Operations with LMM to resume on ISS.
Operations will continue with LMM starting June 18, 2010 for five 24-hour shifts.  This is the third (20-mm Pentane) Contained Vapor Bubble (CVB) module.  The picture below is T. J. Creamer installing the 20 mm CVB Module.  On June 11, 2010 the Pre-Advanced Colloids Experiment held a successful Systems Acceptance Review -1 (SAR-1).  It is scheduled to ship to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on June 21, 2010, for launch in the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) on ULF-5. (POC:  MAH/Ronald Sicker, (216) 433-6498)

CSLM-2R hardware is installed in MSG on ISS.
The Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell installed the Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures-2 Re-flight (CSLM-2R) hardware in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) facility on board the International Space Station.  The first of the Sample Processing Units vacuum vent cycles started June 16, 2010. The first SPU is scheduled to begin processing the samples on June 19, 2010, and has a heat soak time of 48 hours.  After 48 hours at 185 degrees Celsius the samples are quenched with water.  This preserves the sample microstructure.  The Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS) unit was activated to measure the microgravity environment within the MSG facility during the CSLM-2R operations.  The CSLM-2R is a Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) materials science experiment.  One Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and six CSLM-2R Sample Processing Units (SPUs) were launched on board Shuttle STS-131/Flight 19A on April 5, 2010.

The first of six CSLM-2R Sample Processing Units (SPUs) started its vacuum vent cycles, and the CSLM-2R team is on console at the Telescience Support Center working with the Microgravity Science Glovebox team to complete the operations for the remaining SPU’s.  The science data is contained in the samples, and samples will be returned to earth, and analyzed by Peter Voorhees the Principal Investigator.  (POC:  MAH/Robert Hawersaat, (216) 433-8157)

FLEX-2 holds Engineering Systems Acceptance Review (SAR-1)
The Flame Extinguishment Experiment-2 (FLEX-2) SAR-1 took place on May 27, 2010.  The Board recommended that open verification testing be completed, and that the Materials Identification and Usage List (MIUL) process be completed.  The Board also recommended slipping the Executive SAR to give more time for completing open work.  The Board reviewed and concurred to the Projects list of constraints to ship.  The ship date for the FLEX-2 flight hardware has slipped to June 21, 2010.  (POC:  J. Mark Hickman, (216) 977-7105)

Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) experiment modules returned from ISS.
Two of the four Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) science modules were returned from ISS on ULF-4 on May 26, 2010.  The 30mm pentane and the dry calibration modules will be used for additional ground testing for the science investigation team.  This experiment is expected to produce multiple scientific journal articles.  The first can be seen at http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=322&lupubid=26 scroll to page 400. (POC:  MAH/Ronald Sicker, (216) 433-6498)

Meeting held with Representatives from The University Hospital Case Medical Center
Representatives from the University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center visited Glenn Research Center (GRC) last week to familiarize themselves with the work being performed by the GRC Human Research Program (HRP) and to identify possible areas of collaboration.  A presentation was made on the GRC HRP program followed by demonstrations of GRC technologies and a tour of relevant facilities.  UH is a member of the John Glenn Biomedical Engineering Consortium and has partnered with GRC in the past on projects of mutual interest.  A follow up meeting is planned to discuss areas of synergy to be pursued.  (POC:  MAH/Marsha Nall, (216) 433-5374)

ISS Research Project conducts IBR for SOMD
The GRC ISS Research Project conducted an Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) for the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at the GRC Guerin Management Center.  The presentation was made to Mark Uhran, the SOMD Assistant AA for ISS Utilization and to Julie Robinson, the ISS Program Scientist.  The IBR provided an overview of the project’s content and budget requirements for FY11-FY15 as SOMD prepares to take over management responsibility of the Project from the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) starting in FY11.  Mr. Uhran and Julie Robinson have been on a ‘round-robin’ tour of all ISS Research Project field centers, including ARC, GRC, JPL, KSC and MSFC.  (POC:  MAH/Thomas St. Onge, (216) 433-3557)

