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    Zin Technologies, Inc.


    The Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on Tuesday October 23, 2007 at 11:38 am . ZIN Technologies has significant involvement on two payloads onboard Discovery.

    10/24/2007

    ZIN Technologies built the test cells and provided integration and safety support for Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions-2 experiment, or InSPACE-2. ZIN Technologies also designed and built the Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment, or SHERE, which Discovery will deliver to station.

    The InSPACE-2 experiment will study the visco-elastic properties of magnetorheological fluids (MR) under the influence of various magnetic fields.

    Using hardware designed by Glenn Research Center from InSPACE-1 already on station, InSPACE-2 will provide fundamental data characterizing the structures formed in MR fluid. By understanding the complex properties and learning the way the particles interact, scientists can develop more sophisticated methods for controlling and using MR fluids in a variety of devices, including human-robotic interfaces for spacewalk suits.

    Due to the rapid-response interface that they provide between mechanical components and electronic controls, MR fluids can be used to improve or develop new brake systems, seat suspensions, robotics, clutches, airplane landing gear and vibration damping systems.

    SHERE will study the effect of a phenomenon called shearing, or rotational flow, on the development of weaknesses in polymer solutions. Only the main hardware components of SHERE are flying to station on this mission. A shuttle mission in 2008 will deliver the fluid samples.

    Greater understanding of the complex flows resulting from SHERE will improve polymer processing operations, leading to better polymers such as Lycra, Kevlar and spider silk as well as jet engine nozzles that involve complicated shearing and stretching.