rss_2.0Gravitational and Space Research FeedSciendo RSS Feed for Gravitational and Space Researchhttps://sciendo.com/journal/GSRhttps://www.sciendo.comGravitational and Space Research Feedhttps://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/6471e2a0215d2f6c89db3f64/cover-image.jpghttps://sciendo.com/journal/GSR140216Cultivating Sporeless (Pearl Oyster) Mushrooms on Alternative Space-Based Substrates under Elevated Carbon Dioxidehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0014<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Fungi are natural decomposers that degrade organic substrates for growth. On Earth, fungi grow and produce mushrooms on various natural substrates, often with little to no added nutrient supplements. Existing waste substrates found on board the International Space Station (ISS) such as inedible biomass from plants, clothing, and plastic wastes from prepackaged foods could be repurposed for food production and advance the capacity for more sustainable long-duration space missions. The sporeless oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) strain SPX was grown on seven substrates in varied combination recipes to investigate how ISS waste streams could be used to cultivate mushrooms. In addition, food safety analyses were performed to assess the feasibility of mushroom cultivation as a low-risk food option. Results show that waste streams of cotton t-shirts and inedible biomass from plants are potential substrates that could support mushroom cultivation on board the ISS. By using materials that are already available on the station, the upmass needed to support such efforts is reduced and waste products can be recycled to potentially yield more food. This investigation was intended to identify the feasibility of incorporating mushrooms as a potential space crop without the requirement of a large upmass of substrates being brought to the ISS.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00142025-01-24T00:00:00.000+00:00Influence of hypergravity on root growth phenotype and physio-biochemical parameters in sorghum ( L.)https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0013<abstract>
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<p>Plants experience the constant pull of gravity on Earth, affecting their growth and development. Recent research has focused on how plants respond to hypergravity, a greater gravitational force compared to 1g. In this study, we examined whether hypergravity could generate new phenotypic traits in sorghum plants. Imbibed sorghum seeds were exposed to varying levels of hypergravity using a centrifuge for short durations, with a 1000g for 1 hour (1000 times Earth's gravity for 1 hour) resulting in enhanced seedling growth and overall plant vigor, both in controlled laboratory settings and greenhouse conditions. Following the screening of several sorghum genotypes, three showed the most promising responses to hypergravity and were further studied. We also investigated the biochemical and hormonal changes triggered by hypergravity. Our findings demonstrated increased enzyme activity in seeds and seedlings, along with elevated chlorophyll levels critical for photosynthesis. Additionally, alterations in the levels of specific plant hormones in the roots, notably 3-indole Acetic Acid and indole-3-butyric acid, appeared to influence root growth. These findings suggest that hypergravity holds the potential for developing novel plant traits with implications for future agricultural advancements.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00132024-12-31T00:00:00.000+00:00Agent-based model for microbial populations exposed to radiation (AMMPER) simulates yeast growth for deep-space experimentshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0012<abstract>
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<p>Space radiation poses a substantial health risk to humans traveling beyond Earth’s orbit to the Moon and Mars. As microbes come with us to space as model organisms for studying radiation effects, a computational model simulating those effects on microorganisms could enable us to better design and interpret those experiments. Here we present an agent-based model for microbial populations exposed to radiation (AMMPER), which simulates the effects of protons, a major component of deep-space radiation, on budding yeast (<italic>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</italic>) growth. The model combines radiation track structure data from the RITRACKS package with novel algorithms for cell replication, motion, damage, and repair. We demonstrate that AMMPER qualitatively reproduces the effects of 150 MeV proton radiation on growth rate, but not lag time, of wild type and DNA repair mutant yeast strains. The variance in AMMPER’s results is consistent with the variance in experimental results, suggesting that AMMPER can recapitulate the stochasticity of empirical experiments. Finally, we used AMMPER to predict responses to deep space radiation that may be tested in future experiments. A user-friendly, open-source, extendable Python package for studying the relationship between single-particle radiation events and population-level responses, AMMPER can facilitate the basic research necessary to ensure safe and sustainable exploration of deep space.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00122024-11-23T00:00:00.000+00:00Transport Phenomena Research in Microgravity via the ISS National Lab to Benefit Life on Earthhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0010<abstract>
