Modal Propellant Gauging in Microgravity Testing

Carthage College’s Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) experiment is designed to assess the mass gauging resolution of a novel implementation of experimental modal analysis (EMA). The central objectives of the MPG e1periment are to (1) record the modal response of a model propellant tank at different fill-levels under unsettled, microgravity conditions, and (2) record the modal response of the propellant tank during simulated propellant transfer. Suborbital demonstrations aim to measure modal mode peak positions at 2% fill intervals and provide modal gauging resolution data. Researchers have tested a prior tank on parabolic flights as well, and can therefore use this latest data to verify the universality of the MPG technique across different tank types. The successful flights have led to the next phase of development, which is to prepare an experiment for flight tests with a cryogenic tank.