Modal Propellant Gauging - Propellant Refueling and on Orbit Transfer Operations — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

Instructions

Student presentations must have a faculty sponsor.

Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
A clear description of the methods used to achieve the purpose or goals for the work.
A statement of the conclusions, results, outcomes, or recommendations, or if the work is still in progress, the results you expect to report at the event.

Presenter photographs should be head and shoulder shots comparable to passport photos.

Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

Modal Propellant Gauging - Propellant Refueling and on Orbit Transfer Operations

Name: Alec Digirolamo
Major: Physics
Hometown: Pleasant Prairie, WI
Faculty Sponsor: Kevin Crosby
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Independent research
Funding: Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium

Name: Bennett Bartel
Major: Physics
Hometown: New London, WI
Faculty Sponsor: Kevin Crosby
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Independent research
Funding: Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium

Abstract

A critical condition for maintaining a presence in deep space is the ability to refuel in microgravity. NASA intends to perform refueling operations in many of their upcoming Artemis missions. To implement new methods of refueling, the methods must meet NASA’s technology readiness level 8. To accomplish this, the Modal Propellant Gauging - Propellant Refueling and on Orbit Transfer Operations (MPG-PROTO) experiment was designed to test new methods in two different aspects of refueling in microgravity; fuel gauging and propellant management. Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) is a novel method for measuring the amount of fluid in propellant tanks in microgravity. NASA intends to use this method in the Power and Propulsion Element on the Orion spacecraft. PROTO uses a propellant management device to redirect propellant away from the tank’s vent port to prevent the release of toxic cryogens. The goals for MPG-PROTO were to complete the design and building phase by the end of the summer of 2020 and test the experiment aboard a parabolic aircraft in November of 2020. The design of MPG-PROTO began in 2020 and was tested aboard a modified Boeing 727 for parabolic flight campaigns through the Zero-G corporation. This presentation will show the key design elements, results from the parabolic flight testing, and the future goals of MPG-PROTO. MPG-PROTO is currently being prepared for another parabolic flight campaign in May of 2021 and a flight on Blue Origin’s New Shepard Vehicle in the near future.

Poster file