The Active CryoCubeSat Project: Testing and Preliminary Results

The Center for Space Engineering at Utah State University and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have jointly developed an active thermal control technology to better manage thermal loads and enable cryogenic instrumentation for CubeSats. The Active CryoCubeSat (ACCS) project utilizes a two-stage active thermal control architecture with the first stage consisting of a single-phase mechanically pumped fluid loop, which circulates coolant between a cold plate rejection heat exchanger and a deployed radiator. The second stage relies upon a miniature tactical cryocooler, which provides sub 110 K thermal management. This research details the experimental setup for a groundbased prototype demo which was tested in an appropriate, and relevant thermal vacuum environment. The preliminary results, which include the input power required by the system, rejection and environmental temperatures and the total thermal dissipation capabilities of the ACCS system, are presented along with a basic analysis and a discussion of the results

CubeSat Active Thermal Management in Support of Cooled Electro-Optical Instrumentation for Advanced Atmospheric Observing Missions

The need for advanced cooled electro-optical instrumentation in remote observations of the atmosphere is well known and demonstrated by SABER on the TIMED mission. The relatively new use of small satellites in remote earth observing missions as, well as the challenges, are epitomized by the upcoming NOAA EON-IR 12U CubeSat missions. These advanced CubeSat missions, which hope to accomplish scientific objectives on the same scale as larger more traditional satellites, require advanced miniaturized cryocoolers and active methods for thermal management and power control. The active CryoCubeSat project (ACCS) is a demonstration of such a technology. Utilizing Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM) techniques, a Mechanical Pumped Fluid Loop (MPFL), and miniature pumps and cryocoolers to create a closed loop fluid-based heat interchange system. The ACCS project creates a two-stage thermal control system targeting 6U CubeSat platforms. The first stage is composed of a miniature Ricor K508N cryocooler while the second is formed by a UAM fabricated heat exchanger MPFL system powered by a micro TCS M510 pump. The working fluid is exchanged between a built-in chassis heat exchanger and a deployable tracking radiator. This work details the theory design and testing of a relevant ground-based prototype and the analysis and modeling of the results as well as the development of a design tool to help in customized active thermal control designs for small satellites. Ultimately, the ACCS project hopes to enable a new generation of advanced CubeSat atmospheric observing missions

Effect of Dietary Chestnut or Quebracho Tannin Supplementation on Microbial Community and Fatty Acid Profile in the Rumen of Dairy Ewes

Ruminants derived products have a prominent role in diets and economy worldwide; therefore, the capability to control the rumen microbial ecosystem, for ameliorating their quality, is of fundamental importance in the livestock sector. e aim of this study was to evaluate the e ect of dietary supplementation with chestnut and quebracho tannins on microbial community and fatty acid pro le, in the rumen uid of dairy ewes. Multivariate analysis of PCR-DGGE pro les of rumen microbial communities showed a correlation among the presence of chestnut or quebracho in the diet, the speci c Butyrivibrio group DGGE pro les, the increase in 18:3 cis9, cis12, and cis15; 18:2 cis9 and cis12; 18:2 cis9 and trans11; 18:2 trans11 and cis15; and 18:1 trans11 content, and the decrease in 18:0 concentration. Phylogenetic analysis of DGGE band sequences revealed the presence of bacteria representatives related to the genera Hungatella, Ruminococcus, and Eubacterium and unclassi ed Lachnospiraceae family members, suggesting that these taxa could be a ected by tannins presence in the diets. e results of this study showed that tannins from chestnut and quebracho can reduce the biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids through changes in rumen microbial communities

Medonia. Il design per la salvaguardia della Posidonia oceanica

Per incrementare soluzioni a sostegno dell’ambiente che nello spiaggiamento della Posidonia oceanica si segnalano per una particolare problematicità nel caso dei litorali italiani, nasce, nel 2015 - dalla collaborazione tra il dipartimento PDTA (Pianificazione, Design, Tecnologia dell’architettura) dell’Università degli studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, il centro di ricerca di Casaccia a Roma dell’ENEA (Sustainable Territorial and Production Systems Department) e l’Area Marina Protetta delle “Isole Egadi” (AMP) - il progetto di ricerca “Medonia. Il design per la salvaguardia della Posidonia oceanica” (Mediterraneo/Posidonia). Medonia si configura per questi motivi una ricerca interdisciplinare sviluppata per coniugare la salvaguardia di biomasse di origine marina con prodotti di arredo per la spiaggia attraverso modelli di design sostenibile in grado di incentivare pratiche di balneazione responsabile nel rispetto degli habitat naturali. Una ricerca pertanto fondata su principi di “recupero attivo” che ha generato lo studio e la realizzazione di “sacche” di diverse dimensioni per il contenimento della Posidonia spiaggiata che, abbinate all’installazione di “telai balneari” per l’ombreggiamento, aumentano la capacità di carico degli arenili e rendono fruibili superfici rocciose altrimenti non utilizzabili dai turisti . In particolare si tratta di un sistema d’involucri realizzati con in filati polimerici riciclabili al 100%, divisi nelle “sedute a sasso” - destinate ad agevolare la fruizione soprattutto sulle superfici rocciose - e nelle “forme piane” per l’allestimento in copertura e a terra dei telai in legno installabili con un montaggio e “secco”

Multifunctional structure made with seagrass wrack: a Patent of the ge.ri.n project.

ENEA and the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) have completed some experiments in order to recover and use seagrass wrack for the restoration of emerged and submerged coastal areas in Favignana Island (Western Sicily, Italy). A multipurpose facility built with beached biomass, comprising a casing made of biocompatible fibre and filled with wrack harvested from the beaches, has been implemented. The canvas has a mesh greater than a specific dimension, and biocompatible fibres have undergone transverse and longitudinal tensile strength. It is a structure made of natural materials and eligible for multi-purpose applications, that is used for the realization of “mats” stuffed with seagrass wrack, collected from emerged beaches. The results of such realisation under the GE.RI.N project were the increased carrying capacity of the beaches as the removal of beached biomass and the disposal of the structures on rocky shores enhance the available area for tourist recreation and bathing. The structures are also suitable as a substrate for the re-establishment of seagrass shoots on the sea bottom, which is essential for maintaining the presence of the meadow to reduce coastal erosion. As part of the GE.RI.N project, the patent number RM2014A000151, registered on March 24, 2014, has been deposited and is now available for licensing. A design implementation of the structure is under development in collaboration with the University of Rome Sapienza – Architecture Science in Product Design, as part of a degree thesis project, titled Medoni