Plasma, known as "the fourth state of matter," consists of energetic, ionized particles (the other states of matter being solids, liquids, and gases). Plasma research is considered essential to the discovery of new clean energy sources, the destruction of environmental pollutants such as waste hydrocarbons, and to many industrial processes.

In making the announcement, the researchers highlighted SphereLab as an initiative to promote the aerospace industry and high tech employment in Florida.

"SphereLab could become the perfect complement to the new Hydrogen Research & Applications Center at the Cape and the Florida Solar Energy Center, because it would enable Central Florida to move into advanced growth industries in aerospace power and propulsion. It is these technologies which will determine America's future in space," said Dr. Ed Strother, the Lab's Executive Director.

"In addition to advancing technology for interplanetary missions, including manned missions to Mars or Lunar Colonization, Spherelab's contributions could mean real economic growth for this area in aerospace."

Planned to be located in the vicinity of Kennedy Space Center, the Spacecoast Plasma and High-energy Electrostatics Research & Engineering Laboratory, known as SPHERELAB, will offer unique plasma research capabilities now found at only two universities in the United States, and only four worldwide.

Working with researchers at colleges and universities throughout Central Florida, scientists at SPHERELAB will provide access to equipment and instrumentation not otherwise available to the undergraduate physics programs at Stetson University in Deland, Rollins College and the University of Central Florida in Orlando, and Bethune-Cookman College and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, among others.

"We also hope to provide a strong educational component for the high school science classes in Brevard, Osceola, Volusia, Seminole, Indian River, and Orange Counties, enabling the best and brightest students to participate in exciting and visually appealing plasma experiments with us," said Dr. Strother, a long time spacecoast educator.

Believing this outreach program can have a significant impact on the quality of high school science education, he predicted "when the top students are inspired to work with hands-on experiments, doing real science, there is no telling how far that inspiration will take them."

Local scientists who have had to travel to distant laboratories to conduct plasma research will also benefit. "It may come as a shock to many that in a state which leads the nation in aerospace industry, there is no research laboratory for the development of plasma based technology, which is vital, not only to the advancement of space power and propulsion, but also in many sophisticated manufacturing processes we use here on Earth," said Dr. David E. Flinchbaugh, P.E., the Chief Scientist of SphereLab.

Dr. Flinchbaugh, a noted atomic and electro-optic physicist, and electrical, manufacturing and environmental engineer, is the inventor of the Cesium Ion Vapor Laser, the first Argon Ion Laser for industrial and medical applications, and numerous other plasma devices. He also pioneered the acousto-optical modulation of Lasers, a forerunner of modern fiber optics technology.

Suggesting that attracting more high tech research to Central Florida from around the country would be a natural consequence of the establishment of the facility, he added "SphereLab is the kind of facility that gives the community leverage to do economic development by recruiting high tech employers from places like Silicon Valley and North Carolina's Research Triangle."

In fact, SEI, which is now doing a site selection study for SphereLab, has already received letters of intent from companies who want to use its high fidelity space environment simulation services to test their semiconductor devices. One such company is JXCrystals, Inc., presently in Washington state, which holds the world's record for the most efficient solar cells, a technology which converts sunlight at visible and infrared wavelengths directly to electricity.

Their ThermoPhotoVoltaic technology has achieved 38% efficiency in NASA tests, and may reach even higher levels with the research partnership it plans with SphereLab. According to Dr. Flinchbaugh, "JXCrystals technology can greatly expand the capabilities of future satellites, and by helping them to space qualify their TPV cells, we expect to help them set up shop here on the Space Coast".

SphereLab intends to solicit research contracts from NASA, the Air Force, and major aerospace contractors, and to disseminate those research dollars through graduate and doctoral students in the region.

"There are dozens of very bright students in this area in such diverse fields as physics, chemistry, space sciences, and aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering who are capable of performing competitive, world class research for their M.S. Theses and PhD Dissertations" said Dr. Strother, a Space Scientist and Professor of Space Systems.

"SphereLab can act as a clearinghouse, connecting this talent with specific corporate and government research needs, under the direction and mentoring of professional research scientists and engineers," he added.

The Space Engineering Institute has set as its goal the awarding of numerous Graduate Research Fellowships to students in technical disciplines throughout Central Florida, in the first year after SphereLab becomes operational.

David L. Wenbert, Director, Development & Advanced Programs
SPACE ENGINEERING INSTITUTE via spherelab@@@spacemail.com

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