2020 NASA EPSCOR ISS Flight Opportunity

Proposal Abstracts 

1 

Contents

20-ISS 2020-0002.....................................................................................................................................2

Electrokinetic assembly of stable nanoparticle haloing suspensions......................................................2 

20-ISS 2020-0003.....................................................................................................................................3

NASA EPSCoR ISS: Assessing the Performance of Urease-Phospholipid Reactive Forward Osmosis 

Membranes for Water Reclamation Aboard the ISS ...............................................................................3 

20-ISS 2020-0004.....................................................................................................................................4

In-Space Manufacturing of Assembled Lightweight Flexible Carbon-based Perovskite Thin Film Solar 

Cells with Radiation Stability in ISS..........................................................................................................4

20-ISS 2020-0005.....................................................................................................................................5

Evaluation of the Automated Small Format Nucleic Acid Extraction System for Use in MicroGravity 

Environments and on the International Space Station............................................................................5

20-ISS 2020-0006.....................................................................................................................................6

High performance radiation hardened GaN high electron mobility transistors on silicon substrate for 

space applications....................................................................................................................................6

20-ISS 2020-0007.....................................................................................................................................7

Acoustic Tractor Beams to Manipulate Fluids in Reduced Gravity..........................................................7

20-ISS 2020-0008.....................................................................................................................................8

Efficient microgravity heat and mass transfer with no moving parts.....................................................8
2020 NASA EPSCOR ISS Flight Opportunity

Proposal Abstracts 

2 

20-ISS 2020-0002

Electrokinetic assembly of stable nanoparticle haloing suspensions

University Of Kentucky, Lexington 

Director/PI: Dr. Alexandre Martin 

Science PI: Dr. Stuart Joseph Williams 

NASA MD: SMD

Kentucky s NASA EPSCoR jurisdiction solicited proposal responses from Kentucky university-led research teams 

to address the ISS flight opportunity listed in the FY2020 NASA EPSCoR International Space Station (ISS) Flight 

Opportunity announcement (NNH20ZHA002C). The NASA Kentucky EPSCoR program collaborated with 

responding faculty researchers to develop and submit a relevant proposal that will address NASA EPSCoR ISS 

objectives. 

The goal of this proposed work by the University of Louisville research team is to utilize the microgravity 

environment on the International Space Station (ISS) and self-assemble, using electric fields, a bimodal 

colloidal solution containing both microparticles and nanoparticles. More specifically, we want to prove that 

nanoparticles are present within the microparticle interparticle spacing when the latter assembles into 

crystalline-like packing. In collaboration with NASA s Advanced Colloids Experiments (ACE) team, we will 

develop an automated platform for microscopic visualization and to apply the electric field to the colloidal 

samples. Our results can be applied towards the enhancement of quantum-dot synthesized solar cells (QDSS). 

Further, our work provides the foundation for future electrokinetic experiments by ACE (ACE-E).
2020 NASA EPSCOR ISS Flight Opportunity

Proposal Abstracts 

3 

20-ISS 2020-0003

NASA EPSCoR ISS: Assessing the Performance of Urease-Phospholipid Reactive Forward Osmosis 

Membranes for Water Reclamation Aboard the ISS

University Of Puerto Rico, San Juan 

Director/PI: Dr. Gerardo Morell

Science PI: Dr. Eduardo L. Nicolau-Lopez

NASA MD: SMD

This proposal is a collaborative effort between the University of Puerto Rico and NASA Ames Research Center 

to advance the membrane-based technology for water reclamation in space. Water is one of the most massive 

components aboard spacecraft making it imperative to recycle wastewater. Moreover, the recovery of 

wastewater into potable water is critical for life support and environmental health of crewmembers, and is 

required to enable future long-term space exploration missions planned by NASA. 

Previous research done at NASA Ames revealed that the conventional forward osmosis process leaves large 

quantities of total organic carbon dissolved in water. Under a NASA EPSCoR research project, we found that 

that these high levels of dissolved carbon are mainly due to the presence of urea and developed urea reactive 

forward osmosis membranes (UFOBs) technology as a proof-ofconcept to solve this problem.

