Metal Foam Experiment with X-ray Diagnostics and its Flight on the Microgravity Rocket Maser 11
- Paper number
IAC-08.A2.3.1
- Author
Mr. Per Holm, Sweden
- Coauthor
Dr. Francisco Garcia-Moreno, Hahn-Meitner-Institute Berlin, Germany
- Coauthor
Mrs. Ylva Houltz, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden
- Coauthor
Mr. Patrik Andersson, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden
- Coauthor
Mr. Oscar Lofgren, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden
- Coauthor
Mr. Kenneth Löth, Swedish Space Corporation, Sweden
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The metal foam experiment module, to be flown on a sounding rocket in spring 2008, is using an in-situ X-ray diagnostic system for monitoring of the experiment. The purpose of the experiment is to observe, by X-ray, the foaming process of an aluminium alloy under microgravity conditions in a thermally controlled furnace. The investigator is Dr Francesco Garcia-Moreno HMI, Berlin, Germany and the experiment is a part of the ESA XRMON MAP program. The experiment module was developed by Swedish Space Corporation under a contract from European Space Agency, ESA and has flown on a parabolic flight campaign in November 2007 and on the microgravity rocket Maser 11 in Spring 2008. The experiment module contains an experiment furnace system, in which the Al sample is melted. The sample contains particles with hydrogen, blowing agents, which generate the foaming process. The furnace temperature is precisely controlled during the heating, foaming and stabilisation process. The furnace is cooled by a forced air-flow in order to solidify the sample before the end of microgravity. High requirements on image contrast and resolution pose special demands on the selection of materials and technologies i.e. X-ray transparency. The diagnostic X-ray system consists of a microfocus X-ray source, a CMOS high-resolution digital x-ray detector and an image acquisition computer. Images acquired during the microgravity phase are stored on a fast solid state memory on board. Safety related issues have been covered for use of the X-ray system on manned flight. A mechanical structure is developed to contain the experiment system and the X-ray system. For radiation protection reasons, a layer of lead covers the system and fulfils the requirements for radiation protection in all test situations. This presentation will focus on the use of the in-situ X-ray system and its use as a diagnostic tool in space. Technical parts of the experiment, the design of the module and technical results obtained during the flights will also be covered.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A2.3.1.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.