Shear Thinning in Xenon

While poking around the web, I found this post, which described the CVX-2 viscometer, which was designed to test the shear-thinning properties of xenon near the critical point.  It's much easier to maintain the fluid at the critical point in the absence of gravity.  A paper describing the results was published in Phys. Rev. E [subscription required].

The experiments found evidence of shear-thinning behavior, which confirms the predictions of dynamic mode-coupling theory.  The viscometer flew on the Columbia's final mission.  Fortunately, the data were beamed to earth before the accident, and a hard drive with the data was recovered from the wreckage.

Rheometers...In...Spaaaace!

About 10 years ago, I heard about a project to put a rotational rheometer on the International Space Station.  The idea was to study the rheological performance of foams in zero g.  The idea is that the fluid in between the bubbles will not drain once the effect of gravity is removed.  The project has been approved, although I can't tell if the system has flown or experiments have been performed.
At the time, there were two questions I had about the project.  First, how do you keep the sample contained in zero g?  Fluids don't stay put but instead float around the cabin.  At the time I heard about the project, the only sealed cells that were available used mechanical bearings, which reduced the sensitivity of the measurement.  Second, as the amount of air is an issue in space, can one use an air bearing instrument?  It appears that these and other issues have been addressed, and I look forward to the publications on this project.
Does anyone know who built the rheometer?

(Picture of the rheometer chamber for FOAM.)

Link of the Moment: Malvern's Rheology Focus Forum

Of interest is Malvern's Rheology Focus Forum, which broadcasts rheology presentations from a variety of users.  Registration is required in order to view the presentations.  I heard about it through the monthly email I receive from Malvern.  I watched the presentation on the SHERE system, which put an extensional rheometer on the International Space Station.
As a former participant in the rheometer business, I was impressed by the Focus Forum's mission statement:

Rheology Focus Forum is not intended to be commercially biased and presenters are welcomed from any background with any equipment.  The objective is to increase awareness of rheology worldwide and allow people who are working on novel or growing fields in rheology to get more exposure and recognition.