Browsing by Author "Weislogel, Mark"
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Item Advanced Fluids Processing for Life Support using Superhydrophobic Surfaces(2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2020-07-31) Jenson, Ryan; Torres, Logan; Turner, Caleb; Weislogel, MarkSuperhydrophobic substrates and surfaces have tremendous applications potential for essentially non-contact water processing aboard spacecraft for life support. However, such surfaces have not been aptly exploited aboard spacecraft to date. We first demonstrate the marked improvements in passive system performance that can be achieved with the judicious use of superhydrophobic substrates and surfaces. We highlight the many current life support systems that can benefit from such ‘non-wetting’ conditions. We then identify the variety of monolithic materials and coatings suitable for spacecraft deployment with holistic safety and compatibility considerations of the complete life support system. We note that such benefits apply for both micro-gravity and Lunar-gravity systems. As an example of our approach, we outline the design, construction, and demonstration of a high-performance passive urine collection and transport device. The device consists of superhydrophobic components for consideration as an advanced replacement for waste water processing equipment currently in use on orbit. The impact of the simple superhydrophobic surface is to render the ‘wetted parts’ largely untouched by the contaminated water streams. Thus the device remains ‘contaminant-free’ for long durations and the number of replacement parts can be substantially reduced or eliminated saving costs, up-mass, volume, and crew time. Such devices can be developed, fabricated, and qualified as desired for fast-to-flight engineering technology demonstration aboard the ISS with the intent of addressing numerous water processing unit operations for life support including urine collection and distillation elements, bubble separations, plant watering systems, condensing heat exchangers, and more.Item Capillary Hydroponic Plant Watering System for Spacecraft(2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2020-07-31) Torres, Logan; Jenson, Ryan; Weislogel, MarkSoil-based systems for crop cultivation aboard spacecraft suffer mass penalties due to the transport, storage, and disposal of the nutrient soil mass. In contrast, hydroponic systems purport to require only nutrient water solutions for optimal plant growth. Though low-g soil systems present their own challenges regarding optimal water delivery to the ever-changing root zone, successful low-g hydroponics systems must address the challenges of large length scale capillary flow phenomena. Recent technology development investigations conducted by NASA have demonstrated that such capillary fluidics phenomena can be successfully exploited for the advancement of numerous spacecraft fluids management systems—despite the poor and often highly variable wetting properties of water. Following a brief review of such demonstrations we outline the development of an automated omni-gravitational hydroponic system for applications aboard transit and orbiting spacecraft as well as for surface laboratories on Earth, Moon, and Mars. Our approach exploits capillary fluidic elements for passive water-nutrient delivery, stable fluid containment, flow control, aeration, bubble phase separations, and more. Specific challenges such as passive methods to adjust nutrient delivery to the plant throughout the highly variable plant growth cycle are discussed. Terrestrial benchtop and scaled model low-g drop tower tests are presented that support expectations of successful operations in space.Item Capillary Provision of Water and Nutrients to Plants Grown in Microgravity(2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2020-07-31) Nabity, James; Pitts, Ray; Rehmeier, Jacob; Weislogel, Mark; Escobar, Christine; Shaffer, Brett; Escobar, AdamPassive provision of water and nutrients for the growth of plants in microgravity environmental systems can effectively be accomplished through the exploitation of capillary forces in various geometries, such as a network of wetted open interior corners. Provided the Concus-Finn condition is satisfied, capillary flows may be established along conduits that consist of simple interior corners (or ‘wedges’). A numerical free surface solver tool was employed to predict capillary flow of water to inform the design and construction of test articles for use in drop tower experiments. In addition, single and parallel flow path configurations were investigated with consideration for harvesting duckweed, a micro-flowering plant, in a microgravity environment. We report the effects of material, surface conditions, and interior corner half-angle on capillary performance. Titanium, glass and polymeric materials with factory, machined, and shot peened surfaces were used in experiments with deionized water and duckweed. The results guided the advanced development of micro-plant growth beds.Item Capillary Structures for Exploration Life Support ISS Experiment