Andrea Belz

Breathing metals as a way of life: Geobiology in action

Many microbes have the ability to reduce transition metals, coupling this reduction to the oxidation of energy sources in a dissimilatory fashion. Because of their abundance, iron and manganese have been extensively studied, and it is well established that reduction of Mn and Fe account for significant turnover of organic carbon in many environments. In addition, many of the dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria (DMRB) also reduce other metals, including toxic metals like Cr(VI), and radioactive contaminants like U(VI), raising the expectations that these processes can be used for bioremediation. The processes involved in metal reduction remain mysterious, and often progress is slow, as nearly all iron and manganese oxides are solids, which offer particular challenges with regard to imaging and chemical measurements. In particular, the interactions that occur at the bacteria-mineral interfaces are not yet clearly elucidated. One DMRB, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 offers the advantage that its genome has recently been sequenced, and with the availability of its genomic sequence, several aspects of its metal reducing abilities are now beginning to be seen. As these studies progress, it should be possible to separate several processes involved with metal reduction, including surface recognition, attachment, metal destabilization and reduction, and secondary mineral formation.

Organization and Elemental Analysis of P-, S-, and Fe-rich Inclusions in a Population of Freshwater Magnetococci

We characterized a population of bilophotrichously flagellated freshwater magnetotactic cocci (MC), referred to as ARB-1, morphologically, chemically, and phylogenetically. Cells examined using light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) contained three types of intracellular inclusions placed in a specific arrangement within the cell. Elemental compositions of the inclusions were determined using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) from both ESEM and TEM. The spherical to ovoid cells contained two large phosphorus-rich inclusions that occupied most of the cell volume and appeared to be enclosed in a membrane or coating. Several smaller sulfur-rich inclusions were located at the end of the cell opposite the flagellar bundles. The magnetosomes, arranged either as a cluster, a chain, or a combination of both, were located proximal to the two flagellar bundles. Magnetite was identified as the mineral phase of the magnetosomes using selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and by measuring lattice fringe spacings of the crystals. The magnetite crystals were hexagonal prisms that averaged 82 nm in length and thus fit into the single-magnetic-domain size range. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences suggests that it is a mixed population of MC that form a monophyletic clade distinct from but similar to other uncultured MC.

Models for technology transfer in the aerospace industry

From ARPANET to breast cancer imaging, the aerospace industry has developed many new technologies with unexpected applications in the broader marketplace. Unfortunately, further aerospace technology commercialization is inhibited by poor understanding of venture capital, high expectations of small business innovation research grants, and an incomplete knowledge of university best practices. Because todays economy provides the first opportunities in over a decade for aerospace sectors to provide attractive returns to investors, it is an excellent time to consider accelerating a technology transfer program. In this paper, I will discuss “spin-up” and “spin-out” models to guide management in effective commercialization. 1 2

Challenges in technology infusion: Adapting best practices from the private sector

Strategic technology roadmap exercises typically identify technology gaps and determine resource needs. In practice, closing the gaps is remarkably difficult. Internal development efforts sometimes flounder, and small businesses have experienced limited success in becoming vendors. Unfortunately, the financial crisis of 2008 has intensified the problem, forcing a shrinking venture capital industry to avoid aerospace technologies. Federal investment in small business technology development will likely increase, with no guarantee of improved returns. The need for effective technology transfer has grown as NASAs priorities have moved from commercializing internal development to introducing external innovations, but success seems elusive. On the other hand, many companies in the private sector excel at accelerating innovation. This document describes the funding environment for small businesses, identifies selected best practices in the private sector, and synthesizes them into recommendations for improved technology transfer from internal and external development sources.1 2

Applications of electrostatic spray techniques to surface cleaning

Conventional cleaning technologies have been effective in removal of particles, metals, and organic films. However, two trends motivating the development of new techniques are 1) the desire to minimize the environmental impact of large volumes of cleaning solutions; and 2) the need to clean at the sub-45 nm level, consistent with decreasing feature sizes. We report here on the initial characterization of a system to apply electrospray techniques to variants of the SC-1 and SC-2 solutions, as well as to solvent mixtures. We describe the generation of submicron sized droplets (<1 m radius) of cleaning mixtures and demonstrate a preliminary methodology, using a combination of experimental data and phenomenological modeling approaches, to characterize the physics of the droplet-surface interaction

