THE TRANSFER OF SUPERFLUID-HELIUM IN-SPACE

The Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) Flight Demonstration w as part of the space shuttle STS-57 mission in June, 1993. The experim ent objectives included: transfer of superfluid between two dewars in a low gravity environment at different flow rates; operation of two di fferent liquid acquisition devices within the dewars; liquid/vapor pha se separation for normal liquid helium as well as superfluid at varyin g venting rates; accurate mass gauging and flow metering; and autonomo us control of the transfer process by an expert system aboard a comput er on the shuttle. This paper summarizes the findings of the SHOOT exp eriment and the performance of individual components, with particular emphasis on the anomalous behavior of one of the phase separators.