Kit(48th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2018-07-08) Sargusingh, Miriam; Weislogel, Mark; Viestenz, Kyle; Jenson, RyanThis paper describes the Capillary Structures for Exploration Life Support (CSELS) ISS payload being developed to study the use of structures of specific shapes to manage fluid and gas mixtures in microgravity. The payload focuses on evaluating capillary structures relevant to evolve water recycling and carbon dioxide removal technologies, benefiting future efforts to design lightweight, more reliable life support systems for future space missions. The water recovery system being evaluated is the Capillary Brine Residual in Containment (CapiBRIC); specifically, the evaporator element. The payload will include both science and technology demonstration experiments intended to show important aspects of the Capillary Evaporator in microgravity. The effect of pore shape, connectivity, depth, and contact line length on stability and drying performance will be evaluated as a pure science experiment while the technology demonstration will show infill, drying, and fluid stability using a non-toxic ersatz that mimics the characteristics of the ISS wastewater brine that most impact fluid flow and containment. The carbon dioxide removal system evaluated in this experiment is the Capillary Liquid CO2 Sorbent System, designed to remove CO2 from air using a liquid sorbent, and to regenerate the sorbent. The science component of the Capillary Sorbent experiment evaluates distribution of flow to and across open-air channels. The technology demonstration component includes demonstration of flow of a non-toxic sorbent ersatz, and demonstration of flow through proof of concept prototype.Item The Collapsible Contingency Urinal (CCU) for Spacecraft(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Weislogel, Mark; Jenson, Ryan; Krishcko, Oleg; Torres, Logan; Adam, Naids; John, Graf; Pettit, DonaldThe routine, hygienic collection and processing of urine aboard spacecraft remains difficult. This fact is perhaps as attributable to the myriad requirements of spaceflight life support as it is to the acute challenges of multiphase fluid physics in microgravity. In this paper we present the specification, development, flight demonstration, and certification of a Collapsible Contingency Urinal (CCU) for use aboard spacecraft. The passive device exploits recent advances in microgravity capillary fluidics research, combining robust superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic substrates that mimic gravity, where, in effect, droplets ‘fall’ and bubbles ‘rise.’ According to crew commentary, the device successfully delivers a method for clean, ergonomic no-moving-parts urine collection for females, which is in turn successfully adapted for males. The encouraging results provide a practical solution for CCUs aboard spacecraft as well as identify a design path forward for the myriad passive fluids management tasks ahead for space exploration. Directions for future CCU production are highlighted in summary.Item Development of a Foam Based Capillary Driven Brine Residual in Containment (BRIC) Processor(47th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2017-07-16) Pensinger, Stuart; Weislogel, Mark; Viestenz, Kyle; Campbell, Melissa; Callahan, MichaelOne of the goals for the AES Life Support System (LSS) project is to achieve 98% water loop closure for long duration human exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit. Critical to this goal is development of a brine water recovery system that can extract the remaining 10 to 25% of the water left behind from primary urine and wastewater processing. For the last several years, NASA Johnson Space Center has been developing and evolving Brine Residual in Containment (BRIC) systems that are specifically designed to handle the corrosive and toxic residual chemicals added to stabilize the urine and protect hardware from fouling during collection and water recovery process. Since last reported at the 2016 International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES), capillary-based BRIC concepts have continued to be evolved. The capillary-based BRIC (CapiBRIC) designs focus on the use of capillary forces in microgravity to manage fluid movement and phase separation within the BRIC device. This paper addresses the continued collaboration between the NASA Johnson Space Center and IRPI Inc. to evolve the CapiBRIC design from a radial veined capillary structure device (ICES 2016), to a thin film woven cell design and finally to a foam based CapiBRIC brine drying system. Design, testing, and manufacturing challenges as the system evolved will be discussed as part of the design evolution.Item The Dynamics of Massively Parallel Open Capillary Channel Systems for Direct-Contact Liquid Sorbent Applications in Spacecraft Life Support(49th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2019-07-07) Moher, Samuel; Weislogel, Mark; Graf, John; Soto, LauraDirect contact liquid-gas sorbent beds offer unique benefits for spacecraft air quality control. In a recent ISS technology demonstration