Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment – 2: 3D Particle Test (PACE-2)

Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment - 2 (PACE-2) characterizes the resolution of the high magnification colloid experiments with the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) to determine the minimum size of the particles that can be resolved by the Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE). There is a direct relationship between magnification, particle size, test duration and on-orbit vibration that is quantified.

The experiment has concluded, and science is being evaluated.

While the Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment (PACE) looks at the gross effects of vibration on a static test target and how this impacts resolution, PACE-2 follows up on this work by looking at a three-dimensional sample in a sample container that is comparable to what will be used by the Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE). This work also aids in the development and optimization of crew procedures for the future ACE investigation.

The knowledge from PACE-2 and PACE will enable ACE. ACE will fly samples that may have an important impact on our understanding of fundamental physics. An immediate space application for this technology demonstration is in extending the shelf-life of consumables on future long-duration missions.

PACE-2 enables ACE, which later will provide important data that is not available on Earth. This data guides our understanding of phase separation (e.g., shelf-life, product collapse), and how it competes with crystallization and impacts production. Additionally, product shelf-life may be dependent upon binodal decomposition and possibly upon Oswald ripening in the emulsion samples. It is for this reason that a better understanding of these processes could have an enormous commercial impact in a wide variety of industries.

Space Station Research Explorer