On May 22, 2023, the sounding rocket MAPHEUS-13 was successfully launched from the Esrange Space Center near Kiruna in northern Sweden. The flight lasted 13 minutes and an altitude of around 225 kilometers was reached.
MAPHEUS stands for ‚material physics experiments under weightlessness‘ and is a long-term Project at DLR. More then 50 experiments have been carried out since 2009.
The science teams were able to carry out their experiments while the rocket was in free fall on a parabolic trajectory for a little more than five minutes, meaning weightlessness prevailed inside. Among other things, the researchers wanted to find out how molton metal mixtures solidify in weightlessness. Another experiment looked how a 3D printer could be used to make tools on long space missions. There were also two experimentes with nerve cells – the scientists want to investigate how healing processess work in brain.
The telemetry transmitters for the communication link with the ground station were supplied by STT.
www.dlr.de/de/aktuelles/nachrichten/2023/02/rakete-hebt-mit-2700-missionslogos-von-kindern-ab