crystallization and phase-change processes could have an enormous commercial impact in a
wide variety of industries. PACE-LMM-Bio may expand our understanding of the effects of the
space environment on biological systems. Since all life evolved under the effects of gravity, the
absence of gravity may identify novel pathways that are important for a fundamental
understanding of life’s basic processes on Earth.
SPACE BENEFITS
The knowledge from the PACE
investigations serve as preparation for
the experimentation in ACE, which will
fly samples of colloid systems that
serve as larger scale models of atomic
systems. These samples are used to
model the factors that influence phase
changes. Researchers anticipate these
experiments will have a significant
impact upon our understanding of
fundamental physics as it pertains to
how matter transitions from solid to
liquid to gas. An immediate space
application for this technology
demonstration is in extending the shelf life of consumables on future long-duration missions.
PACE-LMM-Bio improves the ability to analyze the effects of microgravity on biological systems.
The ability to analyze samples on ISS also removes the effects of return on samples and may
eliminate the need for sample return altogether.
RESULTS
There are no published results at this time.
This investigation is complete, and results are pending publication.
View of a Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment particle
sample to be installed in the FIR/FCF.