Way to MEIS: Marangoni Experiment In Space—Footprints from the Early Microgravity Experiments to the TR–IA #2 Sounding Rocket Experiment and after that—

Abstract

At the second launch of sounding rocket experiment TR-IA #2 (1992),``Observation of Marangoni Convection and its Contro'' will be performed with Fluid Dynamics Technology Experiment Apparatus #2 (FTX#2). In order to develop the experimental technique and to determine the critical experimental conditions for the TR-ＩA #2 experiment, the preliminary parabolic flight experiments were carried out. Marangoni convection in a liquid bridge of silicone oil was observed during 6 minutes microgravity condition by TR-ＩA #2 sounding rocket. Laminar and oscillatory Marangoni convection were observed depending on temperature differences. The amplitude of both velocity and temperature fluctuation increased as time passed. The frequency of this fluctuation was about 0.1Hz. The amplitude of temperature fluctuation was decreased inside a solid /liquid boundary layer. After TR-ＩA #2 experiment, micro-feeder and 3 dimensional observation methods were adopted. Beside what is mentioned above, microgravity experiments history and lesson that has been learned from liquid bridge experiments are introduced.