Experiment Description The experiment drop capsule is shown in Fig. 7. It is suspended at the top of the drop tower by a suspension facility. During the evacuation of the drop tube the PCM canisters are heated above the melting temperature of the PCM. The power is provided externally and supplied through the interfaces at the top of the capsule. When the thermocouples introduced into some PCM canisters indicate that all of the PCM is molten, the interfaces are disconnnected and further heating is provided by the battery to compensate for heat losses. Heat supply is regulated in such a way that the temperature in the PCM is held just above its melting point. When the proper function of all systems is verified and the capsule is still the free-fall is started by melting through the suspension wire. The heat supply is shut down and the PCM canisters are cooled by opening the valves to the nitrogen tank. The thermocouple readings can be stored in the computer in the top of the capsule or can be transmitted directly by telemetry to the tower control room. Regulation of the cooling rate by continuously closing or opening the valves is possible via telecommand. After 4.75 seconds the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==