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Ears & Turbines In Space
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Two research projects proposed by NCSSM students
were selected for NASA's Reduced Gravity Student Flight Program (RGSFP).
Designed and built by research classes in chemistry and physics, data from
the two projects will be collected when the projects are subjected to reduced
gravity during flights aboard NASA aircraft. “The reduced gravity aircraft
generally flies 30 parabolic maneuvers over the Gulf of Mexico. This parabolic
pattern provides about 30 seconds of hypergravity (about 1.8G-2G) as the
plane climbs to the top of the parabola. Once the plane starts to “nose
over” the top of the parabola to descend toward Earth, the plane experiences
about 25 seconds of microgravity (0G). At the very top and bottom of the
parabola, flyers experience a mix of partial G's between 0 and 1.8 (called
“dirty air”).” http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov/theProgram/index.cfm
For the chemistry project students have built three
models of the ear to observe how reduced gravity impacts the mechanisms
in the ear; understanding how the ear is affected by reduced gravity may
help to mitigate problems in space adaptation for astronauts. The physics
students are investigating how reduced gravity impacts wind turbines; their
goal is to better understand how a wind turbine would function on Mars.
In preparation for the March flights, NCSSM students
have participated in several videoconferences with NASA. On January 16th,
the students made presentations to NASA staff; the students described the
goals of their experiments and they displayed the project models. NASA staff
attending the videoconference congratulated the students on the sophistication
of their designs and the relevance of their projects. NASA staff also provided
the students with additional information on features they must incorporate
in designs to meet safety requirements.
NCSSM science faculty sponsoring the students include
Dr. Halpin, Mr. Gotwals and Mr. Millbourne. In March, these instructors
will travel to the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Each will participate
on a flight aboard the reduced gravity aircraft* to
conduct the student experiments. During their stay in Houston, a videoconference
is scheduled on March 11th. The time will provide the instructors a chance
to give the students an update on how their experiments are functioning
under test conditions.
*nicknamed the “vomit comet”
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