Granular materials in microgravity

2008/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Fisika

Scientists from the Physics Department of the University of Navarra work on a project promoted by the European Space Agency (ESA). The objective of this project is to know the behavior of granular materials in microgravity. A zero-gravity flight campaign is underway to prepare an experimental system waiting to be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2011. The heart of the experiment is a cell that vibrates the side walls of the cell and pulls out the material. Different sensors and cameras record particle movement. This cell has been designed by the Granular Media Group of the University of Navarra.