Project for the development of an experimental on-board module on a low orbit orbital platform: Sara Project

• Grant number: 03/13186-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Duration: May 01, 2005 - August 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering - Aerospace Systems
• Principal Investigator: Alfredo Otto Brockmeyer
• Grantee: Alfredo Otto Brockmeyer
• Host Company: Brockmeyer Space Engineering Ltda
• City: São José dos Campos

Abstract

This proposal aims to design and develop an experimental on-board module (Modem) on a space platform, called Sara, forming part of its payload. Specifically, the Modem is an integral part of Sara, the project developed by the Aeronautical and Space Institute (IAE). The on-board module on the orbital platform will be launched into space by means of the VS-40 sounding rocket for sub-orbital flights or by the VLS-1 satellite launching rocket for injection into low earth orbit, for a duration of approximately ten days and controlled re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere. The purpose of the Modem is to enable the setting up of scientific or commercial experiments for the testing and confirmation of physical, chemical or biological behavior in the microgravity environment. These researches have a very strong market appeal, since the knowledge and the discovery of properties intrinsic to the object of the experiment in the absence of the gravity acceleration factor, allows for development, discovery and improvement of products. As an example new medicines, vaccines, crystal growth and protein structures may be cited. There are also applications in the fields of physics and chemistry, such as the improvement in the composition of fuels or the examination of the behavior of complex mixtures of fluids. (AU)