THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO EXAMINE THE ADAPTABILITY OF AN INNOVATIVE CAPILLARY PUMPING APPROACH TO THERMAL CONDITIONING SYSTEMS FOR MANNED SPACECRAFT.

THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO EXAMINE THE ADAPTABILITY OF AN INNOVATIVE CAPILLARY PUMPING APPROACH TO THERMAL CONDITIONING SYSTEMS FOR MANNED SPACECRAFT. THE APPROACH INVOLVES THE COMBINING OF AN INVERSE CAPILLARY-PUMPED LOOP FOR REMOVAL OF SPACECRAFT-GENERATED HEAT WITH A CONVENTIONAL CAPILLARY-PUMPED LOOP FOR REJECTION OF THAT HEAT. WITH THIS SYSTEM, ORDINARY TUBING IN USED THROUGHOUT, EXCEPT FOR THE CENTRAL HEATL EXCHANGER. THIS GOAL WILL BE ACHIEVED BY: THE ANALYSIS, DESIGN, AND FABRICATION OF A TEST LOOP TO DEMONSTRATE OPERATION OF THE INVERSE CAPILLARY-PUMPED LOOP; THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A COMBINED SYSTEM FOR THERMAL CONDITIONING ABOARD A REPRESENTATIVE SPACECRAFT; AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF SYSTEM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS. RESULTS OF THE PHASE I EFFORT WILL PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR ESTABLISHING THE FEASIBILITY OF INVERSE CAPILLARY PUMPING, AND FOR ASSESSING THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE COMBINED CAPILLARY PUMPING APPROACH TO THERMAL CONDITIONING FOR MANNED SPACECRAFT.