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‘Extreme temperature challenges await humanity on the moon and Mars.’
On August 4th, aerospace and defense technology company Northrop Grumman completed its 19th resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Alongside essential supplies, the mission included an experiment that could have significant implications for future human colonies beyond Earth. The experiment involves a module with hardware designed to explore the functioning of heating and air conditioning systems in reduced gravity and extreme temperatures, such as those observed on the moon and Mars.
The extreme temperatures experienced in these environments pose unique challenges. For example, temperatures near the lunar equator can reach 250 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, which exceeds the boiling point of water, while nighttime temperatures plummet to -208 degrees Fahrenheit. To address these challenges, scientists and engineers from Purdue University and NASA’s Glenn Research Center collaborated on the design and construction of the hardware.
The hardware is part of the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE) conducted by Purdue scientists. The first phase of the study, which focused on measuring the effects of reduced gravity on boiling, has already been completed, with data collected since 2021. The second phase will investigate how condensation works in a reduced-gravity environment.
Issam Mudawar, the Purdue professor leading the experiment, highlighted the need to understand how heating and cooling systems function in weightlessness. While significant progress has been made in understanding these systems in Earth’s gravity, the implications of weightlessness remain largely unknown.
The research team has already published over 60 research papers based on the data collected, with more in progress. They believe that the findings could not only support the establishment of human colonies on the moon and Mars but also contribute to advancements in long-distance space travel and in-orbit refueling.
For more information, please visit:
– Northrop Grumman’s 19th resupply mission to the ISS: [Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/nasa-is-recycling-98-percent-of-astronaut-pee-and-sweat-on-the-iss-into-drinkable-water-184332789.html)
– Purdue University and NASA’s Glenn Research Center collaboration: [Purdue Newsroom](https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2023/Q3/science-enabling-heat-and-air-conditioning-for-long-term-space-habitats-is-almost-fully-available.html)
– Lowest recorded temperature on Earth: [World Meteorological Organization](https://wmo.asu.edu/content/world-lowest-temperature)