초록 ▼

A system is described for maintaining a sample material in a molten state and away from the walls of a container in a microgravity environment, as in a space vehicle. A plurality of sources of electromagnetic radiation, such as an infrared wavelength, are spaced about the object, with the total net

A system is described for maintaining a sample material in a molten state and away from the walls of a container in a microgravity environment, as in a space vehicle. A plurality of sources of electromagnetic radiation, such as an infrared wavelength, are spaced about the object, with the total net electromagnetic radiation applied to the object being sufficient to maintain it in a molten state, and with the vector sum of the applied radiation being in a direction to maintain the sample close to a predetermined location away from the walls of a container surrounding the sample. For a processing system in a space vehicle that orbits the Earth, the net radiation vector is opposite the velocity of the orbiting vehicle.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus useful in a microgravity outer space environment for levitating an object relative to a space vehicle, and establishing the object at an elevated temperature comprising: a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources on said space vehicle, said source spaced about said object and oriente

Apparatus useful in a microgravity outer space environment for levitating an object relative to a space vehicle, and establishing the object at an elevated temperature comprising: a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources on said space vehicle, said source spaced about said object and oriented to emit electromagnetic radiation toward said object, each of said sources being adjustable to vary the amount of electromagnetic radiation output it emits towards said object; means for controlling the electromagnetic radiation output of each source in a pattern which produces net electromagnetic radiation pressure from said sources in a predetermined direction and with a force sufficient to maintain said object at a substantially constant position relative to said space vehicle while applying a controlled total amount of heat to said object to substantially melt it, with at least one of said sources emitting electromagnetic radiation in a direction not substantially along said predetermined direction.