AE Brown Bag Seminar
Friday, February 21
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Guggenheim 442
Pizza Served
Catherine Fang
Kevin Maranto
Shalini Shailesh
Catherine Fang:
Title:
Utilizing Nanopore and Nanogap Technologies to Search for Biosignatures in Extraterrestrial Worlds
Abstract:
Searching for evidence of life in outer space has been a longstanding science objective in space exploration. The search for life is crucial to improving our understanding of the origins of life on Earth, refining our definition of life, and searching for potentially habitable environments for future human use. Nanopore and nanogap instruments are emerging technologies used to analyze sample compositions and characterize biomolecules. This presentation will present an overview of life detection in space, describe the functionality of nanopores and nanogaps, and highlight their usage in current and future missions to search for life in our universe.
Faculty Advisor:
Professor Christopher Carr
Kevin Maranto
Title:
Advanced Optical Diagnostic Techniques for Fluid Flow Visualization: Comparing Holography, FLDI, and Schlieren Imaging
Abstract:
In aerospace engineering, flow fields are often modeled and measured to analyze turbulent flows and vortex structures in rocket engine plumes, assess aerodynamic performance of aircraft control surfaces, and investigate high-speed or high-temperature fluid flow phenomena. Noninvasive diagnostics are crucial to collect flow field data as physical probes can disrupt the flow and obscure key features like shock-boundary layer interactions. Optical diagnostic techniques such as off-axis digital holography and focused laser differential interferometry (FLDI) provide critical insights into fluid dynamics by enabling high-resolution visualization and measurement of density variations in aerospace flow environments. These non-invasive imaging techniques offer extremely accurate and can lead to high resolution data for 3D density mapping, turbulent flows, shock-boundary layer interactions, aeroacoustics, and high-frequency density fluctuations. This presentation will detail several imaging techniques, their applications, their effectiveness, and some experimental results. Also, this presentation includes an overview of Schlieren imaging, a simple yet effective imaging technique to visualize shock-structures and flow patterns.
Faculty Advisor:
None
Shalini Shailesh
Title:
Spacecraft Plant Chamber Modeling & Control for Bioregenerative Life Support on Future Mars Missions
Abstract:
A 3-year 6-crewmember mission to Mars requires ~11,000 kg of food with an 18-20% packaging mass overhead. With high launch costs, Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) are a promising approach to reducing upmass requirements and providing nutrients to the crew. The primary focus of this research is to develop a plant chamber that would fulfill these requirements by allowing plants to germinate in an autonomous system. This ISS-like chamber must control temperature, humidity, air, water, and light while growing plants in hydroponic and soil systems. This process begins with initial research and modeling based on past designs and changes the team hopes to make to refine existing systems with lower costs.
Faculty Advisor:
Professor Alvaro Romero-Calvo