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| | | | | | | | | MSG has been in orbit since June 2002 | |
Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG)
To most people a ‘glovebox’ is a compartment in the dashboard of a car where manuals, road atlases, various oddments and even occasionally gloves are stored. ESA's Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) is a far more complicated piece of equipment.
The device allows astronauts on board the ISS to perform a wide range of experiments in a fully sealed and controlled environment, completely isolated from the rest of the Station. It shares nevertheless the weightlessness of orbit.
The ‘gloves’ are the access points through which astronauts can manipulate experiments, which will be in the field of material science, biotechnology, fluid science, combustion science and crystal growth research.
| | | Microgravity Science Glovebox Logo |
Scientific ‘gloveboxes’ have already been long established on Earth. To build a glovebox that will last at least ten years in weightlessness, however, was a much tougher proposition. The MSG had to fit into a standard ISS equipment rack, and be versatile enough to accommodate a huge range of experiments and materials - which will almost certainly include a few that no one had thought of during the design stage.
After being carried into space inside the Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Leonardo in the cargo bay of Space Shuttle Endeavour in June 2002, the MSG was initially installed in the US Destiny lab. MSG has been subsequently moved to ESA's Columbus laboratory after the European module was installed in February 2008.
MSG was built by Astrium in Bremen, Germany.
Microgravity Science Glovebox
| Characteristics Microgravity Science Glovebox | | | Working volume | 255 litres | | Largest access volume | 40 cm diameter | | Pressure environment wrt cabin | Negative pressure with air circulation and filtration | | Airlock module capability for transfer of payload and equipment | Max. 40 litres | | Power | + 120 Vdc, + 28 Vdc,
+/- 12 Vdc, 5 Vdc | | Video link (analogue) | Yes | | Video cameras | 4 | | Video recorder | 3 + 1 hard disc | | Gaseous nitrogen | Yes | | Vacuum and venting | Yes | | Cooling | Up to 200 W by air
Up to 800 W by cold plate |
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Last update: 8 August 2008 | |
| | Related articles ESA's Microgravity Science Glovebox is launched to the ISSMore science on the International Space Station thanks to ESA's "glovebox"Columbus facilities BiolabEuropean Drawer Rack (EDR)European Physiology Modules (EPM)European Transport Carrier (ETC)Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL)External payloads European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF)SOLAR
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