Evan Wilson (undergraduate student, University of Florida) observes a test apparatus to measure interfacial tension in support of Dr. Ranga Narayanan’s (University of Florida) NASA grant “A Novel Way to Measure Interfacial Tension Using the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF)” (NNX17AL27G).
A visit to the MSFC electrostatic levitation (ESL) laboratory by
Allan Bonet (undergraduate student, University of Florida) prepares a test cell for ground-based testing in support of Dr. Ranga Narayanan’s (University of Florida) NASA grant “A Novel Way to Measure Interfacial Tension Using the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF)” (NNX17AL27G).
A visit to the MSFC electrostatic levitation (ESL) laboratory by
iss073e0178587 (June 16, 2025) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers conducts research operations inside the Destiny laboratory module's Microgravity Science Glovebox aboard the International Space Station. Ayers swapped syringes containing protein samples and installed test cells inside the glovebox for the Ring-Sheared Drop Interfacial Bioprocessing of Pharmaceuticals investigation that explores using surface tension to contain liquids and study proteins without contacting solid walls. Results may benefit pharmaceutical manufacturing and 3D printing techniques on and off the Earth.
NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers conducts research operations inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox
iss073e0177791 (June 12, 2025) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Jonny Kim conducts research operations inside the Destiny laboratory module's Microgravity Science Glovebox aboard the International Space Station. Kim swapped syringes containing protein samples and installed test cells inside the glovebox for the Ring-Sheared Drop Interfacial Bioprocessing of Pharmaceuticals investigation that explores using surface tension to contain liquids and study proteins without contacting solid walls. Results may benefit pharmaceutical manufacturing and 3D printing techniques on and off the Earth.
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim conducts research operations inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox
iss073e0248499 (June 25, 2025) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers conducts research operations inside the Destiny laboratory module's Microgravity Science Glovebox aboard the International Space Station. Ayers swapped syringes containing protein samples and installed test cells inside the glovebox for the Ring-Sheared Drop Interfacial Bioprocessing of Pharmaceuticals investigation that explores using surface tension to contain liquids and study proteins without contacting solid walls. Results may benefit pharmaceutical manufacturing and 3D printing techniques on and off the Earth.
NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers conducts research operations inside the Destiny laboratory module
STS-42 closeup view shows Student Experiment 81-09 (SE 81-09), Convection in Zero Gravity experiment, with radial pattern caused by convection induced by heating an oil and aluminum powder mixture in the weightlessness of space. While the STS-42 crewmembers activated the Shuttle Student Involvement Program (SSIP) experiment on Discovery's, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103's, middeck, Scott Thomas, the student who designed the experiment, was able to observe the procedures via downlinked television (TV) in JSC's Mission Control Center (MCC). Thomas, now a physics doctoral student at the University of Texas, came up with the experiment while he participated in the SSIP as a student at Richland High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvia.
STS-42 closeup view shows SE 81-09 Convection in Zero Gravity experiment