An experiment led by the University of Colorado that will probe the fluid dynamics of liquid crystals that may lead to benefits both on Earth and in space arrived today at the International Space Station.
A new physical science investigation on ISS, the Observation and Analysis of Smectic Islands in Space, is designed to examine the behavior of liquid crystals in microgravity, according to physics professor Noel Clark, who is the experiment’s principal investigator.
Researchers are observing the overall motion and merging of microscopic layers that form what are called “smectic islands” on the surface of bubbles. The investigation may shine light on how microgravity affects the properties of liquid crystals.
Liquid crystals are utilized in television and laptop screens, cellphones, plus numerous other electronics with flat panel displays.
“OASIS is the first study of smectic liquid crystal materials in microgravity, and may well be the first study of any liquid crystal material in microgravity,” Clark said in a news release.
The OASIS experiment will be conducted in the Microgravity Science Glovebox onboard ISS, which facilitates a wide range of experiments in a fully sealed and controlled environment.
Clark heads up the Soft Materials Research Center on campus, one of 12 Materials Research and Science Engineering Centers selected by the National Science Foundation for renewed funding in February.
The CU center will be supported by a $12 million NSF grant over six years.
