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Materials Science Research Rack-1

Short Name: MSRR-1

Facility Description

The Materials Science Research Rack-1 is used for basic materials research on the ISS. Scientists can take advantage of microgravity, where they can isolate chemical and thermal properties of materials free from the effects induced by gravity. Several material groups can be studied, including metals, alloys, polymers, semiconductors, ceramics, and glasses.

One experimental module of the MSRR-1 is the Material Science Laboratory (MSL), which occupies nearly the entire right side of the MSRR-1. The MSL provides diagnostics capabilities and controlled materials processing conditions, including temperature control, furnace translation, measurement of Seebeck voltage, measurement of sample resistance, determination of the solid/liquid interface position via ultrasound pulses, and a rotating magnetic field to initiate laminar flow conditions in liquid semiconductor samples. The MSL also has several furnace module inserts, including the Low Gradient Furnace (LGF) and the Solidification and Quenching Furnace (SQF). Furthermore, MSFL has a Sample Cartridge Assembly (SCA) that contains the sample in a sealed environment, provides temperature measurements, and is the means by which the crew puts the sample into the furnace insert.

Current Status: Onboard

Availability: Please contact the facility manager

ISS Environment: Internal

Owner: NASA

Operator/Implementation Partner:
NASA

Developer(s):
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Facility Manager:
Kerry Moody
NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center

Manager Email:
kerry.d.moody@nasa.gov

Parent Facility:

Child Facility:

Sponsoring Space Agency: NASA

Equipment Category: Capability

Additional Information:

MSRR-1 on NASA’s SSRE

Materials Science Research Rack-1
This scale model depicts the Materials Science Research Rack-1 (MSRR-1) being developed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the European Space Agency (ESA) for placement in the Destiny laboratory module aboard the International Space Station. The rack is part of the plarned Materials Science Research Facility (MSRF) and is expected to include two furnace module inserts, a Quench Module Insert (being developed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center) to study directional solidification in rapidly cooled alloys and a Diffusion Module Insert (being developed by the European Space Agency) to study crystal growth, and a transparent furnace (being developed by NASA's Space Product Development program). Multi-user equipment in the rack is being developed under the auspices of NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research (OBPR) and ESA. Key elements are labeled in other images (0101754, 0101829, and TBD). This composite is from a digital still camera; higher resolution is not available. Image courtesy of NASA.