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Motion of Air Bubbles in Water Subjected to Microgravity AccelerationsThe International Space Station (ISS) serves as a platform for microgravity research for the foreseeable future. A microgravity environment is one in which the effects of gravity are drastically reduced which then allows physical experiments to be conducted without the over powering effects of gravity. During his 6-month stay on the ISS, astronaut Donald R. Pettit performed many informal/impromptu science experiments with available equipment. One such experiment focused on the motion of air bubbles in a rectangular container nearly filled with de-ionized water. Bubbles were introduced by shaking and then the container was secured in place for several hours while motion of the bubbles was recorded using time-lapse photography. This paper shows correlation between bubble motion and quasi-steady acceleration levels during one such experiment operation. The quasi-steady acceleration vectors were measured by the Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System (MAMS). Essentially linear motion was observed in the condition considered here. Dr. Pettit also created other conditions which produced linear and circulating motion, which are the subjects of further study. Initial observations of this bubble motion agree with calculations from many microgravity physical science experiments conducted on shuttle microgravity science missions. Many crystal-growth furnaces involve heavy metals and high temperatures in which undesired acceleration-driven convection during solidification can adversely affect the crystal. Presented in this paper will be results showing correlation between bubble motion and the quasi-steady acceleration vector.
Document ID
20060017837
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
DeLombard, Richard
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Kelly, Eric M.
(ZIN Technologies, Inc. Brook Park, OH, United States)
Hrovat, Kenneth
(ZIN Technologies, Inc. Brook Park, OH, United States)
Nelson, Emily S.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Pettit, Donald R.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 2006
Subject Category
Space Processing
Report/Patent Number
E-14985-1
AIAA Paper 2005-0722
NASA/TM-2006-214327
Meeting Information
Meeting: 43rd AIAA Aerospace Science Meeting
Location: Reno, NV
Country: United States
Start Date: January 10, 2005
End Date: January 13, 2005
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 080.01.02
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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