Non-invasive Detection of Liquid Propellant Location During Microgravity Transfer

The purpose of the Non-invasive Detection of Liquid Propellant Location During Microgravity Transfer project is to facilitate the transfer and storage of cryogenic and storable propellants in microgravity. The method utilizes piezoelectric sensors adhered to the outside of a propellant tank while acoustic excitation is applied to the tank and the sensors translate the tank’s vibrations into electric voltages. It is expected that the frequency of these signals can be used to establish total liquid volume and that the amplitudes can be used to reconstruct the instantaneous location and motion of the liquid-free surface. This has the potential to benefit NASA missions, the commercial space industry, and other government agencies.