Superfluid Helium Experiment for Spacelab 2

Development of the Space Shuttle will make it relatively easy for scientists to conduct experiments in space. Recognizing this fact, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the European Space Agency have jointly developed the Spacelab as a facility for use by scientists. The first two Spacelab flights are scheduled for 1983. Of the thirteen experiments selected for Spacelab 2, two will use superfluid helium as a cryogen. This paper describes an experiment (entitled Superfluid Helium Experiment or SFHE) to study the properties of superfluid helium in zero gravity and demonstrate operation of a versatile, reusable superfluid helium experiment facility. The second experiment, the Small Infrared Telescope Experiment, which has been described elsewhere [1], will use superfluid helium as a cryogen to cool the telescope to 2 to 3 K.