Drop tower Beijing and short-time microgravity experiments
Abstract
Being an important, large ground-based experiment facility for microgravity science, the drop tower of National Microgravity Lab, CAS was founded in 2003 and, since then, has been un-dertaking the experiments to meet the requirements in microgravity research. The 116 meters high drop tower is located in Zhong Guan Cun district, the scientific town of Beijing. Main components of the facility consist of the drop capsule, release mechanism and deceleration and recovery devices, and were developed with particular technical characteristics. Inner space of the drop tower was not vacuumed during the experiment, and a dual capsule system was adopted. The dual capsule comprises an inner and an outer capsule, and there is a space between in the evacuated atmosphere of 30 Pa. During the free fall, the outer capsule falls in normal atmospheric condition, and the inner capsule falls in vacuum. In addition, a single capsule configuration is also available for experiments w of lower gravity level. The residual acceleration is 10-5go or 10-3g0 related to dual capsule or single capsule arrangement respec-tively. An electric magnetic release system was used to release the capsule from position of 83 meters in height. The designed structure of the release mechanism guaranteed the release disturbance to be small enough. An elastic controllable decelerated system, consisted of the reversible mechanic/electric energy transducer, steel cables and rings, string bag, elastic rub-ber stringassembly, energy dissipation resistance, controlling computer system, was used in the drop tower facility. This system is effective to reduce the impact acceleration to a level of 15g0. The experiment data can be recorded by an on-board data acquisition and control system, and transmitted wirelessly to the control room. Many experiments related to the fluid physics, combustion, material science and other field have been successfully conducted by using the short-time microgravity facility of drop tower in Beijing. At present, the drop tower is play-ing important role in the research of microgravity science and application with more effective, reliable running status.
- Publication:
-
38th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010cosp...38.3590W