Microgravity Ullage Trapping Technology (MUTT)

This technology enables reliable in-space propellant transfer by acoustically generating and controlling a secondary ullage bubble directly at the vent port of a spacecraft propellant tank. This method leverages dissolved helium gas in the propellant and phased-array ultrasonic fields to direct bubble nucleation, growth, and migration without the need for gravity or settling burns. The approach eliminates propellant loss through the vent during refueling, allowing efficient, low-risk fluid transfer in microgravity. By addressing a key technological gap, it expands the feasibility of large-scale refueling operations critical for Artemis and Moon-to-Mars missions, orbital servicing, and future commercial propellant depots.

Problem Statement
• Current in-space refueling architectures require settling burns to position ullage gas for venting, which consumes propellant and adds mission risk; this approach eliminates this need.
• This technology ensures ullage gas is reliably located at the vent port in microgravity using modest power input and no tank modification, preserving tank integrity and commodity purity.
• Traditional refueling approaches result in propellant loss rates as high as 20%; this acoustic ullage control reduces liquid expulsion losses to under 5% of tank volume.
• The solution is propellant-agnostic and scalable, enabling application across a broad range of spacecraft designs and mission profiles.

Technology Maturation
• Flight Opportunities tests will demonstrate acoustic ullage formation and control in relevant reduced-gravity environments, validating computational predictions under flight conditions.
• The tests will help optimize ultrasonic transducer array configurations, power requirements, and control algorithms for use with flight-representative fluids and tank geometries.
• Post-flight, the technology is expected to advance to TRL 5, providing NASA and commercial partners with a proven capability for loss-limited propellant transfer in microgravity.
• These results will directly inform the design of flight-qualified hardware for Artemis-related missions, commercial fuel depots, and future orbital servicing platforms.

 

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