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i

NASA/TM—2009–215903

Survey Analysis of Materials Processing

Experiments Aboard STS-47: Spacelab J

R.J. Sharpe

The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

M.D. Wright

Marshall Space Flight Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama

July 2009

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Marshall Space Flight Center • MSFC, Alabama 35812
ii

Available from:

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information

7115 Standard Drive

Hanover, MD 21076 –1320

443–757–5802

This report is also available in electronic form at

<https://www2.sti.nasa.gov>

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Don Frazier (ED10), Marshall Space Flight Center, for reviewing 

this Technical Memorandum for scientific accuracy.
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1

2. ELECTRONIC/CRYSTAL GROWTH MATERIALS EXPERIMENTS .......................... 2

2.1 Growth of Silicone Spherical Crystals and Surface Oxidation ...................................... 2

2.2 Growth Experiment of Narrow Band-Gap Semiconductor Lead-Tin-Tellurium 

Crystals in Space .......................................................................................................... 4

3. METALS AND ALLOYS EXPERIMENTS ...................................................................... 6

3.1 Study on Solidification of Immiscible Alloys ................................................................ 6

3.2 Fabrication of Very-Low-Density, High-Stiffness Carbon Fiber/Aluminum 

Hybridized Composites ................................................................................................ 7

4. GLASS AND CERAMIC EXPERIMENTS ..................................................................... 10

4.1 High Temperature Behavior of Glass ........................................................................... 10

5. FLUIDS EXPERIMENTS ................................................................................................. 12

5.1 Study of Bubble Behavior ............................................................................................. 12

6. CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................ 13

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 14
iv
v

LIST OF FIGURES

1. Diagrams of the first method of silicone spherical crystal growth .............................. 3

2. STS-47 Payload Commander Mark Lee conducts the Silicone Spherical

Crystal Experiment aboard Spacelab J ....................................................................... 3

3. Diagram of the growth workup of Pb-Sn-Te crystals ................................................. 5

4. Alloy of aluminum-10% lead developed before Spacelab J experiment. 

The lead (the dot shapes), rather than distributing in uniformity, shows 

a preference to one direction ...................................................................................... 7

5. Example of how gravity affects the development of composite materials. 

Shown is a nylon thread composite produced in (a) microgravity and (b) on Earth .... 8

6. STS-47 Mission Specialist Jan Davis works at the CHF on Spacelab J........................ 9

7. Workup of the High-Temperature Glass Experiment.................................................. 10
vi
vii

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND SYMBOLS

CHF continuous heating furnace

GHF gradient heating furnace

IF image furnace

NASDA National Space Development Agency

Pb lead

PICA phenolic-impregnated carbon ablator

Sn tin

Te tellurium

TPS thermal protection system
viii
1

TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM

SURVEY ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS PROCESSING EXPERIMENTS 

ABOARD STS-47: SPACELAB J

1. INTRODUCTION

The Shuttle program of the late 20th century ushered a new era of space science. Early 

Gemini and Apollo missions had touched on human-tended space science, although these experiments were viewed only as secondary objectives. Skylab, the first American Space Station, laid the 

foundation for experiments in space, based on a long-term human presence. 

The Shuttle brought a new perception in the way space science was viewed. Engineers and 

scientists developed a reusable laboratory module designed to fit the orbiter’s payload area. This 

reusable science laboratory allowed for scientists on Earth to design original experiments and 

submit them to be tested by Shuttle astronauts. The laboratory itself would be known as the 

Spacelab.

Shuttle astronauts conducted an estimated total of ≈3,500 experiments over a 20-yr period 

aboard Spacelab.1 These experiments ranged from solar physics to biotechnology to life sciences, 

etc. The strongest majority of Spacelab’s experiments, however, focused on materials science 

(almost 1,000 out of the 3,500).

