Why do we need a microgravity research? Why spend time and resources for designing the next generation of microgravity systems? Why not launch directly in space?
Well, there are quite a few reasons. You need to test your technologies before sending them in space. The tests that you must perform are really strict and require a lot of patience and skills. When you design a spacecraft you have to take into account that the environment in space is completely different from the conditions on Earth. This requires that you to think much more outside of the box that usually. Furthermore, once is space, you do not have the power to modify your system. So why not first test your ideas on Earth (or near-Earth in some cases) in order to guarantee that in the absence of gravity forces (or at least strong gravity influence) your systems will perform, function and move the way you design them.
This is one of the reasons why creating microgravity environment on Earth is so important for the development of advanced space tech. You have a chance to test and most importantly to fail multiple times before you are certain that your technology will function properly in space environment.
Stay tuned for Part II of the microgravity topic: Creating new materials on Earth.
Microgravity – The first step to space: Part 1
Why do we need a microgravity research? Why spend time and resources for designing the next generation of microgravity systems? Why not launch directly in space?
Well, there are quite a few reasons. You need to test your technologies before sending them in space. The tests that you must perform are really strict and require a lot of patience and skills. When you design a spacecraft you have to take into account that the environment in space is completely different from the conditions on Earth. This requires that you to think much more outside of the box that usually. Furthermore, once is space, you do not have the power to modify your system. So why not first test your ideas on Earth (or near-Earth in some cases) in order to guarantee that in the absence of gravity forces (or at least strong gravity influence) your systems will perform, function and move the way you design them.
This is one of the reasons why creating microgravity environment on Earth is so important for the development of advanced space tech. You have a chance to test and most importantly to fail multiple times before you are certain that your technology will function properly in space environment.
Stay tuned for Part II of the microgravity topic: Creating new materials on Earth.