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<p>The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory provides an ideal platform in persistent microgravity to conduct research in the absence of gravity-induced phenomena (e.g., buoyancy-driven convection and sedimentation), enabling opportunities for breakthrough science. Since 2016, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) Division has partnered with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™), manager of the ISS National Lab, to release an annual joint solicitation in transport phenomena research on the ISS to benefit life on Earth. To date, the NSF-CASIS partnership has yielded 37 NSF-funded research investigations sponsored by the ISS National Lab. This paper highlights a few of the important scientific discoveries that have resulted from the fruitful NSF-CASIS collaboration and offers insight into the importance of expanding collaborations between government agencies to increase access to space and enable groundbreaking research that benefits humanity. Research areas explored include biophysics, combustion, complex fluids, fluid dynamics, heat transfer and multiphase flow, and materials science.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00102024-11-10T00:00:00.000+00:00Multiphase Flow Regime Identification in Cryogenic Nitrogen using Electrical Capacitance Measurement Technologyhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0011<abstract>
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<p>Understanding and modeling multiphase flow is of vital importance to the design of next-generation cryogenic systems. While many experiments characterizing multiphase flow have been performed on Earth, the behavior of cryogenic systems still needs to be fully described in low gravity and microgravity conditions. As the necessity of cryogenic systems increases for in-space refueling operations, increased heat transfer efficiency, and in-situ resource utilization, the demand for better fluid models, instrumentation, and control systems also increases. In this paper, a capacitance-based flow regime identification algorithm is developed for use with cryogenic systems. Data is collected on a liquid nitrogen system for a wide array of flow regimes in a ½” tube. Quantitative parameters are developed that are able to determine the real-time multiphase flow regime and the algorithm is verified using accepted models, providing much that is needed for the foundation of a multiphase flow regime identification instrument with broad applications in fluid modeling, research, and cryogenic system feedback control.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00112024-09-14T00:00:00.000+00:00Formation of three-dimensional (3D) Self-Assembled Clusters of Anisotropic Janus Particles in Microgravityhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0008<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>The self-assembly of colloidal particles enables the creation of complex materials with tailored properties. This process, particularly involving anisotropic particles, can lead to the formation of structurally unique and complex assemblies that are not achievable with isotropic particles. On Earth, gravitational forces limit the investigation of these particles’ intrinsic motion and interactions, posing significant challenges to comprehensively understanding the fundamental forces governing their interactions. To overcome these limitations, this study, in collaboration with NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC), employs the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to observe the self-assembly phenomena of anisotropic particles under microgravity conditions.</p>
<p>Our investigation shows that anisotropic Janus particles with their distinctive properties can spontaneously organize into ordered structures under microgravity. This directional interaction among anisotropic particles is expected to enable control over assembly processes, forming three-dimensional (3D) clustered structures that are unattainable on Earth. Thus, this study not only advances our understanding of particle self-assembly in microgravity but also opens new avenues for synthesizing materials with novel functionalities through the unique assembly of anisotropic colloids.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00082024-08-16T00:00:00.000+00:00USB Triggering of Video Recording in Sub-orbital Experimentshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0009<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Successful sub-orbital flight operations of a novel method for autonomously controlling GoPro cameras in microgravity, without any additional mechanical device, are described. The method employs the use of GoPro Labs software to control the power and recording functions of a camera via its USB port and integrates the camera and control with the Integrated Payload Controller (IPC) of the Blue Origin New Shepard crew capsule or with microprocessor control of cameras in Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity. Control of four GoPro Hero-10 cameras on a single power port on the IPC is achieved. The method operated successfully on the Blue Origin New Shepard NS-24 suborbital flight, recording data in the experiment and demonstrating reliable start- and stop-recording functions during the flight. The authors also operated four GoPro Hero-11 cameras via USB port recording control on Virgin Galactic’s June 8, 2024 flight. Hardware specifications for the experimental setup and the ability to operate after extended periods of inactivity are discussed.