Fluid Handling and Maintenance Experiment Capabilities

The objective of the Fluid Handling and Maintenance Experiment (FHAME) is to research, test, and demonstrate liquid/gas phase control in fluid handling subsystems in microgravity. FHAME is currently being developed as a risk mitigation experiment for the upcoming verification and science investigations in plant growth systems, especially the Biomass Production System (BPS) and the Plant Research Unit (PRU). Because FHAME contains controlled fluid handling systems, a large suite of sensors, data acquisition, and visual observation capability, it is well suited for empirical research and testing of movement and to assessing the liquid/gas characteristics for a wide variety of applications. Its first application is to assess fluid priming and gas/liquid characteristics in a particulate bed. FHAME can play a major role in the development of future new nutrient delivery systems for plant growth application in addition to many fluid and gas/liquid empirical research investigations.