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Q1: Where is the separation between the Experiment Cell Section and the
Main Section?
A: For SCOF, the top surface of the Cell Mounting Plate in the Cell Driving
System is the line of separation between the Experiment Cell Section and
the Main Section. In addition, the connectors located on the left and right
sides inside SCOF separates the two sections. In this case, the wires from
these connectors to the Experiment Cell Cartridge and one side of the connector
need to be prepared by the Experiment Cell Section developer. PCRF, on
the other hand, draws the line of separation on the interior surface of
the Cell Tray, where up to six Cell Cartridge Assemblies can be installed.
Electrically, the two sections interface at D-Sub connectors located inside
the Cell Tray.
or further details of the interfaces, please refer to the section
on interfaces (SCOF, PCRF)
or the applicable Interface Control Document (ICD).
Note: The English version of the ICD's will be available soon.
Q2: How is the microgravity environment on the facility regulated? A: Please see the experiment environment page. Q3: What can be performed using the real time (tele-science) communication? A: The user can send commands through tele-science communication to control the experiment. Examples of these commands include the adjustment of interferometric images, focusing, position of the camera, and program control commands. In addition, the user may modify the experiment parameters by re-sending the parameter data file to the appropriate facility and have the facility overwrite on the previous data. From the facility, the user will receive the experiment data, including the image viewed through the CCD camera and processed by the Image Processing Unit (IPU). Q4: Can the researcher develop the Experiment Cell Section by himself? A: Presumably it is difficult to develop the Experiment Cell Section by another developer. Q5: How much of optional functions can we add to the facility? A: For SCOF, please see the section on Optional Devices. For PCRF, an optional device may be used as long as the interface requirements are met, but addition of optional devices most likely will require the physical volume of two or more Experiment Cell Cartridges, which in turn limits the number of experiments to be performed. Q6: How much does it cost to develop a standard Experiment Cell? A: The cost largely depends on the specimen and experiment so detailed discussions and adjustments are necessary. Q7: How much extra volume is available for the Experiment Cell Section? A: For SCOF, an extra volume is available. For PCRF, no extra volume is available unless one or more of the volume for other Experiment Cells is vacant. Q8: When will the facility be available for our use? A: Currently (as of August, 2000), SCOF, PCRF, Gradient Heat Furnace (GHF), and Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF) are scheduled for launch in Year 2004 by shuttle flight 1J/A based on the International Space Station Assembly Sequence (Revision F) and three years of operation is being planned. Q9: How many samples in an experiment can SCOF and PCRF perform simultaneously? A: For SCOF, a maximum of four (4) samples per cartridge can be accommodated and temperature for all four samples can be controlled simultaneously while only one sample can be observed at one time. For PCRF, nine (9) samples per cartridge for Vapor Diffusion Method and Membrane-intervened Two-liquid Diffusion Method, and twelve (12) samples per cartridge for Static Batch Method and Liquid-liquid Interface Two-liquid Diffusion Method can be subjected to experiment simultaneously. Also note that six Experiment Cell Cartridges can be installed into the Cell Tray at one time and experiment for all can be controlled simultaneously. Q10: Is there any specification that the actual performance exceeds? What are those specifications? For example, is the maximum temperature control of only 1450 degrees C assured while the facility can actually control up to 1500 degrees C? A: Yes. The maximum temperature of SCOF is actually 230 degrees C while only 220 degrees C is assured. In addition, the temperature range of PCRF is specified as 0~35 degrees C while the actual temperature control range is -30~60 degrees C. Q11: How many months before launch is it necessary to prepare the specimen? A: Normally on the Space Shuttle flights, NASA requires all specimens to be prepared to the launch configuration six (6) months before flight. Q12: Is it possible to confirm and verify the functions of the built Experiment Cell by combining with the Main Section? A: The basic plan to test the functions of the Experiment Cell Section is to perform function tests with the Main Section. However, if testing using the flight model of the Main Section is difficult for some reason, the combination testing will be perform using the Experiment Facility for Combination Testing (SCOF Simulator or PCRF Engineering Model). Q13: Is it possible to monitor the progress of the experiment on ground in real time?
A: As far as the images are concerned, real time monitoring becomes possible
once the Inter-satellite Communication System (ICS) is placed on orbit
with a few seconds of delay. However, the possibility also depends on the
amount of data transmission and the limit of channels using the
Image Processing Unit (IPU) on orbit. For the telemetry data, real
time monitoring is possible when communication is established. In either
case, the monitoring will be performed at the User Operation Area (UOA)
in the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC).
Last Updated : Sep. 6, 2000
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