Recent results of Ferrofluid ISS Experiments to enable Sustainable Space Activities

Abstract

FARGO is short for Ferrofluid Application Research Goes Orbital which is a project developed by the Small Satellite Student Society of the University of Stuttgart (KSat e.V.) supported by the Institute of Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart (IRS). Selected as a winner of the Überflieger 2 competition by the Space Agency within the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in August 2021, the team developed three experiments to be conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) for 30 days. The experiments included an Attitude Control Experiment, an Electrical Switch and a Thermal Switch for regulating heat flow, all of them based on novel Ferrofluid technology. Ferrofluids, paramagnetic liquids responsive to external magnetic fields, are the key component. The goal was to address wear and tear challenges commonly associated with conventional mechanical systems. FARGO successfully developed a low-wear fluidic reaction wheel (RW) called Ferrowheel, replacing traditional mechanical bearings with ferrofluidic be arings. An Electrical Switch using a room-temperature liquid metal called Galinstan to achieve switchable electrical conductivity was developed and successfully tested. A Thermal Switch designed for heat conduction regulation, enabling new possibilities for spacecraft thermal management, was the third experiment. Ground and ISS in-orbit tests validated these concepts, thus proving them suitable for further development to lower wear and tear and increase the associated reliability. The experiment was returned in May 2023, and a detailed post-mission analysis is ongoing. This paper presents preliminary results.