Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31277: Turbulence in Zero-G: Unlocking the Secrets of Marangoni Convection

Fluid flow in space behaves very differently from what we experience on Earth. The 'Chaos, Turbulence and its Transition Process in Marangoni Convection' experiment investigates the unpredictable nature of fluid motion under microgravity.

Led by Dr. Hiroshi Kawamura and Dr. Koichi Nishino, with support from JAXA and IHI Aerospace, this long-running study spans multiple ISS expeditions from 17 through 36. The focus is on Marangoni convection—a phenomenon where fluid motion is driven by surface tension gradients rather than gravity.

On Earth, gravity dominates fluid behavior. But in space, the absence of gravity allows subtler forces like surface tension to take center stage. By heating or cooling a fluid's surface, researchers create temperature gradients that alter surface tension, triggering fluid flow.

This experiment used highly sensitive cameras and sensors to observe how the flow transitions from orderly (laminar) to chaotic (turbulent). Researchers studied patterns, wave formations, and the onset of chaos under controlled thermal inputs.

The findings help improve our understanding of fundamental physics and have real-world applications in crystal growth, welding, and heat transfer systems. They also inform spacecraft design, where managing fluid movement—like in fuel tanks or life support systems—is critical.

This kind of basic research is essential for developing efficient industrial processes in microgravity environments, potentially leading to superior manufacturing techniques in orbit.

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