Magnetic Chamber can Simulate Microgravity (or Mars Gravity) Here on Earth – Universe Today

[ad_1]

There are plenty of processes that might be easier in lower gravity.  So far, the biggest hindrance to developing those processes has been the expense of launching equipment to the low gravity environments of the ISS or other space-based research stations.  Testing on the ground would be preferable both for ease of use and much lower cost, but the Earth’s gravity usually puts a stop to that.  Some scientists see another way. Using magnetic fields can artificially simulate a zero-gravity environment, and now a team from Florida State University’s (FSU’s) National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has developed a system that can hold a much larger sample than previous iterations.

The system, a type of magnetic levitation-based simulator (MLS), can hold about 1,000 times what previous similar systems did.  That’s a significant improvement, as the size was the limiting factor in the earlier designs, as they could only hold a few microliters of material.  

Electrical Engineering YouTube GreatScott! explains how magnetic levitation works.

That’s too little for many applications, like synthetically grown organs or hydroponics equipment.  So an increase to 4,000 microliters is a significant improvement, though still far below what many scientists would want.  Lower gravities result in larger experimental areas, so when simulating Martian gravity, the system can create about 20 cubic centimeters of experiment space.

That’s still not great for many experiments. Still, it’s a step in the right direction and far preferable to the alternatives of expensive rocket flights to low orbit or a parabolic airplane flight where the effects are only active for a few seconds.  What’s more, the FSU team leveraged existing high-temperature superconducting materials and integrated them with a particular type of coil configuration.

PhD Student Hamid Sanavandi and Professor Wei Guo of FAMU-FSU's College of Engineering developed the novel levitation system.
PhD Student Hamid Sanavandi and Professor Wei Guo of FAMU-FSU’s College of Engineering developed the novel levitation system.
Credit – Wei Guo / FSU-FAMU College of Engineering

Known as a “gradient Maxwell coil” and named after James Clerk Maxwell, a prominent 19th-century physicist, the combination of superconductor and coil can solve many of the technical challenges facing previous MLS systems.  These systems, usually based on solenoids, are also finicky and challenging to maintain over long periods.

While this technology could be game-changing for the medical and biological research fields, it first must find its way out of the lab.  If it doesn’t run into any problems while doing so, this breakthrough in microgravity environmental simulation might enable even more technologies that will open up opportunities for further space-based research and maybe even production.

Learn More:
FSU – Low-gravity simulator design offers new avenues for space research and mission training
npj Microgravity – A magnetic levitation based low-gravity simulator with an unprecedented large functional volume
UT – Real Artificial Gravity for SpaceX’s Starship
NASA – Microgravity

Lead Image:
3D drawing of the magnetic system (left) and a visualized map of its effective field (right)
Credit – Wei Guo/ FSU-FAMU College of Engineering

[ad_2]

Original Post

28 thoughts on “Magnetic Chamber can Simulate Microgravity (or Mars Gravity) Here on Earth – Universe Today

  • 5 December 2022 at 10:53 pm
    Permalink

    You could certainly see your skills in the paintings you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. At all times go after your heart. “Faith in the ability of a leader is of slight service unless it be united with faith in his justice.” by George Goethals.

    Reply
  • 13 December 2022 at 5:00 pm
    Permalink

    I conceive other website proprietors should take this website as an example , very clean and fantastic user genial design.

    Reply
  • 17 December 2022 at 6:42 pm
    Permalink

    Greetings from California! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the knowledge you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, superb blog!

    Reply
  • 11 April 2023 at 2:16 am
    Permalink

    Spot on with this write-up, I truly think this website wants rather more consideration. I’ll in all probability be once more to read rather more, thanks for that info.

    Reply
  • 11 April 2023 at 2:32 pm
    Permalink

    I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one today..

    Reply
  • 13 April 2023 at 6:08 pm
    Permalink

    I got what you intend, appreciate it for putting up.Woh I am pleased to find this website through google. “Spare no expense to make everything as economical as possible.” by Samuel Goldwyn.

    Reply
  • 23 April 2023 at 8:49 am
    Permalink

    Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a totally different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!

    Reply
  • 25 April 2023 at 12:09 am
    Permalink

    I simply could not go away your website before suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard info a person supply for your guests? Is going to be back regularly to check up on new posts.

    Reply
  • 17 June 2023 at 3:39 pm
    Permalink

    I have been surfing on-line more than 3 hours today, yet I by no means found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It is lovely worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you probably did, the web can be a lot more helpful than ever before.

    Reply
  • 24 August 2023 at 6:02 pm
    Permalink

    I’ll right away snatch your rss as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me recognise in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.

    Reply
  • 5 December 2023 at 5:46 pm
    Permalink

    Good day! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading through your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same topics? Thanks a ton!

    Reply
  • 21 December 2023 at 2:22 am
    Permalink

    I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.

    Reply
  • 28 February 2024 at 10:11 am
    Permalink

    Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to provide one thing back and aid others like you helped me.

    Reply
  • 26 March 2024 at 11:12 pm
    Permalink

    whoah this blog is fantastic i really like reading your posts. Keep up the great paintings! You realize, many people are searching round for this information, you can help them greatly.

    Reply
  • 28 March 2024 at 9:34 am
    Permalink

    I happen to be commenting to let you be aware of of the incredible experience my wife’s child developed viewing your blog. She mastered several pieces, which include what it’s like to possess an amazing coaching mood to get many people without hassle know precisely specified multifaceted subject matter. You really did more than our own desires. Thank you for coming up with those insightful, trusted, edifying and as well as easy thoughts on your topic to Emily.

    Reply
  • 2 April 2024 at 7:36 am
    Permalink

    Nice blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme. With thanks

    Reply
  • 10 April 2024 at 7:43 am
    Permalink

    Excellent blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol

    Reply
  • 14 April 2024 at 3:42 pm
    Permalink

    Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You obviously know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?

    Reply
  • 16 April 2024 at 1:32 am
    Permalink

    Thanks for another informative site. Where else could I get that type of info written in such an ideal way? I’ve a project that I’m just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.

    Reply
  • 21 April 2024 at 4:43 am
    Permalink

    I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.

    Reply
  • 26 April 2024 at 12:17 am
    Permalink

    I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i’m happy to convey that I have a very good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to do not forget this site and give it a glance regularly.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *