One key aspect of next-generation drop towers is characterised by a free floating experiment inside an actively driven chamber . The experiment becomes weightless like a person in a falling elevator cabin . To avoid long evacuation times of a large vacuum tube , as applied in classical drop towers , this concept uses a chamber slightly larger than the experimental setup . These concepts also allow a high level of automation |
to achieve high repetition rates of several hundred drops / flights per day . The Einstein-Elevator is the first next-generation drop tower in operation worldwide ( figure 1 ). It provides 4 s of microgravity for large experimental setups at up to 300 flights per day . Additionally , it offers also hypoand hypergravity simulation as well as extensive technical equipment for high-tech experiments . [ 1 ] The setup is mounted on a carrier system with payload volume of 1.7 m in diameter |
▼ FIG . 1 : Experiment execution – Gondola accelerated to 20 m / s within 5 m ( Credit : Leibniz University Hannover / Christoph Lotz ) |
and a height of 2 m . The total payload weight is limited to 1,000 kg . This carrier will be centered automatically inside a small vacuum chamber , the so-called gondola . Its vertical movement inside the 40 m high tower is performed by a linear direct drive . After the acceleration with 5 g ( 4 g dynamic plus 1 g earth gravity ) the experiment carrier lifts about 50 mm from the gondola ’ s floor . The microgravity phase starts immediately . While floating the experiments can |
EPN 54 / 2 09 |