Cryogenic Liquid Sample Acquisition System for Remote Space Applications

TBMG-17662

11/01/2013

Abstract
Content

There is a need to acquire autonomously cryogenic hydrocarbon liquid sample from remote planetary locations such as the lakes of Titan for instruments such as mass spectrometers. There are several problems that had to be solved relative to collecting the right amount of cryogenic liquid sample into a warmer spacecraft, such as not allowing the sample to boil off or fractionate too early; controlling the intermediate and final pressures within carefully designed volumes; designing for various particulates and viscosities; designing to thermal, mass, and power-limited spacecraft interfaces; and reducing risk. Prior art inlets for similar instruments in spaceflight were designed primarily for atmospheric gas sampling and are not useful for this front-end application.

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Citation
"Cryogenic Liquid Sample Acquisition System for Remote Space Applications," Mobility Engineering, November 1, 2013.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Nov 1, 2013
Product Code
TBMG-17662
Content Type
Magazine Article
Language
English