National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA EPSCoR Stimuli 2017–18 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters Washington, DC 20546-0001 Reply to Attn of: Office of Education Greetings, On behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Stem Engagement, I welcome you to the third edition of Stimuli, a NASA EPSCoR collection of college and university research spanning Earth science, aeronautics, low earth orbit and deep space exploration development. During this 60th anniversary of NASA, America is preparing to return to the Moon. On December 11, President Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, a change in national space policy that provides for a U.S.-led, integrated program with private sector partners for a human return to the Moon, followed by missions to Mars and beyond. The policy directive states: “Lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities. Beginning with missions beyond low-Earth orbit, the United States will lead the return of humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations.” NASA EPSCoR supports this directive through research directed toward the goals of the NASA Mission Directorates. The NASA EPSCoR program directs Congressionally-mandated research and development grants to eligible colleges and universities. The resultant work has consistently proved successful and viable. EPSCoR’s impact is long-term and far-reaching. By helping establish state-of-the-art infrastructure needed to conduct the cutting edge research it funds, EPSCoR is contributing to the self-sustenance of U.S. competitive R&D capabilities and stimulating partnerships between government, higher education and industry. Sincerely, Mike Kincaid Associate Administrator NASA Office of Education National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters Washington,National DC Aeronautics 20546-0001 and Space Administration HeadquartersNational Aeronautics and Space Administration Reply to Attn of: OfficeWashington, of Chief DC Scientist 20546- 0001 Headquarters OfficeWashington, of Chief DCEngineer 20546- 0001 Office of Chief Technologist Reply to Attn of: Office of Chief Scientist Office of Chief Engineer Reply to Attn of: Office of Chief Scientist Greetings, Office of Chief TechnologistEngineer Office of Chief Technologist President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958. In the 60 Greetings, years since, research funded by NASA has advanced our understanding of the earth, near Earth Greetings, orbit, and deep space. Many scientists and researchers, teamed with NASA researchers and President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958. In the 60 engineers, have received NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research yearsPresident since, Eisenhower research funded signed by the NASA National has Aeronautics advanced our and understanding Space Act on of July the 29,earth, 1958. near In Earth the 60 (EPSCoR) awards resulting in patents or technical transfer of their basic aerospace-related orbit,years andsince, deep research space. funded Many byscientists NASA andhas researchers,advanced our teamed understanding with NASA of the researchers earth, near and Earth research; some will see applications of their efforts fly in space aboard the International Space engineers,orbit, and deephave space.received M NASAany scientists Established and researchers, Program to teamed Stimulate with Competitive NASA researchers Research and Station. As you browse through this edition of Stimuli, remember that NASA EPSCoR research (engineers,EPSCoR) haveawards received resulting NASA in patents Established or technical Program transfer to Stimulate of their basicCompetitive aerospace Research-related contributes toward keeping NASA and our nation on the leading edge of aeronautical and research(EPSCoR; some) awards will resulting see applications in patents of ortheir technical efforts transferfly in space of their aboard basic the aerospace International-related Space aerospace engineering and technology while advancing the goals of America’s Space Program. Station.research As; some you willbrowse see throughapplications this editionof their ofefforts Stimuli fly, inremember space aboard that NASA the International EPSCoR research Space contributesStation. As towardyou browse keeping through NASA this and edition our nation of Stimuli on the, remember leading edge that NASAof aero nauticalEPSCoR and research We are proud of the research you see here as it is the result of collaborations with NASA aerospacecontributes engineering toward keeping and technolo NASA andgy while our nation advancing on the the leading goals edgeof America’s of aeronautical Space Program.and scientists and engineers in areas that are of high interest to the NASA Mission Directorates. In aerospace engineering and technology while advancing the goals of America’s Space Program. addition, each research project is evaluated by a NASA Technical Monitor who works closely We are proud of the research you see here as it is the result of collaborations with NASA with the university researchers. 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These capabilities include life sciences and with the university researchers EPSCoR researchers follow the NASA lead in developing new habitationresearch capabilities systems, space with launchassistance and from suborbital the centers. technologies These andcapabilities tracking, include timing, life sciences and Enjoy, communications,habitation systems, and space navigation launch technologiesand suborbital technologies and tracking, timing, communications, and navigation technologies Enjoy, Enjoy, Dr. Gale J. Allen Acting NASA Chief Scientist Dr. Gale J. Allen ActingDr. Gale NASA J. Allen Chief Scientist Mr. Ralph R. Roe, Jr. Acting NASA Chief Scientist NASA Chief Engineer Mr. Ralph R. Roe, Jr. Dr. Douglas Terrier NASAMr. Ralph Chief R. EngineerRoe, Jr. Acting NASA Chief Technologist NASA Chief Engineer Dr. Douglas Terrier ActingDr. Douglas NASA Terrier Chief Technologist Acting NASA Chief Technologist Contents EARTH LOW EARTH ORBIT DEEP SPACE Represents Planet Earth is Research Related to is Interplanetary and the Terrestrial Low Altitude Satellites, Exploration and the Environment the ISS and Re-entry Technologies to Get There Alaska Research Infrastructure Development 8 Stereo-Derived Topography for the Last Frontier and the Final Frontier 9 A Vertical Comet Assay for Measuring DNA Damage to Radiation 10 Development and Characterization of a New Hybrid Polymer-Nanoparticle Composite Coating for Corrosion Protection in… 11 Alabama Research Infrastructure Development 12 Experimental Investigation of Noise and Thermo-acoustic Instabilities in Low-Emission, High-Efficiency Combustion Systems… 13 Development of Dust Free Binders for Spacecraft Air Revitalization Systems 14 Arkansas Research Infrastructure Development 15 New Computer Vision Methods for NASA Robotic Planetary Exploration 16 SiGeSn Based Photovoltaic Devices for Space Applications 17 CubeSat Agile Propulsion Technology Demonstrator Mission (ARKSAT-2) 18 Bio-Inspired PTFE-Based Solid Lubricant Coatings on Nickel-Titanium for Space Mechanisms and Aerospace Applications 19 Delaware Research Infrastructure Development 20 ISS - Improved EVA Suit MMOD Protection Using STF-Armor Tm and Self-Healing Polymers 21 ISS - Evaluation of Graphene-Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits for High-Speed, Light Weight and Radiation Hard Optical… 22 Laser based Remote Magnetometry with Mesospheric Sodium Atoms for Geomagnetic Field Measurements 23 Guam Research Infrastructure Development 24 GEOCORE: Geospatial Studies of Coral Reef Ecology and Health using Satellite and Airborne Data 25 Hawaii Research Infrastructure Development 26 Development of a Large Area Standoff Bio-finder and Chemical Analyzer for Planetary Exploration 27 Development of the Miniaturized Infrared Detector for Atmospheric Species (MIDAS) Instrument 28 Developing a Capability at the University of Hawaii for Multiple UAV Observations of Active Volcanism 29 Autonomous Control Technology for Unmanned Aerial Systems with Agricultural and Environmental Applications in Central… 30 Idaho Research Infrastructure Development 31 Monitoring Earth’s Hydrosphere: Integrating Remote Sensing, Modeling, and Verification 32 Space-Grade Flexible Hybrid Electronics 33 Kansas Research Infrastructure Development 34 Nanostructured Solid-State Energy Storage Devices for Wide-Temperature Applications