Analysis of Inertial Solid Properties (APIS) Student-Developed Investigations
Research Area: Student-Developed Investigations
Expedition(s): 8
Principal Investigator: ● Ana Laveron-Simavilla, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid,
Spain
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Analysis of Inertial Solid Properties (APIS) demonstrates solid body rotation principles and
prepares a video for later use in education. APIS focuses on the behavior of a rigid body rotating
around its center of mass. The experiment was only concerned with torque-free rotational
motion.
RESULTS
The experiment showed the different types of
motion that could appear depending on the
mass distribution of the body and on the
mechanical energy dissipation effect due to
external or internal actions. An undesirable
effect of internal energy dissipation is to
change the axis of rotation. Similar changes of
the spin axis may appear also by changes such
as deployment of booms, solar panels,
antennae, etc.Several videos showing both stable and
unstable configurations were recorded in the
International Space Station during ESA’s Cervantes (Soyuz 7S / 6S exchange) mission. Later, on
ground, the videos were analyzed and reproduced with analytical and numerical models. The
materials produced allow students to gain a global comprehension of the dynamics of solid
body rotation and its dependence on the distribution of mass within the body.
PUBLICATION(S)
Laverón-Simavilla A, Lapuerta V, Esteban J, Lloret J, Costa M, Fernández JJ. Apis experiment
during the Spanish Soyuz Mission Cervantes. Microgravity Science and Technology. 2007;19(5-
6):253-259. doi: 10.1007/BF02919493.
This investigation is complete and all results are published.
(^) Analysis of Inertial Solid Properties experimental
configuration. ESA image.