nasa kc-135 flight
DESCRIPTION
NASA KC-135 Flight. Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering October 18, 2001. Dynamic Behavior of Surface Tension in Microgravity. NASA’s Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities (RSGFO) Program College and high school students submit scientific experiment proposals - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
NASA KC-135 Flight
Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering
October 18, 2001
Dynamic Behavior of Surface Tension in Microgravity
What is the KC-135?
• NASA’s Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities (RSGFO) Program– College and high school students submit scientific
experiment proposals
– If selected, fly experiment aboard KC-135
• KC-135 Weightless Wonder– a.k.a the “Vomit Comet”
– Flies in parabolas to simulate weightlessness
– Used primarily for astronaut training
Our Experiment
Dynamic Behavior of Surface Tension
in Microgravity• Basic idea
– View the dynamic motion of liquids of varying surface tension in zero-g
• Objectives– Determine the frequency at which liquids oscillate
– Determine a dampening effect
Experimental Setup
• Liquids usedWater, water and soap, milk,
olive oil, and Jello
• Liquid deploymentPopped balloons with needles
• Liquid ContainmentHoused in a sealed container
with access by gloves
Pre-Flight• Test Readiness Review• Lectures
• Chamber RideTaken to simulated altitude of 25,000 ft to experience
hypoxia
• Tours of NASA
Flight Day 1• Flyers
– Robbie Coffman
– Daniel Uhlig
• Tested – Balloon size
• Found – Large balloons popped
the best
Flight Day 2• Flyers
– Courtney Spells
– Alisa Hawkins
• Tested – Liquids of different surface
tension
Plane Motion
Variables:
a – acceleration t – time
v – velocity g – gravity
y – position
Equations of Motion:a = -g∫ a dt = - ∫ g dt∫ a dt = - g ∫ dt
v = - gt + Vo
∫ v dt = - g ∫ (t + Vo)dt
y = -gt2/2 + Vo t + yo
What shape must the plane’s trajectory be in order to match the acceleration of gravity?