教育

「将来の宇宙利用を見据えた膜面展開特性に関する研究」

東京大学大学院　新領域創成科学研究科　先端エネルギー工学専攻　博士1年
Shashank Khurana

Microgravity Flight Experiment

　Participating in the 8th Parabolic Flight Experiment had been a great learning experience for me in terms of having handson activity of making models and actually testing them in MicroGravity Environment. Applying proper design methodologies as per the given size, weight and Electromechanical restrictions for usage and preparing a setup for experiments satisfying all these prerequisites was a very challenging task for our team.

　Our Test Model involved the investigation of Memberane and its behavior in microgravity conditions, with its prospective application to Aerospace Field with the same geometry to be designed as futuristic Memberane structures carrying advanced probes entering the atmospheres of other celestial bodies. Although the experiments with smallscale memberane have previously carried out in Drop towers, but the environment available in Parabolic Flight Experiments was much defined and better for simulating the microgravity conditions with prolonged durations.

　The Experimental setup designed and prepared as per the given constraints was finally allowed to be given a final touch at the Nagoya Airport Maintenance Facility. Owing to the first MicroGravity Experiment for all the team members, we planned to consider some alternatives to be applied in case if the current setup fails to perform upto the expectations in the experiment. The Staff at Diamond Air Service (D.A.S.) was extremely friendly and helpful & we could learn a lot while interacting with them, from their practical working experience. Also, providing 20 Runs for Microgravity simulation turned out to be extremely useful for our Experiment Objective. On the first day, the planned mechanism for Memberane Retraction, Spinning and finally Ejection failed to work as expected in the environment; we used countermeasures for the second mechanism to be tested on the Second day thereby working against Gravity. Out of the 13 runs for the experiment scheduled on the second day, we were successful in obtaining good and interesting results in atleast 5 runs. The entire 4 day experience at D.A.S. Facility was one of its kind and extremely memorable.

　For the Students planning to participate in Future in Parabolic Flight Experiment Contest, I would like to advise them to study more in detail about Gravity and its effect on various materials and mechanisms which will help them ensure failureproof and smooth functioning of their setup througout the conduct of the experiements. Moreover, owing to the unpredictable nature of the Microgravity environment, I would like to urge all the students not to stick to a particular design and keep their ideas open and flexible; which will help them to take a great deal of good decisions for appropriate modifications at the last moment, if required.

○Acknowledgment