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00092024-08-16T00:00:00.000+00:00Quantitative Measurements of Hazardous Gas Effluents from the Combustion of Crew Waste Simulant in Microgravityhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0007<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>In August 2021, Blue Origin launched their un-crewed NS-17 mission aboard their New Shepard launch vehicle. Among the scientific payloads was NASA’s Orbital Syngas Commodity Augmentation Reactor (OSCAR), a flight-capable test rig allowing the combustion of ~10 g of simulated astronaut trash. Developed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, OSCAR measured differences in the combustion of complex mixed waste materials between terrestrial gravity and microgravity conditions. OSCAR is self-contained and collects its own effluent gases, which were subsequently analyzed for trace volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with a modified EPA Method TO-15. It was found that combustion in microgravity produced higher levels of VOCs (2,883 mg measured VOCs per kg trash) than for analogous triplicate (terrestrial) laboratory experiments (1,237±286 mg measured VOCs per kg trash with 95% confidence interval), indicating significant differences that were consistent with previously reported combustion efficiencies. Also, the concentrations of the measured VOCs were compared to NASA’s Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations (SMAC) values. These results provide a basis for understanding important design considerations for spacecraft waste disposal systems as NASA and their commercial partners develop crewed vehicles for missions to the Moon and Mars.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00072024-08-15T00:00:00.000+00:00Impact of payload shielding on viability and proteomic profile: Insights from a stratospheric weather balloon flight experimenthttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0005<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p><italic>Enterobacter cloacae</italic>, a gram-negative bacterium commonly found in the human gut microbiota, poses potential health risks to astronauts in the unique environment of space flight. This study investigated the effects of payload shielding on <italic>E. cloacae</italic> in a short-duration, student-initiated, weather balloon flight experiment. Faraday fabric-based payload shielding did not impact the viability of the balloon flight samples. However, murine macrophage infection assays showed that shielded balloon flight <italic>E. cloacae</italic> had significantly improved intracellular survival compared to unshielded <italic>E. cloacae</italic>. Proteomic analysis demonstrated distinct profiles in shielded and unshielded samples, with a differential abundance of proteins involved in diverse biological processes. Specifically, decreased abundance of proteins involved in chemotaxis, DNA repair, replication, transcription, peptidoglycan synthesis, and proteolysis were observed in the Faraday fabric-based payload-shielded samples. In contrast, proteins associated with protein translation, transport, tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid biosynthesis, and amino acid metabolism were increased in shielded conditions. This experiment provides a framework for which future long-duration balloon flight experiments can be designed, and the findings provide initial insights into the impact of payload shielding on <italic>E. cloacae</italic> physiology. Understanding the impact of the stratosphere on human gut microbiota is important for preserving human health during future space flight missions.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00052024-06-09T00:00:00.000+00:00Seed Priming with . in Cultivars Grown in Martian and Lunar Regolith Analogueshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0006<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>As human settlements expand to lunar and Martian bases, optimizing food production in these environments becomes crucial. This study investigates the use of macroalgae, specifically <italic>Ulva lactuca</italic> L., as an affordable, sustainable approach for seed priming to enhance germination in extraterrestrial soils. The focus was on the germination and growth of <italic>Capsicum annuum</italic> L. (pepper), <italic>Lactuca sativa</italic> L. (lettuce), <italic>Cicer arietinum</italic> L. (chickpea), and <italic>Pisum sativum</italic> L. (pea) in simulated Martian and lunar regolith. Two concentrations of <italic>U. lactuca</italic> powder (0.2 and 0.4 g · L<sup>−1</sup>) were tested under controlled conditions. The study also conducted a qualitative chemical analysis of <italic>U. lactuca</italic> to identify bioactive components essential for phytohormone formation. The germination and emergence rates of the seeds in the lunar regolith were higher than those in the Martian regolith. Martian regolith's optimal treatment for pea and chickpea seed germination was 0.2 g · L<sup>−1</sup>, which also favored seedling emergence. In the lunar regolith, optimal germination rates for pea seeds were observed with both treatments and chickpea seeds. The germination percentage of lettuce seeds in the lunar regolith was higher than the control, with 0.2 g · L<sup>−1</sup>, while there was no significant difference for the other seeds. The study recommends the application of <italic>U. lactuca</italic> powder as an effective biostimulant for the examined cultivars due to the presence of plant growth regulators (PGRs) that enhance germination and seedling emergence under challenging conditions.