Fall 2022 Award Recipients Announced

Graduate Research

Emma Louden
Yale University
Creating a Predictive Model of LEO Satellite Impact on Ground-Based Astrophysics

More than 24,000 satellites are set to launch in the next decade. These satellites are a direct threat to ground-based astronomy. As a proactive approach in advance of these constellations, I will develop HYPASAT, a software to model tracks that will be seen at observatories from satellites launching in the next decade. Based on HYPASAT results, I will define a ranking scale for which science cases are most at risk and rank the cases based on their priority in the Decadal Survey. My advances NASA Science Mission Directorate goals and lays the foundation for the next generation of observational astrophysics.

Andrea Mejia
University of Connecticut
Constraining Black Hole Binaries and Mergers

Black hole merger detection rates and masses are much larger than previously predicted by canonical stellar evolution models. Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) disks are therefore a promising location to boost the masses and rates of black hole mergers. Black holes embedded in a gaseous disk experience torques, leading to migration within the disk and hierarchical mergers. To establish how effective AGN disks are at forming and merging black hole binaries, we use a hydrodynamic code (Pencil Code) to run simulations of multiple black holes in a gas disk, where we investigate the effects of multiple migrators on migration torques.

Undergraduate Research

Madison Liguori
University of New Haven
Skin Thinning Mediated Bacterial Penetration During Space Travel

During space travel, astronauts endure a drastic change in the microgravity environment. The human microbiome is affected tremendously, which causes a variety of health-related issues, especially on the skin tissues. It is reported that proteobacteria microbe, which is most known for protecting against skin sensitivity, are significantly eliminated from human skin during the space travel, which allows the astronauts’ skin to be more susceptible to stimulus. One of the main issues is skin thinning. Skin thinning is caused by skin stretching past its elongation point, and not returning to its original shape, therefore leading to wrinkles. In addition, the microgravity changes also drastically affect the cell regeneration rate on the skin epidermis layers and cause an uneven flow of fluids in the body. These factors increase the likelihood of skin thinning on the astronauts; however, the mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, we proposed a method to analyze the bacterial characteristics through controlling centrifugation and cell-to-liquid mass density to mimic the microgravity. The characteristics changes on bacteria (both molecular and compositional level) at different microgravity environment and the affection to skin thinning will be explored. Based on the results, we will develop a fast in vitro skin model to quickly evaluate the relationship between bacteria changes on the skin and its protective or harmful effects on skin tissues.

Abigail Moran
University of Connecticut
Measuring Galactic Acceleration with Pulsar Timing

Improvements in pulsar timing have made it possible to measure the time derivatives of the binary periods of pulsar systems. These changes are in part the result of the relative acceleration between Earth and the pulsar. By isolating this effect, we can measure the galactic acceleration at the pulsar’s position. We will create a data release of these acceleration values and map the data in three dimensions. This can be used to evaluate galactic mass distribution models and to map dark matter density, thus adding to our scientific understanding of the galaxy, and directly serving NASA’s Science Mission Directive.

Kurt Rueckl
University of Connecticut
The Experimental Fossilization of Cyanobacteria in a Proterozoic Ocean Analogue: Implications for Biosignatures on Mars

Fossilized bacteria represent the oldest uncontested biosignatures present on Earth and potentially other planets. Understanding the initial fossilization process is critical to interpreting these any extraterrestrial biosignatures. This proposed research will investigate the difference between the initial fossilization of two cyanobacterial species, isolated from a Proterozoic ocean analog, during changing conditions that simulate surface water evaporation. This is a pioneering study and highly relevant to NASA’s Science Directorate. Results will be the critical foundation in future experiments as part of my undergraduate honors thesis, analyzing the potential fossilization of bacteria on Mars during its own period of surface water evaporation.

Student Project

Kevin Clark
Trinity College
Geothermal Energy Systems

This project aims to produce a renewable solution to satisfy the world’s need for clean energy. The objective is to design and build a thermodynamic cycle that uses constant temperature below a planet’s surface to generate clean geothermal energy. By inducing a phase change in the refrigerant, the system will maximize the temperature difference with respect to the ground’s constant temperature to dump heat into the ground to provide cooling, and pump heat from the ground to provide heating. The designed system will not rely on external power and can be scaled to fulfill various energy needs.

Samantha Lorr
Yale University
YUAA IREC 2023

The Yale Undergraduate Aerospace Association (YUAA) is devoted to helping undergraduates pursue their passion for aerospace. The Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) at Spaceport America helps us achieve our mission. This year, we will continue research on designing our own solid fuel rocket motor, exploring the thermochemistry of combustion. Additionally, we will finish constructing a composite 2-stage rocket with innovative fabrication techniques to propel it to 10,000 feet above ground level, where redundant onboard electronics will deploy parachutes to safely recover the rocket and rover payload. This innovative rocket will be flown at IREC during the summer of 2023.

Manjot Singh
Fairfield University
Design of a Testbed for Soilless Root Vegetable Growth in Microgravity

Controlled and reliable growth of root vegetables is important for manned deep space exploration, to fully sustain nutritional expectations for the crew. Current systems have been proven successful at growing certain leafy vegetables, but a more complete diet is needed for extended missions. A new design is proposed that will accommodate root system expansion, ensure proper nutrient delivery, and allow for investigation of optimal lighting and irrigation conditions, as well as support media. High-density crop layout designs are being developed with crew time optimization considerations during the entire growth cycle. This proposal seeks to fabricate such testbed design.

Ananya Swamy
Trinity College
Muscle Activation Visualization System for Microgravity Environments

A system will be developed to map and display a user’s muscle activation using sEMG sensors and LED lights. The user will perform an isometric contraction using a designed test fixture. They will receive real-time visual feedback through a color-coded LED system based on applied force. This feedback system will be calibrated for each user in a psychological study to understand the relationship between perceived and actual exertion. This system will be a viable solution for astronauts to exercise and monitor muscle strength in microgravity environments. A visual feedback system of their muscle activation will combat muscle atrophy in space.

Student Travel

Alaina Einsig
Wesleyan University

Hannah Lewis
Wesleyan University

Anna Ort
University of New Haven

Autumn Pearce
Yale University