Time-Synchronized X-Ray Compton Tomography

To address the NASA need for robust, high-fidelity, quantitative, there-dimensional (3D) nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of ablative materials and other spacecraft structures, Albireo Technologies LLC (ATC) proposed and developed in Phase I Time-Synchronized X-Ray Compton Tomography (TESERACT) technology. TESERACT approachnbsp;is a powerful extension of the Compton imaging tomography (CIT) NDE technique, whichnbsp;is now used for the quality control of the Orion heat shield at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).nbsp;By providing an innovative approach for data acquisition and signal processing, TESERACT offers robust rejection of multiple potential signal artifacts and background scattering signal, enabling high-fidelity three-dimensional (3D) density profiling of spacecraft components, with high-contrast, clear images even in components with substantial thickness, such as thermal protection structures (TPS). Furthermore, TESERACT offers simplified and more user-friendly operation, achieving higher-quality scans with reduced operator effort.nbsp;In Phasenbsp;I, ATC demonstrated the feasibility of the TESERACT technology by developing the required data processing algorithms, as well as fabricating and testing a prototype system, with final technology readiness level (TRL)-4. In Phase II, ATC plans to develop a complete TRL-6 TESERACT system with multiple new performance-enhancing features and adaptability to a wide range of NDE tasks,nbsp;and demonstrate its inspection capabilities to NASA by testing it on relevant spacecraft materials and structures. At the end of Phasenbsp;II, the TESERACT system will be delivered to NASA for further evaluation.nbsp;