usmp

The Confined Helium Experiment, known familiarly by its acronym CHEX, is a physics experiment that tests theories about the crossover behavior of matter between a three-dimensional state and a two-dimensional state. CHEX was performed during space shuttle mission STS-87 on board the orbiter Columbia as part of the fourth United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-4).

The Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE) is a materials science solidification experiment that researchers will use to investigate a particular type of solidification called dendritic growth. Dendritic solidification is one of the most common forms of solidifying metals and alloys. When materials crystallize or solidify under certain condition, they freeze unstably, resulting in tiny, tree-like crystalline forms called dendrites. Scientist are particularly interested in dendrite size, shape, and how the branches of the dendrites interact with each other. These characteristics largely determine the properties of the material. Payload on STS-87.

STS-62 was a Space Shuttle program mission flown aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. The primary payloads were the USMP-02 microgravity experiments package and the OAST-2 engineering and technology payload, both in the orbiter's cargo bay. The two-week mission also featured a number of biomedical experiments focusing on the effects of long duration spaceflight. The landing was chronicled by the 1994 Discovery Channel special about the Space Shuttle Program and serves as the show's opening. A C.F. Martin backpacker guitar was on the shuttle during the mission.

The Confined Helium Experiment, known familiarly by its acronym CHEX, is a physics experiment that tests theories about the crossover behavior of matter between a three-dimensional state and a two-dimensional state. CHEX was performed during space shuttle mission STS-87 on board the orbiter Columbia as part of the fourth United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-4).

USMP-2, part of STS-62

Shuttle mission STS-75 will be flying a number of microgravity experiments developed by the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) Space Experiments Division (SED) on February 22, 1996. The mission will be the third United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3) to conduct microgravity research to improve our understanding of materials science and condensed matter physics. In addition, NASA LeRC developed three combustion experiments for the Middeck Glovebox Facility (MGBX).

The objectives of CSD were to examine how particulates form from a variety of sources and to quantify the performance of several diagnostic techniques. The sources tested included four overheated materials (paper, silicone rubber, Teflon-coated (DuPont) wire, and Kapton-coated (DuPont) wires), each tested at three heating rates, and a candle tested at three air velocities. Paper, silicone rubber, and wire insulation, materials found in spacecraft crew cabins, were selected because of their different smoke properties. The candle yielded hydrocarbon soot typical of many 1g flames. Four diagnostic techniques were employed: thermophoretic sampling collected particulates for size analysis; laser light extinction measurements near the source tallied total particulate production; and laser light scattering and ionization detector measurements far from the particulate source provided data for evaluating the performance of smoke detection systems for these particulate sources. 
This experiment was conducted aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia during flight STS-75 of the third United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3) mission.

Payload with USMP Flown on STS-94 STS-32 STS-62 STS-75 STS-89