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00062024-06-09T00:00:00.000+00:00The Effects of Simulated and Real Microgravity on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cellshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0003<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>As considerations are being made for the limitations and safety of long-term human spaceflight, the vasculature is important given its connection to and impact on numerous organ systems. As a major constituent of blood vessels, vascular smooth muscle cells are of interest due to their influence over vascular tone and function. Additionally, vascular smooth muscle cells are responsive to pressure and flow changes. Therefore, alterations in these parameters under conditions of microgravity can be functionally disruptive. As such, here we review and discuss the existing literature that assesses the effects of microgravity, both actual and simulated, on smooth muscle cells. This includes the various methods for achieving or simulating microgravity, the animal models or cells used, and the various durations of microgravity assessed. We also discuss the various reported findings in the field, which include changes to cell proliferation, gene expression and phenotypic shifts, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling. Additionally, we briefly summarize the literature on smooth muscle tissue engineering in microgravity as well as considerations of radiation as another key component of spaceflight to contextualize spaceflight experiments, which by their nature include radiation exposure. Finally, we provide general recommendations based on the existing literature's focus and limitations.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00032024-05-25T00:00:00.000+00:00Constrained Vapor Bubble Experiment (CVB) in the Light Microscopy Module (LMM)https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0004<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>This short article describes the major findings from the CVB experiment performed in the LMM on the International Space Station from 2010–2012. CVB was the first experiment to run in the new facility and focused on understanding the heat transfer and fluid mechanics occurring inside a wickless miniature heat pipe. The LMM was used to map the location of the vapor-liquid interface inside the device and to measure the film thickness profile on the walls of the device. Several interesting and unexpected phenomena were observed in microgravity including flooding of the heater end with liquid as the heat input increased, explosive nucleation of vapor bubbles at the heater end in the shortest version of the heat pipe tested, condensation on highly superheated surfaces, and the spontaneous formation of rip currents as the device tried to enhance the contact line area available for evaporation of the liquid.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00042024-04-07T00:00:00.000+00:00Diacylglycerol kinase is downregulated in the Drosophila Seizure Mutant during Spaceflighthttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0002<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Accelerated aging in space is detrimental to long-term space missions. The environmental conditions in space (e.g., microgravity and radiation) cause harmful effects similar to those seen during aging. As the mechanistic pathways underlying accelerated aging in spaceflight are not fully understood, the identification of critical targets for promoting longevity in spaceflight remains challenging. We analyzed genomics data from the GLDS-207 project to identify potential targets related to longevity. Analysis of RNA-seq data from four Drosophila variants using the GeneLab Galaxy platform indicated that spaceflight significantly affected differential gene expression in the heads of flies, specifically in the seizure (sei) mutant, which alters the voltage gated potassium channels in the cell membrane. Spaceflight induced a significant decrease in the expression of the retinal degeneration A gene (rdgA) in mutant flies that survived the 30-day space mission. This gene encodes for the protein diacylglycerol kinase (DGK), which modulates the activation of the mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, known to negatively regulate aging. Therefore, DGK may be a potential target for promoting longevity in space conditions. Further investigation of the effects of decreased rdgA expression on the lifespan of other organisms under spaceflight conditions will clarify the role of DGK in promoting longevity.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00022024-03-21T00:00:00.000+00:00Strategies, Research Priorities, and Challenges for the Exploration of Space Beyond Low Earth Orbithttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-0001<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>NASA's recent emphasis on human exploration of the Moon and, ultimately, Mars necessitates a transition from a focus of its research in the biological sciences from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to platforms beyond LEO. Fundamental research questions need to be addressed to enable humans to thrive in deep space. Work beyond LEO necessitates a shift in technology and the utilization of organisms in autonomous experiments, especially in the near term. The Beyond LEO Instrumentation & Science Series Science Working Group (BLISS-SWG) was established to provide NASA's Space Biology Program input on its strategy for developing research priorities and tools for exploration beyond LEO. Here, we present an abridged version of the first annual report of the BLISS-SWG, which is publicly available on the NASA Technical Reports Server. Seven priority areas and pertinent research questions were identified for research beyond LEO in the coming 2–5 years. Appropriate experimental organisms and technology development needs for research addressing these questions are summarized. The BLISS-SWG aims for this review to serve as a resource for the space biology and science and engineering communities as they develop research to understand risks and mitigation strategies for deep-space stressors on human crew, plants, and their microbiomes.