experiment (CSELS—Capillary Sorbent), two 16-parallel channel wedge capillary contactors plumbed in series demonstrated passive ‘thin film’ control, modelling both absorption and desorption functions for a potential low-g gas scrubbing system for spacecraft. The open wedge channels mimic terrestrial falling film reactors by exploiting capillary pressure gradients instead of gravity. A fully functional, though scaled, CO2 scrubber system is under consideration for technology demonstration on short schedule aboard ISS. In this presentation we highlight the fluid mechanics of the process. We identify the limits of operation, stability, and transients for systems as functions of wedge geometry and working fluid thermophysical properties. Rare exact solutions are found which may be applied to enormous systems of n parallel channels. The analytical approach serves as the building block for massively parallel systems requiring large surface areas for transport. Such compact high liquid surface area systems may find value in that poorer performing lower toxicity working fluids may still trade well against other more toxic chemical approaches.Item Excess Water in Astronaut Helmet During EVA on ISS: Mitigations with Flight Demonstrations(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Weislogel, Mark; Krishcko, Oleg; Torres, Logan; Campbell, Colin; Dum, Paul; Graf, John; Rundle, TessaFollowing a second crew report of excess water inexplicably accumulating in the helmet during EVA-80 on March 23, 2022, NASA initiated an aggressive effort to identify, mitigate, and/or eliminate all sources of the potentially life-threatening water. Our narration highlights demonstrations of microgravity flow expectations using terrestrial scale models, mitigations to dangerous water migration within the helmet, low-g two-phase flow separations for the flow entering the helmet, and an investigation of the nature of liquid carry-over from the EMU condensing heat exchanger source. Fast-to-flight demonstrations of each aspect of the work are carried out during hands-on crew interaction with flight scale hardware on ISS during the 2022-2023 timeframe. The results of the tests are described with a focus on the rarely observed, and thus rarely studied, large length scale air-driven wall-bound droplet and rivulet two-phase flows in microgravity. The success of the mitigations and directions for continued work is discussed in summary.Item Exploiting Capillary Sorbent Films for Air Revitalization aboard Spacecraft: Analysis of a Semi-Passive CO2 Scrubber(2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2020-07-31) Weislogel, Mark; Torres, Logan; Jenson, Ryan; Graf, John; Hand, Lawerance; Belancik, Grace; Jan, Darrell; Levri, JulieLiquid sorbents have provided a primary means for robust carbon dioxide (CO2) control aboard submarines for decades. Unfortunately, such systems have not been adopted for use aboard spacecraft due to the fact that fine droplet sprays, thin falling films, and buoyancy-driven bubbly flows are not easily managed in the essentially gravity-free environments of orbiting spacecraft. Such applied engineering challenges have remained outstanding for the microgravity fluid physics community. As a work-around, in this research, a stable, silent capillary-driven ‘thin film’ is produced over a massively parallel network of open channels for both CO2 uptake and degas functions in a microgravity environment. Following several quantified assumptions, simple analytical models of species, heat, mass, and momentum transport are invoked providing clear design guides for a future engineering demonstration of the approach aboard the International Space Station. For critical sorbent properties such as CO2 capacity, effective diffusion rate, and concentration- and temperature-dependent viscosity, we provide the essential requirements of flow rate, size, shape, stability, power draw, and other aspects of the system. The results imply that a considerable reduction in system mass and volume is possible for the liquid sorbent approach for CO2 scrubbing when compared to the current state of the art.Item An ISS testbed approach to passive fluid phase separator device development for life support(49th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2019-07-07) Torres, Logan; Jenson, Ryan; Weislogel, MarkGravity passively separates gases from liquids on Earth due to buoyancy. This makes it easy to separate and process 100% gas or liquid streams. But because such buoyancy is essentially absent aboard spacecraft, nearly all fluid systems aboard them are, or become, multiphase fluid systems. This outcome presents a plethora of acute fluidics challenges that are well-known to NASA. The common theme to these issues is a lack of familiarity with large length scale capillary fluidic phenomena that precludes proper design. If future long-term missions are to be successful and efficient, mundane micro-gravity plumbing must be well-understood. In response to this need, we are currently developing a testbed for the development and exhaustive testing of next-generation capillary fluidics solutions