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Exploding Water Balloons In Zero G

Posted by Zonk on from the your-tax-dollars-at-work dept.

ArchAngel21x writes "Experimenters burst water balloons in the low-gravity environment produced aboard a NASA DC 9 aircraft. There are 3 videos available in QuickTime or MPEG." From the site: "The tests were conducted in part to develop the ability to rapidly deploy large liquid drops by rupturing an enclosing membrane. As can be seen from the experiment footage, the initial rupture process is nearly ideal, but the finite size of the balloon material eventually ejects a spray from the drop surface. Then, when the balloon material leaves the drop entirely, it causes a large deformation of the drop (blob) which oscillates throughout the remainder of the test. Calculations suggest that such oscillations will continue for hours before the drop eventually becomes spherical."

9 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. Damn it. by mikeophile · · Score: 5, Funny

    I want a bong and a budget too.

  2. You may laugh now but by The+13th+Duke · · Score: 5, Funny

    Soon our daily lives will be improved by new, exciting products based on Zero G Water Balloon Bursting technology.

  3. Important Discovery by mrRay720 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The tests were conducted in part to develop the ability to rapidly deploy large liquid drops by rupturing an enclosing membrane.

    All I can say is THANK GOD someone has finally researched this. I've lost count of the number of times I've wanted to rapidly deploy large liquid drops is a low/no-G environment.

    Now can they please start with th research of the effects of pepper spray on penguins. That's the real science goldmine.

    1. Re:Important Discovery by saikatguha266 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Consider the value of quickly deploying a glycerine shield in space to slow down stray space debris from hitting the space station or shuttle.

      Your glycerine (or even more viscous liquid) baloon is all filled and easily moved into place ... without spilling the liquid. And then boom! Instant shield.

    2. Re:Important Discovery by ozmanjusri · · Score: 5, Funny

      Now can they please start with th research of the effects of pepper spray on penguins. That's the real science goldmine.

      Pepper spray? I've been using pepper sauce. No wonder they still taste fishy.

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
  4. Re:Don't miss these high-speed videos by putko · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Wow.

    Here it is:
    http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/movies/uranus_ experiment_000516.html

    "Whether it wins the Nebula on Saturday or not, the series will retain a unique place in cinematic history thanks to the first installment, which boasts the first explicit sex scene shot in zero gravity conditions.

    The scene was filmed by flying an airplane to an altitude of 11,000 feet. The plane, containing performers Sylvia Saint and Nick Lang, then went into a steep dive, creating the momentary illusion of weightlessness.

    Insiders described the filming process as particularly messy from a technical and logistical standpoint.

    Budgeting constraints allowed Saint and Lang, who portray astronauts, only one shot at a perfect zero-G take, leaving the actors with only a narrow 20-second window of time in which to launch themselves toward one another and complete the scene. "

    --
    http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_s tone_your_children/dt21_18a.html
  5. the abyss by pintomp3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    was i the only one reminded of the movie "the abysss" while watching the clips?

  6. I still wanna see... by speights_pride! · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..what happens when potato chips are released in Zero G. Then I'll be able to make up my mind as to whether the Simpsons is real or pure fiction.

  7. Re:An Experiment I Would Like to See by abborren · · Score: 5, Informative

    Zero gravity cat

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    ><////>