Significant materials science experiments conducted on Spacelab J, which featured 20 life 

science experiments and 24 materials science experiments, are discussed here. The mission was 

a joint Japanese-American science venture that flew aboard Shuttle Endeavor on STS-47. Experiments focused on four categories—electronic and crystal materials science, metal alloy studies, 

glasses and ceramics studies, and fluid dynamics. The mission took place over a 9-day period, 

and NASA published a full report of science results in February 1995.2 All experiments aboard 

Spacelab J were carried out under the direction of the Payload Operations and Control Center 

at Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama. 
2

2. ELECTRONIC/CRYSTAL GROWTH MATERIALS EXPERIMENTS

Electronic and crystalline materials experiments aboard Spacelab J focused on determining 

the most effective route for growing various forms of semiconductor crystals as well as experimentation in the specific shape in which the crystal would grow.3 Primary instrumentation in crystal 

growth experiments consisted of three furnaces—the gradient heating furnace (GHF), used for 

investigating crystal formation; the image furnace (IF), used for crystal growing using the floating 

zone method; and the continuous heating furnace (CHF), used for generating high temperatures 

and fast cooling of crystal samples.4 Significant experiments are discussed in detail in section 2.1.

2.1 Growth of Silicone Spherical Crystals and Surface Oxidation

Silicone, a metalloid element, is recognized as one of the most important semiconductor 

materials in the world. It is used in the circuitry of household electronics as well as in complex 

applications. When these silicone materials are produced, however, a specific amount of impurity 

must be introduced to the crystal to create either an abundance of free electrons or a lack of shared 

electrons (depending on the need).5 The uniformity of this process—known as doping—is critical 

to the effectiveness of the crystal, albeit difficult. Dr. Tatau Nishinaga, scientist at the University 

of Tokyo, proposed growing silicone crystal spheres under microgravity aboard Spacelab J. In his 

experiment description, he listed the following reasons of significance for the experiment:

•	Microgravity might eliminate the buoyancy-driven convection in the melt.

•	Growth of crystals without a crucible is possible.

•	The microgravity environment allows for possible discovery of a way to more effectively create 

a uniformity of impurities used in the crystal. 

Although Nishinaga suggested that several experiments would be necessary to make the 

most concrete conclusions, time was a limiting factor. As a result, he proposed two short experiments, the first of which consisted of a premade silicone sphere crystal that would be inserted into 

the Spacelab Crystal Growth Facility and heated past its melting point. The crystal would begin to 

melt, but before the sample had entirely melted, the system would then be cooled. This allowed the 

remaining solid silicone in the center to serve as the seed crystal for growth in the second step. During the workup of the experiment, an infrared sensor would monitor the sample’s temperature. 

A diagram of the instrumentation is shown in figure 1.

The second experiment involved insertion of a silicone rod into the heating unit, melting the 

end of the rod, and using the nonmelted portion of it as the source of the seed crystal. This crystal 

would avoid contact with the sides of the furnace, eliminating potential problems with contamination. The process was modeled after the Czochralski method of crystal growing in which seed 

crystals are placed on a rod and inserted into melted silicone. Mark C. Lee, payload commander 

aboard Spacelab J, is shown conducting the experiment in figure 2.
3

S

L

Thermocouple

Infrared Rays 

Senser Interface

Cartridge

Sample Silicone 

Sphere

Quartz

Infrared

Starting Material: Silicone Sphere

Tantalum

Thermocouple

Figure 1. Diagrams of the first method of silicone spherical crystal growth.

Figure 2. STS-47 Payload Commander Mark Lee conducts the Silicone Spherical

Crystal Experiment aboard Spacelab J.
4

Upon completion of both experiments, observations were recorded, and the samples were 

brought back to Earth for analysis. The first part of the experiment showed promising results. 

A crystal began to grow within the time period; however, a crack in the tantalum shell covering the 

sample caused a significant loss of silicone material.6 The second part of the experiment showed 

similar crystal growth. However, a portion of the crystal shattered when it came into contact with 

the furnace’s surface. Scientists had to first reassemble the crystal before making any observations.

Once the crystals were polished, Nishinaga made his conclusions. He found that the crystals grown aboard the Spacelab, though slightly damaged in the experimentation, contained significantly less amounts of ridges (indicative of nonuniformity) than the same crystals grown on 

Earth. He reasoned that by preventing inconsistencies in the crystal growth chamber, he could grow 

silicone crystals with a more uniform impurity distribution. His conclusion was based on a prior 

experiment that took place on Spacelab 1 which showed that inconsistent heating temperatures 

caused striations due to a phenomenon known as Marangoni convection.

This experiment demonstrated an improvement on the way silicone-based semiconductors 

could be produced. Virtually all forms of electronics today must feature circuit boards. Nishinaga’s 

experiment improved the foundation upon which many of those circuits could be developed.

2.2 Growth Experiment of Narrow Band-Gap Semiconductor Lead-Tin-Tellurium 

Crystals in Space

Another experiment in improving semiconductor materials focused on the metal alloy 

lead-tin-tellurium (Pb-Sn-Te).4 Pb-Sn-Te, like silicone-based compounds, bears strong potential 

for applications in circuits due to its properties as a semiconductor. In addition, this metal alloy is 

capable of detecting a wide range of frequencies of light in the infrared, making it a useful material 

for applications in heat sensor technology; i.e., home security systems, space imaging, etc. However, 

the synthesis of high-quality Pb-Sn-Te crystals on Earth without major defects has proven difficult 

due to the varying densities of fluids on Earth under different temperatures.7

Tomoaki Yamada, a Japanese scientist at the NTT Basic Research Laboratory, proposed 

growing Pb-Sn-Te crystals in a microgravity environment. He hoped that his approach would aide 

not only in the discovery of the mechanism through which the crystals were formed, but would 

also contribute to the production of higher quality crystals. He explained in his description of the 

experiment that a key factor in the electrical qualities of the crystal was the ratio of Pb:Sn in the 

mixture as well as the uniformity of the impurities present in the alloy. 

Using the GHF, a seed crystal of the Pb-Sn-Te was inserted into a melt of the same material at ≈1,000 oC (1,832 oF) inside a crucible made of boron nitride. This crucible was protected by 

quartz and then covered in a tantalum shell. The GHF was then cooled to allow crystallization to 

occur in one direction starting from the seed crystal. The experiment’s workup is shown in figure 3.
5

Heater

Solid

Heater

Melt

Motor Driven

Figure 3. Diagram of the growth workup of Pb-Sn-Te crystals.

Results showed that the crystallized melt did grow cylindrically in a direction away from the 

seed crystal, but a strong concentration of subgrains (crystals that grow in a different orientation 

than the rest of its neighbors) was present near the seed-melt interface.8 Yamada found that small 

amounts of the melt sample escaped via an opening in the boron-nitride crucible. These escaped 

pieces continued cooling and eventually formed spherical Pb-Sn-Te crystals. Yamada concluded 

that this took place due to a graphite spring (being used to push the melt material against the seed 

crystal) that had encouraged crystallization.

Upon examination, researchers found that the crystals grown in space showed a marked 

increase in mixture uniformity as well as a constant ratio of Pb:Sn. Furthermore, the space-grown 

crystal possessed electrical properties superior to those of the same crystals grown on Earth. The 

results confirmed Yamada’s hypothesis that the Pb-Sn-Te crystals grown in microgravity would 

have more useful properties than those grown on Earth. Using these conclusions, scientists learned 

how to more effectively develop these metal alloy crystals. As a result, a greater standard was 

achieved for the production of infrared-sensitive instruments. 
6

3. METALS AND ALLOYS EXPERIMENTS

When NASA launched Spacelab J in 1992, a great deal of research had taken place in the 

study of metals and alloys and their applications. Scientists hoped to discover metals that could be 

mixed to attain desired properties as well as what processes would be needed to most effectively create those metals. On Spacelab J’s experiments, three questions would be addressed—how the structure of the metal changes as it solidifies, what takes place at the interface of two metals when they 

are mixed, and what thermal and physical properties did these materials possess.3

3.1 Study on Solidification of Immiscible Alloys

A challenge facing scientists in metals studies was whether a process could be established to 

develop a metal alloy out of materials that had previously been immiscible in uniform distribution. 

(Until this point, only highly segregated alloys of these metals had been developed.4) In earlier 

experiments in microgravity, scientists had attempted to create an alloy of aluminum, lead, and bismuth among others, but upon observation, the alloy synthesized did not show a uniform distribution of both metals across the entire material. Figure 4 is an image showing the nonuniformity that 

was achieved in a sample of aluminum and lead.

Scientists at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, led by Dr. Akihiko Kamio, proposed a similar experiment to be carried out on Spacelab J.9 His experiment and results are discussed below.

Dr. Kamio and his team proposed using four different samples for experimentation in 

the mixing of immiscible alloys. Three samples consisted of mixtures of indium and aluminum 

(although the amount of aluminum would vary) with the fourth sample consisting of copper 

and lead. Each of these four samples were inserted into a container made of graphite within 

a tantalum cartridge. The cartridge, however, would have an ultrasonic vibrator attached to it that 

would be used later in the experiment. The apparatus was then placed into the GHF and initially 

set to a temperature of 955 oC (1,751 oF). The mixture remained at this temperature for 

56 min during which time the vibrator was turned on for 10 min to better mix the two metals. The 

heat was then reduced to 639 oC (1,182 oF) for 30 min so that the metals would cool but still remain 

melted. When completely cooled, the solid alloy was stored for further examination on Earth.

When the samples were brought back to Earth and studied, Kamio and his group found 

that the copper-lead sample performed exceptionally well.10 The copper-lead mixture showed 

a uniform distribution of each metal across the alloy. Furthermore, Kamio found the structure 

of the alloy to consist of a prominent copper matrix with a series of nonuniform lead rods. The 

aluminum-indium samples were damaged, however, due to a leak in the sample containers. This 

resulted in a large loss of data from the experiment.
7

55 mm

25 mm

5 mm

A1 A2

Chill

200μm 200μm

Figure 4. Alloy of aluminum-10% lead developed before Spacelab J 

experiment. The lead (the dot shapes), rather than distributing 

in uniformity, shows a preference to one direction.

Nevertheless, the research demonstrated that two metals found to be immiscible in uniformity on Earth could be made into alloy given the correct conditions. This result allowed scientists 

to continue experimentation to discover a way to produce these alloys on Earth. In practice 

today, the study of using immiscible metal alloys has found applications in the development 

of superconductors.11

3.2 Fabrication of Very-Low-Density, High-Stiffness Carbon Fiber/Aluminum 

Hybridized Composites

Carbon fiber composites represent a choice substance for strong, yet lightweight materials 

applications. For example, various areas of the Space Shuttle’s thermal protection system (TPS) 

use carbon-carbon composites as the primary material. Recently developed at Ames Research 

Center, phenolic-impregnated carbon ablators (PICAs) are being tested for use as the heat shield 

material of the Orion spacecraft. On Spacelab J, an experiment was conducted to determine if 

a process could be developed to synthesize a carbon composite material that is both very strong 

and very low in density.4 The project was led by Dr. Tomoo Suzuki, scientist at the Tokyo Institute 

of Technology, who developed an experiment to test whether carbon fiber composites held together 
8

by aluminum alloys could be effectively developed in microgravity. Figure 5 illustrates the structural 

difference between composites made on Earth and in microgravity.

(a) (b)

Figure 5. Example of how gravity affects the development of composite materials. 

Shown is a nylon thread composite produced in (a) microgravity 

and (b) on Earth.4

Dr. Tomoo chose for his mixture a carbon fiber that would be coated with an aluminum 

alloy. The alloy works as a bonding material as it melts with heating and then begins to cool, 

giving the material its desired low density and strength.12 The decision to use aluminum was based 

on a similar experiment that was conducted on a National Space Development Agency (NASDA) 

of Japan’s TT-500A rocket which was designed to simulate microgravity for up to 6 min. (This 

experiment was in large part a failure to sample overheating.) In a short workup, six samples of 

carbon fibers would be coated with aluminum using a process known as vacuum evaporation. The 

fibers would then be divided into lengths of 1 mm and placed in a capsule for heating at 700 oC 

(1,292 oF). This heating process would take ≈10 min. 

Once completed, the capsule would be transferred to the CHF where it would undergo constant heating for the remainder of the flight. The materials would then be stored for examination 

once the Shuttle returned to Earth. When the samples were examined, it was found that the heating 

process (initial heating followed by continuous milder heating) on all six samples was a success.13

The bonding of the aluminum to the carbon fibers was effective in each sample. An image of the 

CHF in operation is shown in figure 6.

