Journey Through Time and Space: The Story of a Unique Space Furnace Developed by Turkmen Scientists

The State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan has received an extraordinary exhibit—a unique technological installation invented by Turkmen scientists, now a part of the history of country’s technical science development. This is a mirror-beam furnace designed for zone melting of semiconductor materials in zero-gravity conditions, not just a working model but an authentic piece that has been to space. The device was created to simulate technological processes at what is now the Institute of Solar Energy under the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan (transferred to the institute’s structure in 2019 from the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan), previously the “Sun” Research and Production Association. The work was supported by two Soviet, now Russian, research institutes: the Institute of Space Research (specializing in the development and production of scientific instruments for studying the Moon, planets, Sun, and distant Universe, addressing tasks in cosmic physics, astrophysics, planetary and small body physics, solar physics, solar-terrestrial connections, cosmic plasma, and nonlinear geophysics) and the Central Research Institute of Machine Building (since 2019, part of Roscosmos State Corporation, the Flight Control Center, responsible for technical support of civilian space missions, including the Russian segment of the International Space Station and the Soyuz and Progress spacecraft).