The Japanese Experiment Module-Exposed Facility on the International Space Station. This photo was taken before Hēki’s installation, but the Nanoracks External Plaform (which currently houses Hēki) is visible in the lower centre of the image. Photo: Supplied / NASA via Paihau-Robinson Space Team
The New Zealand experiment to test superstrong magnets in space to eventually propel spaceships has lined up an extra three months of testing.
Victoria University's Hēki project went up on a NASA-linked rocket to the International Space Station in September.
Its team said three of its five goals around sending data back here had been met already and big progress was being made on the last two.
It is meant to wrap up in January.
"We've been asked if we would like to take advantage of this additional three months to extend our operations (yes!)," emailed Professor Randy Pollock, chief scientist and engineer.
"Doubling the mission duration will enable a much wider range of test cases which, in turn, will better inform future applications of this technology."
They were "intrigued" by what they had learned so far, an online blog said.
"In preparation for this extended mission, the Hēki team has been developing a new set of tests to explore."
Hēki achieved crucial thermal stability with the magnet at superconducting temperatures early last month. Its cryocooler is a commercial off-the-shelf product about the size of a can of fizzy.
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