ElectroMotive Drop Tower Initiative

Proposed Facility Overview

The Electro-Motive Drop Tower (EMDT) is a proposed upgrade to the existing Zero Gravity Research Facility – NASA Glenn Research Center’s 5.2-second drop tower. The initiative aims to improve the Zero Gravity Research Facility by increasing test throughput and low gravity duration, as well as providing intermediate gravity levels, such as lunar and Martian gravity. The concept is similar to what has been built at Leibniz University in Hannover, Germany. The feasibility of constructing an Electro-Motive Drop Tower in the Zero Gravity Research Facility shaft has been studied extensively during the past few years. The rail guided, linear motor driven EMDT concept shows promise for nearly doubling the facility test time, increasing facility test throughput by an order of magnitude, and offering the possibility of performing tests in alternate gravity levels, which are all important to advancing NASA’s mission.

Motivation

The motivation is to provide inexpensive, reliable, and flexible access to 10 seconds of zero gravity or partial gravity to facilitate fundamental research, technology development, and flight hardware risk mitigation testing. 

Concept

The concept includes converting the existing 5.2-second NASA Glenn Zero Gravity Research Facility to a state-of-the-art, 10-second, 0 to 0.5g test facility using a vertical rail and linear synchronous motor system to provide a revolutionary capability in testing at low and partial gravity at a significantly lower operating cost.  It is estimated that the cost per test will be reduced by 90% compared to the current facility, and the annual facility costs will be reduced by an estimated 20%. 

View a video of the proposed ElectroMotive Drop Tower 

Target Metrics

• 10-second micro-gravity duration
• 10^-5 g below 20 Hz
• Launch/landing 4 g avg to 6 g max
• Payload size: 1 m x 1 m x 1.8 m
• Payload mass: 455 kg
• 20 tests/day (increase of one order of magnitude)
• Two orders of magnitude cost reduction per test

Applications

Physical Sciences

• Fundamental Physics (quantum, dark matter)
• Combustion
• Fluid Physics

Life Support

• Fire Safety
• Thermal Control
• Fluid Acquisition/Control
• Dust Behavior

Life Science

• Gravitropism
• Plant Thermal Model

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)

• Reactor Design
• Regolith Acquisition/Handling

Science

• Asteroid Sampling
• Soil Physics

Contact

Zero Gravity Research Facility
Facility Manager: Ernest Williams
Ernest.T.Williamsii@nasa.gov

Low-Gravity Exploration Technology Branch
Branch Chief: David Urban
David.L.Urban@nasa.gov

ISS and Human Health Office
Project Manager: Daniel Brown
Daniel.F.Brown@nasa.gov

Using Our Facilities

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland provides ground test facilities to industry, government, and academia. If you are considering testing in one of our facilities or would like further information about a specific facility or capability, please let us know.