Furthermore, examination of the materials’ physical properties showed that they were rigid 

with a density less than a tenth of aluminum. Elastic and compression strength tests were also conducted, and the composite performed with less promise than Tomoo and his team had expected. 

Tomoo hypothesized that this was due to an unexpected coagulation of some of the aluminum 

alloy, which acted as a defect to the structure of the composite. 
9

Figure 6. STS-47 Mission Specialist Jan Davis works at the CHF on Spacelab J.

Overall, the experiment was a major success as the desired material was fabricated without 

any major problems. However, the unexpected aluminum coagulation suggested that more research 

was needed to eliminate the defect. This experiment was one of many that sought to achieve the 

common goal of developing a strong, yet lightweight material resistant to both extremes in temperature as well as force and pressure. In addition, it laid the foundation for a new family of extreme 

condition materials development. Carbons and their composite fibers lie at the forefront of materials development today with research in ablative materials (PICA, TPS mentioned earlier) as well as 

all-purpose structural materials such as fullerene and nanotube carbon materials.
10

4. GLASS AND CERAMIC EXPERIMENTS

The Glass and Ceramics Branch of Spacelab J focused on examining and manipulating the 

properties of glass.3 Payload specialists aboard Spacelab J used both the IF and the acoustic levitation furnace to conduct their experiments, the ultimate goal being to better understand the physical 

properties of different types of glass and assist in the developing of new techniques for the preparation of higher quality glasses. One such experiment is outlined in section 4.1.

4.1 High Temperature Behavior of Glass

In an experiment designed to compare the physical properties of glass on Earth to those 

in space, Kyoto University Scientist Naohiro Soga developed a Spacelab experiment to examine 

samples of glass under extreme temperature.14 The experiment had two main goals—to determine 

the viscosity (or a sample’s ability to flow) of a glass sphere in microgravity and to use that data 

to confirm that the presence of gravity is not a major factor in these physical properties.

Using the IF (used in this experiment so that the sample could be seen while heating), 

a small sample of glass is melted. This glass sample would also be filled with gold particles so that 

flow of the melted glass can be readily observed. A video camera is set up in front of the IF for 

recordings to be viewed on Earth. A diagram of the experiment is shown in figure 7.

Video Camera Image Furnace

Sample

Light

Video Recorder

Figure 7. Workup of the High-Temperature Glass Experiment.

Soga specifically hoped to find that the volume-temperature relationship of glass in microgravity was comparable to that of glass on Earth. In addition, he hoped to obtain information 

from the gold pieces about the nature of how a melted glass sphere flows. He found that as the glass 

sphere was heated, there was a spike in volume increase near the 400–500 oC (752–932 oF) tempera-
11

ture range. In addition, at about 600 oC (1,112 oF), a large amount of bubbles began to appear 

within the sphere. Both of these results had not been experienced when the same experiment was 

conducted on Earth. The gold particles, although heated at one point past their melting point, 

retained their original shape.

Through the results of this experiment, Dr. Soga confirmed that the glass had slightly different properties in microgravity than it possessed on Earth. In practice today, the observations made 

here offered scientists a stronger awareness of the behavior of glass in high temperature for various 

aircraft.16
12

5. FLUIDS EXPERIMENTS

Experimentation in fluid dynamics aboard the Spacelab J represented another major goal 

in that the issue of gravity-induced buoyancy would be removed.4 In microgravity, scientists could 

reconcile the effects on fluids caused by gravity from those that were induced by other factors. The 

discoveries in fluids from this mission, amongst others, enabled scientists to effectively develop and 

process new materials in order to understand what physical factors would be affected by a gravityabsent environment. One such discovery is shown in section 5.1.

5.1 Study of Bubble Behavior

Understanding the flow of bubbles within a fluid on Earth is a relatively simple concept 

(they will inevitably travel to the surface of the fluid), but once gravity is removed, the effect of 

buoyancy no longer applies and bubbles are left largely unaffected. However, other forces still act 

on bubbles within a fluid which are often masked on Earth due to the dominating buoyant force 

and can be readily observed in microgravity. Dr. Hisao Azuma, scientist at the National Aerospace 

Laboratory, designed an experiment aimed at understanding these effects.

