MAVIS

Magnetic Activity Visualized In Space

MAVIS used a simple but elegant design to capture the magnetic fields of several different permanent magnets in orbit without the distortion caused by gravity. Iron filings, contained in thin transparent boxes cast a shadow on film when the central light source was activated in flight.

	Robin Rutherford, a first grade teacher from Goodwin Elementary School served as Principal Investigator for the MAVIS experiment. MAVIS was conceived by her class while they were studying magnets. Here Robin is shown assembling components for the SEM 1 module.
Here are the four magnets selected to mount on each side of the MAVIS box. The resulting pattern of magnetic fields was captured by a shadow gram of iron fillings recorded on film by a small Light Emitting Diode in the center of the light-proof box.
	Here are three of the resulting "Mavisgrams" of magnetic fields in space. They were different from patterns made by the same magnets on Earth.
Control "Mavisgrams" made on the ground. Future experiments are planned to better understand the differences between space and ground patterns.

RESULTS

MAVIS worked perfectly in every way and resulted in magnetic "Mavisgrams" showing clear differences with control patterns on the ground. MAVIS II is scheduled for a flight in the near future to help better understand the differences shown by MAVIS I.