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THIS EFFORT SEEKS TO ADVANCE TA 2.4.2.3 IN-SPACE TANK-TO-TANK PROPELLANT TRANSFER . TANK-TOTANK CRYOGENIC PROPELLANT TRANSFER IN REDUCED GRAVITY IS NEEDED FOR HUMAN MARS SURFACE MISSIONS. AS NOTED IN THE NASA SSTIP STORAGE AND TRANSFER OF CRYOGENS IN SPACE IS CRITICAL FOR DEEP SPACE HUMAN EXPLORATION SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS ONE OF THE SIX NRC HIGH PRIORITIES WITHIN THE LAUNCH AND IN-SPACE PROPULSION CORE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT. WHEN TRANSFERRING PROPELLANT FROM A SUPPLY TANK TO A RECEIVER TANK THE TRANSFER PIPE AND RECEIVER TANK ARE AT A VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPARED TO THAT OF THE PROPELLANT. CHILLDOWN IS THE PROCESS OF INTRODUCING THE CRYOGENIC PROPELLANT INTO THE SYSTEM FORCING THE HARDWARE TO COOL DOWN TO THE LIQUID TEMPERATURE. THE PROPELLANT BOILS OFF AS IT COOLS THE LINE AND TANK UNTIL THEY REACH THE LIQUID TEMPERATURE. SINCE THE PROPELLANT IS ONLY STORABLE AND USEFUL TO THE ENGINE IN PURE LIQUID FORM THIS VAPORIZED PROPELLANT IS VENTED OVERBOARD AND CONSIDERED LOST. MINIMAL BOIL-OFF LOSS AND FAST CHILLDOWN OF THE TRANSFER PIPE AND THE RECEIVER TANK ARE NEEDED TO SAVE PROPELLANT AND EXTEND MISSION FLEXIBILITY.

$1,109,421FY2020National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA

University Of Florida, Gainesville FL

Investigators

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