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What happens to water in microgravity?

23/4/2013

Take one wet cloth and wring it out – something that we have all done here on Earth and we know exactly what will happen – we get wet feet! However, repeat this experiment in the microgravity environment of Space and what will happen do you think?

This is exactly what Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield did whilst on the International Space Station with some very interesting results. Take a look and see how the surface tension of water behaves in a very
curious way in reduced gravity conditions – worth a look!

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SIgn up for the Magical Mystery Tour to Mars . . . . .

22/4/2013

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In a press conference held today in New York, the Mars-One team officially launched the opening of the astronaut selection process for the one-way trip to Mars, projected to take place in 2023, with a first crew of 2 men and 2 women.

If you are adaptable, resilient and creative then you too could have the opportunity to be a part of making history. Working well as part of a multi-cultural team within a confined environment will be paramount, as well as a willingness to master new skills such as dentistry, medicine and engineering - after all, if you want a job doing on Mars then it's a case of pulling up your sleeves and getting on with it yourself!

The good news is that ANYONE over the age of 18 can apply, irrespective of gender or nationality. You should have good eye sight and no chronic illnesses, but you don't need to be Superman, Wonder Woman or Einstein! Go along to the Mars One website and take a look at the application procedure, which is in two parts. Firstly, a public section where you leave a 30-70 second video of yourself answering questions and where people can see your profile and vote for you. Secondly, a private section read only by the Mars One assessment team. There is a fee for applying, which will vary from one to country to another in order to make sure that the cost is not prohibitive for those from poorer countries.

I note we have our first Brazilian entrant - congratulations to Social Science student Beatriz, aged 21 - let her be the first of many more!

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Russia to plough $52 billion into continued space development . . . .

12/4/2013

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A boost for the Russian Space program was announced today by President Vladimir Putin to coincide with Cosmonaut’s Day, the 52rd anniversary of the first manned space flight by Yuri Gagarin.

Speaking to the orbiting astronauts currently on the International Space Station, Putin announced a $52 billion package to be spent on its space program through till 2020. This includes completion of a new launch facility, the Vostochny cosmodrome in the far east of Russia, with the first launches from the facility hopefully taking place in 2015 and the first manned launches in 2018.

"It's going to be a great launch pad," said Putin, "It took a long time to choose, but now work is fully underway."

At present Russian manned flights are launched from the Baikanour cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with hard return landings made on solid ground, whereas launches from the new facility, once opened, will then have much softer splash downs in the Pacific ocean, similar to those of the US Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s. More emphasis will also be placed on unmanned space activities as, according to Putin, Russia had fallen behind on these as it had focused on manned flight to the detriment of everything else.

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Loving the new LOGO for the MicroG . . .

10/4/2013

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All of those who know me will also know of my long connection with the Microgravity Centre in Brazil - the research centre that I set up in 1999.

Nowadays called the MicroG, it is a unique and pioneering research centre contributing to both undergraduate and graduate study. It is an excellent example of inter-, trans- and multidisciplinary work, and has gained both national and international recognition and awards. The administrative centre of the MicroG is currently located at Tecnopuc (Technological Park of PUCRS), and the research and development areas situated together in three rooms at the School of Engineering Building, Block F, providing around 500 square meters of research facility.

The principal activities of the MicroG are the development of research projects focused on: biomedicine before, during and after simulations of hypergravity, hypogravity, microgravity and parabolic flights; aviation medicine for the 21st century; aerospace biomedical engineering; and eHealth.

What do you think of the new Logo? Why not come and visit us at the MicroG in Porto Alegre, the land of happy Gauchos!

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What happens to water in microgravity?

SIgn up for the Magical Mystery Tour to Mars . . . . .

Russia to plough $52 billion into continued space development . . . .

Loving the new LOGO for the MicroG . . .

Space Doctor

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