The Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory

Microgravity eases several constraints limiting experiments with ultracold and condensed atoms on ground. It enables extended times of flight without suspension eliminates the gravitational sag for trapped atoms. These advantages motivated numerous initiatives to adapt operate experimental setups microgravity platforms. We describe design payload, motivations choices, capabilities Bose-Einstein Condensate Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL), a NASA-DLR collaboration. BECCAL builds heritage previous devices operated in microgravity, features rubidium potassium, multiple options magnetic optical trapping, different methods coherent manipulation, will offer new perspectives quantum optics, atom interferometry unique environment board International Space Station.