Tim Peake becomes first Brit in Space
15 Dec 2015 by Evoluted New Media
Tim Peake will become the first British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station this week, taking part in a wide variety of experiments while he is in space. But what are they?
Tim Peake will become the first British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station this week, taking part in a wide variety of experiments while he is in space. But what are they? EML: Thermolab and NEQUISOL
The electromagnetic levitator (EML) is a furnace that will be used on the ISS. It heats metal to temperatures higher than 2000°C before rapidly cooling them. The levitating molten metal is then measured by cameras and other sensors. In space - without the effect of gravity or the container holding the metal - the properties of the metal can be witnessed more directly. Thermolab will be used to investigate the temperature and physical properties of alloys to better help computers with modelling and predicting potential new alloys on Earth. Non-equilibrium Solidification of Industrial Alloys (NEQUISOL) observes dendrites – tree shaped crystals – formed as alloys quickly cool below their freezing point. Aluminium-Silicon and Silicon-Germanium alloys will be studied on board the ISS. EXPOSE R-2 This project will observe how organisms react to exposure in space. BIOMEX will be studying a wide variety of organisms such as bacteria, algae and fungi either exposed to space radiation or a pseudo-Martian atmosphere. The Biofilm Organisms Surfing Space (BOSS) will study biofilm and non-biofilm forming organisms to compare their reaction to UV radiation. iVOICE and EPSILON This technology monitors when operators are beginning to feel fatigued through voice analysis. As astronauts are closely monitored during their training and while in space this makes them ideal candidates to trial this technology due to the large amount of data that can be collected. There are plans to trial iVOICE in Peruvian mines to detect fatigue in the voices of truck drivers. The software can notice subtle changes in pitch or speech which may not be observed by those talking to the person. EPSILON (Embedded Psychological Support Integrated for LONg duration missions Phase 1: VULCAN project) builds further upon the iVOICE technology using Longitudinal Voice Analysis. Analysing the voices of astronauts, EPSILON will aim to detect changes in vocal signals which could mean a change in wellbeing. Measuring brain pressure in space This experiment will examine astronauts’ vision in space to understand if it is affected by an increase in brain pressure, caused by a fluid imbalance. A non-invasive device will be placed in the astronauts’ ears and will measure the changes in brain pressure via tympanic membrane displacement. The device can measure both baseline pressure shift and pressure waves. METERON: SUPVIS-M and SUPVIS-E Meteron is a European project to prepare human and robotic missions to celestial bodies e.g. Mars, the Moon. SUPVIS-E and M will see Tim control rovers from the ISS in a variety of different scenarios. One will see a rover travel from a light to dark environment (to give an idea of conditions on Mars) with obstacles that must be avoided and markers for further investigation to be placed down while he controls the rover. The other experiment will see Tim control one rover in the Netherlands, while another rover will be travelling alongside him. This will give different viewpoints for Tim and hopefully allow him to navigate the rover more effectively.
