NASA EPSCoR in Idaho

NASA EPSCoR in Idaho is enhancing research capabilities, increasing industry involvement, and building the human resources necessary for Idaho to compete at the national level. More than $4.7 million dollars in NASA EPSCoR funding have been awarded to Idaho since 1999. These awards include:

- An initial Preparation grant of $450,000 that resulted in subsequent EPSCoR awards.

- A three-year $1.52 million statewide research award in 2001 involving ISU, BSU and UI faculty and students as participants. This successful project was renewed in 2004 and granted an additional $1.02 million for two more years (to 2006). The primary research programs funded by this grant include:

1. The Development of Power Circuits for Systems on a Chip (SOAC) and Avionic Applications. Principal Investigator: Dr. Herb Hess; University of Idaho in collaboration with Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

2. Synthetic Aperture Radar Analysis of Multi-Scale Geologic and Environmental Processes in Idaho and Intermountain West. Principal Investigator: Dr. Glenn Thackray; Idaho State University in collaboration with NASA Goddard and Jet Propulsion Laboratory

- Core funding for Idaho's NASA EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development program, totaling $375,000 for three years (2007-2010).

- A three-year research award for $750,000 for Reliability Investigations of Radiation Resistant Multi-State Phase-Change Memory. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Kris Campbell; Boise State University (2007-2010). See Abstract below.

- A three-year research award for $660,765 for Spacecraft Component Sterilization using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Ron Crawford; University of Idaho (2008-2011). See Abstract below.

Additional information about NASA EPSCoR in Idaho can be found at:

NASA Idaho EPSCoR Website

 NASA EPSCoR Research Abstracts

Reliability Investigations of Radiation Resistant Multi-State Phase-Change Memory

Co-I/Science: Dr. Kris Campbell, Boise State University

"We propose to investigate the reliability, including radiation resistance and failure mechanisms, of a novel, potentially multi-state, phase-change memory technology using test arrays and sensing circuitry. This potentially multi-state memory, based on a layered chalcogenide structure, would significantly increase the memory density by allowing more than one data state per bit, resulting in the much needed larger, denser memories for future space applications.

Phase-change memory technology is aligned to become the next generation of non-volatile memory, with the potential to replace Flash memory and hard-drive storage, and is ideal for space applications due to its radiation resistance, large number of cycles, and lower power operation. While much research is currently underway both in industry and in academia to build phase-change memory devices, there are little data available that can describe or guarantee how these types of memory arrays will perform under the conditions they will experience in a space application. In addition, these currently studied phase-change memories do not have the potential multi-state memory capabilities like our proposed materials do.

Our proposal comprises three main research areas: (1) design and fabricate a test chip for chalcogenide-based memory devices which use the multi-state memory material stack structures that we have previously explored under NASA EPSCoR grant NCC5-577, and are further researching under a DEPSCoR grant with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research; (2) design and perform reliability (including radiation tests) experiments on our test chip and, if it becomes available, on a commercial chip for a comparison study; and (3) determine failure mechanisms for these electronic devices and explore methods of yield enhancement. Reliability and radiation testing methods for phase-change materials, especially our potentially multi-state memories, need to be developed since they offer challenges that are unique to chalcogenide amorphous and crystalline materials."

Spacecraft Component Sterilization using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Co-I/Science: Dr. Ronald Crawford, University of Idaho

This proposal outlines a research program aimed at developing a novel spacecraft component sterilization technique based on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCD) as a sterilizing agent. The project will directly address the objectives of NASA Strategic Plan goal #6, to establish a lunar return program having the maximum possible utility for later missions to Mars and other destinations. The project will emphasize in the area of Planetary Protection (PP) and will be specifically focused on Forward Contamination Avoidance in future missions to Mars where scientific objectives will include the possible detection of extant life in Martian soil. It will directly address the need, as recently summarized by the NAS National Research Council, for new techniques for sterilization to meet international requirements established by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) (Paris, France). Present sterilization techniques such as the use of chemical disinfectants, radiation, or strong oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide are not effective in killing certain resistant microbial forms such as bacterial endospores that have been observed in spacecraft assembly facilities and on the surfaces of spacecraft such as the Mars Odyssey orbiter. Thus, more effective sterilization procedures are needed to reach required levels of sterility (Category IVb-equivalent) for future surface landed Mars science missions. These new procedures must be effective in killing of highly resistant endospores while not causing damage to sensitive spacecraft components. The use of SCCD appears to fit these needs.