VIBRATION ISOLATION IN A MICROGRAVITY ENVIRONMENT

Many in-space research experiments require the microgravity environmen t attainable near the center of mass of the proposed space station. Si nce dynamic disturbances to the surrounding structure may undermine an experiment's validity, isolation of these experiments is imperative. This paper summarizes analytical and experimental work accomplished to develop an isolation system which allows the payload to float freely within a prescribed boundary while being kept centered with forces gen erated by small jets of air. An experimental setup was designed and co nstructed to simulate the microgravity environment in the horizontal p lane. Results demonstrate the air jet control system to be effective i n managing payload oscillatory response. An analytical model was devel oped and verified by comparing predicted and measured payload response . The mathematical model is then used to investigate payload response to disturbances likely to be present in the space station.