72 research outputs found
On to Mars!: chronicles of Martian simulations
No full textThis book introduces the Martian simulations, one installed on Devon Island, an uninhabited island in the Canadian Arctic, well within the polar circle, and two in the desert of Utah, several hundreds of kilometers South of Salt Lake City. The book is based on the diaries during the simulations, held by Vladimir Pletser, a physicist-engineer, who was selected to attend these simulations. It relates the details of everyday life in these Martian habitats and of the scientific and exploratory work conducted in these extreme environments in preparation for future manned missions to Mars. Through the real experiences described in the book, readers will find space explorations and living on Mars more tangible.
Des expériences chirurgicales en impesanteur [Émission télévisée]
No full textEnregistrement de l'émission le 2 août 2023, diffusion le 30/09/2023 et le 01/10/2023. Fabienne Vande Meerssche reçoit dans Les Éclaireurs Julie Manon, aspirante FNRS et doctorante au Neuro Musculo Skeletal Lab de l’Institut de recherche expérimentale et clinique de l’UCLouvain et assistante en chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologie aux Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, & Vladimir Pletser, docteur en physique et ingénieur civil mécanicien, directeur des opérations d’entrainement spatial chez BlueAbyss et candidat astronaute pour la Belgique
Human crew-related aspects for astrobiology research
No full textAbstractSeveral space agencies and exploration stakeholders have a strong interest in obtaining information on technical and human aspects to prepare for future extra-terrestrial planetary exploration. In this context, the EuroGeoMars campaign, organized with support from the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG), the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center and partner institutes, was conducted by the crews 76 and 77 in February 2009 in The Mars Society's ‘Mars Desert Research Station’ (MDRS) in Utah.The EuroGeoMars encompasses two groups of experiments: (1) a series of field science experiments that can be conducted from an extra-terrestrial planetary surface in geology, biology, astronomy/astrophysics and the necessary technology and networks to support these field investigations; (2) a series of human crew-related investigations on crew time organization in a planetary habitat, on the different functions and interfaces of this habitat, and on man–machine interfaces of science and technical equipment.This paper recalls the objective of the EuroGeoMars project and presents the MDRS and its habitat layout. Social and operational aspects during simulations are described. Technical and operational aspects of biology investigations in the field and in the habitat laboratory are discussed in detail with the focus point set on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection of microbial DNA in soil samples.</jats:p
Experiment Preparation and Performance for the Electromagnetic Levitator (EML) Onboard the International Space Station
No full textThe electromagnetic levitation facility EML on board the ISS is a powerful tool for investigation of solidification phenomena of metallic melts and precise measurement of thermophysical properties of the liquid. Containerless processing enables deep undercoolings prior to solidification and the analysis of crystal nucleation and growth phenomena. The microgravity environment allows studying these processes under reduced fluid flow and moreover under different levels of melt convection by systematic variation of electromagnetic stirring. Materials properties like density, specific heat, surface tension, viscosity, thermal and electrical conductivity of liquid metals and semiconductors are determined in the absence of disturbances caused by container walls and gravity forces. Scientists are supported by facility and mission specialists for preparation and performance, which is decisive for successful operation on orbit. User support comprises the determination of materials data, development of experiment procedure, parameter sets and their validation in the ground model as well as the conduction of space experiments by real-time monitoring and control. The comprehensive support program for the entire life cycle of science project from experiment definition to its operation ensures high quality data and an optimum of scientific results
Preparation of Space Experiments
No full textThis book explains how researchers design, prepare, develop, test and fly their science experiments on microgravity platforms before sending them to space. All preparation phases are explained and presented, including aircraft parabolic flights as part of spaceflight preparation. Twenty international authors, all experts in their own microgravity research field, contribute to chapters describing their experience to prepare experiments before space flights. Fields covered are Physical Sciences and Life Sciences. Physical Sciences covers fluid physics (vibration effects on diffusion; red blood cell dynamics; cavitation in microgravity; capillary driven flows) and material sciences (electromagnetic levitator onboard International Space Station). Life Sciences includes human physiology (sampling earlobe blood; human cardiovascular experiments; tumours in space) and neurophysiology (dexterous manipulation of objects in weightlessness)
Preparation of Space Experiments
No full textThis book explains how researchers design, prepare, develop, test and fly their science experiments on microgravity platforms before sending them to space. All preparation phases are explained and presented, including aircraft parabolic flights as part of spaceflight preparation. Twenty international authors, all experts in their own microgravity research field, contribute to chapters describing their experience to prepare experiments before space flights. Fields covered are Physical Sciences and Life Sciences. Physical Sciences covers fluid physics (vibration effects on diffusion; red blood cell dynamics; cavitation in microgravity; capillary driven flows) and material sciences (electromagnetic levitator onboard International Space Station). Life Sciences includes human physiology (sampling earlobe blood; human cardiovascular experiments; tumours in space) and neurophysiology (dexterous manipulation of objects in weightlessness)
Non-randomness of exponential distance relation in the planetary systemv: an answer to Lecar
No full textOne of the usual main objections against attempts in finding a physical cause for the planet distance distribution is based on the assumption that similar distance distribution could be obtained by sequences of random numbers. This assumption was stated by Lecar in a short article of 1973 that is still referred to nowadays. We show here how this assumption is incorrect
Is The Probability of Tossing a Coin Really 50–50%? Part 2: Dynamic Model with Rebounds
No full textIn the first part of this paper, we considered several theoretical models, a static and four dynamic models without rebounds, of the throw of a fair coin landing on its edge, to demonstrate that the probability of heads or tails is less than 50%, depending on the initial toss conditions, the coin geometry and conditions of the coin and landing surfaces. For the dynamic model with rebounds that is the subject of this second part of the paper, it is found that the probability that a 50 Euro cent coin thrown from a normal height with common initial velocity conditions and appropriate surface conditions will end up on its edge is in the order of one against several thousand
Developing Scientific Ground Models of the Protein Crystallisation Diagnostics Facility to Prepare for Protein Crystallisation Investigations on Board the International Space Station
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