Michael Braukus 
Headquarters, Washington, DC            March 12, 1996
(Phone: 202/358-1979)


RELEASE: 96-44

SCIENTISTS RECEIVE MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH GRANTS

     NASA has selected 168 scientists from 32 different 
states to receive grants worth a total of approximately $17 
million for conducting ground - and space-based microgravity 
research.

     The investigations will form the foundation of 
microgravity research by assessing and ultimately 
understanding the effects of low gravity on physical 
processes, such as the solidification of metals.  This new 
knowledge is expected to lead to major advances in fluid 
physics and materials science.  

     By carefully studying and controlling the processes by 
which materials are formed, materials scientists can develop 
metal alloys, semiconductors, ceramics, glasses, and polymers 
to improve the performance of products ranging from glass and 
steel to semiconductors and plastics.  The fluid and low 
temperature microgravity physics research can be used by 
scientists to better understand the formation of weather 
systems, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, how water seeps 
through soil and how cracks propagate in metals.

     NASAÕs Office of Life and Microgravity Science and 
Applications, Washington, DC, received approximately 550 
proposals in response to the research announcements.  The 
proposals were peer reviewed by non-NASA scientific and 
technical experts.  The selected proposals represent the 
following areas: materials science (63), fluid physics (84) 
and low temperature/laser cooling physics (25).

     The list of the grant recipients is available by calling 
the NASA Headquarters Newsroom at 202/358-1600 or via the 
Internet at:

ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1996/96-44a.txt

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