Scientific Investigations & Technology

Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA)

During the period from July 11 to September 15, 2002, eight out of ten planned crystal growth experiments were conducted in the SUBSA furnace. A transparent gradient section and a video camera sent images to the Earth. These realtime images helped seeding and allowed a direct measurement of the solidification rate. In five out of eight experiments, seeding was reproducible, within +- 0.1 mm. In seven out of eight experiments, the growth rate was steady, 0.5 cm/hr.

• Fact Sheet
  Solidification Using a Baffle in Sealed Ampoules (SUBSA)
  
  
• Article discussing PMFI and SUBSA Operations
  SUBSA and PFMI Transparent Furnace Systems Currently in use in the International Space Station Microgravity Science Glovebox