In this NASA EPSCoR ISS project, we will evaluate the performance of UFOBs under microgravity conditions and 

correlate the diffusion of species compared to the results at 1g. The ground-based performance of UFOBs is 

promising, and their wetting dynamics and flux need to be evaluated in microgravity conditions to advance its 

technology readiness level. It is our hypothesis that due to the reactive nature of the UFOBs, they will achieve 

higher rejection rates and better water fluxes than conventional membranes under microgravity conditions, 

thereby paving the way for its use in future NASA missions.
2020 NASA EPSCOR ISS Flight Opportunity

Proposal Abstracts 

4 

20-ISS 2020-0004

In-Space Manufacturing of Assembled Lightweight Flexible Carbon-based Perovskite Thin Film Solar 

Cells with Radiation Stability in ISS

University Of Alabama, Huntsville 

Director/PI: Dr. Dale Thomas

Science PI: Dr. Feng Yan

NASA MD: STMD

We propose in-space manufacturing of highly efficient and scalable carbon-based perovskite thin ilm solar cells 

and characterize its space radiation hardness in International Space Station (ISS). Long duration space missions 

require novel design and in-space manufacturing (ISM) to realize on-demand fabrication, repair, and recycling 

for the space application. In particular, the power of the entire ISS is provided by the solar panel which was 

manufactured on the earth. However, damage or break of the solar panel could generate severely power loss 

or accident for the ISS. Thus, it is desired to get fast repair and replace the solar panel through the ISM. The

manufacturing process is very complicated and not suitable for the ISM due to the limited facilities, earthindependent, and microgravity conditions in the ISS. Therefore, to realize the ISM of the solar panel, an easy 

way to fit the limitation of the space working environment is needed. Particularly, a lightweight, stable, high 

efficient and flexible solar cell ISM is highly expected to repair or replace the broken or damaged solar panel in 

ISS.

Nowadays, the perovskite thin film solar cell becomes a new solar cell technology with high performance with 

power conversion efficiency >25%, and ultralow-cost per watt photovoltaic materials, and demonstrated 

radiation resistance. These advantages of perovskite solar cell technology promise the space application with 

affordable and sustainable solar energy during space exploration and ISS. However, conventional 

manufacturing of perovskite solar cells still suffers from the stabilities, degradation and short term durability. 

In this proposal, we employ the carbon-based perovskite solar cells for the space application by integrating the 

carbon electrode to prevent the space radiation and suitable for printing in space to demonstrate the in-space

manufacturing of highly efficient and stable carbon-based perovskite for space application. If successful, this 

project will produce a new generation of solar cells that can be in-space manufacturing in demand and repair 

the solar panel in the satellite and ISS.
2020 NASA EPSCOR ISS Flight Opportunity

Proposal Abstracts 

5 

20-ISS 2020-0005

Evaluation of the Automated Small Format Nucleic Acid Extraction System for Use in MicroGravity 

Environments and on the International Space Station

University Of Vermont, Burlington 

Director/PI: Dr. Bernard Cole

Science PI: Dr. Julie Dragon

NASA MD: SMD, STMD

NASA has made great strides in the last five years to develop a suite of instruments for the International Space 

Station (ISS) in order to perform molecular biology in space. However, a key piece of equipment that has been 

lacking is an instrument that can extract nucleic acids from an array of complex human and environmental 

samples with minimal astronaut interaction. Since all current earth-based automated DNA extraction 

instruments are designed of 1G gravity, they are not useful for applications on the ISS. The Omics in Space 

team, personnel from the University of Vermont Integrative Genomics Resource, and the Extreme Microbiome 

Project (XMP) have developed and tested the microTitan (simulated microgravity tested instrument for 

automated nucleic acid) system capable of automated, streamlined, nucleic acid extraction that is adapted for 

use under microgravity. The microTitan system has been evaluated using a whole cell microbial reference 

(WCMR) standard comprised of nine bacteria titrated at concentrations that would challenge the performance 

of the instrument as well as resolve detection limits for isolating DNA in the field.