Award winning paper:
The paper: “Measurement of Smoke Particle Size under Low-Gravity Conditions,” presented at the 2008 International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES) by Urban, Ruff, (GRC) Yuan (NCSER), Yang and Cleary (NIST) and Mulholland (UMD) was chosen to receive the 2008 SAE Arch T. Colwell Merit Award to be presented at the SAE 2011 World Congress. Colwell awards are given to papers judged for their value as contributions to existing knowledge of mobility engineering, and primarily with respect to their value as an original contribution to the subject matter. The subject paper presented the preliminary results from the Smoke Aerosol Measurement Experiment (SAME) which included the first on-orbit measurement of smoke particulate size. (POC:  REC/David Urban, (216) 433-2835, MAC/Gary Ruff, (216) 433-5697)

Shuttle to return the Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) experiment modules from ISS.
The STS-132, ULF-4, is scheduled to return two of the completed CVB modules on May 26.  The 30mm Pentane and the Dry calibration/control modules have successfully complete science operations and will be used to verify preflight ground testing.  To date three journal articles are planned for these results.  The 30mm module may be refurbished with a mixed fluid to be a reflight experiment in 2012.  (POC:  MAH/Ronald Sicker, (216) 433-6498)

Materials International Space Station Experiment 4 (MISSE 4) Erosion Data Obtained: The Materials International Space Station Experiment 3 & 4 (MISSE 3 & 4) experiments included two NASA Glenn Research Center experiments, the Polymer Film Thermal Control (PFTC) Experiment and the Gossamer Materials Experiment. The objectives included investigating changes in polymer film optical properties and mechanical properties, and characterization of atomic oxygen erosion yields.  Atomic oxygen erosion yields have been determined for the designated experiment samples (Kapton HN, Teflon fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), Upilex-S, Clear Polyimide 1 (CP-1) and Ge-coated Kapton XC).  The data will be included in the paper “Evaluation of Optical Properties and Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yields of Polymer Film Materials Exposed to the Space Environment on MISSE 3 & 4” by Joyce Dever, Deborah Waters, Kim de Groh, and Quang-Viet Nguyen.  This paper has been accepted for presentation in the MISSE Session at the 2010 National Space & Missile Materials Symposium (NSMMS) to be held June 28 - July 1, 2010 in Scottsdale, AZ.  This research is a collaborative effort with Kim de Groh (RES) and Bruce Banks (Alphaport/RES).  This work is supported by the ISS Research Project (POC: RES/Kim K. deGroh, (216) 433-2297).

NASA Glenn and Plum Brook Station conclude successful Math and Science Week at Cedar Point
May 17-21, 2010 is Math & Science Week at the Cedar Point Amusement Park, and NASA Glenn is a major participant in this educational outreach to students, teachers, and the general public who come from Ohio, Michigan, and beyond.  Nancy R. Hall/MAH again coordinated this center-wide event and various organizations selected a day to highlight their projects or programs.

On Thursday, May 20,  the Education Program Office used the Educator Cart to demonstrate a vacuum chamber and alcohol rockets to students and the public.  NASA CORE was there with educational materials and handouts and two FIRST Robotics teams, Team # 963 from the South and East Robotics Alliance in Columbus, OH and Team # 1787 from Orange High School in Pepper Pike, OH brought their robots to the park and demonstrated this year’s FIRST Robotics challenge.  On Friday, May 21, Plum Brook Station had four booths highlighting different exhibits such as: the effects of liquid nitrogen on roses, bananas, balloons and grapes; a reverberation box where wine glasses were shattered to show the effect of vibroacoustics, an 8ft bell jar exhibit highlighted the effects of vacuum on various items and a “replica” of the B-2 facility was built and was used to fire off a mini rocket engine.  All four booths were jammed pack with students and the public but the liquid nitrogen demo was the highlight of the day.  

