WVU Microgravity Team Will Fly Again in Microgravity

WVU’s microgravity team submitted a research experiment which was accepted by a new NASA program called “Facilitated Access to the Space Environment for Technology Development and Training” (FAST). The team’s planned test objective is to create a fluidized bed in microgravity by submitting particles to an electric force created by electrophoresis to mimic the force of gravity. The benefit to technology would be that fluidized beds are used primarily in the energy field to produce a cleaner type of combustion and also to mix materials. It is important to study the behavior of fluidized beds in space because they could be used for in situ space resource utilization, energy conversion, and life support. The six (6) students comprising the team are Zachary Merceruio, Project Manager, Katherine Gatian, Kyle Potts, Ryan Pekar, Justin West, and Timothy Rouse. Dr. John Kuhlman is the team’s faculty advisor and will accompany the team to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX where during the week of August 10 they will fly aboard a commercial parabolic aircraft provided by Zero Gravity Corporation under contract with NASA.

07/28/2009