Romanian experiment ready for launch to the International Space Station
<p>DropCoal, an experiment developed entirely in Romania by the Romanian InSpace Engineering (RISE) with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA), is set to launch in a few days to the International Space Station (ISS). It will run for 6 months on the ISS, studying how two droplets merge and mix in microgravity.</p>

<p>The launch is expected to take place in early November from the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, according to a RISE <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RomanianInSpaceEngineering/videos/569527815711039?locale=ro_RO" rel="noopener" target="_blank">announcement</a>. Once on board the ISS, it will take its place in the ICE Cubes Facility of the Columbus module.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The device will be remotely operated from the ground by a RISE engineer, who will follow the scenarios outlined by the science team, which will analyze the results and draw conclusions.</p>

<p>“DropCoal was designed to study the coalescence and mixing of liquids during a 6-month mission aboard the International Space Station. More precisely, during an experiment, the device generates two drops of different substances, filming with an ultra-fast camera how they come together and mix in microgravity. DropCoal was designed to run 560 such experiments over the course of the entire mission,” reads a press release quoted by <a href="https://www.agerpres.ro/economic-intern/2024/10/30/misiune-spatiala-romaneasca-la-bordul-statiei-spatiale-internationale--1379446" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Agerpres</a>.</p>

<p>The findings resulting from this experiment are of particular importance for space exploration, as they will help scientists improve the way of administering medicine to astronauts or fueling various spacecraft.</p>

<p>Further information can be found <a href="https://roinspace.com/dropcoal/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

<p><i>irina.marica@romania-insider.com</i></p>

<p><i>(Photo source: Dreamstime.com)</i></p>