Space Station carries AE experiment

4/10/2013 Written by Susan Mumm

An experiment of AE Prof. Ioannis Chasiotis and graduate student Qi Chen is underway in a set of "briefcases" recently attached to the International Space Station.

Written by Written by Susan Mumm

An experiment of AE Prof. Ioannis Chasiotis and graduate student Qi Chen is underway in a set of "briefcases" recently attached to the International Space Station. The polymer nanocomposite samples with various concentrations and sizes of nanoparticles, were divided into two identical groups and were mounted on the briefcases together with samples from other research laboratories. The two briefcases, transported aboard the space shuttle Endeavour and mounted in mid-March at the exterior of the International Space Station, will be in place for the next six months, then will be returned by another space shuttle mission. Both sets of samples will be exposed to UV radiation, and one set will be in contact with atomic oxygen. This project aims at investigating the shielding effect of nanocomposites and the deterioration of their properties in space. This work was made possible by AFOSR grant #FA9550-06-1-0140 and a collaboration with the WPAFB.

UIUC Module
UIUC Module
UIUC Module
 
UIUC Module
UIUC Module
UIUC Module
 
MISSE-6 experiments attached to the International Space Station, orbiting above the earth.
MISSE-6 experiments attached to the International Space Station, orbiting above the earth.
MISSE-6 experiments attached to the International Space Station, orbiting above the earth.


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This story was published April 10, 2013.