Throughout the week, additional volunteers staffed the NASA “Picture Yourself in Space” Photobooth and the Qwizdom Space Trivia Game.  Representatives from Great Lakes Science Center were present several days that week highlighting their various programs.  The exhibits folks supported us with setup and tear down.  On Friday astronaut Mike Foreman was at Cedar Point and gave a talk to students about his experience on the shuttle.  It is estimated that hundreds of students in addition to members of the general public visited the various booths on display during the week.  (POC:  MAH/Nancy Rabel Hall, (216) 433-5643)

Mike Foreman signing autographs	FIRST Robotics Teams #1787 and #963

Plum Brook Station Personnel demonstrating the effect of liquid nitrogen on a rose.

SAME-R hardware launched to ISS on board Atlantis shuttle.
The Smoke Aerosol Measurement Experiment-Reflight (SAME-R) hardware was launched to ISS aboard Atlantis on May 14, 2010.  (POC:  MAH/J. Mark Hickman, (216) 977-7105)

Math and Science Week at Cedar Point off to a great start!
May 17-21, 2010 is Math & Science Week at the Cedar Point Amusement Park, and NASA Glenn is a major participant in this educational outreach to students, teachers, and the general public who come from Ohio, Michigan, and beyond. Nancy R. Hall/MAH again coordinated this center-wide event and various organizations selected a day to highlight their projects or programs.

On Monday, May 17, 2010 the theme was Aeronautics and was led by Mary Jo Long Davis/RTE.  Hands-on activities included testing of various models (e.g., rockets, airplanes, and baseballs) in a portable wind tunnel and a paper airplane challenge in which students were shown how to fold two different airplane designs and challenged to throw them through a target.  Orville and Wilbur Wright was at the park and explained to the students the fundamentals of flight through the use numerous model airplanes brought for display.  On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, Microgravity Man and his friends conducted microgravity demonstrations on the midway utilizing the reduced gravity demonstrator and other simple devices.  This effort was led by Dennis Stocker/REC.  Due to the weather on Monday and Tuesday, the “Picture Yourself In Space” photobooth, and the Space Trivia Game were placed inside the Ballroom at Cedar Point along with several kiosks and other NASA exhibits that were on display.  On Wednesday, May 18, 2010 the theme was Science Missions and a vacuum test utilizing bell jars and a rocket experiments using alcohol were demonstrated.  The NASA moon rock was also present for students and the public to view.  The Science Missions’ activities were led by Larry Liou/MAS and Kristin Jansen/QuinteQ.  Great Lakes Science Center was also present on Monday and Wednesday highlighting their activities.

For Thursday, May 19, the theme will be Education and will include activities from the Educational Program Office, NASA’s Central Operation of Resources for Educators (CORE) and two FIRST Robotics teams.  On Friday, May 20th, NASA Plumbrook Station will highlight the work being done at that facility and astronaut Mike Foreman will be at the Park to give a talk.  (POC:  MAH/Nancy Rabel Hall, (216) 433-5643)

Glenn ECP Project Manager speaks before ASM International.
Gail Perusek, Exercise Countermeasures Project (ECP) Project Manager, was the invited speaker for ASM (American Society of Metals) International, Cleveland Chapter on May 10, 2010.  The presentation was entitled “Exercising in Space:  A Dynamic Research Problem—Overview of the Exercise Countermeasures Project for NASA's Human Research Program.”  The presentation highlighted work being done at NASA’s Glenn Research center including an on-orbit investigation to develop more comfortable crew equipment for the International Space Station treadmills, ground simulations of microgravity and lunar locomotion and Extravehicular Activity, and Advanced Exercise Concepts for the new Lunar Electric Rover prototype.  Exercise is performed in space to help mitigate the detrimental physiological effects of spaceflight, including bone loss, muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular deconditioning.  (POC:  MAH/Gail P. Perusek, (216) 433-8729)

