A sounding rocket experiment to control boiling by means of acoustic waves

Abstract

One of the most critical issues when considering long-term space exploration missions is the management and storage of cryogenic propellants. The exposure of storage tanks to radiation and extreme temperatures implies the need of efficient technologies to counteract their effects on the fuel. A potentially dangerous effect for spacecraft operations is the generation of vapor bubbles in cryogenic propellants. We present an experimental setup and procedure to mature a technology based on acoustic waves to control boiling in microgravity.