Nov 18 1976
From The Space Library
MSFC announced near-completion of an experimental chamber being built for the Atmospheric Cloud Physics Laboratory (ACPL) scheduled to fly on Spacelab for use in developing techniques to predict, alter, and control weather. The chamber would be a ground-test engineering model simulating the expansion of a parcel of air as it rises in the atmosphere, using carefully controlled temperature and pressure to monitor moist air as it would undergo changes like those causing the formation of cumulus clouds. Droplets formed in the simulated clouds would be photographed by cameras outside the chamber; the lack of gravity in space would allow the droplets to remain suspended for longer periods of time, permitting scientists to study them at length. The completed chamber, liquid thermal-control system, and temperature sensors would be tested to obtain uniform cooling of the chamber walls. Data from the experiments would serve to improve computer models of clouds, and to aid in developing methods to increase snowfall or rain, dissipate fogs, or suppress lightning. (MSFC Release 76-201; Marshall Star, 24 Nov 76, 1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
