NASA Nebraska EPSCoR
(Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Mini-Grant Projects
Rahul Ambittankulambu Rajan -- University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Femtosecond-Laser Fabricated Pin-Fin Surfaces for Enhanced Cryogenic Chill-Down Performance
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Efficient cryogenic chill-down is essential for NASA's long-duration missions, where rapid cooling of transfer lines and structural components helps reduce boil-off and propellant loss during cryogenic fluid transfer. Existing approaches, such as Teflon coatings, axial grooves, and wire inserts offer partial improvement but face limits in scalability, thermal-cycle durability, and overall mass savings. This proposal investigates a single-step femtosecond-laser fabrication method to produce permanently functionalized surfaces using self-organized laser functionalization (SOLF) applied to stainless steel that combine micro- and nano-scale textures with protruded microscale pin-fin structures. These features introduce capillary pathways that promote rapid re-wetting, disrupt vapor-film formation, and accelerate the transition out of the Leidenfrost regime during liquidnitrogen chill-down. Two surface types will be created: solid pin-fin structures and porous pin-fin structures, each integrated with SOLF micro- and nano-scale features. Their performance will be evaluated through repeated liquid-nitrogen dipping to assess bubble dynamics, structural stability, and overall chill-down behavior, and will be compared relative to the heat transfer performance of untreated stainless steel. Demonstrating enhanced chill-down on flat stainless-steel surfaces will provide a foundation for applying this method inside cryogenic transfer lines, potentially reducing vapor generation, shortening chill-down time, and supporting substantial propellant savings in future NASA systems.
Yunping Liang -- University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Innovating NASA's Project Cost and Schedule Management to Align with Modern Stewardship Standards
Over the past 30 years, NASA has consistently managed an annual budgetexceeding $20 billion (inflation-adjusted). Ensuring cost and scheduleperformance remains a significant challenge due to the complexity of NASA'smega projects and the constant emergence of new technical and operationalhurdles. These challenges are further intensified by evolving expectations to "domore with less," as reflected in tighter budgets and a reduced workforce. Whilethis may present a new environment for NASA, similar pressures are familiar incivil infrastructure - especially the transportation sector. For instance, the U.S.surface transportation system faces a multi-trillion-dollar investment gap, whileits primary funding source, the fuel tax, has remained unchanged for threedecades. Improving cost and schedule performance remains a top challengeidentified by USDOT. This research mini-grant aims to: (1) systematicallyexamine NASA's current practices and challenges in enhancing project cost andschedule control, particularly under funding uncertainty; (2) explore innovativeapproaches for workforce training, peer exchange, and community collaborationin the absence of traditional in-person sessions, leveraging existing workinggroups; and (3) establish a sustainable framework for future NASA collaborationfocused on targeted challenges pertinent to project control, project delivery, aswell as financial management and dispute resolution.
Devahdhanush V.S. -- University of Nebraska at Lincoln
AI/ML for Microgravity Flow Boiling: Generative Modeling of Two-Phase Flow Patterns
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Next-generation crewed Martian and lunar missions will employ advanced electronics, propulsion, and energy‑conversion systems that generate significantly higher thermal loads than current spacecraft. Managing these unprecedented loads requires advanced high‑heat‑flux thermal‑management technologies, with channel flow boiling offering exceptional performance due to its latent‑heat‑driven heat transfer, while being inherently well-suited for microgravity environments. Accurate predictive tools for key thermo-fluid parameters are essential for designing and optimizing thermal-management and cryogenic-fluid-management systems. While prior AI/ML tools can predict thermo-fluid parameters, they cannot generate the two-phase flow patterns that fundamentally govern boiling performance. This project aims to develop an AI/ML-based generative model capable of reconstructing two-phase flow patterns for microgravity flow boiling from specified operating conditions. This enables flow visualization both at the system design stages and into existing opaque thermal hardware, enhancing system design, optimization, and safety. The resulting model will support future digital-twin development for spacecraft thermal and cryogenic systems.
Eric Markvicka -- University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Materials for On-Demand, In-Space Additive Manufacturing
The ability to manufacture, repair, and recycle parts on-demand, will significantly reduce the logistical requirements of transporting goods from earth, enhance crew safety on long-duration missions, and support sustainable practices in space. The research goal of this proposal is to create a space-grade functional emulsion ink and direct ink writing method to enable on-demand manufacturing and repair of multifunctional softgoods in-space. This combination of advanced material systems and novel additive manufacturing strategies will enable the creation of soft and highly extensible multifunctional softgoods for in-space and terrestrial applications, such as wearable electronics, sensors, and soft robotics, that demand mechanical compliance with highly tunable functional response. Such space-ready capabilities will enable on-site repair of critical parts (increasing reliability and redundancy) and infrastructure development, increasing the sustainability of space exploration missions at reduced cost compared to launching all required resources from Earth.