The test was designed to analyze the effect of surface tension of bubbles within a silicone 

oil fluid.17 The effect of surface tension on the sides of bubbles had been noted previously but 

was unobservable on Earth due to the much larger buoyant force. Azuma also knew that a bubble 

in microgravity will migrate towards the direction of higher temperature because of a difference 

in surface tension. He sought to find how fast different bubbles would migrate due to the liquid’s 

Marangoni number (a unitless value showing the ratio of surface tension to viscosity). By using 

a temperature gradient of a hot surface on one side of the fluid and a cool surface on the other 

side, the speed could be measured.

When the experiment began, an unexpected event took place in that the injected bubble 

traveled to the center of the fluid before heating began.18 Azuma later proposed that this took 

place because electrical charges were induced when the bubbles were injected through a syringe. 

As the experiment continued, the speeds of different bubbles were observed. As the data came 

in, the speeds of the bubbles were found to be lower overall than were originally predicted. It was 

decided that this was the result of the number of moving bubbles affecting the speed of all bubbles 

within the fluid. Also, it was noted that bubbles near the hot wall began to travel faster than predicted towards the hot surface. This was explained in that the bubbles were found to be attracted 

to other bubbles on the hot surface.

These results gave scientists a better comprehension of how fluids behaved in a microgravity 

environment and, as a result, a stronger understanding of factors to consider in aerospace materials development. Today, these factors are important considerations when developing a tool for 

oxygenating water in both gravity and microgravity.19
13

6. CONCLUSIONS

The findings of Spacelab J were a remarkable accomplishment in studying the physical 

properties of materials for the applications of aerospace technology. Each experiment worked 

within a greater field of interest to better understand how materials designed on Earth would 

behave in outer space. In addition, Spacelab J was an international landmark in cooperation 

between NASA and the NASDA. Scientists and engineers from both nations developed the instrumentation of the laboratory, selected the experiments, and assigned the astronauts that would 

ensure the success of the mission. 
14

REFERENCES

 1. Naumann, R.J.: “Spacelab Science Results Study: Final Report,” Executive Summary, Contract 

Number NAS8–97095, Task No. H–30194, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, August 18, 

1999.

 2. Foreword by F.W. Leslie contained in “Final Science Results: Spacelab J,” Office of Management 

Science and Technical Information Program, Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, p. 1, February 1995.

 3. Naumann, R.J.: “Spacelab Science Results Study: Final Report—Volume II,” Microgravity Science, Contract Number NAS8–97095, Task No. H–30194, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, 

August 18, 1999.

 4. NASA Brochure: Spacelab J, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Payload Projects Office, 

Contained in the MSFC History Archives Office, Publication File #140.

 5. Nishinaga, T.: “Growth of Spherical Si Crystals and the Surface Oxidation” in “Spacelab J Experiments Descriptions, First Edition,” NASA-TM-4517, T.Y. Miller (ed.), Marshall Space Flight Center, 

AL, pp. 45–49, August 1993.

 6. Nishinaga, T.: “Growth of Spherical Si Crystals and the Surface Oxidation,” in “Final Science 

Results: Spacelab J,” Office of Management Science and Technical Information Program, Office of 

Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, pp. 30–31, 

February 1995.

 7. Yamada, T.: “Growth Experiment of Narrow Band-Gap Semiconductor PbSnTe Single Crystals in 

Space,” in “Spacelab J Experiments Descriptions, First Edition,” NASA-TM-4517, T.Y. Miller (ed.), 

Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, pp. 3–7, August 1993.

 8. Yamada, T.: “Growth Experiment of Narrow Band-Gap Semiconductor PbSnTe Single Crystals 

in Space” in “Final Science Results: Spacelab J,” Office of Management Science and Technical 

Information Program, Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, pp. 25–26, February 1995.