The instrument is in an advanced prototype stage and has been tested in the field on samples collected at 

extreme environments including the hot springs at Yellowstone National Park and has proven to have 

extraction efficiencies equal to or greater than current earth-based instruments such as the Promega Maxwell 

system. It employs a novel reagent pack design compatible with microgravity and has been evaluate using 

Drop Tests experiments. The unit is a small format, low power consumption, capable of processing multiple 

samples (n=6) at the same time, and requires little astronaut interaction.

The object of this EPSCoR grant is 1) finalize the prototype design to be fully compatible with ISS operations, 2) 

deploy the device to the ISS, 3) perform six automated DNA extractions on the ISS using a "fixed" microbial 

whole cell reference samples developed by the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities metagenomic 

and microbiome research group (ABRF MMRG), and 4) establish performance results, and describe and 

characterize shortcomings of the instruments.

The benefits of this research in the area of microgravity are important on many levels. As humans drive deeper 

into space and microgravity environments, the need to perform DNA analysis become more critical for safety 

monitoring of food, air and water, but more importantly for astronaut and human.
2020 NASA EPSCOR ISS Flight Opportunity

Proposal Abstracts 

6 

20-ISS 2020-0006

High performance radiation hardened GaN high electron mobility transistors on silicon substrate for 

space applications

University Of Delaware 

Director/PI: Dr. William Matthaeus 

Science PI: Dr. Yuping Zeng

NASA MD: SMD, STMD

NASA and general space missions for planetary exploration include acquiring information to understand 

environment, geology, volcanic activity, and seismic events. To complete these missions, long time operation 

of spacecraft with electronic systems to collect the information is indispensable. However, space is a harsh 

environment. Severe radiation and dramatic temperature variations can damage sensitive electronics. Thus, 

when selecting components for spacecraft electronic systems, we need to consider important parameters of 

the components such as radiation robustness and temperature tolerance. In addition, the cost, size and weight 

of the systems must be minimized. GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is one potential candidate for 

such applications due to its high switching speed, high breakdown voltage, and thermal and chemical stability.

Gallium-nitride transistors became available commercially in 2010, but they have not yet found their way into 

space instruments, despite their potential to reduce an instrument s size, weight, and power consumption. The 

radiation hardness of GaN transistors remains not well-explored and understanding of their radiation effects is 

still lacking.

This project will assess the radiation effects on GaN HEMTs. The specific objectives are: (1) to develop GaN 

HEMTs with innovative material design and fabrication process; (2) to examine the material properties and 

device performances of these transistors before/during/after space flight; and (3) to evaluate the effects of 

radiation on these GaN HEMTs and further enhance radiation hardness by optimizing the design.

This study will quantify radiation effects on GaN transistors, especially providing new radiation effect 

information for InAlN GaN-on-Si HEMTs. The success of this proposed work will enable GaN HEMTs to be 

applied in high temperature sustainable and radiation hard power amplifiers in satellites, low noise amplifier 

for RF satellite receivers, active electronically scanned arrays for increasing detection, navigation and earth 

observation capabilities. Ultimately, space systems with reduced size and weight, higher power efficiency, and 

greater resilience to radiation and temperature extremes will be delivered.
2020 NASA EPSCOR ISS Flight Opportunity

Proposal Abstracts 

7 

20-ISS 2020-0007

Acoustic Tractor Beams to Manipulate Fluids in Reduced Gravity

University Of Mississippi 

Director/PI: Dr. Nathan Murray 

Science PI: Dr. Likun Zhang

NASA MD: SMD, STMD

Acoustic standing waves were used by NASA in the past two decades for non-contact control of fluids. The 

need for a reflector or a container to generate the standing waves limited the flexibility of that technique. This 

limitation inspires us to develop non-contact techniques using the recently developed acoustic travelling 

tractor beams, which have the flexibility for non-contact control of fluids in free space. The objective of the 

proposal is to demonstrate fluid collection using ultrasound beams as an acoustic tractor beam to collect and 

manipulate fluids in a microgravity environment. 

