News

Professor designs scientific experiments for International Space Station crew

Later this fall, the crew aboard the International Space Station is expected to carry out scientific experiments designed on an accelerated basis by a Portland State University mechanical engineering professor.

And, at least one PSU student will get a chance to work with data from the experiments - possibly assisting the astronauts.

Responding to a nationwide request from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to design new, small-scale, hand-held experiments, associate professor Mark Weislogel, Ph.D, proposed three projects. Known as the unscheduled payload program, his proposal is one of only four selected for development by NASA's Physical Science Research Division as the result of the fast-track effort to create alternative experiments.

The temporary grounding of the shuttle fleet, because of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, delayed NASA's plan for sending research equipment to the space station. With the space station now being supplied by much smaller Russian Progress rockets, cargo space aboard the unmanned spacecraft is limited, says Weislogel, who worked with NASA for 10 years at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Recognized internationally as an expert in low-gravity capillary flow, Weislogel designed experiments studying phenomena unique to weightless or near-weightless environments.

"Capillary flow is flow that is dominated by the combined effects of surface tension and wetting," he says. "It occurs in small systems on earth - such as in sponges, paper towels and porous materials. But, strangely enough, it also occurs in large systems in low-gravity spacecraft because these small surface forces are the only forces at work once gravity is reduced to near zero."

Using a digital camcorder, the space station crew will record the flow of fluids in various small containment vessels. The research is key to developing improved fluid management systems for liquid fuels, cryogenics, spacecraft thermal control, waster water and other vital elements of space travel.

"Mark's proposed research will help spacecraft designers to better use the fuel they take aboard spacecraft," says John J. Caruso of NASA's Microgravity Science Division.

"Professor Weislogel is an internationally known expert in the field of fluid physics that deals with capillary driven flows, and is well-published in this area," Caruso says. "He was chosen partially because of his familiarity with flight experiments aboard the Russian MIR space station as well as aboard specially modified low-gravity aircraft."

The first of Weislogel's experiments will be placed onboard Russian Progress mission 12p, scheduled for launch in September, according to Caruso.

The Oregon Space Grant, a program administered by Oregon State University, awarded one PSU mechanical engineering student, Cory Nardin, a scholarship to study the NASA work on capillary flows. "He is the prime candidate to assist me in collecting and reducing the flight data and comparing it to our theory," Weislogel says.

Nardin may be involved during the performance of the experiments, though it is uncertain when the events will happen. The experiments may take the astronauts up to 16 hours or so to complete, Weislogel adds.

"Cory also will be working on analysis of large low-g capillary flows in my lab beginning this summer under NASA support," Weislogel says.

A member of the PSU faculty for the last two years, Weislogel was honored in May as one of two professors given the 2003 Research Faculty Award by the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. "One of Dr. Weislogel's endearing traits is his enthusiasm to engage undergraduates in his research programs," says Dean Robert D. Dryden.

Related NASA links:

spaceresearch.nasa.gov

spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/

microgravity.grc.nasa.gov

Related story: Mechanical engineering students fly high

With Weislogel's help, five undergraduate mechanical engineering students working on their Senior Capstone project took their fluid dynamics research experiments aboard a Boeing KC-135A aircraft in March 2003 as part of NASA's Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program. It was a first for PSU students.

See a video of the students' water balloon experiment and read a story. Weislogel developed the water balloon exercise while serving as a NASA employee.

View the students' website for the micro-gravity project.

Get information about research in the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science.