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The Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment: Evolution of Teleoperational Control of Materials Research in Microgravity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

J.C. Lacombe ,
M.B. Koss ,
A.O. Lupulescu ,
J.E. Frei  and
M.E. Glicksman
J.C. Lacombe
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering Department Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY, 12180-3590
M.B. Koss
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering Department Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY, 12180-3590
A.O. Lupulescu
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering Department Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY, 12180-3590
J.E. Frei
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering Department Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY, 12180-3590
M.E. Glicksman
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering Department Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY, 12180-3590
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Abstract

Exactly one year ago, the Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE) completed its third and final orbital space flight aboard the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP) on STS-87. The IDGE conducted 180 experiments on dendritic growth in 5-9's succinonitrile (SCN), a BCC material used on USMP-2 and USMP-3, and over 100 experiments on 4-9's pivalic acid (PVA), an FCC material used on USMP-4. IDGE film and telemetry data provide benchmark tip velocity and radii versus supercooling for critically testing transport theory and the interfacial physics of diffusion-limited dendritic growth. Post-flight application of optical tomography is providing the first tip shape data allowing quantitative tests of three-dimensional phase field calculations. Several new discoveries were made during each flight concerning the behavior of dendrites at low driving forces, and the influences of time-dependent pattern features and noise. A summary of these scientific highlights will be provided.

The IDGE instrument was upgraded on each successive flight, improving its optics and electronics, especially the capability for teleoperational control. Near real-time, full gray-scale video was accommodated on USMP-4, allowing investigation of non-steady-state features and time-dependent growth dynamics. A short example of video from space will be shown. USMP-4 science was teleoperated by a student cadre for 16 days from a remote site established by NASA at RPI. This operational experience provides valuable insights, which will be drawn upon for future microgravity experiments to be conducted on the International Space Station.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 551: Symposium JJ – Materials in Space-Science, Technology & Exploration , 1998 , 235
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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