NASA Exploration Life Support: V&T

VALIDATION AND TESTING - FLIGHT EXPERIMENTS OVERVIEW

The Flight Experiments element is responsible for managing microgravity flight experiments sponsored by the Exploration Life Support Project, which complement the activities conducted in ground laboratories and ground test bed facilities. These flight experiments are used to evaluate life support technologies for future flight systems. The Flight Experiments Element includes C-9B and Zero-G Corp. Reduced Gravity Aircraft parabolic flights and International Space Station experiments.

ISS Space Shuttle

C-9

TASKS

C-9B Parabolic Flight Experiments

Flights provide the opportunity for experimenters to perform micro, lunar and Martian gravity testing of concepts prior to flying on a spacecraft
FY08 and FY09 experiments that have flown or are planned to fly include 1) the Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal (VPCAR) Wiped Film Rotating Disk rig, 2) the Flexible Membrane Commode - a joint activity with NASA GRC and ARC and 3) the Gravitational Settling and Inertial Separation of Lunar Dust in 1/6 g experiment.
If you are a member of the ELS technology development community and are interested in conducting an experiment please contact Nancy R. Hall (nancy.r.hall@nasa.gov)

ISS Flight Experiments

Optimization of Root Zone Substrates (ORZS)

ISS Flight Exp

Characterize the changes in gas diffusion through moist porous substrates as affected by microgravity and model the relationship as a function of substrate characteristics

For more information please visit: www.spacedynamics.org/programs/orzs

Validating Vegetable Production Unit Plants, Protocols, Procedures and Requirements (VPU P3R)

Optimize the plants and minimize the support requirements for the vegetable and flower plant varieties to improve crew performance and fit within the resource limitations
Identify the threat levels and validate the procedures and protocols required to allow US astronauts to safely enjoy space-grown fruits and vegetables
Quantify the mass value that should be assigned to the non-nutritional effects of plants in a spacecraft cabin
This biological research activity originally originated under NASA's Advanced Life Support Project and has been re-assigned to the ISS Research Project, under the Exploration Technology Development Program.

For more information please visit: http://www.spacedynamics.org/programs/vpu

Websites of Interest

Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program

ISS Research Project