DropCoal for NYX: A New Chapter in Microgravity Research

Exciting news from our team!

The second version of DropCoal is officially ready for launch aboard Nyx, the modular and reusable space capsule developed by The Exploration Company. This marks another major milestone in our mission to advance microgravity research.

The device was entirely developed in Romania by our team, to host an experiment proposed by an international team of scientist led by INFLPR and financed by ESA.

A New Platform for DropCoal

The Nyx capsule is designed to lift off from any heavy launcher worldwide, delivering cargo safely to and from space stations in low Earth orbit (LEO) and beyond. This capability opens new opportunities for scientific experiments like DropCoal, allowing us to test and validate our research in diverse space environments. Today, our team is on-site in Germany for the official handover at The Exploration Company (TEC), marking the next step in our journey.

What’s New with DropCoal for NYX?

While this version of DropCoal retains the same core components as the one currently operating on the International Space Station (ISS), it features a new configuration specifically designed to be compatible with the NYX capsule. The experiment’s fundamental objective remains unchanged: To analyze the coalescence of two liquid droplets in microgravity.

Studying this phenomenon helps improve our understanding of fluid dynamics in space, with potential applications in medicine, materials science, and future space exploration technologies. The data collected from DropCoal for NYX will provide valuable insights to complement the findings from DropCoal on the ISS, further enhancing our knowledge of how liquids behave in weightlessness.

Rigorous Testing for Space Qualification

Before any experiment can fly to space, it must undergo extensive testing to ensure it meets the highest standards of reliability and safety. DropCoal for NYX has successfully completed a rigorous test campaign, qualifying it for space operations. Today, TEC specialists in Germany conducted the final verifications, confirming that the experiment is ready for installation.

Awaiting Launch

With all tests successfully completed, DropCoal for NYX will now be safely stored inside the NYX capsule for the next six months, awaiting its scheduled launch. This moment is an important milestone for our team and partners, as we continue our commitment to advancing microgravity research and space technology.

Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to launch!

You can read more about DropCoal for NYX here.