Development of a Revolutionary Approach for Efficient Microgravity Transfer Line Chilldown

A spacecraft’s thermal management, power and propulsion, and life support systems depend on the proper handling of cryogenic fluids in terrestrial, reduced gravity and near-zero gravity conditions. To counter the very high temperatures of a spacecraft’s pipe system, chilldown is used to lower the hardware’s temperature to that of the liquid it is transporting by introducing cryogenic propellant into the pipes. In flight testing facilitated by Flight Opportunities, researchers evaluated an innovative approach to increasing heat transfer by coating the inner tube surface with a thin film material that features low thermal conductivity. Even in extreme temperature changes and microgravity, the system successfully reduced chilldown time and fuel consumption by as much as 60%. Future developments in this research could have dramatic implications for cryogenic fluid management in space.