Since fluids behave differently in microgravity than they do on Earth, plant watering systems used on Earth do not adapt well to microgravity use. This facility will use porous tubes, capillary action, and negative pressure to circulate water around a material that could support plant roots. Through the experiment, crewmembers will be able to contact HAM radio operators and selected schools. It will be used to study the formation of polymer membranes in microgravity with the aim of improving their quality and use as filters in biomedical and industrial processes. Free-fall laboratories on Earth and specially equipped airplanes can achieve microgravity for a few seconds.
Suborbital rockets can extend microgravity to several minutes.
The Space Shuttle usually provides a week to ten days of microgravity. Thanks to the Extended Duration Orbiter kit, the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia will be able to remain in orbit for 13 days and future missions with Columbia could last as long as a month. The kit consists of extra hydrogen and oxygen tanks for power production, extra nitrogen tanks for the cabin atmosphere, and an improved regeneration system for removing carbon dioxide from the cabin air. One of the practical aspects of remaining in space longer will be maintaining crewmember health and performance. During STS-50 crewmembers will monitor their blood pressure and heart rate.