Advancing the Development of the Magneto-Active Slosh Control (MaSC) System for Spacecraft and Launch Vehicles

The Magneto-Active Propellant Management Device (MAPMD) system is designed to address safety hazards in liquid-propellant spaceflight caused by sloshing. This innovative system of Magneto-Active Slosh Control surpasses traditional passive slosh baffles by reducing mass, improving surface wave suppression, and minimizing volumetric intrusion (Santhanam 2012). In prior fight experiments conducted in collaboration between Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Carthage College, remnant slosh suppression was observed, however the effective slosh damping did not meet our expectations due to inadequate control forces. We are redesigning the magnetic membrane with multiple layers of ultrahigh-permeability metallic glass film and are developing an optimized configuration of current-carrying coils to increase magnetic force and field performance. These advancements are expected to elevate the MAPMD system\u27s Technology Readiness Level (TRL) from 3 to 4 in order to pave the way for microgravity flight testing. The MAPMD system promises to enhance the safety and performance of liquid-propellant spaceflight by actively managing slosh dynamics