Inera (Sweden)

The increasing availability and accessibility of commercial satellite data presents a unique opportunity for the Earth observation (EO) community to leverage new sources of remote sensing imagery. However, despite improved access to data and computation, conducting analyses with data from multiple platforms remains challenging due to interoperability barriers. Calibration and Validation (Cal/Val) efforts are essential to overcoming these obstacles by ensuring the quality and reliability of EO data and quantifying necessary adjustments for seamless integration. The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Systems Engineering Office (SEO) has launched the CEOS Analytics Lab (CAL), an Open Data Cube (ODC)-based tool, to facilitate data processing and collaboration among researchers. In this paper, we present a pilot study using tools developed for CAL to compare commercial imagery to traditional civil government Earth observations. We demonstrate the usefulness of collaborative environments such as CAL and provide the community with tools which assist with commonly identified calibration and validation tasks necessary to perform interoperability studies. This demonstration lays a foundation for operations around the use and evaluation of commercial satellite data, supporting further developments in the CEOS and Open EO communities. We also present a set of tools, CalValToolbox, to the EO community to perform Cal/Val tasks.

NASA's upcoming return to the moon includes a plan for longer duration lunar missions that prioritize science and surface exploration. The current Artemis Base Camp reference proposes a Surface Habitat (SH) that will support 2 to 4 crewmembers with adequate capability for living and working for 30 days or more. An important aspect of the SH's design will be its ability to support a high frequency of Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) for scientific and operational purposes. There are multiple EVA access options that can support EVA access from the SH to the lunar surface. This paper explores three unique options for EVA access: a traditional airlock, a suitlock, and a suitport-airlock. A traditional airlock utilizes a segregated, variable pressure volume, accessed by use of internal and external hatches, to provide EVA access. The airlock volume must be depressurized and repressurized for every EVA. A suitlock is similar in operation to the airlock, utilizing a segregated volume that is depressurized and repressurized for every EVA. However, in this case the suits are donned/doffed through a suitlock interface installed in the airlock bulkhead. EVA suits in a suitport-airlock are accessed through suitport interfaces that are installed in the airlock bulkhead as well, but the suitport-airlock stays in vacuum while the suits themselves remain pressurized, and the airlock does not have to be depressurized and repressurized for each EVA. This study also evaluated the use of an airlock airsave system in conjunction with the traditional airlock and suitlock cases. This system captures a fraction of the airlock gas instead of venting all of the gas pre-EVA. The captured gas is then used to partially repressurize the airlock post-EVA. In this study, each option is evaluated based on six different areas of analysis. The metrics include overhead time for EVAs, dust mitigation, consumables for resupply mass, system mass, safety and mission assurance, and programmatic considerations. The EVA access options are evaluated and compared under each area of analysis. The baseline case assumes the SH operates at 8.2 psia.

Logistic and exponential approaches have been used to simulate plant growth and leaf area index (LAI) in different growing conditions. The objective of the present study was to develop and evaluate an approach to simulate maize LAI that expresses key physiological and phonological processes using a minimum entry requirement for Quality Protein maize (QPM) varieties grown in the southwestern region of the DR-Congo. Data for the development and testing of the model were collected manually in experimental plots using a non-destructive method. Simulation results revealed measurable variations between crop seasons (long season A and short season B) and between the two varieties (Mudishi-1 and Mudishi-3) for height, number of visible leaves, and LAI. For both seasons, Mudishi-3, a short stature variety was associated with expected stable yield based on simulation data. In general, the model simulated reliably all the parameters including the LAI. The LAI value for mudishi-1 was higher than that of Mudishi-3. There were significant differences among the model parameters (K, Ti, a, b, Tf) and between the two varieties. In all crop conditions studied and for the two varieties, the senescence rate (a) was higher, while the growth rate (b) was lower compared to the estimates based on the STICS model.

