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Microgravity Research Team Soars Again

MAE seniors Corey Snyder (left) and Emily Calandrelli took a moment to display their Mountaineer Pride aboard NASA's Weightless Wonder in June. The pair were part of the WVU Microgravity Team that made the trip.

A team of students from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering got to experience something most people never do - floating in a weightless environment - this summer, when the University's Microgravity Research Team was chosen to fly and to conduct an experiment on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's C-9, "Weightless Wonder."

The aircraft flies in parabolic motion - a series of steep climbs and dives - to create multiple periods of microgravity, allowing those inside the aircraft to experience the sensation of weightlessness. The flight took place at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, in June.

Members of the WVU Microgravity Research team are Emily Calandrelli, Gavin Hall, Jesse Phillips and Corey Snyder, all of Morgantown; Greg Duckett of Harrisburg, Pa.; Charles Harner of Williamstown, W.Va.; Eileen Reiff of Ocean Township, N.J.; and Alan Talbott of Walkersville, Md. All are mechanical and/or aerospace engineering majors at WVU.

John Kuhlman, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and one of the team's advisors, accompanied the group. Donald Gray, professor of civil and environmental engineering, is co-advisor to the team.

Kuhlman said that this year was the seventh year in the past eight years that a WVU team was accepted to participate in the flights, which are part of NASA?s Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program.

Of the hundreds of universities across the country who submitted proposals, WVU's team was among the 57 teams that were chosen to fly this summer.

"The WVU Microgravity Research Teams have done exceptionally well in this highly competitive program," said Kuhlman, "and they gain a lot from the trip. Each year, the team members seem to undergo a significant maturation and growth of their technical skills."

To be chosen for the flight, the aspiring engineers had to submit a proposal for an experiment to conduct in microgravity conditions during the flight. Once the team was informed of their acceptance, said Calandrelli, they began working on their experiment.

"We decided to use a toy found in many science stores as a model for our investigation," she said. "The toy contains water and sand in a frame-like structure that can be rotated so you can watch how the sand falls through the water. Our experiment was similar, but instead of water and sand, we used different combinations of fluids (motor oil + silicone, and water + air). Our goal was to analyze how various fluids (finger) through each other."

"It was wonderful to be able to test our experiment in microgravity conditions," she added. "This is really a great program that allows students to be involved in cutting-edge space research."

"Aside from the amazing experience of weightless flight," said Reiff, "we also met some very accomplished WVU alumni who work for NASA. It gave me a lot of pride to learn how excited our alumni were to meet their fellow Mountaineers."

"I did not fly but went to Houston as ground crew for the team," said Phillips, "working on the experiment and loading it onto the aircraft, participating in the tours, meeting with WVU alumni who work for NASA, and visiting sites in Houston. It was a wonderful experience, and I think more students should get involved with the team."

The NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering provided funds to help support the team's participation in the program.

07/02/2008