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2024-00012024-03-05T00:00:00.000+00:00The Magnitude of the Soret Force on Colloidal Particles Measured in Microgravityhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2023-0002<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>There is a broad interest in both industry and academe in understanding the time-evolution in the microstructure of colloidal gels, as such changes affect the properties of the gels including product self-life and rheology. In colloidal gels, the time-evolution results from the magnitude and the relative proportions of forces—including gravity, acting on the colloidal particles. The aim of this study was to measure the magnitude of the Soret force acting on the colloidal particles in a model gel in the microgravity on the International Space Station, as a proxy for gravitational forces in Earth-based experiments. It was found that the Soret force could be used to create an effective gravitational force of between about 10 × 10<sup>−17</sup> N (3 milli-G) and 3 × 10<sup>−17</sup> N (1 milli-G) on the colloidal particles, where the lower limit is set by the dominance of particle flux from Brownian forces. These results should allow mapping the behavior of colloidal gels broadly described in literature on other gels—such as polymer gels of industrial interest, where the colloidal particles are much smaller.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2023-00022024-02-12T00:00:00.000+00:00Design, Build and Testing of Hardware to Safely Harvest Microgreens in Microgravityhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2023-0001<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>In long-duration space missions, crops will supplement the astronaut diet. One proposed crop type is microgreens, the young seedlings of edible plants that are known for their high nutritional levels, intense flavors, colorful appearance, and variety of textures. While these characteristics make microgreens promising for space crop production, their small size presents a unique challenge within the microgravity environment. To address this challenge, a microgreen planting box was developed to improve microgreen harvest techniques both in 1 g and in microgravity without concern for contamination by roots. Using this microgreen planting box, three parabolic flights were conducted where two different bagging methods (attached and manual) and three different microgreen cutting methods (Guillotine, Pepper Grinder, Scissors) were tested. In flight, the microgreens were contained within a glovebox and footage of all microgreen harvests was recorded. Statistical and trade analyses revealed that the combination of Cutting & Bagging method that performed the best was the Pepper Grinder with attached bagging. This was based on the following criteria: (1) average execution time, (2) microgreen debris, (3) biomass yield, (4) root debris, (5) microgreens left on the hardware, (6) number of seedlings growing under the lids, (7) hardware failure, and (8) perceived ease of use. This process allowed us to identify weaknesses and strengths of all hardware types and helped us identify major points of improvement within the hardware design to harvest microgreens in microgravity. Future directions include microgreen harvests in analog environments and further development of microgreen Cutting & Bagging method.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2023-00012023-10-31T00:00:00.000+00:00Shared Metabolic Remodeling Processes Characterize the Transcriptome of within Various Suborbital Flight Environmentshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2021-0002<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>The increasing availability of flights on suborbital rockets creates new avenues for the study of spaceflight effects on biological systems, particularly of the transitions between hypergravity and microgravity. This paper presents an initial comparison of the responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to suborbital and atmospheric parabolic flights as an important step toward characterizing these emerging suborbital platforms and their effects on biology. Transcriptomic profiling of the response of the Arabidopsis ecotype Wassilewskija (WS) to the aggregate suborbital spaceflight experiences in Blue Origin New Shepard and Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo revealed that the transcriptomic load induced by flight differed between the two flights, yet was biologically related to traditional parabolic flight responses. The sku5 skewing mutant and 14-3-3κ:GFP regulatory protein overexpression lines, flown in the Blue Origin and parabolic flights, respectively, each showed altered intra-platform responses compared to WS. An additional parabolic flight using the F-104 Starfighter showed that the response of 14-3-3κ:GFP to flight was modulated in a similar manner to the WS line. Despite the differing genotypes, experimental workflows, flight profiles, and platforms, differential gene expression linked to remodeling of central metabolic processes was commonly observed in the flight responses. However, the timing and directionality of differentially expressed genes involved in the conserved processes differed among the platforms. The processes included carbon and nitrogen metabolism, branched-chain amino acid degradation, and hypoxic responses. The data presented herein highlight the potential for various suborbital platforms to contribute insights into biological responses to spaceflight, and further suggest that in-flight fixation during suborbital experiments will enhance insights into responses during each phase of flight.