N° 56–2005: IMPRESS project: first in-flight results onboard Texus sounding rocket

Intermetallic Materials Processing in Relation to Earth and Space Solidification (IMPRESS) is a multi-million euro materials science project co-funded by ESA and the European Commission. The project, which currently involves 150 materials scientists from across Europe and Russia, aims to develop new intermetallic alloys for industrial applications such as gas turbine blades and hydrogen fuel cells.

During the 6 minutes and 28 seconds of weightless conditions provided by the sounding rocket, the Levitator performed as planned. During the flight, scientific and housekeeping data as well as video images of the sample were received in real-time and closely monitored by engineers and scientists at the Esrange ground station. Although more time will be needed for a full analysis of the scientific data, the initial prognosis is very promising.

“This launch is a major step forward in zero-g experimentation for the IMPRESS project”, said David Jarvis, ESA Project Manager. “The next generation of intermetallics developed under IMPRESS has the potential to make Europe a world leader in the strategically-important area of materials science. The economic significance of this should not be underestimated, as turbine production and fuel-cell development is currently a multi-billion euro industry, the growth of which is set to continue.”V The coming weeks will be busy ones for the science team, led by Dr Rainer Wunderlich and Prof. Hans-Jörg Fecht from the University of Ulm, Germany, as it pores over the thermophysical properties data obtained during the flight. Eventually, that data will be used under the IMPRESS project to improve computer modelling of advanced solidification processes. This research is of major importance to the casting industry in Europe and will ultimately lead to the next generation of materials for aircraft jet engines.

“The success of this mission is thanks to the careful preparation by the IMPRESS science team, the industrial development team led by EADS-Space Transportation, Bremen and Friedrichshafen in Germany and the operational support team at the DLR Microgravity User Support Centre in Cologne and at Esrange” said Wolfgang Herfs, ESA's Sounding Rocket Project Manager.

With further sounding-rocket flights planned, the IMPRESS project will also be making extensive use of European facilities onboard the International Space Station - including the Electromagnetic Levitator - to perform benchmark experiments on intermetallic alloys.

For more information about IMPRESS, visit the project website at:

www.spaceflight.esa.int/impress

and concerning ESA's sounding rocket programme, visit:

www.spaceflight.esa.int/users/rockets and

www.spaceflight.esa.int/users/downloads/userguides/chapter_5_sounding_rockets.pdf

For additional information, please contact:

Wolfgang Herfs

Sounding Rocket Project Manager

Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes

Noordwijk (The Netherlands)

Tel: +31 71 565 4129

Fax: +31 71 565 3141

David Jarvis

IMPRESS Project Manager

Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes

Noordwijk (The Netherlands)

Tel: +31 71 565 4621

Fax: +31 71 565 3661

Dieter Isakeit

Erasmus User Centre and Communication Office

Directorate of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration Programmes

Noordwijk (The Netherlands)

Tel: +31 71 565 5451

Fax: +31 71 565 8008

Franco Bonacina

Media Relations

ESA Public Relations Division

Tel: +33 1 5369 7155

Fax: +33 1 5369 7690

 

For further information:

ESA Media Relations Division

Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155

Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690