In 2021, the European Space Agency (ESA) receives a proposal for a pioneering project that aims to make a significant impact on space exploration by providing extensive knowledge across various domains. The results promise to offer insights into raindrop and cloud formation, the administration of medicine to astronauts, as well as fueling of spacecraft.
This experiment was conceived and proposed by an international Science Team, led by the National Institute for Laser, Plasma, and Radiation Physics, with Mihai Boni as the coordinator. The team proposed conducting multiple droplet collisions and varying several sets of parameters to see their influence. The main goal is to observe and document droplet formation and coalescence in the absence of gravity, on the International Space Station (ISS).
Acknowledging the importance of this study, ESA issued an invitation to tender for the design and manufacture of a device to host this experiment.
After a thorough selection process, Romanian InSpace Engineering (RISE) was announced as the prime contractor and embarked on a challenging journey. The first step was designing the mechanisms of two precisely controlled needles allowing droplet formation and coalescence. The DropCoal experiment also includes an ultra-fast video camera to record the interactions and mixing process. The software developed ensures remote operations and automatic control of the complex fluid management system, pumps and the power supply modules.
From design to manufacturing, assembly and testing, the hardware produced by RISE successfully met all the requirements imposed for a space mission.
Once onboard the ISS, the device will be remotely operated from the ground by a RISE engineer, who will follow the scenarios outlined by the science team, which will analyze the results and draw conclusions.
Three years later, we are just days away from the launch of the experiment on a Falcon 9 rocket, headed to the International Space Station where it will be mounted in the ICE Cubes Facility, as experiment cube number 17.
We are thrilled to have been part of such an innovative experiment, and we look forward to the great achievements its results promise.
DropCoal, have a safe journey to space!
Many thanks to the collaborators that helped us along this journey:
– ESA by offering us guidance throughout this project
– The Science team conducted by the National Institute for Laser, Plasma, and Radiation Physics which proposed the experiment and will analyze the results
– Carnegie Mellon university and TU-Darmstadt University as part of the science team
– AOS, Bitdefender, Black Fusion, OPTART, Bartels Mikrotechnik, Memetis, Saint Gobain – for various key components, which were integrated by our experts
– Institute of Space Science, for helping us with the vibration testing
– Space Applications Services, for coordinating our ICF interface test
– BlueSpace and Environmental Test Laboratory (Belgium), for hosting the EMC test
– National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies for conducting the thermal tests
meet the team behind dropCoal
For almost 10 years we’ve been trying to form an experienced and enthusiastic team in Romania that can solve the most complicated problems from different fields.
DropCoal is a confirmation that these efforts have been successful.
And we’re just getting started!
Mugurel BĂLAN, Project Coordinator
Let me introduce you to the head team of engineers who worked on this project. I also want to thank all our colleagues who contributed to make this possible.
