NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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Experiment/Payload Overview

Information provided courtesy of the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Brief Summary

The Pattern Formation during Ice Crystal Growth (Ice Crystal) investigation examines the effect of microgravity on the pattern formation of ice crystals by a method of in-situ observation. .

Principal Investigator

Yoshinori Furukawa, Ph.D., Hokkaido University, Sapporo, , Japan

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Information Pending

Payload Developer

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tsukuba, , Japan

Sponsoring Space Agency

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Sponsoring Organization:

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration:

October 2008 - April 2009

Expeditions Assigned

18

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Experiment/Payload Description

Research Summary

• Crystals that are grown on Earth are affected by gravitational forces that disturb the fluid that surrounds the growing crystal. Crystals that are grown in microgravity are able to form without the influences of gravity.



• The Pattern Formation during Ice Crystal Growth (Ice Crystal) investigation examines the mechanisms that cause the instability in ice crystals by observing the formation as it occurs.

Description

In order to precisely analyze the factors concerning the pattern formation of crystal growth, an ice crystal growing freely in supercooled bulk water will be observed in-situ using an interference microscope under microgravity condition, in which the free convection in the growth chamber cannot occur. Three-dimensional patterns of ice crystals and the thermal diffusion field around the crystal will be analyzed from the experimental results.

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Applications

Space Applications

Information Pending

Earth Applications

Information Pending

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Operations

Operational Requirements

Information Pending

Operational Protocols

Information Pending

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Results/More Information

Information Pending

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Related Web Sites

Kibo Japanese Experiment Module

Ice Crystals in Space - Understanding the Formation of Ice Cystals

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Publications

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Ground Based Results Publications

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ISS Patent Publications

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Related Publications

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Images

Initial image of Ice Crystal formation on the ISS during Expedition 18. Image courtesy of JAXA.

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Ice Crystal formation on the ISS during Expedition 18. Image courtesy of JAXA.

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Ground Support team at the JAXA Control Center during Ice Crystal operations on board ISS. Image courtesy of JAXA.

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