Long-term microgravity exposure to the experiment provides a unique benefit of being able to study the 

acoustic interactions with the fluids without the interference that gravity provides. The operation process will 

be over a time scale longer than what is provided in parabolic flight. In the first phase of the project, the 

experimental apparatus will be developed and tested in ground experiments, including transducer design, fluid 

operation, and acoustic characterization, before deployment to the ISS. Data on ISS will be collected as videos 

to demonstrate the manipulation of fluid droplets in a microgravity environment and for later analysis. We 

expect to observe trapping and pulling of larger and multiple droplets by means of an acoustic beam. We will 

also compare the beam s trapping capability in reduced gravity to what is possible on Earth.

Fluid control by non-contact techniques is an important area of research for the International Space Station 

and relevant to NASA s strategic research and technology development priorities in fluid management 

technologies. Our investigation of fluid control using the recently developed travelling sound beams will open 

up a new flexibility for fluid control - particularly in a reduced gravity environment.
2020 NASA EPSCOR ISS Flight Opportunity

Proposal Abstracts 

8 

20-ISS 2020-0008

Efficient microgravity heat and mass transfer with no moving parts

New Mexico State University 

Director/PI: Dr. Paulo Oemig

Science PI: Dr. Peter Vorobieff

NASA MD: SMD, STMD

We propose to demonstrate an efficient, noncontact method of transporting heat in microgravity. This new 

method does not employ any moving parts and requires only a modest power supply to drive low-impedance 

Helmholtz coils. This method has been extensively tested on Earth and there is strong evidence that it should 

work even better in microgravity environments.

In Earth s gravity field, heat and mass transfer in liquids occurs via convection, provided a destabilizing thermal 

gradient exists. In the microgravity environments of space, artificial convection must be used, which is 

generally accomplished by driving the fluid with mechanical action, and that requires motors, other moving 

parts and seals, raising reliability and maintenance concerns. To address these concerns, much attention has 

been focused on non-contact methods of inducing fluid flow. Magnetic fields are the focus of many proposed 

techniques, because it is easy to generate fields having large energy densities over significant volumes. Recent 

discoveries reveal that dynamic magnetic fields of very modest strength (order of milliTesla) can create 

vigorous, organized flows in dilute magnetic particle suspensions. 

We propose to show that these discoveries isothermal magnetic advection (IMA) and vortex fluid formation 

with symmetry-breaking and rational fields can create highly efficient heat/mass transfer in space 

applications. IMA occurs when a uniform biaxial magnetic field whose frequency ratio is a simple rational 

number (e.g. 1:2) is applied to a 1-2 vol.% suspension of magnetic particles (platelets) in fluid. The flow rate 

increases as the square of the field magnitude. With triaxial magnetic field, vortex flow can form in the fluid, 

producing strong mixing and heat and mass transfer in complex, confined geometries and the flow direction 

can be controlled externally and with no moving parts. We shall find if a high degree of control of fluid heat 

transfer can be achieved in microgravity with triaxial magnetic fields. These studies will employ an enclosed 

cell filled with water and seeded with a small volume fraction of magnetic platelets. Heat transfer will be 

quantified using off-the-shelf point diagnostics. One part of the cell will be heated. In the absence of natural or 

artificial convection, heat transfer will occur only through diffusion and radiation, so any local heating will lead 

to a quick temperature rise. In a strongly mixed fluid the rate of heating will be much slower. The magnetic 

field will be comprised of two ac components and a small permanent field. Each ac component will require 

~30 mW of power per milliliter of liquid at the 50 Gauss field that produced essentially maximum heat transfer 

on Earth. Each experiment would be less than 1 minute in duration, with the maximum power consumption 

not to exceed 30 W. We expect that in space the required field strength will be lower, since gravity-driven 

particle sedimentation will not occur. At 25 Gauss the power requirement would drop to ~7.5 mW/ml. 

Visualization of the flow patterns can further elucidate the physics of the flow. Results of microgravity and 

ground tests will be compared. 

Our goal is to quantify control over heat/mass transfer as a function of the magnetic field parameters as an 

important first step to the implementation of this new technology in future space systems. The ISS is the 

perfect platform to explore the efficacy of this new approach in microgravity, where the ability to facilitate and 

control heat and mass transfer with no moving parts and very low power requirements may be indispensable.