PSU-Turbulence Lab Secures NASA Funding for Pioneering Aerospace Research

Portland, OR – August 2024 – Researchers in the Portland State University Turbulence Lab, led by Dr. Xiaowei "Luke" Zhu, have been awarded a NASA MUREP MPLAN grant for their project, "Microgravity Simulator Particle Transport Study." This funding will support the lab's pioneering work using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to model the behavior of particles and aerosols in simulated microgravity environments.

Understanding how dust, contaminants, and other particulates move in the absence of gravity is a critical challenge for NASA, impacting everything from the lifespan of spacecraft systems to astronaut health in habitats on the Moon and Mars. This project aims to develop high-fidelity simulations that can predict particle transport with greater accuracy, providing valuable data to inform the design of future spacecraft and lunar landers.

"This project is a perfect fit for our lab's expertise in computational fluid mechanics," said Dr. Zhu. "We are essentially building a virtual microgravity simulator. This allows us to tackle complex problems that are difficult and expensive to study in Earth-based labs, directly contributing to the safety and success of NASA's space exploration goals."

The grant will fund further development of the lab's simulation tools and support student researchers engaged at the intersection of turbulence modeling and space technology.

To view the award and learn more about the awardees, visit https://www.herox.com/NASAMPLAN