An opportunity has been announced for students to design a zero-gravity experiment for the International Space Station (ISS).
The chosen experiments will be tested by astronauts on board the ISS in the Japanese experiment module, Kibo, and recorded on video for the world to see. This is a great opportunity for students from all year levels to get involved with space science and see their work in the hands of astronauts.
Original Australian ideas are to be submitted through VSSEC. Due to conditions in space, the experiments must work without any tools, liquids, small particles, dust or sharp objects, and must only make use of items available on board the ISS.
On the 22nd of September, 2011, an Australian experiment was conducted by Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa. It investigated whether a compass would point north in space, and found that the compass did align itself with the Earth’s magnetic field. A video of the experiment is available through VSSEC’s YouTube channel.
Image: Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa conducting an Australian experiment on board the ISS in September, 2011.Credit: JAXA