Knowing Thermo-Physical Properties For Space Manufacturing

Abstract

Future space manufacturing, thermal management, and life-support technologies depend on reliable thermophysical property data. Quantities such as viscosity, surface tension, thermal conductivity, and diffusion coefficients determine the dynamics of fluids, heat transport, and materials processing under extreme extraterrestrial conditions. Terrestrial methods are often compromised by gravity-driven effects, container interactions, and limited access to interfacial or high-temperature data. Microgravity environments provide an avenue to circumvent these obstacles by enabling container-less processing, interfacial studies, and precise transport measurements. Establishing robust data repositories is essential for predictive models, optimized algorithms, and integration with machine learning. The result will be reduced risk, improved efficiency, and rapid progress in both terrestrial and space-based manufacturing.