In a joint parabolic flight by Technion-NASA researchers (headed by Dr. Edward Balaban), and with the support of an EU ERC grant, the researchers demonstrated the production of mirrors under conditions similar to those prevailing in space.
Space telescopes are all based on mirrors, and experiments in parabolic flights are designed to demonstrate the feasibility of producing such mirrors in space using liquid metals and ionic liquids.
Prof. Berkovici thanked his team, stating, “As always, teamwork is the only way to carry out these experiments. Omer Lurie and Dr. Khaled Gommed are the proud parents of this experiment – they led the design, construction and execution of the flight trials. But the experiment could not have taken place without the unique contributions of many of the lab’s staff – Mor Elgarisi, Israel Gabay, Jonathan Ericson, Dr. Valeri Frumkin, Daniel Widercker and Aliza Schulzer, who were in charge of the complex logistics.”
Photo: Mor Elgarisi, a member of Prof. Moran Berkovici’s lab, hovering in zero gravity during the experiment