Cleveland Clinic Center for Space Medicine Lecturer visits GRC.
Dr. Thomas Lang of the University of California San Francisco Department of Radiology presented “Hip Strength in Spaceflight and Aging” as a part of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Space Medicine "Current Topics in Space Medicine" Lecture Series on Tuesday May 11, 2010 at the Lerner Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic.  Dr. Lang’s core interest is the use of quantitative computed technology and other clinically available imaging modalities in the study of human musculoskeletal biology.  He is also the leader of the Musculoskeletal Alterations Team at the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) where he coordinates a research team of investigators from eight institutions.  Prior to his lecture, Dr. Lang visited Glenn Research Center (GRC) and ZIN Technologies to meet with representatives of the Human Research Program and to tour facilities.  (POC:  MAH/Marsha Nall, (216) 433-5374)

CCF experiment ground support equipment commissioned at Portland State University
The ground-support equipment for the Capillary Channel Flow Experiment (CCF) was set up at Portland State University.  The commissioning involved setup and operation of the ground-support unit and running simulations of various remote controlled operations in preparation for operation on ISS tentatively scheduled to start in July.  A 5-member German team including PI, M. Dreyer (ZARM), was on site at Portland State University (PSU) during May 3-7, 2010 working to develop the CCF experiment commanding protocol, test matrix, and script writing capabilities. The CCF ground support hardware worked very well; a few minor software bugs were discovered and will be resolved in the next few weeks. Both manual mode and automatic operational simulation runs were performed.  The Portland State members (Co-I: Mark Weislogel and PSU research associate: Yongkang Chen) and Bob Green received initial training on operation of the ground support hardware.

CCF is a fluid physics experiment to investigate capillary flow in a flat plate channel (Test Unit #1) and corner channel (Test Unit #2) under pressure-driven conditions in the inertia flow regime.   The US Co-I is investigating corner flows, and ability of the corner flow geometry to passively separate two phase flow (gas bubbles).  The experiment will utilize the ISS Microgravity Glovebox (MSG) facility on ISS.  The US portion of this work is funded by the ISS Research Project.  (POC:  RET/Robert D. Green, 216 433-5402).

ACME RDR held on May 10-11.
The Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (ACME) Requirements Definition Review (RDR) was held for two days, May 10-11, 2010.  The process continues as the Chair, Dave Frate, and the panel review documents with the engineering project team to ensure full understanding, compliance, and completion of success criteria.  Dave gave a quick oral out-brief at the end of the review after the Science panel’s out-brief.  Generally, the presentations were very well received, and the PI’s were impressed with the depth, experience, and understanding of the engineering.  The engineering team now has a better grasp of the science requirements and the rationale behind the requirements.  The HQ representative was pleased.  The Science Requirements Document (SRD) was signed by all parties except for one PI who had to leave early before the signature page was prepared.  (POC:  MAH/J. Mark Hickman, (216) 977-7105.

SHERE II completes its Engineering System Acceptance Review
The Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment II (SHERE II) flight experiment completed its Engineering Systems Acceptance Review-1 on May 12, 2010.  This purpose of the review was to obtain engineering board assessment on the acceptability of the SHERE II hardware to proceed with shipment for flight STS-134 (ULF6 Middeck).  The hardware scope of the review was the reflight of the Fluid Modules and Fluid Module Stowage Tray as the main hardware is already in orbit on ISS.  The SHERE II team is awaiting a summary report from the engineering panel on their findings but overall the panel expressed that the review went very well with no major issues found.

SHERE was designed to study the effects of rotational preshearing on the stress/strain response of a polymeric liquid  being stretch in a microgravity environment.  SHERE II will expand that knowledge by studing a dilute polymer solution filled with PMMA particles.  Filled polymeric suspensions form the bulk of the engineering plastic market and this study will provide a better understanding of the rheological properties of polymeric suspensions.
 
