AROUND 6 MINUTES OF MICROGRAVITY

The TEXUS project is a sounding rocket program with the primary aim to investigate the properties and behavior of materials, chemicals and biological substances in a microgravity environment. The TEXUS program gives around six minutes of microgravity.

The TEXUS programme started in 1977 and is carried out at Esrange Space Center jointly by DLR, Airbus Defence & Space, OBH-System and SSC. SSC is responsible for the launch operations.

The TEXUS campaigns are sometimes financed by ESA or jointly financed by DLR and ESA.

TEXUS 56

Payload

InSituKris

In-situ observation of foreign phase particles in fluids and their interaction with the crystal front.
Freezing water with polystyrene and borosilcate glass particles.
Can give more efficient solar cells if silicon crystals can be grown with better quality.
Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany

ICAPS

Study of dust-dust Interactions, dust-gas Interactions in Cosmic and Atmospheric Particle Systems.
1.5μm sized particles of Silicone Oxide are used in a low pressure (50 to 100 Pa) nitrogen environment.
Studying how planets are formed.
Technische Universität, Braunschweig, Germany

PERWAVES

Percolating Reactive Waves in Particulate Suspensions.
Studying combustion or dust particles. Iron, 45 µm, and oxygen/xenon.
McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Contact Persons

Mr. Antonio Verga, ESA Project Manager

Dr. Otfried Joop, DLR Project Manager – InSituKris

Mr. Detlef Wilde, Airbus Defence and Space Project Manager

Mr. David Hagsved, SSC Esrange Campaign Manager

Mr. Alexander Kallenbach, DLR Campaign Manager

Mr. Horst Pfeuffer, OHB Payload Integration Manager

Mrs. Ellen De Cock, ICAPS Project Manager