Station Science Top News: March 22, 2024

by ISS Program Science Office | 2024-03-22

Researchers detected two glitches, or changes in rotation, on either side of a fast radio burst (FRB) from magnetar SGR 1935+2154. Observations suggest that the first glitch, probably triggered internally, spawned a brief but strong wind in the star’s magnetic field that created conditions to produce the FRB. These observations provide insight into the characteristics of magnetars and conditions needed to produce FRBs.

A series of observations from NASA’s Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) and NuSTAR detected these events. Magnetars are neutron stars with extremely high magnetic fields. These observations provide more evidence for a long-suspected association between some FRBs and magnetars, first confirmed by an FRB from this star in 2020. Comparing the 2020 and 2022 events highlights the quality of information provided by the high frequency of observations possible with NICER.

View of the Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) payload, attached to ExPRESS (Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station) Logistics Carrier-2 (ELC-2) on the Starboard truss segment with a view of space in the background. — View of the Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) payload, attached to ExPRESS (Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station) Logistics Carrier-2 (ELC-2) on the Starboard truss segment. Photo was taken by the ground-controlled External High Definition Camera 1 (EHDC1).

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An artificial neural network (ANN) tool delivered consistently accurate predictions for heat transfer in a two-phase thermal management system that dissipates heat using boiling. These results demonstrate the potential of this tool to enhance the understanding of thermal management systems in microgravity and on Earth.

Two-phase cooling systems transfer heat from a surface by using the heat to boil a liquid and generate vapor (bubbles) that move heat by convection, then changing the vapor back to a liquid via condensation. The Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE) investigation explored these systems, which have significant potential for providing thermal management on future space missions. This study used data from the experiment to develop and train the ANN as a predictive tool for use in the design and analysis of thermal systems. ANNs are an artificial intelligence made of computational units similar to neurons in the nervous systems of living things.

Two people conduct an experiment in microgravity aboard the International Space Station. — *NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei, left, and* *Kayla Barron* *set up the Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR) for Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE)* *aboard the International Space Station. This i*ncludes reopening the FIR rack doors and translating out the Optics Bench from Part 1, installing the remainder of FBCE hardware, and translating the Optics Bench back into the rack in the U.S. Laboratory Module. **Credit: ESA (European Space Agency)/Matthias Maurer**

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The Electromagnetic Levitator (EML) facility enabled accurate measurement of density, viscosity, and surface tension of an aluminum-copper alloy. These results support the creation of a reliable database on the properties of pure metals and alloys and contribute to lead-free soldering and automotive industry applications.

The ESA (European Space Agency) EML Batch 3 - NEQUISOL experiment investigated the microstructure and growth velocity of aluminum-iron (Al-Fe) and silicon-germanium (Si-Ge) samples processed in the EML. The EML is designed for container-less processing, also known as the oscillating drop method. This keeps samples pristine and produces better measurements because containers can contaminate the materials they hold.

A bald man in a black shirt holding a piece of hardware aboard the International Space Station. — European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Alexander Gerst in the Columbus module of the International Space Station during the installation of the Electromagnetic Levitator (EML). The EML multi-user facility is designed for containerless materials processing in space. **Credit: ESA/Alex Gerst**