The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) today announced six awarded projects from a joint solicitation for research in the field of transport phenomena. The solicitation sought investigators interested in leveraging resources available through the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory for research in the areas of fluid dynamics, particulate and multiphase processes, thermal transport, nanoscale interactions, and combustion and fire systems. The NSF Directorate for Engineering invested $2.7 million in awards to the selected projects, and CASIS, manager of the ISS National Lab, will facilitate hardware implementation, in-orbit access, and astronaut crew time to support the investigations on the orbiting laboratory.
Fundamental science is a key area of focus for NASA and the ISS National Lab, and research in the persistent microgravity environment of the orbiting laboratory spurs advances that bring value to our nation and pave the way for future inquiries in low Earth orbit. Below highlights the six investigations awarded through this solicitation:
- Co-award: Boris Khusid of the New Jersey Institute of Technology; Joel Plawsky and Corey Woodcock of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Collaborative Research: ISS: GOALI: Transients and Instabilities in Flow Boiling and Condensation Under Microgravity
- Co-award: Jarrod Schiffbauer of Colorado Mesa University; Alicia Boymelgreen of Florida International University: ISS: Collaborative Research: Individual and Collective Behavior of Active Colloids in Microgravity
- James Gilchrest, Xuanhong Cheng, and Kelly Schultz of Lehigh University: ISS: Thermophoresis in Quiescent Non-Newtonian Fluids for Bioseparations
- Emilie Dressaire of the University of California Santa Barbara: ISS: Wicking in Gel-Coated Tubes
- Chen Li and Yan Tong of the University of South Carolina: ISS: Understanding the Gravity Effect on Flow Boiling Through High-Resolution Experiments and Machine Learning
- James Urban of the Worchester Polytechnic Institute: ISS: Flame Spread Response to Non-steady Airflow
In the coming weeks, additional press releases will delve into some of these projects, shedding light on how spaceflight research furthers the mission of NSF and the ISS National Lab to advance fundamental science for the benefit of life on Earth.
CASIS and NSF have partnered on six separate solicitations focused on various materials and physical science disciplines. Many of the projects awarded through these previous solicitations have already launched to the ISS. Recently, an NSF-funded research team from the University of Maryland made headlines when unusual “cool flames” were discovered during the team’s investigation onboard the space station. Results from this research could lead to advancements in future engine production on Earth.
To learn more about previous CASIS and NSF research collaborations and additional opportunities to leverage the ISS National Lab, please visit www.ISSNationalLab.org.
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About the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory: The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Lab allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit www.ISSNationalLab.org.
About the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF): The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2021 budget of $8.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts. www.nsf.gov
