CZFerro display aboard International Space Station
CZFerro display aboard International Space Station
On August 24th, 2011 I was contacted by Howell Ivy of Valley Christian High School, He asked if CZFerro would be interested in getting a ferrofluid display aboard the International Space Station... of course we said yes :) After nearly a year our chamber reached the ISS on March 28th, 2012.
The ferrofluid is contained in a magnetic chamber with 5 axis of electromagnetic coils. Different currents are sent through the coils to see the movement of the fluid in a micro-gravity environment. This is a study of possible uses of ferrofluid in mechanical action without moving parts. This will also show the magnetic fields without the influence of gravity on the material.
Along with the ferrofluid experiment, the students of VCS sent a total of 7 experiments aboard the ISS. All 7 are experiments are designed and picked by the students.
- Electro-plating Experiment -by Valley Christian High School: This experiment will study the effects of actually doing electro-plating of of gold and bronze in microgravity aboard the ISS and comparing the results of identical electro-plating on earth. Samples of electro-plating in space and on the ground will be analyzed with Valley Christian's Atomic Force Microscope.
- Ferro-Magnetic Fluid Experiment -by Valley Christian School: We all know that metal particles will be attracted to a permanent magnet. In this experiment, students will analyze the effects of microgravity on metal particles in the presence of electro-magnetic fields. Metal particles in this experiment will be suspended in a special fluid so that the results can be photographed in space, beamed to earth and analyzed daily.
- Biological Growth Experiment -by Valley Christian High School: Growth of biological samples will be studied to determine the effects by microgravity. Results will be compared with growth of samples on earth.
- Plant Growth Experiment -by Valley Christian High School: Growth of four different plants will be studied to determine the effects by microgravity. Results will be compared with growth of samples on earth. Lighting of plants will be done via light emitting diodes and photos of plant growth will be studied daily.
- Concrete Mixing Experiment -by Faith Christian Academy: As humans begin to explore space, a time will come when buildings will need to be built. This group of students will study the effects of mixing concrete in space two ways: (1) By stirring the concrete mixture and, (b) by vibrating the concrete mixture. The structure integrity of both the space-mixed concrete and the earth-mixed will be analyzed with Valley Christian's Atomic Force Microscope at the molecular level.
- Biological Experiment -by Whittier Christian High School: This experiment will examine the level of antibiotic resistance of GFP fluorescent-taggd Escherichia inoculated with Kanamycon antibiotics.
- Space Robot Experiment -by Fremont Christian High School: Students will study the effects of a fan-propelled robot in their MicroLab Assembly
The ISS Program Receives Accolades from President Obama
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