NASA researchers have embarked on an innovative series of parabolic flights to assess their next-generation technologies in a microgravity setting. These flights, which took place from February to April, provided a unique opportunity for research teams to evaluate their hardware under weightless conditions.
The parabolic flights were conducted aboard Zero Gravity Corporation’s G-FORCE ONE aircraft, giving the research teams the chance to interact with their technologies in brief intervals of roughly 22 seconds. This experience is invaluable in progressing innovations essential to NASA’s space exploration objectives.
One of the projects, named the Fundamental Regolith Properties, Handling, and Water Capture (FLEET), focused on examining ultrasonic blade technology in a simulated lunar and Martian environment. The aim was to determine the technology’s effectiveness in reducing forces between the tool and the soil, potentially resulting in substantial mass savings for space tool systems.
Dr. Erin Rezich, Principal Investigator at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, expressed her satisfaction with the successful collaboration between NASA and Concordia University, highlighting the experiment’s significance in advancing lunar and Martian exploration efforts. The FLEET project also has plans for an independent payload to test a lunar regolith transport system on a suborbital rocket.
In another notable development, the On-Demand Manufacturing of Electronics (ODME) project assessed 3D printing technologies to facilitate electronics and tools usage on the International Space Station. The ODME Advanced Toolplate team evaluated a new set of 3D printed tools designed to enhance capabilities and reduce the need for tool changeouts. This innovative toolplate, equipped with eight swappable toolheads, allows for in-space manufacturing of electronics and sensors, marking a significant advancement in on-demand technology.
Furthermore, the Space Enabled Advanced Devices and Semiconductors team is working on the development of an electrohydrodynamic inkjet printer technology for manufacturing semiconductor devices aboard the space station. This printer will enable the production of electronics and semiconductors using a single development cartridge, with the potential for future updates to accommodate various materials systems.
The culmination of these efforts represents the relentless pursuit of innovation and progress in the field of space exploration. These groundbreaking technologies and their successful evaluation in a microgravity environment are a testament to NASA’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and technological advancement.
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Next-generation NASA technologies tested in flight (2024, June 20) retrieved 20 June 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-06-generation-nasa-technologies-flight.html