Materials Science Research Rack-1

The Materials Science Research Rack-1 is used for basic materials research on the ISSInternational Space Station. Scientists can take advantage of microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment., 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.