Fluid stress disturbance activated by gravity jitters induced slosh waves in microgravity

Abstract

A full scale Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) Spacecraft propellant dewar tank subjected to various frequencies of gravity jitter have been investigated. Excitation of slosh waves induced by gravity jitter are simulated. Results show that fluid stress distribution exerted on the walls of the rotating dewar are closely related to the characteristics of slosh waves excited on the liquid-vapor interface in the rotating dewar tank. Slosh wave excitations shift the fluid mass distribution in the dewar tank which impose time dependent variations in GP-B Spacecraft moment of inertia, angular momentum, and torque produced by imbalance fluid stresses. This can provide a set of data leading toward the control of spacecraft imbalance caused by the uneven fluid stress distribution from slosh waves.