Fundamental Physics |
From a furnace hot enough to melt lead to an experiment that will cool helium to near absolute zero - the instruments on USMP-4 will provide data on the basic properties of materials that simply cannot be obtained on Earth. The USMP-4 mission will collect data for seven primary scientific experiments in the three areas of Microgravity Research: combustion physics, materials science, and fundamental physics. In addition, two experiments recording microgravity acceleration data will be used during the flight to both record acceleration effects in space and help control environmental factors for the other experiments. |
As we enter the 21st century, the materials of the 20th century - titanium aircraft parts, silicon-based semiconductors, lightweight aluminum alloys, and many others - simply cannot meet the needs of progress. The aim of microgravity science is to expand our knowledge to be able to meet the growing needs of our technological society - where our health and well-being will ultimately benefit.
These experiments are the brainchildren of scientists from all over the world, including Marshall Space Flight Center, who have spent many years designing instruments to fly in space to collect these data.
Authors: Linda
Porter,
Dave Dooling
Curator: Linda Porter
NASA Official: Greg
Wilson
|
Without understanding the environment of each experiment on USMP-4, the scientists cannot fully understand or analyze the data they receive from the mission. One of the most critical aspects of the environment of microgravity experiments is understanding the forces they undergo due to minute changes in direction of the shuttle and crew activities. |
Both the Orbital
Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE) and the Space Acceleration Measurement
System (SAMS) are monitored by researchers of the Principal Investigator
Microgravity Services (PIMS) project at Lewis Research Center. The PIMS
group provides analyses to other experimenters during the mission - to assist
in controlling conditions for the purest results - and after the mission
- to correctly analyze the data received from the mission.
Originally, OARE was designed to collect atmospheric drag measurements
during shuttle reentry to permit analysis of the shuttle's aerodynamic characteristics
in flight. Its usefulness to microgravity experimentation are apparent,
however, and the data from OARE have been in use for microgravity experiment
analysis since 1991. OARE can detect accelerations in the nanogravity regime
-3 to 4.5 x 10
-9
normal Earth gravity - (frequencies ranging from 1 to 10
-6 Hz). It provides acceleration
data on on-orbit acceleration perturbations due to structural vibration
noise produced by on-board crew activities, resistojet firings, cabin atmospheric
leaks, and water or waste dumps.
SAMS
is sensitive to accelerations as small as 10
-6 normal Earth gravity (frequencies
in the range 2.5 to100 Hz) and remote sensors can be placed very close to
experiment locations (in this case on the USMP-4 payload carrier).
...more on OARE
...more on SAMS
|
And now, a word from our sponsors... Building an apparatus to house scientific experiments is as difficult as performing the experiments themselves. NASA and their space partners have developed different modules for different experiments, at different times and for different purposes. Here are brief descriptions of the hardware modules with links to detailed information. |
USMP-4 Payload Module
The assembly which comprises the USMP-4 payload is a
collection of scientific experiments on a carrier which is mounted directly
into the Shuttle payload bay. In the diagram at left, the experiments are
color-coded. The rest of the apparatus provides power, communications, data
handling, and thermal control for the experiments.
Middeck Glovebox
Some
experiments can't be automated and require the personal touch - but you
don't want whatever you're handling to get into the lab. Marshall and the
European Space Agency worked to develop a Glovebox that allows hands-on
work while protecting the crew. Four experiments will be performed using
the Glovebox during USMP-4:
International Space Station
...which will include furnaces, reactors, and other
experiment facilities in the U.S. Laboratory Module to conduct experiments
in microgravity materials science for months and years to come.
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