FARGO
Ferrofluid Application Research Goes Orbital
With our new ferrofluid project FARGO (Ferrofluid Application Research Goes Orbital), we successfully made it through the DLR’s Überflieger 2 selection workshop. As one of four projects, we will now be able to operate FARGO on the ISS in early 2023!
The experiment is divided into three sub-experiments: two different switches, an electrical switch and a thermal switch, and a position control concept. All three experiments use so-called ferrofluids: these are liquids consisting of a carrier fluid, in most cases an oil, and magnetic particles suspended and coated in it.
Research with ferrofluids has a long tradition at KSat. With our PAPELL (Pump Application using Pulsed Electromagnets for Liquid reLocation) experiment, we were able to win the Überflieger 1 competition and thus demonstrate the basis of a pump technology using ferrofluid on the ISS in 2018. In order to investigate the effects and applications in realistic space conditions, the ferrofluid applications are being further developed as part of the KSat project for the ISS mission. A team of 21 members has been formed for this purpose, supported by two doctoral students from the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) at the University of Stuttgart.
Our Experiments
Thermal Switch
The harsh conditions of space are characterized by extreme temperature differences. While extreme heat can develop on the side of satellites facing the sun, the opposite is true on the side facing away from the sun. The resulting irregular heat flow in terms of time, location, and direction leads to temperature peaks and gradients that can impair the performance, functionality, and reliability of the system, as these stresses must be taken into account. The thermal switch we have developed is designed to actively switch these heat loads by manipulating ferrofluid.
Electrical Switch
Mechanical parts are particularly problematic in space applications due to their susceptibility to wear and tear. Repair or replacement is only possible under difficult conditions and usually involves very high costs. The development of an electrical switch without mechanically moving parts that can switch higher loads than transistors could represent an important development step for long-term missions. The electrical switch we have developed is to be tested on the ISS with various loads and verified for this environment.
ACS BLDC
The idea behind the development of a novel bearing control component is to reduce the use of wear-intensive parts. The bearing control component (swirl wheel) is based on the functioning of a BLDC motor (brushless directed current motor). The structure of the stator equipped with coils is adopted, but the rotor consists of a heterogeneous system of ferrofluid and secondary fluid. The aim is to generate uniform movement of the ferrofluid by specifically controlling the coils. The ferrofluid transfers the angular momentum to the secondary fluid, which stores it (inertia).
Überflieger 2
With Überflieger 2, the German Space Agency at DLR and the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) offered students the opportunity to conduct their own experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). The competition began in 2021 with a call for experiment ideas. After the winning teams were selected in December 2021, they had one year to turn their concepts into functional space experiments. On March 15, 2023, the time had come: a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the four selected projects from Cape Canaveral to the ISS.
The experiments ran fully automatically for 30 days in the Destiny module’s Tango Lab. The teams were able to make adjustments remotely and received their data for later evaluation.
The four experiments explored different areas: In addition to FARGO, ADDONISS from the Technical University of Munich was selected to study brain cells and their changes under microgravity, while BRAINS from the University of Luxembourg investigated the growth of 3D cell cultures and Glücksklee from Leibniz University Hannover analyzed the growth of plants and their symbiotic relationship with bacteria in zero gravity.
Überflieger 2 thus provided students with a unique practical experience in space travel and also demonstrated how quickly and efficiently university research can make the leap into space.
“Hundreds of experiments in a wide variety of disciplines are being conducted on the ISS as part of cutting-edge research. And now you have the opportunity to be part of it!”
Timeline
Call for applications: Überflieger 2
As part of Matthias Maurer's stay on the ISS, four teams of students, three from Germany and one from Luxembourg, were given the opportunity to conduct experiments on the International Space Station (ISS).
Submission of proposal
Based on our experience in the previous PAPELL project and many conversations, discussions, and workshops, we developed our proposal for an experiment in the Überflieger2 program. Following a preliminary selection process, we were invited to the German Space Agency at DLR to present our project and were ultimately able to prevail over our competitors. The journey to the ISS had begun!
PDR (Preliminary Design Review)
When the PDR was reached, the layout of the experiments within the FARGO box had already been finalized. Minor changes to the experiments followed a very successful review to ensure the smooth operation of the experiments in orbit.
CDR (Critical Design Review)
The CDR was accompanied by the design freeze for the project: from this point on, no further changes to the design were permitted. The focus is now on testing and verifying the specified requirements.
FRR (Flight Readiness Review)
The flight readiness review was to check FARGO's airworthiness one last time. After a successful inspection, it was time to say: Ready for launch!
Launch!
Up we go! In March 2023, the time has finally come: the FARGO team was allowed to attend the launch live at Cape Canaveral. FARGO was successfully delivered to the ISS aboard the SpaceX CRS-27 resupply mission.
Ferrofluids
Ferrofluids are fascinating materials consisting of tiny magnetic particles suspended in a liquid. These particles are often made of iron or iron oxides and typically measure only a few nanometers in size. The unique property of ferrofluids is that they respond to magnetic fields. When an external magnetic field is applied, the magnetic particles align themselves and create impressive visual effects, ranging from waves to pointed structures.
The discovery of ferrofluids dates back to the 1960s, when they were originally developed for use in space travel. The idea was to stabilize the liquids in gyroscopes used in satellites. Since then, the field of application has expanded considerably. Today, ferrofluids are used in technology, medicine, and art.
In engineering, ferrofluids are often used in seals and loudspeakers to control vibrations and reduce noise levels. In medicine, they could be used in targeted drug delivery by concentrating in specific areas of the body in response to magnetic fields. This could potentially facilitate the treatment of tumors by transporting drugs directly to the diseased cells.
We want you!
Has FARGO sparked your interest? We are always looking for new members!
Whether you are just starting your first semester or are already an aerospace expert, and regardless of what you are studying, we can find an exciting position for everyone in our team. All of our projects are organized into subsystems that are responsible for different areas. If you already know what you are interested in, please contact us!
Participation in FARGO is no longer possible due to the completion of the project, but there are always subsequent projects that you can join.
FARGO Subsystems
Project Management
Our all-rounders who hold the project together. They keep an eye on deadlines, manage communication, and organize team events. Experienced association members create the framework for a successful project.
Science
The science team is responsible for developing, testing, and building the switches and the ACS. This requires constant communication with the other subsystems in order to set requirements and remain within the limits of what is technically possible.
Mechanics
If FARGO fell apart at launch, a lot of work would have been wasted. To prevent this from happening, Mechanics is developing the structure of our experiment to meet a wide range of requirements, such as strength, tightness, and ease of assembly.
Electronics
This is where the electronic design of the individual experiments and the overall system is carried out. Everything from the power supply and experiment control to data communication and storage is implemented on circuit boards developed in-house.
Software
Software that ensures experimental operation and communication runs on both our main computer and our experiment boards. The team must address the specific challenges of an ISS mission—if the software does not work, the project does not work.
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