| A unique apparatus was designed, fabricated and assembled in order to examine the influences of low gravity on the liquid phase sintering of metallic systems. The furnace module exceeded the 1070{dollar}spcirc{dollar}C melting point of the copper based specimens during three sounding rocket flights. Processing times ranged from {dollar}sim{dollar}5-10 seconds ({dollar}<{dollar}10{dollar}sp{lcub}-4{rcub}{dollar} g) to {dollar}sim{dollar}120 seconds ({dollar}{lcub}<{rcub}10sp{lcub}-4{rcub}{dollar} g) to {dollar}sim{dollar}188 seconds (0.5g). The experiment was self contained with automated computer control. An inert atmosphere was maintained within the furnace module with an argon gas package. On-board control electronics and batteries provided control and power distribution. Temperature data were both stored and also downlinked to ground control during flight. The volume and mass constraints, vibration and g-levels, microgravity duration, control software, heating and cooling requirements, inert atmosphere package and electronics and batteries posed great challenges in design and reliability. These factors drove many system compromises and design modifications. In addition to the scientific data, the missions also provided the opportunity to test various concepts and continuously refine component designs in an evolutionary approach. This was a low cost and timely effort in preparation for longer duration experimentation aboard the Space Shuttle. |
