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Completed TRL 4 (started at 1, targeting 5)
The Liquid Crystal Facility (LCF) enables scientists to explore unique liquid crystal structures and dynamics. Using the International Space Station (ISS) Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), the LCF hardware sets conditions for studies of electromagnetic and thermal gradients within bulk, freely suspended thin films in the shape of planar and bubble liquid crystal (LC) materials at microscopic and nanometer length scales. Investigators will use the LCF to study how rays of light pass through or reflect from the liquid crystals to determine how the structures and dynamics are influenced by the various external physical forces such as magnetic field, electric field and temperature in the absence of gravity. The LCF hardware is controlled from Earth by the scientists and engineers from the Telescience Support Center (TSC) and the Principal Investigator (PI) labs. Astronauts help to install, change, troubleshoot, and remove the LCF and all LC sample materials. The LCF is funded by Biological and Physical Sciences Division as a collaboration between NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), Universities Space Research Association (USRA), University of Colorado - Boulder, Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, and ZIN Technologies, Inc.
Liquid Crystals are a unique phase of matter that is partially solid, partially liquid, and can be controlled or manipulated. On Earth, liquid crystals and similar colloidal materials are in all kinds of visual displays, optical fibers, computer networking equipment, antenna coatings, forehead thermometers, contact lenses, eyewear, smart windows and materials.
In Space, there are many LC properties that have the potential for advancing exploration including lightweight smart materials, opto-electronic shielding, dynamic antennas, dynamic vapor filters, nanoparticle materials, and various films. Our knowledge of liquid crystal properties has been limited to Earth's gravity-based manufacturing and repair locations. LCF enables deeper understanding of the liquid crystal properties that are often overshadowed by gravity-induced sedimentation, buoyancy driven convective effects and inherently difficult or impossible to study on Earth.
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