tailieunhanh - Assessment of Directions in Microgravity and Physical Sciences Research at NASA

Performing experiments in low Earth orbit has been the focus of much of the research funded by NASA’s Physical Sciences Division (PSD) and its predecessors for over 30 years. This microgravity research can be divided into five broad areas, all of which focus primarily on phenomena that are strongly perturbed by gravity: biotechnology, combustion, fluid physics, fundamental physics, and materials science. To these disciplines, the Physical Sciences Division is considering adding research in such emerging areas as biomolecular physics and chemistry, nanotechnology, and research in support of the human exploration and development of space (HEDS). In response to a request from NASA, the Committee on Microgravity Research. | Assessment of Directions in Microgravity and Physical Sciences Research at NASA NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL Of ĨHỈ NATCSNAl ACADẾMÍĨ Assessment of Directions in Microgravity and Physical Sciences Research at NASA Committee on Microgravity Research Space Studies Board Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS Washington . THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street . Washington DC 20001 NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance. Support for this project was provided by Contract NASW 01001 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions findings conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsor. International Standard Book Number 0-309-08639-6 Book International Standard Book Number 0-309-50848-7 PDF Cover design by Penny Margolskee. Description of elements in cover design Upper left forced flow flame spread in microgravity upper right phase distribution in alloy solidified in space center left interface configuration experiment center bone tissue grown on bioactive glass lower left electromagnetic force distribution and fluid flows in molten alloy in microgravity center bottom flight experiment on flame balls lower right simulation of atmospheric flows for comparison to spherical fluid flows in microgravity. A dendrite crystal appears on the spine and background and the equations illustrate fundamental theories of dendritic growth processes. Images courtesy of