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, e.g., oil or water, with suspended iron particles that allow the liquid to be controlled by magnets.
The team developed two different pumping mechanisms based on ferrofluids and then combined them in a cylindrical REXUS payload module. This module is part of the payload tip of the REXUS 31 high-altitude research rocket and flew with it to an altitude of almost 80 km. The rocket’s parabolic flight allowed us to test the experiments in microgravity for a duration of approximately 120 seconds.
FerrAS already builds on a successful “flight heritage”: With PAPELL, we tested the use of ferrofluids on the ISS for the first time. FARGO, our second ISS experiment, was also a complete success and paved the way for more ferrofluid research. The promising results we achieved with Papell led to the following experiments.
Our Experiments
REXUS 31
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 share of the payload was made available to students from other European countries through cooperation 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 launch vehicle operations.
Experts from DLR, SSC, ZARM, and ESA are supporting the student teams with technical assistance throughout the project. REXUS and BEXUS are launched from the SSC, Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden.
Curious?
The REXUS/BEXUS program offers student teams the opportunity to test experiments in zero gravity on an annual basis.
It’s worth a visit!
Timeline
Proposal REXUS 31/32
In October 2021, we applied for the REXUS cycle number 14 tender to test our experiments on board REXUS 31 or 32. Following a pre-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.
PDR (Preliminary Design Review)
FerrAS passed the first major review without any problems, as we were able to present all the documentation in a well-prepared manner. At that point, the experiments were still undergoing an extensive test cycle, which was intended to refine their design to 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. For the science and mechanics teams, this freeze means that all experiment components and mechanical interfaces must be finalized by the time the CDR is presented.
IPR (Integration Progress Review)
At the IPR, FerrAS impresses a jury from DLR and ZARM at the University of Bremen with working experiments in our association workshop.
Integration Week & Benchtest
In December, we will travel to Bremen to integrate our flight hardware and bring our experiment module to life at the ZARM (Center for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity) at the University of Bremen. During the bench test week, which will take place a little later, the interactions between the experiments of different teams will be examined. Any unwanted interference can be investigated and dealt with here!
Launch!
Finally, the time has come! The team is getting ready to travel to Kiruna in the far north of Sweden. In addition to the northern lights and snow, there was also a lot of exciting technology to discover here, including high-altitude research rockets and weather balloons. FerrAS was launched as planned and tested in microgravity for two minutes. The experiments worked as planned and delivered valuable results.
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 FerrAS 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 FerrAS is no longer possible due to the completion of the project, but there are always subsequent projects that you can join.
FerrAS 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 pump circuits. We always have to communicate with the other subsystems in order to set requirements and remain within the limits of what is technically possible.
Mechanics
If FerrAS fell apart during launch, a lot of work would have been wasted. To prevent this from happening, Mechanics is developing the structure of our experiments 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
Both our mainboard and our experiment boards run software that ensures experiment operation and communication. The team must address the specific challenges of a REXUS mission—if the software doesn’t work, the project doesn’t work.
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