The Microgravity Research Experiments (MICREX) Database

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This TEXUS 16 sounding rocket experiment was the twelfth in a series of investigations designed by Frischat et al. to study reaction kinetics in glasses (see Frischat, TEXUS 1, TEXUS 4, TEXUS 6, Spacelab 1, STS-011, TEXUS 11, TEXUS 12, Spacelab D1, TEXUS 13, TEXUS 15, TEXUS 16("Self-diffusion")). (Earlier experiments in the series of experiments included examinations in the areas of (1) interdiffusion between glass melts of differing compositions, (2) corrosion of silica by the melt, and (3) self-diffusion in glass melts.)

Reportedly, the specific objective of the experiment was to study a "Silver/sodium exchange... at 350 ˇC between an alumo-alkali-silicate glass and a... silver containing salt melt." (Reference 3)

Two samples contained within one cartridge were to be processed during the mission: (1) 61 SiO2 . 33 Na2O . 6 Al2O3 (glass) and 9 NaNO3 . 1 AgNO3 (salt melt).

It was reported that shortly after the successful launch of TEXUS 16, fuel in the second stage of the rocket did not ignite as planned. After the apogee was reached and the rocket began to fall, the yo-yo despin system was deployed as programmed. Due to the unexpected excess rocket mass, however, there was an incomplete reduction of rocket spin. Subsequently, the payload separated from the second stage, but the parachute was not released. An unbraked impact of the payload resulted in the destruction of all experiment modules including the TEM 01-2 module.

The Experiment Investigator reported that there were no experimental results. The experiment was reflown on TEXUS 19.

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