Experiment Preparation and Performance for the Electromagnetic Levitator (EML) Onboard the International Space Station

The electromagnetic levitation (EML) facility on board the ISS is a powerful tool for investigation of solidification phenomena of metallic melts and precise measurement of thermophysical properties of the liquid. Containerless processing enables deep undercoolings prior to solidification and the analysis of crystal nucleation and growth phenomena. The microgravity environment allows studying these processes under reduced fluid flow and moreover under different levels of melt convection by systematic variation of electromagnetic stirring. Material properties like density, specific heat, surface tension, viscosity, thermal and electrical conductivity of liquid metals and semiconductors are determined in the absence of disturbances caused by container walls and gravity forces. Scientists are supported by facility and mission specialists for preparation and performance, which is decisive for successful operation on orbit. User support comprises the determination of material data, development of experiment procedure, parameter sets and their validation in the ground model as well as the conduction of space experiments by real-time monitoring and control. The comprehensive support program for the entire life cycle of science project from experiment definition to its operation ensures high-quality data and an optimum of scientific results

ENIGMA-anxiety working group : Rationale for and organization of large-scale neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders

Altres ajuts: Anxiety Disorders Research Network European College of Neuropsychopharmacology; Claude Leon Postdoctoral Fellowship; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation, 44541416-TRR58); EU7th Frame Work Marie Curie Actions International Staff Exchange Scheme grant 'European and South African Research Network in Anxiety Disorders' (EUSARNAD); Geestkracht programme of the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw, 10-000-1002); Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) program within the National Institute of Mental Health under the Intramural Research Program (NIMH-IRP, MH002781); National Institute of Mental Health under the Intramural Research Program (NIMH-IRP, ZIA-MH-002782); SA Medical Research Council; U.S. National Institutes of Health grants (P01 AG026572, P01 AG055367, P41 EB015922, R01 AG060610, R56 AG058854, RF1 AG051710, U54 EB020403).Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and disabling but seem particularly tractable to investigation with translational neuroscience methodologies. Neuroimaging has informed our understanding of the neurobiology of anxiety disorders, but research has been limited by small sample sizes and low statistical power, as well as heterogenous imaging methodology. The ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group has brought together researchers from around the world, in a harmonized and coordinated effort to address these challenges and generate more robust and reproducible findings. This paper elaborates on the concepts and methods informing the work of the working group to date, and describes the initial approach of the four subgroups studying generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. At present, the ENIGMA-Anxiety database contains information about more than 100 unique samples, from 16 countries and 59 institutes. Future directions include examining additional imaging modalities, integrating imaging and genetic data, and collaborating with other ENIGMA working groups. The ENIGMA consortium creates synergy at the intersection of global mental health and clinical neuroscience, and the ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group extends the promise of this approach to neuroimaging research on anxiety disorders

Containerless Processing on ISS: Ground Support Program for EML

EML is an electromagnetic levitation facility planned for the ISS aiming at processing and investigating liquid metals or semiconductors by using electromagnetic levitation technique under microgravity with reduced electromagnetic fields and convection conditions. Its diagnostics and processing methods allow to measure thermophysical properties in the liquid state over an extended temperature range and to investigate solidification phenomena in undercooled melts. The EML project is a common effort of The European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Space Agency DLR. The Microgravity User Support Centre MUSC at Cologne, Germany, has been assigned the responsibility for EML operations. For the EML experiment preparation an extensive scientific ground support program is established at MUSC, providing scientific and technical services in the preparation, performance and evaluation of the experiments. Its final output is the transcription of the scientific goals and requirements into validated facility control parameters for the experiment execution onboard the ISS

Experiment Preparation and Operation of the Electromagnetic Levitator EML on the ISS

EML is an electromagnetic levitation facility of the European Space Agency (ESA) for the ISS aiming at processing liquid metals or semiconductors under microgravity conditions. It allows to measure thermophysical properties in the liquid state and to investigate solidification phenomena. Before the on orbit processing the experiments are extensively prepared on ground in a ground support program at DLR Cologne. consisting of There the sample characterization, experiment planning, parameter development and finally experiment validation with the EML ground model. are performed. Then the experiment parameters are uploaded to the facility and the experiments are performed on orbit. After processing the scientific data are provided to the involved scientists for analysis and are archived at the DLR Microgravity User Support Center in a long term data archive. The presentation will focus on the on-orbit operations of the first three batches and the necessary preparation steps on ground to run experiments in the EML as well as potential future diagnostic upgrades of EML

Containerless Processing in ISS: Status of Experiments in ESA's EML, the Electromagnetic Levitator

EML is an electromagnetic levitation facility built for the ISS aiming at processing liquid metals or semiconductors under microgravity and thus reduced electromagnetic field and convection conditions. Its diagnostics and processing methods allow to measure thermophysical properties in the liquid state and to investigate solidification phenomena. EML resides in the European Drawer Rack inside the Columbus Module and inboard the ISS since June 2014. The payload was developed by an industrial consortium under the leadership of Airbus DS on behalf of the European Space Agency. After on-orbit assembly, installation and commissioning, EML is in use for science runs since April 2015. The first batch comprises of approximately 600 individual experiments on 18 metals and alloy systems. The Microgravity User Support Centre MUSC at Cologne, Germany, has been assigned the responsibility for EML operations under ESA contract and operates the experiments on behalf of the international science community. The presentation will show lessons learned from initial EML science operations, detail the on-orbit status of the first batch of experiments and provide a summary of the preparation for the second experiment batch to be started late in 2016

Electromagnetic Levitation onboard the International Space Station

The Electromagnetic Levitator onboard the International Space Station (ISS) in the Columbus module is an ESA facility for material research under microgravity. It allows to position and inductively heat metallic or semiconducting samples without contact to container walls under vacuum or noble gas atmosphere for the measurement of thermophysical properties in a wide temperature range and observation of non-equilibrium solidification from the undercooled melt. EML is operated by the Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC) at DLR cologne and serves as a research facility for an international science community. Since its installation in the Columbus Lab in 2014, EML has been in continuous use in orbit. Currently, the third batch of 18 samples is under investigation, whereby each sample is processed multiple times with different scientific objectives. The preparation of the experiment program in EML is performed at the Institute of Material Physics & MUSC in close coordination with the individual scientific teams. The scientific support at DLR starts with the so called ground support program, which comprises the definition of experiment procedures and parameters and validation runs on the EML ground model. Followed then by the on-orbit performance of the experiment in the MUSC control room in cologne and finally data archiving and distribution by a dedicated archiving system accessible via internet after the experiments. The present paper shall give an overview on the research facility and also on the science and maintenance operations on EML. A focus will be laid on the replacement of the Gas Circulation Pump of EML performed by Matthias Maurer during his Cosmic Kiss Mission in 2022. Moreover, an outlook to the planned operations for the upcoming years will be provided