The role and features of JAMIC facilities in microgravity research

The current paper introduces features of the JAMIC drop shaft facilities, reviews the role that JAMIC has played in promoting microgravity research for over five years since its inaugural operation in October 1991, and discusses the future role and prospects of JAMIC activities. It is well known that the JAMIC facilities provide the most stable and about the lowest-level microgravity environment, for a duration of 10 seconds, among all kinds of microgravity facilities and vehicles. Utilizing this advantage, numerous experiments have been conducted to provide basic understanding of various phenomena in the fields of combustion science, materials science, fluid physics, electronics, electrical science, medicine, biotechnology, and space technology such as rigid body kinetics. (Author)