Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an acoustic fabric made up of thermally drawn vibration-sensitive fibers.
The developed fabrics are susceptible to vibrations, can detect impact from microscopic high-velocity space particles, and convert mechanical energy into electricity.
James Burgess, ISN program manager for the Army Research Office, said, “This is an exquisite example of harnessing nanoscience for technology development that bridges the physical and digital domains. Delivering revolutionary methodologies that result from foundational science is always one of our main priorities, and the opportunity to collect data from space dust using a fiber sensor as a key building block of the system is inspiring.”
Dr. Yoel Fink, professor of Materials Science and Electrical Engineering at MIT, said, “Traditional telescopes use light to learn about distant objects; this fabric uses space dust analysis to learn about space. This is a great example of how ISN projects allow us to be highly responsive to opportunities and meet challenges far beyond what we initially imagined.
”
For this initial launch, the research team worked with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Japanese company Space BD to send a 10 cm by 10 cm sample of the high-tech fabric to the International Space Station, where it was installed on an exterior wall, exposed to the rigors of space. The fabric sample, unpowered for now, will remain on the orbiting laboratory for one year to determine how well these materials survive the harsh environment of low Earth orbit.
