TEXUS
In science program TEXUS ( technological experiments under microgravity conditions ) lead scientist with rockets biological, materials science and physics experiments in space conditions.
The program has been funded since 1976 by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF ) through the German Aerospace Center (DLR ). Today it is the world's most successful and longest- existing rocket program for scientific experiments and technology testing in weightlessness. Plays an important role TEXUS also in the preparation of experiments that are intended for the International Space Station.
Each year, one or two campaigns have been organized. This are two-stage rocket Brazilian Since 2005 used the type VSB -30 ( previously American sounding rockets from Orion ) that start from Esrange in Kiruna, northern Sweden. You can reach a peak altitude of about 250 kilometers in ballistic flight. In this case, an approximate weightlessness is achieved for six minutes, which is only about one ten thousandth of the normal gravity. The payload of the missiles then land on a parachute and is recovered by helicopter.
The experiments are during this time in superposed, autonomous modules within the rocket. During the flight, the scientists can control and monitor directly from the ground through their attempts " telecommanding " and video transmission. The data are obtained by telemetry during the flight or after recovery of the scientific payload.
The TEXUS program is characterized by:
- A high degree of reusability of the payloads
- Relatively short preparation and access times
- A regular opportunity to conduct research under microgravity
- Lower safety requirements than in astronautical missions
- A relatively inexpensive implementation
Industrial prime contractor for the construction of the TEXUS payloads and missions is the company Astrium in Bremen. Subcontractors are Kayser- Threde (Munich) and MORABA ( Oberpfaffenhofen ). By 2009, 47 TEXUS-F already been carried out lie. The DLR provides scientists from German research institutions TEXUS for selected experiments. This includes topics from the field of gravitational biology, fluid physics and fluid mechanics in capillary channels.