Trends and opportunities in basic research in microgravity materials processing

Abstract

Internationally the microgravity materials research has reached a matured state with several innovative programmes by different space agencies. The present article highlights underlying scientific issues that some of these programmes aim to address. The article strives to show that some of these issues are basic in nature and provides knowledge base which are of importance to materials processing in general. These space experiments provide a challenge to the Indian scientists to launch a fruitful initiative.