James Nabity

Seminar - Keeping the Crew Alive & Healthy: Ionic Liquids for Atmosphere Revitalization and In Situ Resource Utilization - Oct. 16

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 06:00:00 +0000

Seminar - Keeping the Crew Alive & Healthy: Ionic Liquids for Atmosphere Revitalization and In Situ Resource Utilization - Oct. 16 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/10/2019 - 00:00

James Nabity
Associate Professor, Smead Aerospace
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019 | 2:30 P.M. | AERO 111

Abstract: Human spaceflight poses many challenges to regenerable environmental control and life support (ECLS) and In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). In particular, robust systems for atmosphere revitalization are still being sought. Elevated levels of CO2 onboard the International Space Station have been hypothesized to adversely affect crew cognitive performance, and cause headaches and lethargy. While the findings are not conclusive, NASA has established a goal to reduce the partial pressure of CO2 to below 2 mmHg; a level that cannot be met by the zeolite sorbent used in the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA). To meet this need, I have been researching the use of ionic liquids as regenerable sorbents for CO2 removal as well as for humidity control and application to ISRU on the Lunar or Mars surface. These novel fluids have negligible vapor pressure, are thermally and chemically stable, and many pose little or no risk of toxicity to the crew. Here, I will describe the development of ionic liquid membrane contactors for the above applications with results from engineering design, analyses from first principles and laboratory experiments. The seminar will focus on the highly selective capture of CO2 with supported ionic liquid membranes.

Bio: James A. Nabity is an Associate Professor in the Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences department with research focus in the field of Bioastronautics – the study and support of life in space. Prior to joining CU in 2013, he was a Principal Engineer for TDA Research and before that at the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC). He investigates robust space habitat designs and environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) technologies for human spaceflight. Current research focuses on ionic liquid membranes for atmosphere revitalization and CO2 capture, effects of space radiation on habitat layout and crew performance, bioregenerative systems, heat transport and fluid flow in microgravity, and in situ resource utilization. For his contributions to aerospace, Dr. Nabity has been recognized as a NAWC Technical Fellow (1996) and AIAA Associate Fellow (2016).

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CU Boulder part of new NASA institute on space habitat design

Anonymous — Fri, 03 May 2019 16:13:09 +0000

CU Boulder part of new NASA institute on space habitat design Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/03/2019 - 10:13

The College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU Boulder is part of a new NASA funded Space Technology Research Institute that will advance space habitat designs using resilient and autonomous systems. The work is part of a larger effort to prepare for a time when astronauts will venture further into space, out of low-Earth orbit and on to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

The new institute called Habitats Optimized for Missions of Exploration, or HOME, will be a multi-disciplinary effort led by the University of California Davis with support from the University of Colorado Boulder, Carnegie Mellon University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Howard University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Southern California. The institute as a whole will receive as much as $15 million from NASA over a five-year period with CU receiving $3.5 million during that time at $700,000 per year.

According to NASA, these institutes are intended to research and exploit cutting-edge advances in technology with the potential for revolutionary impact on future aerospace capabilities. At the same time, they expand the U.S. talent base in research and development.

This new institute’s design approach for deep space habitats is one that relies not only on proven engineering and risk analysis, but also on emergent technologies to enable resilient, autonomous and self-maintained habitats for human explorers. It seeks to advance early-stage technologies related to autonomous systems, human and automation teaming, data science, machine learning, robotic maintenance, onboard manufacturing, and more.

Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Professor David Klaus led the CU team on this proposal and serves as deputy director for the Institute, which is headed up overall by former astronaut and UC Davis professor Steve Robinson. The CU Boulder members include Associate Professor James Nabity, and Assistant Professors Allie Anderson and Torin Clark. All three are also based in the aerospace department. In addition, College of Engineering and Applied Science Dean and AES Professor Bobby Braun has an executive advisory role in the effort.

Klaus said the CU team was excited to be selected for this opportunity.

“This work builds nicely on many prior space habitat design projects we have conducted in our Bioastronautics Lab and lays the foundation for showcasing a much higher fidelity test facility that will be established in our new aerospace building,” he said.

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James Nabity honored as Outstanding Faculty Advisor for 2017

Anonymous — Thu, 18 May 2017 22:02:10 +0000

James Nabity honored as Outstanding Faculty Advisor for 2017 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/18/2017 - 16:02

Congratulations to associate professor James Nabity for earning the 2017 Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award from the College of Engineering and Applied Science. The award recognizes faculty and staff advisors who demonstrate exceptional advising skills and serve as role models to other advisors.

He received glowing nominations for the award from students who highlighted his teaching, desire to help students, and industry knowledge:

Time and time again, I’ve seen him stop everything that he’s doing in order to make time for a student who needs guidance or advice on a research or project problem.

I have worked under his tutelage and guidance since my entrance into the graduate program [and] have developed tremendous respect and admiration for him as an engineer, a scientist, an advisor, and a teacher.

As an advisor and as a teacher, he makes himself available. He schedules regular meetings with his graduate students, to ensure that he makes time for all of us while keeping tabs on our progress. He reviews our proposals and papers with great care and attention to detail.

As one of my committee members on my thesis Dr. Nabity has been a strong advocate for my work and is constantly keeping me in touch with new industry opportunities... At one point, he reached out to me regarding a perfect NASA Small Business Technology Transfer Proposal that exactly fit the profile of my thesis. Without his help in finding this opportunity, I would not have had a chance to fully pursue my own startup company.

Nabity has been on the aerospace faculty at CU Boulder since 2013, coming to the university after a 30 year engineering career in the government and private sector.

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