As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration continues to define candidate architectures for the planned lunar “Gateway”, it will be necessary to have a detailed understanding of how the crew will inhabit, operate, and maintain the spacecraft. The nature of the Gateway vehicle systems configuration and operations will have a direct impact on the scope of work activities required of the crew. Crew work schedules are sensitive to variations in spacecraft architecture, visiting vehicle activities, and logistics operations – particularly within short duration missions as initially planned for the lunar Gateway. These system and operational configurations must be taken into account when planning for crew time availability to conduct science activities on Gateway missions. This paper presents a methodology that is used to predict crew time distributions for lunar Gateway missions, as applied in NASA’s Exploration Crew Time Model (ECTM). The process utilized for evaluating crew time distributions is based on the categorization of all crew activities into a standardized ontology. Historical ISS daily crew timeline data from July 20, 2011 (post STS retirement) to present day was captured via the Operational Planning Timeline Integration System (OPTimIS) database and characterized according to the standardized ontology. This process enabled correlation and statistical analysis of the ISS data according to common mission parameters such as crew size, ECLSS system design, vehicle traffic operations, and logistics delivery operations. The results of the statistical analysis are a set of crew time distributions for each activity category. These distributions are then utilized within the ECTM to examine crew time allocations based on mission parameter inputs, which serve to characterize the Gateway mission configurations. Results for predicted crew time allocations for representative short duration Gateway missions are presented. These results can be used to evaluate crew schedule availability for science and utilization activities. Variations in expected mission architectures and mission operations are accounted for to correct crew time predictions. The analysis is being leveraged to plan utilization capability objectives that are achievable on the Gateway missions, as well as inform the viability of various mission architecture options.

Candidate human missions to Mars require mission lengths that could extend beyond those that have previously been demonstrated during crewed Lunar (Apollo) and International Space Station (ISS) missions. The nature of the architectures required for deep space human exploration will likely necessitate major changes in how crews operate and maintain the spacecraft. The uncertainties associated with these shifts in mission constructs - including changes to habitation systems, transit durations, and system operations - raise concerns as to the ability of the crew to complete required overhead activities while still having time to conduct a set of robust exploration activities.

The objective of the HIAD Mission Applications Study is to quantify the benefits of HIAD infusion to the concept of operations of high priority exploration missions. Results of the study will identify the range of mission concepts ideally suited to HIADs and provide mission-pull to associated technology development programs while further advancing operational concepts associated with HIAD technology. A summary of Year 1 modeling and analysis results is presented covering missions focusing on Earth and Mars-based applications. Recommended HIAD scales are presented for near term and future mission opportunities and the associated environments (heating and structural loads) are described.

La culture du Niébé [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] en Afrique de l’Ouest est marquée par l’instabilité de ses rendements et sa faible production liée à la pauvreté des sols, à la faiblesse de la pluviométrie et aux contraintes parasitaires. Dans cette étude, nous nous sommes intéressés à la réponse à l’inoculation mycorhizienne de quatre variétés de niébé dans une perspective de sélection de souches efficaces de champignons endomycorhiziens pour l’amélioration de sa productivité au champ. Quatre variétés de niébé dont deux du Burkina Faso [Gorom Local (GO) et KVX 396-4-5-2D (KVX)] et deux du Sénégal [Mélakh (Mel) et Yacine (Yac)] ont été inoculées en pépinière avec trois (3) inoculums mixtes du Burkina Faso [Yakouta (Ya), Talé Mossi (Ta) et Soumousso (Sou)] et trois inoculums monospécifiques de la collection du Laboratoire Commun de Microbiologie de Dakar (LCM) [Glomus mossea (Gm), Glomus fasciculatum (Gf) et Glomus intraradices (Gi)]. Les effets des différents inoculums sur la croissance des plants ont été évalués par la mesure de la hauteur des plants, des biomasses aérienne et racinaire et de la fréquence et intensité de mycorhization à la floraison et à la fructification. Les résultats obtenus montrent que l’inoculation n’a pas eu d’effets significatifs sur les différents paramètres mesurés pour les variétés du Sénégal malgré des taux demycorhization de 6% à 92% à la floraison et de 44% à 100% à la fructification. Pour les variétés du Burkina Faso, à la floraison, la croissance en hauteur et la production de biomasse aérienne de la variété KVX ont été améliorées par toutes les souches, exceptée Gm. Pour la variété GO, les inoculums mixtes indigènes Ya et Ta ont significativement amélioré la croissance en hauteur des plants. En général, les fréquences et les intensités de mycorhization sont élevées pour les souches monospécifiques, mais ceci ne se traduit pas par un effet significatif sur la croissance des plants inoculés. L’inoculum mixte indigène Ya apparaît plus performant pour la croissance en hauteur et la production de biomasse de la variété la plus sensible à l’inoculation (KVX). Cette étude a montré que l’inoculation endomycorhizienne a un effet bénéfique sur la croissance du Niébé, particulièrement la variété KVX ; et que l’utilisation de souches indigènes conviendrait mieux que les souches monospécifiques. Il s’avère donc intéressant de poursuivre la sélection de souches performantes pour la productivité du Niébé sur les souches indigènes.Mots clés: champignons mycorhiziens, croissance du Niébé, pépinière, Afrique de l’Ouest