SPACE-DRUMS? A COMMERCIAL FACILITY FOR THE ISS

摘要

Space-DRUMS? was developed to satisfy an internationally agreed science requirement for a containerless processing facility that could handle large objects, 5 to 10 cm in diameter. There were three approaches investigated by the international community:Electrostatic by Japan, magnetic by Europe and acoustic by Canada, NASA researched all three. Guigne, (GIL) through the Canadian Space Agency proposed an acoustic solution based on a dynamically responding acoustic matrix system that only applied controlling forces when an object moved out of a control zone. Guigne in discussions with the Colorado School of Mines, (CSM), formed a joint interest in trying to make glass, glass ceramics and metal ceramics using Self-Propagating High Temperature Synthesis, (SHS), (Combustion Synthesis). Guigne became the industrial partner for CSM and together founded the Center for Commercial Applications of Combustion in Space. This Center was one of 15 centers set up under the NASA Space Product Development, (SPD) Program. These centers had to reorganize to meet the NASA Exploration agenda through the Innovations Partnership Program (IPP). The NASA Innovation Partnership Program is now sponsoring Space-DRUMS?. With the new NASA Programs Space-DRUMS is searching for a new Sponsor and is working with BioServe, U of Colorado, Boulder.