EML - An electromagnetic levitator for the International Space Station

Abstract

Based on a long and successful evolution of electromagnetic levitators for microgravity applications, including facilities for parabolic flights, sounding rocket missions and Spacelab missions, the Electromagnetic Levitator EML provides unique experiment opportunities onboard ISS. With the application of the electromagnetic levitation principle under microgravity conditions the undercooled regime of electrically conductive materials becomes accessible for an extended time which allows the performance of unique studies of nucleation phenomena or phase formation as well as the measurement of a range of thermophysical properties both above the melting temperature and in the undercooled regime. The EML payload is presently being developed by Astrium Space Transportation under contracts to ESA and DLR. The design of the payload allows flexible experiment scenarios individually targeted towards specific experimental needs and samples including live video control of the running experiments and automatic or interactive process control.