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Lundquist, Charles A.

Publications and source records attributed to Lundquist, Charles A..

Design of multisample, multistep phase partitioning apparatus for use on Space Shuttle Spacelab, and Spacelab missions

Traditional separation techniques are inadequate for many new bioprocessing challenges. Innovative separation methods such as aqueous two phase partitioning are needed to perpetuate bioprocess commercialization. Aqueous two phase polymer partitioning systems provide a process for separating biological materials when combined with microgravity. An innovative space qualified apparatus developed for carrying out separations by partitioning in immiscible polymer systems under mirogravity conditions is described. The apparatus offers an innovative approach to low gravity bioseparations in general and phase partitioning in particular. These capabilities support NASA's interest in serving the biotechnology research community and providing quantitative data in the gravity dependent components of separation processes.

Deuser, Mark S.↗

Consortium for materials development in space interaction with Space Station Freedom

The Consortium for Materials Development in Space (CMDS) is one of seventeen Centers for the Commercial Development of Space (CCDS) sponsored by the Office of Commercial Programs of NASA. The CMDS formed at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the fall of 1985. The Consortium activities therefore will have progressed for over a decade by the time Space Station Freedom (SSF) begins operation. The topic to be addressed here is: what are the natural, mutually productive relationships between the CMDS and SSF? For management and planning purposes, the Consortium organizes its activities into a number of individual projects. Normally, each project has a team of personnel from industry, university, and often government organizations. This is true for both product-oriented materials projects and for infrastructure projects. For various projects Space Station offers specific mutually productive relationships. First, SSF can provide a site for commercial operations that have evolved as a natural stage in the life cycle of individual projects. Efficiency and associated cost control lead to another important option. With SSF in place, there is the possibility to leave major parts of processing equipment in SSF, and only bring materials to SSF to be processed and return to earth the treated materials. This saves the transportation costs of repeatedly carrying heavy equipment to orbit and back to the ground. Another generic feature of commercial viability can be the general need to accomplish large through-put or large scale operations. The size of SSF lends itself to such needs. Also in addition to processing equipment, some of the other infrastructure capabilities developed in CCDS projects may be applied on SSF to support product activities. The larger SSF program may derive mutual benefits from these infrastructure abilities.

Lundquist, Charles A.↗

Microgravity and its effects on residual motions in fluids

The primary reason for conducting many materials science experiments in space is to minimize or eliminate undesirable effects that might result owing to convective motions in fluids that are driven by buoyancy effects. Of particular concern are the low frequency accelerations caused by the Earth's gravity gradient field, spacecraft attitude motions, and atmospheric drag. In order to gain a limited understanding of the effects of these accelerations, researchers calculated the Stokes' motion of a spherical particle in a fluid for various types of spacecraft attitudes. Researchers assessed the effect of slowly rotating the experimental system relative to the spacecraft in order to reduce the rate at which the particles accumulate against the container wall.

Alexander, J. Iwan D.↗

Low gravity investigations in suborbital rockets

Two series of suborbital rocket missions are outlined which are intended to support materials and biotechnology investigations under microgravity conditions and enhance commercial rocket activity. The Consort series of missions employs the two-stage Starfire I rocket and recovery systems as well as a payload of three sealed or vented cylindrical sections. The Consort 1 and 2 missions are described which successfully supported six classes of experiments each. The Joust program is the second series of rocket missions, and the Prospector rocket is employed to provide comparable payload masses with twice as much microgravity time as the Consort series. The Joust and Consort missions provide 6-8 and 13-15 mins, respectively, of microgravity flight to support such experiments as polymer processing, scientific apparatus testing, and electrodeposition.

Wessling, Francis C.↗

Consort 1 flight results - A synopsis

All six experiments performed onboard Consort 1, the first low gravity materials processing payload to be launched by a commercially licensed rocket in the U.S., are evaluated. The six experiments were carried out as planned, during approximately seven minutes of suborbital, low gravity flight and returned in excellent condition within four hour of launch. Nearly 150 physical samples supported by measurements and photographs made during the flight were taken for analysis. The rocket flight and payload configuration is described, along with experiment objectives, methods, results, and conclusions.

Wessling, Francis C.↗

The feasibility and design of optical sensors for modal control

The feasibility of optical type sensors for control of flexible bodies was examined. The accuracies of such systems were determined via simulation and the sources of potential errors were designated. An initial laboratory design was effected and preliminary results obtained. These results are discussed critically with applications to future studies and system designs.

Lundquist, Charles A.↗

Residual motions caused by micro-gravitational accelerations

It is shown here that, under certain conditions, the low-frequency accelerations on experiments being performed aboard orbiting spacecraft due to gravity gradient, atmospheric drag, and spacecraft attitude or orientation can cause sustained fluid motions which require correction by advanced mass compensation techniques. The gravity gradient tensor is derived, and an expression for the difference between the absolute accelerations of a free particle and the mass center of the spacecraft is obtained. A model for the variation of atmospheric density with altitude is discussed, the equations governing the relative motion of a drag-free particle with respect to the mass center of the spacecraft are presented, and analytical and numerical solutions are obtained. Two possible spacecraft altitudes are considered. The problem of the Stokes motion of a sphere immersed in a viscous fluid is examined. Results are presented for the motion of a steel ball in water and for a triglycine sulfate crystal freely suspended in solution.

Alexander, J. Iwan D.↗

Motions in fluids caused by microgravitational acceleration and their modification by relative rotation

The primary reason for conducting many materials science experiments in space is to minimize or eliminate undesirable effects that might result because of convective motions in fluids which are driven by buoyancy effects. Of particular interest are the low-frequency accelerations caused by the earth's gravity gradient field, spacecraft attitude motions, and atmospheric drag, since it is known that these can give rise to sustained fluid motion. In order to gain a limited understanding of the effects of these accelerations their magnitude and orientation have been examined, and the Stokes' motion of a spherical particle in a fluid has been calculated for various types of spacecraft attitude motions. In addition, the effect of slowly rotating the experimental system relative to the spacecraft (in order to increase the residence time of the particle in the neighborhood of its initial position) is assessed.

Alexander, J. Iwan D.↗