Development to Demonstration of Active Magnetic Microgravity Isolation Systems

The low gravity environment provided by space flight has afforded the science community a unique arena for the study of fundamental and technological sciences. However, the dynamic environment observed on space shuttle flights and predicted for Space Station Freedom has complicated the analysis of prior “microgravity” experiments and prompted concern for the viability of proposed space experiments requiring long term, low gravity environments. Thus, isolation systems capable of providing significant improvements to this random environment have been developed. This paper deals with the design constraints imposed by acceleration sensitive, “microgravity” experiment payloads in the unique environment of space.