TelCUBE at E-USOC

This November, the members of TelCUBE Project visited E-USOC (Spanish User Support and Operations Center) as part of the activities of the XI Week of Science. This center is specialized in research and development of space technology and microgravity science, and it is part of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). Its main activity is to supervise different kinds of experiments carried out in the ISS (Columbus Laboratory). Particularly, they watch over experiments dealing with Fluid Dynamics (FS Laboratory). E-USOC is also in charge of the access to some Low Gravity Platforms supervised by ESA.

During the visit, the team could observe the control room, from where communications between Earth and ISS are held, and even watch a real communication between E-USOC and other control center. E-USOC's facilities provide the infrastructure necessary to prepare experiments and operate them remotely. One of these services is the Clean Room, a special room isolated from any kind of pollution or distortion from the exterior, and it is used to test experiments before they are launched. The team visited this room, although it was observed from the ou

tside, due to the severe security measures.

Moreover, the team was shown one of the scientific experiments that are probe to be launched in a short period of time, dealing with fluid dynamics. This experiment tried to show that fluid's surface vibrations in microgravity are very different from the ones seen under normal gravity conditions (Faraday's Waves).

We are really glad to have been there and we hope to enjoy more visits like that in future.