AFRL’s Oscillating Heat Pipes are even cooler in space

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) — The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, has released the results from its Advanced Structurally Embedded Thermal Spreader Two, or ASETS-II. The AFRL experiment was 100% effective in testing the most recent version of the revolutionary Oscillating Heat Pipes, or OHPs, and the results of the more than 6,600 hours of on-orbit testing are being made available to the public.

“We now have a treasure trove of data,” said Jon Allison, the thermal thrust lead, for the Spacecraft Component Technology Branch of the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate. “Our results include 2.2 million data points that will increase confidence in the use of OHPs, and facilitate the continuing advancement of the technology. In particular, this dataset will be of high value to academics, because it offers performance of high quality OHPs and in space, no less.”

OHPs are revolutionizing spacecraft thermal control. ASETS-II has paved the way for this next generation of spacecraft thermal control and this new data release portends further advances as the academic community uses it to increase our knowledge of OHP thermophysics.

“Quality spacecraft thermal control is important to ensure the functionality, reliability, and cost-achievability of space systems,” Allison said. “The importance of reliable space systems can’t be understated as integral parts of our lives; from national defense, to commerce, to weather, and much more.”

ASETS-II has demonstrated that thermal problems that affect spacecraft are not the case with well-made OHPs. Experimental space testing has proven effective at weeding out new technologies including new thermal technologies that are prone to issues in the space environment.

“There is a long history of testing novel heat pipes and many don’t pass this type of test, but OHPs can, and did,” said Allison. “We’re excited to add OHPs to that pantheon of space-suitable heat pipes – this is exciting stuff for a heat pipe nerd!”

“These problems are often compounded, or at least different, in the zero gravity environment of space; many promising heat pipes have had problems during flight experiments,” he said. “In this case, we showed that OHPs can overcome these issues.”

ASETS-II was flown on the Space Force’s X-37B, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, a reusable, robotic spacecraft. This fifth flight of X-37B, OTV-5, launched Sept. 7, 2017 and landed Oct. 27, 2019.

The success of this experiment builds upon many years of AFRL efforts to develop OHPs, especially models that characterize how well they perform and under what conditions they stop working.

“We are satisfied that OHPs can be designed to provide reliable operation in mission-critical spacecraft applications, and ASETS-II has been a big part of coming to that conclusion,” said Col. Jeremy Raley, director of the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate. “The OHPs operated as designed by our team, who have worked on this kind of technology for many years.”

For years to come, the data collected on ASETS-II will be used to develop and test new theories about the complicated thermophysics of OHPs, and will positively impact future U.S. space missions.

Data can be found on the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) website: https://www.nasa.gov/PSI

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com.

The Advanced Structurally Embedded Thermal Spreader Two, or ASETS-II, Oscillating Heat Pipe experiment, developed at the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, was designed to solve spacecraft thermal challenges. (Courtesy photo)