Multi-View X-Ray Diagnostics for Ejecta and Core Behavior in Plume-Surface Interactions

NASA’s propulsion and landing research facilities require high-speed, multi-view diagnostics to accurately characterize plume-surface interactions (PSI) in planetary landing environments. Current PSI measurement techniques struggle to resolve core ejecta and surface dynamics in optically dense flow regions, particularly during late-stage interactions where data is currently unavailable. The goal of the proposed work is to develop a flexible multi-view X-ray imaging system capable of high-speed, quantitative, spatio-temporally resolved measurements of the particle mass distribution and dynamics in relevant PSI flowfields. Vertical landing of a rocket vehicle on an irregular, unimproved surface has a number of challenges, including generation of a dust cloud that creates an observable event, erosion of the surface leading to a crater, rocket instability, damage to the engine injector/nozzle surfaces from high velocity ejecta. As the landing terrain may vary widely, plume-surface interactions (PSI) must be well understood to accurately design and simulate vertical landing of rocket vehicles and make go/no-go decisions on landing sites. The proposed research focuses on flexible, fiber-based, high-speed, multi-view X-ray imaging of PSI to enable quantitative, spatio-temporally resolved measurements of ejecta dynamics and particle mass distributions in ground test facilities. The innovation lies in advancing X-ray imaging to 100 kHz and integration with ultra-high-resolution fiber bundles for flexible 2D–3D imaging within optically dense, multi-phase flowfields with large fields of view relevant to vertical landing of rocket vehicles.

The proposed X-ray-based PSI measurement system addresses critical challenges in rocket landing stability, dust cloud formation, surface erosion, and high-velocity ejecta impacts. The Phase II prototype will support NASA’s vertical rocket landing research by enabling quantitative measurements in harsh environments and the validation of predictive modeling tools for planetary surface interactions, ensuring safer and more reliable spacecraft operations. This research and diagnostics product development will have applications in combustion, propulsion, engines, materials synthesis, energetics, and other reacting flow systems. The advanced measurement system also represents a game-changing diagnostics capability that will play a significant role in advancing predictive modeling in a wide range of applications associated with multiphase flows in industry, academic, and national laboratories.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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