iss008e20610

ISS008-E-20610 (April 5, 2004) ---NASA astronaut Michael Foale photographs samples for the Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-3 (BCAT-3). Colloids, composed of very small particles within a liquid, can be used to study manufacturing processes for specialized materials and advanced optical devices. In microgravity, colloids behave differently, allowing scientists to model various phenomena and gain insights into processes such as crystal growth and formation.