The IMPRESS project saw the first launch of an
\nexperimental payload, the Electromagnetic
\nLevitator, onboard an ESA\/DLR-funded Texus 42
\nsounding rocket, from the Esrange launch site
\nnear Kiruna in northern Sweden, on 1 December at
\n10:06 hours CET. This experimental payload,
\njointly developed by ESA and the DLR, enables
\naccurate measurement of the properties of
\nhighly-reactive liquid metal alloys. Such
\nmeasurements are unattainable on Earth and will greatly benefit the project.<\/p>\n
Intermetallic Materials Processing in Relation to
\nEarth and Space Solidification (IMPRESS) is a
\nmulti-million euro materials science project
\nco-funded by ESA and the European
\nCommission. The project, which currently
\ninvolves 150 materials scientists from across
\nEurope and Russia, aims to develop new
\nintermetallic alloys for industrial applications
\nsuch as gas turbine blades and hydrogen fuel cells.<\/p>\n
During the 6 minutes and 37 seconds of weightless
\nconditions provided by the sounding rocket, the
\nLevitator performed as planned. During the
\nflight, scientific and housekeeping data as well
\nas video images of the sample were received in
\nreal-time and closely monitored by engineers and
\nscientists at the Esrange ground station.
\nAlthough more time will be needed for a full
\nanalysis of the scientific data, the initial prognosis is very promising.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis launch is a major step forward in zero-g
\nexperimentation for the IMPRESS project\u201d, said
\nDavid Jarvis, ESA Project Manager. \u201cThe next
\ngeneration of intermetallics developed under
\nIMPRESS has the potential to make Europe a world
\nleader in the strategically-important area of
\nmaterials science. The economic significance of
\nthis should not be underestimated, as turbine
\nproduction and fuel-cell development is currently
\na multi-billion euro industry, the growth of which is set to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coming weeks will be busy ones for the
\nscience team, led by Dr Rainer Wunderlich and
\nProf. Hans-J\u00f6rg Fecht from the University of Ulm,
\nGermany, as it pores over the thermophysical
\nproperties data obtained during the flight.
\nEventually, that data will be used under the
\nIMPRESS project to improve computer modelling of
\nadvanced solidification processes. This research
\nis of major importance to the casting industry in
\nEurope and will ultimately lead to the next
\ngeneration of materials for aircraft jet engines.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe success of this mission is thanks to the
\ncareful preparation by the IMPRESS science team,
\nthe industrial development team led by EADS-Space
\nTransportation, Bremen and Friedrichshafen in
\nGermany and the operational support team at the
\nDLR Microgravity User Support Centre in Cologne
\nand at Esrange\u201d said Wolfgang Herfs, ESA’s Sounding Rocket Project Manager.<\/p>\n
With further sounding-rocket flights planned, the
\nIMPRESS project will also be making extensive use
\nof European facilities onboard the International
\nSpace Station – including the Electromagnetic
\nLevitator – to perform benchmark experiments on intermetallic alloys.<\/p>\n
For more information about IMPRESS, visit the project website at:<\/p>\n
<a href=”http:\/\/www.spaceflight.esa.int\/impress” target=”_blank” >
\nhttp:\/\/www.spaceflight.esa.int\/impress <\/a><\/p>\n
and concerning ESA’s sounding rocket programme, visit:<\/p>\n
<a href=”http:\/\/www.spaceflight.esa.int\/users\/rockets” target=”_blank” >
\nhttp:\/\/www.spaceflight.esa.int\/users\/rockets <\/a><\/p>\n
<a
\nhref=”http:\/\/www.spaceflight.esa.int\/users\/downloads\/userguides\/chapter_5_sounding_rockets.pdf”
\ntarget=”_blank” >
\nhttp:\/\/www.spaceflight.esa.int\/users\/downloads\/userguides\/chapter_5_sounding_rockets.pdf
\n<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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