Do mudflows and rock avalanches behave the same at lower gravity on Mars as here on Earth? To answer that question, earth scientist Dr Lonneke Roelofs of Utrecht University is conducting her research aboard the flying laboratory PH-LAB, TU Delft’s research and education aircraft. A globally unique experiment that can take place thanks to cooperation within the Expertise Network Planetary Research.
Gravity temporarily switched off
To study landslides, mudflows and rock slides under Martian conditions, a lower gravity than on Earth is needed. This cannot be done in an ordinary laboratory. By taking an aircraft on a so-called parabolic flight, all or part of the gravity on board can be temporarily eliminated. This works as follows: the pilot sends the plane up in a rising arc, and then lets it follow the same trajectory as an object influenced only by gravity for a short time. This allows temporary weightlessness (0 g) or reduced gravity, such as on the moon or Mars, to be experienced on board.
PH-LAB: flying research laboratory
The experiments are conducted aboard the PH-LAB, a Cessna Citation II that serves as TU Delft’s research and education aircraft. Pilot researcher Hans Mulder flies the aircraft, and Sebastiaan de Vet is on board as Cabin Safety Supervisor during the mudflow experiment. De Vet: “With the PH-LAB, we have a versatile flying laboratory in Delft, in which we can conduct research under various gravity conditions. By combining expertise from different knowledge institutions, we can enable unique planetary research.”