Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31720: Heat in Space: Exploring Thermal Conductivity Without Gravity

Heat transfer is fundamental to engineering and daily life. But how does it behave in space? The 'NanoRacks-Valley Christian High School-Thermal Conductivity Experiment' aimed to answer that question. Designed by students from Valley Christian High School, this experiment examined how different materials conduct heat in the absence of gravity. On Earth, convection plays a large role in heat distribution, but in microgravity, conduction and radiation dominate.

Students sent a controlled setup of materials to the ISS and measured how heat moved through them over time. This experiment not only offered insights into basic physics but also helped students consider the challenges of spacecraft design. Thermal management in space is critical for maintaining life support systems and preventing electronics from overheating. By engaging in this hands-on experiment, students got to see firsthand how scientific theories hold up when tested beyond Earth.

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