SPACE DYNAMICALLY RESPONDING ULTRASONIC MATRIX SYSTEM (SPACEDRUMS)
Research Area: Materials Science
Expedition(s): 21-24, 27-30
Principal Investigator(s): ● Jacques Guigne, PhD, Guigne Space Systems, Incorporated,
Paradise, Newfoundland, Canada
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The goal of Space Dynamically Responding Ultrasonic Matrix System (SpaceDRUMS) is to
provide a suite of hardware capable of facilitating containerless advanced materials science,
including combustion synthesis and fluid physics. That is, inside SpaceDRUMS® samples of
experimental materials can be processed without ever touching a container wall.
EARTH BENEFITS
An already demonstrated capability of the combustion synthesis facilitated by SpaceDRUMS® is
the production of advanced porous and glass ceramics for which patents have been awarded.
New innovations from this hardware can include a very light and strong new class of porous
glass ceramic material, exhibiting high temperature tolerance, controlled porosity, functionally
graded and acoustic absorption, and high wear
resistance. These materials are ideal for a wide
range of potential applications, from dental and
bone replacement, noise reduction in engines,
filters, cutting tools and drill bits.
SPACE BENEFITS
Any new materials developed using the
SpaceDRUMS® technology may have significant
applications in space as well as on Earth. Some of
the advanced ceramics, lighter and more durable,
may have applications in new spacecraft or
extraterrestrial outposts, such as bases on the
moon. Advances in fluid physics stemming from
SpaceDRUMS® may also have applications in
future spacecraft propulsion systems.This investigation is complete; however no publications are expected.
The dodecahedron combustion chamber shown
above is the central part of the Processing
Module. It has 20 acoustic transducers attached
on the corners and three cameras for providing
sample position feedback and for viewing and
recording the action. The Processing Module is
the quad-locker portion of SpaceDRUMS.