Indonesian UGM Team Selected for UN Microgravity Research Program

A team from Indonesia's Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has been chosen to carry out a microgravity experiment in Germany through the 10th round of the Drop Tower Experiment Series (DropTES) Fellowship Programme. The researchers will investigate how partially wet silica sand behaves and disperses under controlled vibrations in microgravity.

This data could prove valuable for future space missions, particularly in the creation of robotic excavation systems, sample-handling mechanisms, and technologies for transporting materials on the Moon and other celestial bodies.

The DropTES program is a joint initiative between the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Center for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen, with financial support from the German Aerospace Center (DLR). During the fellowship, the UGM team will journey to Germany to utilize ZARM's Bremen Drop Tower and GraviTower Bremen Pro, both of which offer ground-based microgravity environments.

The experiment will concentrate on the behavior of wet granular materials, which could provide crucial insights into the properties of soil-like substances in low-gravity settings. This information may aid researchers in developing technologies for managing and relocating lunar or Martian soil during forthcoming exploration endeavors.

UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini emphasized the program's objective of providing researchers from nations with growing space capabilities enhanced access to space research facilities. She applauded the Indonesian team's selection and expressed gratitude to ZARM and DLR for their ongoing collaboration in broadening access to space research.

ZARM Director Marc Avila also congratulated the UGM team, highlighting the significance of their project in addressing challenges related to future space exploration.