The Ground Cyber-Laboratory

Welcome to the Ground Science Cyber-Laboratory. Here you can perform ground experiments to demonstrate in a very simple way many of the microgravity concepts that we study onboard the space-shuttle. Of course the shuttle experiments are a lot more complicated than these simple ground-based experiments - but nonetheless illustrate many important concepts that are being applied to medicine, industry, and safety!

Some experiments are designed for the classroom, but many can be done at home. In any case, many of the experiments have animations which illustrate the principles being described. Don't forget to read the primers, try the quizzes, and earn yourself a genuine certificate of achievement!

Primer: Free Fall and Microgravity - and a little Physics

Quiz #1: Take the challenge and earn a certificate!

Experiment: Around the World

To model how satellites orbit Earth.

Experiment: Free-Fall Demonstrator

Removing the local effects of gravity by free-fall

Experiment: Falling Water

Removing the local effects of gravity by free-fall

Primer: Fluids and Microgravity

Quiz #2: Take the challenge and earn a certificate!

Experiment: Gravity-Driven Fluid Flow

To observe that gravity-driven fluid flow is caused by differences in solution density

Primer: Combustion Physics in Microgravity

Quiz #4: Take the challenge and earn a certificate!

Experiment: Candle Flames

To illustrate the effects of gravity on the burning rate of candles

Experiment: Candle Drop

To observe candle flame properties in free-fall

Primer: Crystal Growth in Microgravity

Quiz #5: Take the challenge and earn a certificate!

Experiment: Crystal Growth

To observe crystal growth phenomena in a 1-g environment

Experiment: Microscopic Observation of Crystal Growth

To observe crystal nucleation and growth rate during directional solidification.

Navigation tip:
This Cyber-Lab patch will always bring you back to this page.

Go to the USMP-4 Home page (November-December, 1997 flight)

Go to the MSL-1 Home page (July, 1997 flight)

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To learn more about other science performed at the Space Sciences Laboratory, click the SSL Logo above.

last updated: October 29, 1997

Authors: Dr. John Horack, Bryan Walls
Curator: Bryan Walls
NASA Official: John M. Horack