Mechanical design and simulation of a microgravity isolation mount for Columbus

Abstract

A microgravity isolation mount (MGIM) designed to provide active vibration isolation for microgravity payloads is described. The required microgravity level is achieved by adopting a noncontact strategy, whereby the payload floats inside its enclosure and its position is controlled by magnetic actuators. The design concentrates on the requirements of materials science payloads and provides a detailed description of the locking mechanisms used to release and capture the payload during microgravity periods. A nonlinear model used to simulate payload release shows that a successful release depends on the severity of the input vibration level.