MSL-1 NASDA equipment

NASDA equipment

MSL-1 Rack Configuration

STARBOARD SIDE CENTER AISLE PORT SIDE

2. CONTROL CENTER

4. STANDARD SPACELAB SUBSYSTEMS

6. CM-1 FLUID SUPPORT PACKAGE

8. COMBUSTION MODULE-1 (CM-1)

10. DROP COMBUSTION EXPERIMENT (DCE) APPARATUS

12. MIDDECK GLOVEBOX (MGBX)

A. SPACE ACCELERATION MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (SAMS)

B. HIGH-PACKED DIGITAL TELEVISION (HI-PAC DTV)

C. STOWAGE

1. WORK BENCH

3. ELECTROMAGNETIC
CONTAINERLESS
PROCESSING FACILITY
(TEMPUS).

MICROGRAVITY
MEASUREMENT ASSEMBLY
(MMA).

QUASI-STEADY
ACCELERATION MEASUREMENT
(QSAM) SYSTEM

5. STOWAGE

7. EXPRESS RACK
ASTRO/PLANT
GENERIC BIOPROCESSING
APPARATUS
(Astro/PGBA).

PHYSICS OF HARD
SPHERES EXPERIMENT
(PHsSE)

9. LARGE ISOTHERMAL
FURNACE (LIF)

11. STOWAGE

Outline of LIF

The following experiments will be conducted using the Large Isothermal Furnace (LIF) in NASDA MSL-1 mission: Preparatory experiments will be conducted for three experiments which have been preliminarily selected as experiments themes for JEM utilization. Experiments on technology development for the future experiment in material science (shear cell method).

American investigators will conduct their own experiments as a part of international science cooperation.

Experiments Using LIF (Principal Investigators)

1	Diffusion of Liquid Metals and Alloys (Dr.Toshio Itami, Hokkaido University)
2	Diffusion of Liquid Lead-Tin-Telluride (Ms.Misako Uchida,Ishikawajima Heavy Industry Co.Ltd.)
3	High Accuracy Measurements of Impurity Diffusion Coefficients in Ionic Melts in Microgravity (Dr.Tsutomu Yamamura,Tohoku University)
4	Measurements of Diffusion Coefficients by Shear Cell Method (Dr.Shinichi Yoda, National Space Development Agency of Japan)
5	Liquid Phase Sintering (Dr.Randall German,Pennsylvania State University)
6	Diffusion Processing in Molten Semiconductors (Dr.David N.Mattiesen,Case Western Reserve University)

The LIF consists of an electric furnace, a control unit, a gas supply unit and an evacuation unit. Each experiment sample is covered by a "cartridge" a special container designed for each experiment. Each cartridge will be inserted in the furnace and processed. LIF has already flown in SL-J and lML-2 missions and performed several experiments in space. The LIF has been modified for MSL-1 in order to enable telescience operations.

Specifications of MSL-1 LIF is shown below.

LIF Specifications

Heating Temperature	Maximum Temp 1600degrees
Heating Capability	From room temp. to 1600degrees in less than 80min.
Cooling Capability	From 1600degrees to 45degrees in less than 240min. (rapid cooling using G He)
Temperature Uniformity For 100mm-10ng sample 160mm	Max.temp. difference:Less than 5degrees. 8degrees
Temp Control Capability. Target Temp Deviation. Temp Stability	+-3.0 +-1.5
Sample Size	fai 26x168mm max
Equipment Size/Weight	Equivalent to single rack/approximately 175kg
Parameter Change Capability	Capable to incorporate uplinked parameter change prior to experiment execution
Rapid Cooling Capability	Handled by using Standard rapid cooling cartridge
Electrical Experiment Capability	Handled by using Standard rapid electrical cartridge

Features of LIF

(1) Temperature control

ln addition to the precise control capability in high temperature (around 1,600defrees) which was proven in the Space Lab-J mission and the Second International Microgravity Laboratory mission, temperature control capability in low temperature (less than 1,000degrees) has been improved. LIF can control experiment temperature form some hundred to 1,600 degrees centigrade and accommodate a variety of experiments.

(2) Additional apparatus and special cartridges

For the MSL-1 mission, LIF has been equipped with additional apparatus such as the motor driver and the C-Box for the US shear cell experiment and chronopotentiometry measurement. Some cartridges are specially designed for the experiment; a cartridge with rapid cooling capability, shear cell cartridge and chronopotentiometry cartridge are in this category.

(3) Experiment parameters

Experiment parameters can be modified by ground commands. LIF is better able to accommodate experiment plan changes than previous missions.

LIF Configuration

The LIF system is composed of the following

VVP(Vacuum Vent Panel)controls Vacuum Vent System.
LIFCE-DIU(LIF Control Equipment assembly) has an interface between Spacelab and LIF system.
LIFCE-EXP(Experiment assembly)controls LIF-MP(Material Processing assembly) and Motor Driver.
LIF|MP has heating and cooling functions for put in samples.
GSU(Gas Supply Unit assembly)keeps Helium gas and supplies to LIF-MP.
VAP(Valve Access Panel assembly) controls cooling water system.
MD(Motor Driver) controls motor used for NASA experiments.
C-BOX (Common Electrical Supply Box)functions are measuring voltage and sending an electric current to sample.

Operation Tool
Small implements for experiments. Stored in Spacelab storage.
Spacelab Large Isothermal Furnace Standard Sample Cartridge
Standard rapid cooling cartridge Enables sample to cool down rapidly with gaseous helium. Standard electrical cartridge handles electrical experiments.
Enhanced Diffusion Coefficient measurement cartridge
Enables measurement of diffusion coefficients with higher precision by shear cell method.

Last Updated : February 18, 1998