Embedded Files
Microgravity Drop Tower Narrated Video
Microgravity Drop Tower Narrated Video
Explore the project background, operation, and design behind the Microgravity Drop Tower!
Technical Sketches/Drawings
Technical Sketches/Drawings
Shock Absorber
Shock Absorber
Early conceptual drawings of shock absorber, exploring an static mechanism versus an actuated mechanism.
Full drop vehicle sketch. The team started the design process by identifying key components of the project first.
Release Mechanism
Release Mechanism
For the release, the first idea was to use a claw to let go of the drop vehicle. After researching the NASA Glenn Research Center's two microgravity drop towers, the team considered using a quick-release plank, which is pictured below.
Testing Videos
Testing Videos
Week 10: Risk Reduction Testing
Week 10: Risk Reduction Testing
The Risk Reduction presentation is available here.Â
The goal of this testing session was to identify the greatest risk to the project's success and explore how to mitigate it. The team identified the shock absorber as the riskiest part of the design and tested different absorbing materials with different weights inside the "drop vehicle" and at different heights (within 1 meter).
Week 8: Primary Design Testing
Week 8: Primary Design Testing
The Primary Design presentation is available here.
The goal of this testing session was to test prototypes and make any necessary design changes by the final design deadline. Key areas of focus were the release mechanism and shock-absorbing components. Although the shock-absorbing container isn't manufactured, this was the first time testing the absorbing material at full-scale.
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