SPACE TEST PROGRAM-HOUSTON 3 (STP-H3), FOUR INVESTIGATIONS
Research Area: Small Satellites and Control Technologies
Expedition(s): 27-ongoing
Principal Investigator(s): ● Geoff McHarg, PhD, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs,
Colorado
● Andrew Nichols, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
● Andrew Williams, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-
Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
● Cecilia Penera, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems,
Redondo Beach, California
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The complement of Space Test
Program-H3 (STP-H3) investigations
was delivered to the International
Space Station (ISS) by STS-134/ULF6
on May 18, 2011.
CANARY (MCHARG)
Canary investigates the interaction of
ions with the background plasma
environment around the ISS.
DISC (NICHOLS)
The Digital Imaging Star Camera (DISC)
captures images of star fields for
analysis by ground algorithms to
determine the attitude of the ISS.
MHTEX (WILLIAMS AND PENERA)
The Massive Heat Transfer Experiment (MHTEX) investigates the in space performance of
capillary pumped loop (CPL) heat transfer equipment, which uses continuous fluid flow to
transfer heat from multiple spacecraft sources to an external radiator surface. This
investigation intends to improve the understanding of heat transfer transport phenomena and
two-phase flow (ie, liquid-vapor flow) performance in microgravity.
VADER (WILLIAMS)
The Variable emissivity radiator Aerogel insulation blanket Dual zone thermal control
Experiment suite for Responsive space (VADER) investigation tests a variable emissivity radiator
and a new form of multilayer insulation that uses Aerogel as the thermal isolator in order to
protect the spacecraft from the harsh extremes of the space environment. The Aerogel material
provides a more durable, lighter, and cheaper alternative to traditional spacecraft thermal
blankets. The use of this material could reduce the costs related to spaceflight by reducing the
required spacecraft mass and increasing design efficiency.
STS-135 fly-around view of the zenith side of the P3 Truss, with
STP-H3 on ELC-3 in view.