For more information about SHERE see:
http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/Exploration/Advanced/ISSResearch/SHERE/
and for information about SHERE II, see:
http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/Advanced/ISSResearch/MSG/SHERE_II/
(POC:  MAH/Nancy R. Hall, (216) 433-5643).

NASA GRC participated in Rockets for Schools in Sheboygan, WI
On May 7 and 8, 2020, Nancy R. Hall/MAH and Dawn Jenkins/QuinetQ participated at the 14th Annual Rockets for Schools Aerospace Expo and Rocket Launch that was held at the Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Sheboygan, WI.  (http://www.rockets4schools.org/)  Rockets for Schools  provides an opportunity for students to learn about aerospace technology, scientific experiments, and space launches.  NASA GRC  had an exhibit booth where the NASA materials were exhibited and passed out.  Both Hall and Jenkins did numerous demos through the use of the demonstration drop tower and the water balloon video that highlights how water behaves in a reduced gravity environment.  Another highlight of the event was a presentation by former NASA astronaut John Grunsfeld.  Approximately 4,000 people were  expected, including  over sixty teams of middle and high school students who launched (and recovered) their rocket. (POC:  MAH/Nancy R. Hall, (216) 433-5643)

CVB Dry module operations on the ISS.
The Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) 40 mm dry module was operated on the International Space Station (ISS) from April 26 to April 30, 2010.  In the approximately 112 hours of operation, all the science objectives were fulfilled.  The original test matrix was completed and an additional run was performed giving us excellent calibration characteristics.  A maximum heater power of 4.0 W was supplied to the heater, and the cooler was kept at 25 C, 20.5 C and -5 C during the three runs.  This allowed us to isolate the effects or radiation from the surface of the cuvette and conduction through the material of cuvette.  This data will be used to determine such parameters as heat loss from the heater, effectiveness of the cooler circuit, total radiation from the heat pipe surface etc. Since the data was recorded at high temporal resolutions, it will also be used to determine the transient characteristics of the system.  Preliminary analysis of the data suggests that it is accurate and consistent with our expectations. (POC: RET/David F. Chao, (216) 433-8320, MAH/Ronald Sicker, (216) 433-6498).

Additional Materials International Space Station Experiment 8 (MISSE 8) Flight Samples.
At the request of the MISSE 8 principal investigator, Phil Jenkins of the Naval Research Laboratory, 37 additional passive samples have been prepared, pre-flight characterized, and submitted for possible inclusion on MISSE 8.  These samples were requested as extra space has become available on the ram, wake and zenith surfaces of MISSE 8.  The samples submitted will be characterized post-flight for either atomic oxygen erosion yield or tensile property characterization.  A total of 56 samples have been prepared and sent from the Space Environment and Experiments Branch for possible inclusion in MISSE 8.  This work is supported by the International Space Station Research Project.  (POC: RES/Kim K. de Groh, (216) 433-2297)

IVGEN experiment conducts ISS flight operations.
The IntraVenous fluid GENeration (IVGEN) experiment conducted ISS flight operations on May 4 and 5, 2010.  The team overcame some unexpected commanding challenges and finished operations on day 2 ahead of schedule.  Downlinked data looked nominal, but a final verdict on success or failure cannot be made until STS-132 returns samples and they are analyzed at a laboratory meeting United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards. (POC:  MAH/DeVon Griffin, (216) 433-8109).

HRP personnel assess software application potential.
On April 27, 2010 Dr. Jerry Myers traveled to Johnson Space Center (JSC) to participate in the demonstration and evaluation of the SANTOS – Virtual Soldier simulation software environment.  After the demonstration, Dr. Myers and the Digital Astronaut team met with the SANTOS creators to assess the software’s application potential in the NASA Human Research Program.  A visit with the SANTOS team at the University of Iowa was scheduled for Mid-June.  (POC:  MAH/Jerry Myers, (216) 433-2864)