Abstract: Various embodiments provide dye-doped polystyrene microspheres generated using dispersion polymerization. Polystyrene microspheres may be doped with fluorescent dyes, such as xanthene derivatives including Kiton Red 620 (KR620), using dispersion polymerization. Certain functionalities, such as sodium styrene sulfonate, may be used to shift the equilibrium distribution of dye molecules to favor incorporation of the dye into the particles. Polyelectrolyte materials, such as poly(diallyldimethyl ammnonium chloride), PolyDADMAC, may be used to electrostatically trap and bind dye molecules within the particles. A buffer may be used to stabilize the pH change of the solution during dye-doped polystyrene microsphere generation and the buffer may be selected depending on the pKa of the dye being incorporated. The various embodiments may provide dye-doped polystyrene microspheres, such as KR620-doped polystyrene microspheres that are non-toxic and non-carcinogenic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a single board computer system with an improved memory and layout. The unique layout of the printed circuit board of the present invention allows for different parts to be placed in a back-to-back configuration to minimize the dimensions of the printed circuit board. This includes a high-performance radiation-hardened reconfigurable FPGA, for processing computation-intensive space systems, disposed on both sides of the printed circuit board. Four dual double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memories (DDR2 SDRAMs) disposed on both the top side and on the bottom side of the printed circuit board reduce an operating voltage of said printed circuit board. A layout stack-up of the printed circuit board includes twenty-two symmetrical layers including ten ground layers, four power layers, six signal layers, a top layer, and a bottom layer.

Abstract: A phononic filter includes a metamaterial body including a membrane including a crystalline or amorphous dielectric material, an elemental superconductor or an alloyed superconductor; and a plurality of spaced features. The spaced features includes holes, spacings, or apertures in the metamaterial body.

Abstract: A miniaturized astrometric alignment sensor may detect stellar objects and targets from which both stellar and object tracking are performed. The sensor may search for one or more bright opens in an image captured by a camera of a space vehicle, and determine if the one or more bright objects is a genuine star or a secondary element. The sensor may also catalog entries of identified stars after three or more bright objects are determined to be genuine stars, and display the cataloged entries of the identified stars, wherein the cataloged entries comprises positional and velocity of the space vehicle in relation of the identified stars and a sensor body reference frame.

Abstract: An earth coverage antenna system includes a reflector, a feed horn and a strut. The reflector has a circularly symmetric reflector surface. The feed horn is positioned on the symmetry axis of the reflector and is attached to the strut. The feed horn transmits RF microwave energy toward the reflector surface. The antenna system further includes two cables that prevent side-ways movement of the strut. The antenna system further includes a lens assembly that directs microwave energy away from the central region of the reflector. The antenna system further includes a microwave energy scattering device disposed at the center of the reflector to scatter microwave energy away from the feed horn. The reflector surface is defined by a perturbed parabolic geometrical shape that is swept around the symmetry axis. The reflector reflects most microwave energy towards the earth's horizon, but diverts enough microwave energy towards the regions closer to nadir so as to maintain an isoflux of energy on the earth's surface.

Abstract: Cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy (CEAS) may include a pulsed light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit a light towards a photomultiplier tube (PMT). CEAS may also include a cell, which includes a pair of reflective mirrors located at opposite ends of the cell. The pair of mirrors are configured to bounce the light back and forth a plurality of times increasing the effective path length of the cell. The PMT is configured to detect the emitted light for ozone absorption measurement.

Abstract: A test apparatus for evaluating thermal properties of a test specimen across a wide range of thermal conductivities and temperature ranges using a flat plate cup cryostat. The test apparatus includes: a heater assembly having an upper surface to receive a test specimen; a cold plate positioned on top of the test specimen; a vessel comprising an outer cylindrical tube closed on a bottom end by the cold plate; an inner cylindrical tube concentrically received in an upper portion of the outer cylindrical tube above the vessel to vent the vessel; insulation material surrounding at least the heater assembly, test specimen, cold plate, and vessel; a sensor that detects boiloff or evaporation rate of liquid from the vessel vented from the inner cylindrical tube; temperature sensors positioned to detect temperatures of the heater assembly and the cold plate; and a data recording device to record the boiloff or evaporation rates and temperature values.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for providing bandwidth constrained image processing are described. The disclosed technology determines a data transfer rate of at least one signal received from a vehicle, the at least one signal including state/status data of the vehicle. In response to determining that the data transfer rate satisfies a data transfer rate criterion, a location of the vehicle and a location of at least one of a plurality of objects that obstruct the at least one signal is determined using the state data and external data associated with the vehicle. The disclosed technology generates optimized state data using the state data and the external data.

