Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31460: Boiling Without Bubbles: Understanding Heat Transfer in Space

Boiling water is a simple process on Earth. Heat a pot, water bubbles, and steam escapes. But what happens when you try this in space, where there’s no gravity to make bubbles rise? That’s the core mystery the Multiscale Boiling experiment set out to solve aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Conducted by Professor Peter Stephan and supported by Airbus DS GmbH, this experiment explores the physics of boiling in a microgravity environment.

On Earth, boiling is driven by buoyancy. Bubbles of vapor rise to the surface because they’re less dense than the surrounding liquid. In space, that doesn’t happen. Instead, vapor bubbles stick to the heated surface, growing larger until they suddenly burst or float away. This changes how heat is transferred during boiling—a crucial process for many systems.

The Multiscale Boiling experiment focused on how bubbles form, grow, and collapse in zero gravity. It used transparent heating surfaces and high-speed cameras to observe the process in detail. The results help scientists understand heat transfer under conditions that are impossible to replicate on Earth.

Why does this matter? In spacecraft and satellites, efficient heat transfer is vital. Systems like power generation, environmental control, and propulsion all depend on managing heat. If engineers understand boiling behavior in microgravity, they can design systems that are more reliable and efficient.

Additionally, this knowledge feeds back into Earth-based applications. Better boiling models improve industrial processes, cooling systems for electronics, and even medical devices.

Ultimately, this experiment helps us master one of the most basic yet critical physical processes—so we can build better systems both in space and on Earth.

Join the Agnirva Space Internship Program

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in astronomy, cosmology, space technology, and climate science through the Agnirva Space Internship Program. Join, complete virtual projects, and earn a digital certificate to showcase your space fluency in interviews, resumes, and beyond.