X-RAY DIAGNOSTICS FOR USE IN MICROGRAVITY EXPERIMENTS

The development of compact micro-focus x-ray tubes and high-resolution digital x-ray sensors has made the utilization of real-time x-ray diagnostics in the laboratory and on board microgravity rockets possible. Swedish Space Corporation currently develops a series of systems for in-situ X-ray radiography diagnostics for metallurgy experiments in order to study solidification phenomena and metal foaming in microgravity. These systems are adapted for sounding rocket flight experiments, experiments have also been performed in parabolic flight with good results. This paper will report on these projects, the technology used and the experience gained so far.