 9. Kamio, A.: “Study on Solidification of Immiscible Alloys” in “Spacelab J Experiments Descriptions, First Edition,” NASA-TM-4517, T.Y. Miller (ed.), Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, 

pp. 51–60, August 1993.
15

10. Kamio, A.: “Study on Solidification of Immiscible Alloy” in “Final Science Results: Spacelab J,” 

Office of Management Science and Technical Information Program, Office of Life and Microgravity 

Sciences and Applications, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, p. 9, February 1995.

11. Kennedy, C.A.; Linden, K.J.; and Soderman, D.A.: “High-Performance 8-14-μm 

Pb1-xSnxTe Photodiodes” in Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 63, No. 1, pp. 27–32, January 1975.

12. Suzuki, T.: “Fabrication of Very-Low-Density, High-Stiffness Carbon Fiber/Aluminum Hybridized 

Composite With Ultra-Low Density and High Stiffness” in “Spacelab J Experiments Descriptions, 

First Edition,” NASA-TM-4517, T.Y. Miller (ed.), Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, pp. 61–67, 

August 1993.

13. Suzuki, T.: “Fabrication of Ultra-Low Density, High Stiffness Carbon Fiber/Aluminum Alloy Composite” in “Final Science Results: Spacelab J,” Office of Management Science and Technical Information Program, Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, NASA Headquarters, 

Washington, DC, pp. 10–11, February 1995.

14. Soga, N.: “High Temperature Behavior of Glass” in “Spacelab J Experiments Descriptions, First 

Edition,” NASA-TM-4517, T.Y. Miller (ed.), Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, pp. 41–44, August 

1993.

15. Soga, N.: “High Temperature Behavior of Glass” in “Final Science Results: Spacelab J,” Office of 

Management Science and Technical Information Program, Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences 

and Applications, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, p. 6, February 1995.

16. Hobbs, M.: “Coated Glass for Transparent Heating Elements,” NASA Tech Brief, November 1, 

2008.

17. Azuma, H.: “Study of Bubble Behavior in Weightlessness (Effects of Temperature Gradient 

and Acoustic Stationary Wave)” in “Spacelab J Experiments Descriptions, First Edition,” 

NASA-TM-4517, T.Y. Miller (ed.), Marshall Space Flight Center, AL, pp. 87–88, August 1993.

18. Azuma, H.: “Bubble Behavior in Thermal Gradient and Stationary Acoustic Wave” in “Final Science Results: Spacelab J,” Office of Management Science and Technical Information Program, 

Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, 

p. 22, February 1995.

19. “Module for Oxygenating Water Without Generating Bubbles,” NASA Tech Brief, Johnson Space 

Center, Houston, TX, July 4, 2004.
16

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Survey Analysis of Materials Processing Experiments Aboard

STS-47: Spacelab J

R.J. Sharpe* and M.D. Wright

George C. Marshall Space Flight Center

Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, DC 20546–0001

Unclassified-Unlimited

Subject Category 23

Availability: NASA CASI (443–757–5802)

*The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Prepared by the Public and Employee Communications Office, Office of Strategic Analysis & Communication

M–1262

SEC 51

Technical Memorandum

NASA/TM—2009–215903

materials processing, microgravity, STS-47, Spacelab J, silicone spherical crystals, Pb-Sn-Te crystals, immiscible 

alloys, carbon fiber/aluminum composites, behavior of glass, bubble behavior

01–07–2009

UU 24

NASA

U U U

This Technical Memorandum (TM) is a survey outline of materials processing experiments aboard Space Shuttle 

Mission STS-47: Spacelab J, a joint venture between NASA and the National Space Development Agency of Japan. 

The mission explored materials processing experiments including electronics and crystal growth materials, metals 

and alloys, glasses and ceramics, and fluids. Experiments covered include Growth of Silicone Spherical Crystals 

and Surface Oxidation, Growth Experiment of Narrow Band-Gap Semiconductor Lead-Tin-Tellurium Crystals 

in Space, Study on Solidification of Immiscible Alloys, Fabrication of Very-Low-Density, High-Stiffness Carbon 

Fiber/Aluminum Hybridized Composites, High Temperature Behavior of Glass, and Study of Bubble Behavior. 

The TM underscores the historical significance of these experiments in the context of materials processing in space.

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