Abstract: A microwave radiometer with reduced volume, mass, phase noise, and power requirements and increased harmonic rejection, includes a fixed number of frequency banks configured to provide signals within separate, non-overlapping local oscillation frequency bands, a detection circuit configured to detect one or more microwave RF signals, and an RF downconverter configured to mix the signals within the separate, non-overlapping local oscillation frequency bands with the one or more microwave RF signals to provide a continuous range of down converted frequencies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an advanced spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system and method that can provide high resolution measurements of the Earth or planetary surface, overcoming limitations in conventional SAR systems, and reduce development costs. The present invention utilizes advanced and innovative techniques, such as software defined waveforms, digital beamforming (DBF) and reconfigurable hardware, to provide radar capabilities not possible with conventional radar instruments, while reducing the radar development cost. The SAR system architecture employs a modular, low power, lightweight design approach to meet stringent spaceborne radar instrument requirements.

Abstract: A microcontroller controlled altimeter includes a microcontroller, a digital altitude pressure sensor with a pressure indicating output coupled to the microprocessor, and at least one Form A solid state relay coupled to the microcontroller, where the microcontroller is configured to provide control signals to the at least one Form A solid state relay to provide an open circuit between normally open and common terminals of the at least one Form A solid state relay if the digital altitude pressure sensor output is less than, or equal to, a setpoint for the at least one Form A relay, and provide continuity between the normally open and common terminals of the at least one Form A solid state relay if the digital altitude pressure sensor output is greater than the setpoint for the at least one Form A relay.

Abstract: The invention is a microcircuit configured as a compact, radiation hardened, low-power general purpose I/O expander. The expander may be controlled by an external microcontroller or central processing unit through a serial interface. The expander provides a simple solution to miniaturize static parallel I/O signals using a simplified serial interface such as I2C or SPI.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein includes various embodiments and components of a solid state analog altimeter switch useful for generating switching signals based on altitude determined from barometric pressure. Embodiments of the solid state analog altimeter switch disclosed herein are designed to be extremely accurate, small, robust and inexpensive to produce. Such solid state analog altimeter switches are particularly useful for generating switching events based on predetermined altitudes in sounding rockets.

Abstract: A passive phase shifter includes a reference line and a half-wavelength transmission line, where the half-wavelength transmission line is loaded with a perpendicular quarter wavelength rectangular stub and a quarter wavelength radial stub structure connected in series.

Abstract: Copoly(imide oxetane) materials are disclosed that can exhibit a low surface energy while possessing the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides. The copoly(imide oxetane)s are prepared using a minor amount of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer with sufficient fluorine-containing segments of the copoly(imide oxetane)s migrate to the exterior surface of the polymeric material to yield low surface energies. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copoly(imide oxetane)s of this invention are characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine composition. The low surface energies can be achieved with very low content of fluorinated oxetane-derived oligomer. The copolymers of this invention can enhance the viability of polyimides for many applications and may be acceptable where homopolyimide materials have been unacceptable.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide technology that may be used in harsh marine and harsh weather environments for the imaging of electric potentials and electric fields to characterize objects or regions. Various embodiments may enable a camera or eye type electric field imaging system that may be used in harsh weather or harsh environments (e.g., harsh marine environments, etc.) to image electrical potentials and electric fields.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide a compact vibration damper configured to be remotely-tunable and/or self-tuning. In various embodiments, a flywheel may be coupled to a shaft that spins a rotary damper. A linear actuator may operate a scissor assembly that moves the flywheel thereby changing the mass moment of inertia of the spinning flywheel without changing the actual mass of the flywheel. The linear actuator may move the scissor assembly and flywheel to tune the compact vibration damper. In additional embodiments, opposing rotary springs may be coupled to the shaft that spins the rotary damper.

Abstract: A wireless temperature sensor includes an electrical conductor and a material spaced apart from the conductor and located within one or more of the responding electric field and responding magnetic field of the conductor. The conductor is electrically unconnected and is shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the conductor resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses, each of which has a frequency associated therewith. The material is selected such that it experiences changes in one of dielectric properties and magnetic permeability properties in the presence of a temperature change. Shifts from the sensor's baseline frequency response indicate that the material has experienced a temperature change.

Abstract: A shared optics and telescope, a filter, and a micropulse differential absorption LIDAR are provided, with methods to use the same. The shared optics and telescope includes a pair of axicon lenses, a secondary mirror, a primary mirror including an inner mirror portion and an outer mirror portion, the inner mirror portion operable to expand the deflected annular transmission beam, and the outer mirror portion operable to collect the return signal. The filter includes an etalon and a first filter. The micropulse differential absorption LIDAR includes first and second laser signals, a laser transmission beam selection switch, a first laser return signal switch, and a toggle timer.

Abstract: A system for monitoring damage progression in a composite structure includes a load sensor, acoustic emission sensors, a camera, and a monitoring device. The load sensor measures an applied load to the structure. The sensors measure acoustic emission data indicative of possible damage to the structure. The camera captures image data of the structure in a designated portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The monitoring device executes a method by which the acoustic emission data is synchronously collected with the image data and the applied load. The device automatically maps the acoustic emission data onto the image data to detect an area of damage progression in the composite structure. A failure event in the detected area of damage progression may be predicted using the mapped data, and a control action may be executed in response to the predicted failure event.