando una distribución de casi 100.000 copias impresas. La audiencia digital acumuló casi 300.000 visitas a la página web y miles de usuarios descargaron la aplicación First Woman, lo que le valió un Premio Webby 2022 a la Mejor Experiencia Móvil Integrada.

En el futuro, la NASA colaborará con sus socios internacionales para traducir “La primera mujer” a más idiomas.

Para obtener más información sobre la novela gráfica y las experiencias interactivas, visita la página web:

www.nasa.gov/primeramujer

-fin-

Jimi Russell / María José Viñas
Sede, Washington
216-704-2412 / 240-458-0248
james.j.russell@nasa.gov / maria-jose.vinasgarcia@nasa.gov

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Abbey A. Donaldson

Commander Callie Continues Moon Mission in NASA’s New Graphic Novel

Fictional astronaut Callie Rodriguez continues exploring space as the first woman to walk on the Moon in a new issue of NASA’s First Woman graphic novel series. Now available digitally in English and Spanish, “First Woman: Expanding Our Universe,” follows Callie and her crewmates as they work together to explore the unknown, make scientific discoveries, and accomplish their mission objectives.

This second issue of the graphic novel series features a diverse crew of astronauts on the Moon’s surface, learning and growing as a team navigating the unexpected while conducting experiments and technology demonstrations for the benefit of humanity.

Through the First Woman series, NASA is inspiring the next generation of explorers – the Artemis Generation – as it works in real life to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon under the Artemis program.

“Diversity is at the core of NASA’s missions, and the reason we continue breaking the boundaries of what’s possible. First Woman embodies the rich history of countless women who broke barriers and continue to lead NASA to the stars,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “So much of what NASA does is to inspire future explorers because each member of the Artemis Generation should feel represented in our missions. Callie’s story reminds us that we will do what has never been done before — land the first woman on the Moon, and it will inspire the world.”

When readers last met Callie, she and her robot RT were sheltering inside of a lunar lava tunnel. Find out what happens next by visiting the revamped First Woman website, which includes a new Spanish-language option, and the agency’s updated First Woman app available for download on Android and iOS.

The website and immersive app allow audiences to explore a new virtual 3D environment, technologies and objects related to lunar exploration. Fans also can explore updated First Woman content, including videos, interactive games, and other materials related to ongoing and future NASA missions.

“Callie is an inspirational character for underrepresented communities and, as a person of Indian descent with young children, I deeply understand the power of a diverse fanbase seeing a place for themselves within our ambitious missions. To solve the many challenges of sustainable lunar exploration, we need innovative ideas from diverse sources and non-traditional communities,” said Dr. Prasun Desai, acting associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We continue that aspirational theme with our second issue, diving further into the crew’s complex mission and personal backgrounds while expanding a wealth of interactive, multilingual science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content across our digital platforms.”

The series debut, “First Woman: Dream to Reality,” saw a large response across the United States and abroad, with nearly 100,000 print copies distributed. The digital audience garnered nearly 300,000 webpage views, and the First Woman app was downloaded by thousands of users, earning a 2022 Webby Award for Best Integrated Mobile Experience.

NASA will collaborate with its international partners to translate First Woman into more languages in the future.

To learn more about the graphic novel and interactive experiences, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/calliefirst/

-end-

Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
216-704-2412
james.j.russell@nasa.gov

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Abbey A. Donaldson

Submit Your 2024 Event Proposal to NASA Glenn

Solicitation posted: Oct. 26, 2023
Proposal form URL: https://osirris.grc.nasa.gov/request/request.cfm
Proposal submission deadline: Nov. 24, 2023
Notification of event selection: Dec. 15, 2023 

2024 Call for Event Proposals

Opportunity Description

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is seeking to collaborate with organizations across the country to bring the NASA experience to new, diverse audiences.  

This opportunity is designed to provide organizations with:

• Interactive NASA exhibits and historical artifacts to showcase NASA’s missions and research.
• Access to NASA subject matter experts for interactive speaking engagements.

The center is requesting event proposals to:

• Reach larger audiences by leveraging the experiences of community organizations with existing high-quality events.
• Strengthen community relationships by collaborating on efforts that result in increased returns on mutually desired outcomes.
• Raise awareness of NASA’s contributions to the nation’s aeronautics and space programs.

NASA’s Glenn Research Center

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland designs, develops, and tests innovative technology to revolutionize air travel, advance space exploration, and improve life on Earth. As one of 10 NASA centers, and the only one in the Midwest, Glenn is a vital contributor to the region’s economy and culture. Many NASA missions have Glenn contributions, and every U.S. aircraft has NASA Glenn technology on board, making flight cleaner, safer, and quieter.

Glenn is conducting revolutionary aeronautics research in electrified aircraft propulsion, advanced materials, and alternative fuels to help the nation achieve its climate change goals. The center is also exploring next-generation supersonic and hypersonic aircraft.

In addition to its aeronautics research, NASA Glenn’s world-class test facilities and unrivaled expertise in power, propulsion, and communications are crucial to advancing the Artemis program. Glenn’s solar electric propulsion will help propel future missions to the Moon and eventually Mars, where astronauts will conduct scientific research and establish a presence on the surface. The road to the Moon goes through Ohio.

Glenn’s Expertise:

• Air-Breathing Propulsion (Jet Engines)

• Communications
• In-Space Propulsion and Cryogenic Fluids Management
• Power, Energy Storage, and Conversion
• Materials and Structures for Extreme Environments
• Physical Sciences and Biomedical Technologies in Space

Eligibility Requirements

NASA is seeking:

• Organizations with established events that have direct connections to their communities and reach diverse audiences. 
  Greater consideration will be given to organizations reaching underserved and/or underrepresented communities. For purposes of this solicitation, underserved and/or underrepresented communities include Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Native American persons; Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality (source: NASA’s Mission Equity). Greater consideration may also be given to organizations throughout the Great Lakes Region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) based on factors such as schedule and budget availability.
• Events scheduled to occur between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024.

Selected organizations must agree to the following:

• Attend mutually agreed-upon planning meetings held virtually through an online business communication platform.
• Be responsible for coordinating all marketing, media communications, and logistics as described in the event proposal.
• Adhere to NASA Media Usage Guidelines for NASA media and logos.
• Provide final attendance data within one week of the conclusion of the event including the following:
  • Number of attendees
  • Estimated percentage of attendees from underrepresented audiences

Submitting a Proposal

All proposals are to be submitted through the online proposal form here. Proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern time on Nov. 24, 2023. Only proposals submitted online will be accepted.

Proposal Review Process

Proposals will be evaluated to determine the likelihood of event success using the following criteria:

• Number of proposed audience participants.
• Percentage of audience from underrepresented populations as defined in the solicitation.
• Alignment of the program’s goals and objectives to those of this opportunity.
• Expected return on investment of NASA resources.
• Plans to maximize audience participation through marketing and media communications.
• Evidence of historical attendance at this or similar events hosted by the proposing organization.

Proposing organizations will be notified of their selection status by Dec. 15, 2022.

Point of Contact

If you have questions about the project or the online proposal form, contact NASA Glenn Research Center’s Office of Communications at: GRC-Public-Engagement@mail.nasa.gov

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