FerrAS
Ferrofluid Application Study
Our project FerrAS is part of the REXUS 31/32 project of the German-Swedish student program REXUS/BEXUS. As the name FerrAS (Ferrofluid Application Study) suggests, we use ferrofluids in our experiments. These liquids consist of a carrier fluid, such as oil or water, with suspended iron particles, which allow the liquid to be controlled by magnets.
The team developed two different pump mechanisms based on ferrofluids and then combined them into a cylindrical REXUS payload module. This module is part of the payload nose of the REXUS 31 sounding rocket and flew to a height of nearly 80 km. The rocket’s parabolic flight allowed us to test the experiments in zero gravity for about 120 seconds.
FerrAS is already building on a successful “flight legacy”: With PAPELL, we tested the use of ferrofluids on the ISS for the first time. Our second ISS experiment, FARGO, was also a complete success and paved the way for further ferrofluid research. The promising results we obtained with PAPELL led to the development of these subsequent experiments.
Our experiments
The REXUS/BEXUS program is carried out under a bilateral agency agreement between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).
The Swedish portion of the payload is made available to students from other European countries through collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). EuroLaunch, a cooperation between the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and the Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) of the DLR, is responsible for campaign management and the operation of the launch vehicles.
Experts from DLR, SSC, ZARM, and ESA support the student teams with technical assistance throughout the project. REXUS and BEXUS are launched from the SSC Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden.
Interested?
The REXUS/BEXUS program offers the opportunity, on an annual basis, for student teams to test experiments in zero gravity.
A visit is worth it!
Timeline
Proposal REXUS 31/32
In October 2021, we applied for the REXUS Cycle 14 call to have our experiments tested aboard the REXUS 31 or 32. After a pre-selection, we were invited to the German Space Agency (DLR) to present our project and ultimately succeeded in competing against our rivals.
PDR (Preliminary Design Review)
The first major review was passed by FerrAS without issues, as we were able to present all the documents well-prepared. At this point, the experiments were still in a large testing cycle, during which their design was to be developed into an optimal version.
CDR (Critical Design Review)
The CDR marks a critical point in the development of FerrAS, as the review is accompanied by a design freeze. This freeze means that all experiment components and mechanical interfaces must be finalized by the time of the CDR presentation for the science and mechanics teams.
IPR (Integration Progress Review)
At the IPR, FerrAS was able to impress a jury from DLR and ZARM at the University of Bremen with functioning experiments in our workshop.
Integration Week & Bench Test
In December, we travel to Bremen for the integration of our flight hardware to bring our experiment module to life at ZARM (Center for Applied Spaceflight Technology and Microgravity) at the University of Bremen. During the later bench test week, interactions between experiments from different teams are investigated. Any unwanted disturbances can be examined and addressed here!
Launch!
Finally, the time has come! The team is getting ready to travel to Kiruna in the far north of Sweden. Besides the Northern Lights and snow, there was also much exciting technology around sounding rockets and weather balloons to explore. FerrAS was launched as planned and was able to be tested in microgravity for two minutes. The experiments worked as expected and provided valuable results.
More about this topic
Ferrofluids
Ferrofluids are fascinating materials made up of tiny magnetic particles suspended in a liquid. These particles are often made of iron or iron oxides and typically have a size of only a few nanometers. The unique property of ferrofluids lies in their response to magnetic fields. When an external magnetic field is applied, the magnetic particles align, creating impressive visual effects that can range from waves to spiky structures.
The discovery of ferrofluids dates back to the 1960s, when they were originally developed for use in space exploration. The idea was to stabilize the fluids in gyroscopes used in satellites. Since then, the field of application has expanded significantly. Today, ferrofluids are used in engineering, medicine, and art.
In engineering, ferrofluids are commonly used in seals and speakers to control vibrations and reduce noise levels. In medicine, they could be used in targeted drug delivery, where they concentrate in specific areas of the body in response to magnetic fields. This could potentially make tumor treatment easier by transporting medication directly to the affected cells.
We are looking for you!
Has FerrAS sparked your interest? We are always looking for new members!
Whether you’re just starting your first semester or you’re already a space exploration expert, and no matter what you’re studying: We have an exciting position for everyone in our team. All of our projects are organized into subsystems, each responsible for different areas. If you already know what you’re interested in, feel free to contact us!
Participation in FerrAS is no longer possible due to the completion of the project, but there are always upcoming projects where you can join in and get started.
FerrAS subsystems
Project Lead
Our all-rounders who keep the project together. Here, deadlines are monitored, communication is managed, and team events are organized. Experienced club members create the framework for a successful project.
Science
The development, testing, and construction of the pump circuits are the responsibilities of the science team. In doing so, we must always communicate with the other subsystems to define requirements and stay within what is technically feasible.
Mechanics
If FerrAS were to fall apart during launch, much of the work would have been in vain. To prevent this, the Mechanics team works on the structure of our experiments, ensuring that it meets various requirements such as strength, tightness, and ease of assembly.
Electronics
Here, the electronic design of the individual experiments and the overall system is carried out. On custom-designed circuit boards, everything from power supply to experiment control, data communication, and data storage is implemented.
Software
Both on our mainboard and on our experiment boards, software runs to ensure the operation of the experiments and communication. The team must address the unique challenges of a REXUS mission – if the software doesn’t work, the project doesn’t work.
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