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2021-00022021-01-29T00:00:00.000+00:00Using Tapered Channels to Improve LAD Performance for Cryogenic Fluids: Suborbital Testing Resultshttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2021-0009<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Improvement of cryogenic fluid storage and transfer technology for in-space propulsion and storage systems is required for long-term space missions. Screened channel liquid acquisition devices (LADs) have long been used with storable propellants to deliver vapor-free liquid during engine restart and liquid transfer processes. The use of LADs with cryogenic fluids is problematic due to low temperatures associated with cryogenic fluids. External heat leaks will cause vapor bubbles to form within the LADs that are difficult to remove in the existing designs. A tapered LAD channel has been proposed to reliably remove vapor bubbles within the device without costly thrusting maneuvers or active separation systems. A model has been developed to predict bubble movement within tapered LAD channels, and subsequent ground testing was completed with a simulant fluid to provide model validation data. Suborbital microgravity testing of tapered LAD technology was recently completed with two different simulant fluids and demonstrated that the concept can passively expel vapor bubbles within the channel. Two additional suborbital flights have been funded to further develop this technology by investigating the performance of larger scale versions of the design.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2021-00092021-06-26T00:00:00.000+00:00The Adhesive Response of Regolith to Low-Energy Disturbances in Microgravityhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2021-0001<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Small, airless bodies are covered by a layer of regolith composed of particles ranging from μm-size dust to cm-size pebbles that evolve under conditions very different than those on Earth. Flight-based microgravity experiments investigating low-velocity collisions of cm-size projectiles into regolith have revealed that certain impact events result in a mass transfer from the target regolith onto the surface of the projectile. The key parameters that produce these events need to be characterized to understand the mechanical behavior of granular media, which is composed of the surfaces of small bodies. We carried out flight and ground-based research campaigns designed to investigate these mass transfer events. The goals of our experimental campaigns were (1) to identify projectile energy thresholds that influence mass transfer outcomes in low-energy collision events between cm-size projectiles and μm-size regolith, (2) to determine whether these mass transfer events required a microgravity environment to be observed, and (3) to determine whether the rebound portion of these collision events could be replicated in a laboratory drop tower environment. We found that (1) mass transfer events occurred for projectile rebound accelerations <7.8 m/s<sup>2</sup> and we were unable to identify a corresponding impact velocity threshold, (2) mass transfer events require a microgravity environment, and (3) ourdrop tower experiments were able to produce mass transfer events. However, drop tower experiments do not exactly reproduce the free-particle impacts and rebound of the long-duration microgravity experiments and yielded systematically lower amounts of the overall mass transferred.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2021-00012021-01-29T00:00:00.000+00:00Research Flights on Blue Origin's New Shepardhttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2021-0005<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<p>Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle made its first flight above the Kármán Line, returning safely to Earth in November 2015. At the time when this paper is being written (February 2021), the system has conducted 14 flights, including 10 with research and education payloads aboard. More than 100 payloads have exercised a wide range of capabilities and interfaces, from small cubesat-form factor student payloads to large custom payloads of nearly 100 kg. Investigations have spanned a wide range of high-altitude and microgravity research objectives, as well as raising technology readiness level (TRL) on diverse hardware. This paper summarizes New Shepard's payload missions to date, and presents standardized and custom accommodations, both in the shirtsleeve cabin and directly exposed to the space environment.</p>
</abstract>ARTICLEtruehttps://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/gsr-2021-00052021-03-20T00:00:00.000+00:00en-us-1