Assessing planetary protection and contamination control technologies for planetary science missions

Planetary protection and organic contamination control, like many technologically rich areas, continually progress. As a result of the 2011 Planetary Science Decadal Survey Report, Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022, the future focus is now on proposed Mars sample return missions. In addition to Mars exploration we now have the exciting possibility of a potential mission to the outer planets, most likely Europa. This paper reassesses planetary protection and organic contamination control technologies, which were evaluated in 2005, and provides updates based on new science results, technology development, and programmatic priorities. The study integrates information gathered from interviews of a number of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and European Space Agency (ESA) scientists, systems engineers, planetary protection engineers, and consultants, as well as relevant documents, and focuses on the technologies and practices relevant to the current project mission set as presented in the 2011 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. This paper provides the status of planetary protection and contamination control technologies as they apply to potential future missions, and provides findings and recommendations to improve our capabilities as we further explore our solar system. It has become clear that linking planetary protection and contamination control requirements and processes together early in mission development and spacecraft design is key to keeping mission costs in check and returning high-quality samples that are free from biological and organic contaminants.

Overview of NASA's 2006 SSE Strategic Roadmap

In the 2003 solar system exploration (SSE) decadal survey, the national research council (NRC) prioritized scientific targets and recommended missions to explore them. Taking these into account, NASAs 2006 solar system exploration (SSE) strategic roadmap (SRM) identified a set of large flagship, medium new frontiers (NF) and small discovery class missions, addressing key exploration objectives. Discovery and NF missions are competed, and due to their lower cost caps, address fewer science objectives than the large missions, while mostly utilizing existing technologies. Directed flagship class missions are considered necessary to answer some of the most important questions on solar system formation and habitability. They also provide drivers for technology development, which in turn would benefit all mission classes. Additionally, this SSE SRM offers a comprehensive discussion on science objectives for solar system exploration, and technologies enabling these missions. It outlines research and analysis (R&A), which is required to maintain the proposed program, and to post process scientific data. Education and public outreach (E/PO) communicates NASAs activities to the public of all ages, and as discussed, is considered an important part of the agencys programs. These elements are connected through interdependencies and links to other programmatic activities, including the mars and new millennium programs. The roadmap also explores potential implementation trades, suggesting multiple ways to execute a balanced program that consist of all mission classes and supported by technology development, R&A, and E/PO, while staying within a projected budget allocation for SSE. In this paper we outline this proposed SSE strategic roadmap, representing NASAs exploration plans for the next three decades.

Overview of High Priority Technologies for Solar System Exploration

During the past two years, a new solar system exploration roadmap has been developed, supplanting the previous 2003 version. This roadmap identifies a number of high priority technology developments that will be essential to the success of several of the roadmap missions. These technologies include advanced radioisotope power systems (RPS), aerocapture systems and advanced propulsion, numerous technologies capable of surviving the extreme environments encountered in many of these missions, and improved capabilities for both forward and back planetary protection. These key technologies and the missions that require them are described, along with the estimated timeline for their development as laid out in the exploration roadmap.

Planning for planetary protection and contamination control: challenges beyond Mars

In situ analysis for targets beyond Mars brings new challenges in planetary protection, where planetary protection preserves the chemical environment of a target body for future life-detection exploration and, in sample return missions, protects the Earth from potential extraterrestrial contamination. The National Research Councils decadal survey of 2003 and the NASA Solar System Exploration Strategic Program roadmap of 2005 calls for missions to bodies of interest for life-detection or prebiotic science, including Europa, Titan, and comets. These targets present challenges because NASA planetary protection policies specify new requirements for missions to Europa, and new guidelines for Titan are anticipated; furthermore, the comet missions have additional significance because they are envisioned to be sample return missions. This document summarizes the technical challenges to planetary protection and contamination control for these targets of interest and outlines some of the considerations, particularly at the system level, in designing an appropriate technology investment strategy for targets beyond Mars