A team from the MSS was part of the 44th DLR Parabolic Flight Campaign
June 14 – the MSS had the special opportunity to take part in the 44th parabolic flight campaign of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to conduct an innovative experiment under weightlessness.
Preparations began with the integration week (June 2-6), during which our experiment was installed and tested on board the research aircraft Airbus A310 ZERO-G. The flights took place from June 10-12, with 31 parabolas flown each day. Each parabola provided about 22 seconds of weightlessness, enabling us to collect valuable data. The campaign was organized by Novespace in Bordeaux, France, and funded by DLR.
Our team contributed the experiment LADA, which had already been part of the 43rd DLR campaign. LADA (LASER wire welding in zero gravity) explores additive manufacturing of metal components in space using laser wire cladding. This technology could one day enable the on-site production of spare parts during space missions – for example on space stations or lunar bases.
During the flights, tests were carried out with a 500 W fiber laser on a titanium substrate. A dedicated wire feeder ensured precise control of the material feed. In addition to an optical system, the process was monitored with the specially developed HORUS X-ray system, allowing detailed analysis of melt behavior in microgravity.
Despite the intense and demanding flight days, many of the planned experiments were successfully completed. The results will provide important insights for the development of future space missions.
The team:
Felix Böhmer (left), Vadim Medvedev (right), Walter Pucheanu, Dr. Achim
Sack