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Development of a New Microgravity Experiment Facility with Electromagnetic Launch

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Abstract

With the construction and future operation of the China Space Station (CSS), requirements of extensive preliminary ground experiments for projects onboard CSS, as well as those of scientific experiments utilizing ground-based short-term microgravity facilities, are increasing rapidly. A new microgravity experiment facility with electromagnetic launch is proposed and built by the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The design details of electromagnetic microgravity facility are introduced in this paper. This facility is mainly composed of double layered tower, linear induction motors, experimental capsule, energy storing device, high-power converters, electrical control system and electromagnetic release device. Then the microgravity level of the experimental payload achieved is evaluated through the analysis of kinematics and dynamics. The results of analysis indicate that the microgravity level of 10–5 g can be achieved for 4 s and optional gravity level from 10–5 g to 1 g can be created. With the drive concept, this facility will be capable of performing that the interval time between two experiments is less than 10 min. The acceleration and deceleration of experimental capsule can be controlled within 5 g through electromagnetic accelerating and electromagnetic braking. Physical verification and simulation tests are carried out on key technologies such as principle of electromagnetic launch, linear motor control, and electromagnetic release, which prove the effectiveness of the technical feasibility.

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Acknowledgements

This project is supported by the Chinese Manned Space Program – Space Utilization System (412021000031), Scientific Instruments and Equipment Development Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (YJKYYQ20180017) and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS. We appreciated Prof. Jianfu Zhao from Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science for offering valuable suggestion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Jianquan Zhang, Wenbo Dong, Zhe Wang, Yongkang Zhang, Xin Zhang, Zhiwei Cai, Wenhao Ma, Yuman Li, Xuzhi Li & Xianli Cui

  2. Key Laboratory of Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Jianquan Zhang, Wenbo Dong, Zhe Wang, Yongkang Zhang, Xin Zhang, Zhiwei Cai, Wenhao Ma, Yuman Li, Xuzhi Li & Xianli Cui

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Jianquan Zhang, Wenbo Dong, Wenhao Ma & Yuman Li

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  1. Jianquan Zhang
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  2. Wenbo Dong
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  3. Zhe Wang
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  4. Yongkang Zhang
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  5. Xin Zhang
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  7. Wenhao Ma
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  9. Xuzhi Li
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Correspondence to Jianquan Zhang.

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This article belongs to the Topical Collection: Research Pioneer and Leader of Microgravity Science in China: Dedicated to the 85th Birthday of Academician Wen-Rui Hu

Guest Editors: Jian-Fu Zhao, Kai Li

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Zhang, J., Dong, W., Wang, Z. et al. Development of a New Microgravity Experiment Facility with Electromagnetic Launch. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 33, 68 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-021-09915-2

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