for passive and semi-passive phase separation that are critical to the reliable operation of current and future spacecraft life support systems, plant and animal habitat systems, propellant/coolant management systems, bio-fluidics processors, and passive fluids delivery and control systems for physical sciences experiments. The single component, low profile, low-noise, and low power draw testbed is developed for quick installation in the open ISS laboratory. Following installation, it can be controlled from the ground for 24/7 operations for short to long duration phase separator component testing and qualification. Quick attachment and detachment mounts for the test devices allow for multiuser options including industry, academy, and government users. Development and proof of concept of such a system is guided by a breadboard-style prototype designed for use in a high rate drop tower. The breadboard design exhibits similar size and function as the flight ready system, as well as demonstrates the high-fidelity, high-speed data acquisition capabilities of the system. The current state of the hardware is presented along with the results of the preliminary low-g tests.Item Mitigation of Micro-Droplet Ejections During Open Cabin Unit Operations Aboard ISS(49th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2019-07-07) Turner, Caleb; Weislogel, Mark; Goodman, Jesse; Mohler, Sam; Mungin, Rihana; Ungar, Eugene; Buchli, JenniferThe rupture and break-up of thin films, droplets, bubbles, and rivulets can produce tiny satellite droplet ejections. For example, when nearly any object is withdrawn from a liquid bath, the formation of an ever-thinning columnar rivulet eventually ruptures, ejecting a variety of satellite droplets that are often too small and too fast to observe by eye. In terrestrial environments such events are often of little concern due to the fact that gravity rapidly returns such drops to the liquid surface from which they came. This of course is not the case in low-g environments where during simple activities such as pipetting these satellite drops travel away from the liquid only to impact the surrounding surfaces leading to possible contamination of the working environment. In this work we demonstrate the variety of micro-droplet ejections formed during simple wet lab unit operations such as pipetting and how in the low-gravity environment such dynamics depend on system geometry, wettability, fluid properties, and withdraw rate. A large drop tower dataset is collected in support of regime maps organized by the appropriate dimensionless groups. The results can be exploited to guide mitigation strategies for high volume wet lab operations aboard spacecraft; i.e., manifold pipetting, sequencing, 3-D printing, and more.Item Omni-gravity Hydroponics for Space Exploration(49th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2019-07-07) Mungin, Rihana; Weislogel, Mark; Hatch, Tyler; McQuillen, JohnAs part of the NASA Plant Water Management technology demonstration experiments, a capillary fluidics hydroponic system that can function in a variety of gravity environments has been developed and tested for crop production in space. A passive liquid delivery method is employed that drastically reduces the number of contaminable moving parts providing a high reliability solution requiring minimal resources for operation. The terrestrial, lunar, and Martian environments are managed in a ‘gravity-dominated mode,’ while the low-gravity transit and orbit environments are managed in a ‘capillary fluidics mode,’ where the role of gravity is replaced by the equally passive effects of surface tension, conduit shape, and wettability. The unique considerations for priming, germination, aeration, nutrient supply, root accommodation, layout, crew interaction, etc. are highlighted. Design guides for system function are provided along with high Technology Readiness Level demonstrations of the system during terrestrial and drop tower tests. Long duration tests are planned on short schedule aboard the International Space Station in 2019.Item On-Demand Non-Contact Distillation: Low-g Demonstration of a Leidenfrost Waste-Water Processor(49th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2019-07-07) Rasheed, Rowand; Weislogel, MarkLeidenfrost phenomenon is employed as a potential solution to NASA’s urine-water recovery problem by providing a method for on-demand non-contact distillation. Leidenfrost investigations have been almost exclusively conducted in terrestrial environments and are in turn largely defined by the ever-presence of gravity. In this work we demonstrate a variety of Leidenfrost effects for enormous liquid droplets in the microgravity environment of a 2.1 second drop tower. Dynamic Leidenfrost droplet impacts on a selection of heated hydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces in microgravity are presented. Nearly ideal elastic non-contact impacts and droplet oscillation modes are observed. Impact experiments are extended to a variety of heated substrates including macro-pillar arrays, confined passageways, and others. The potential for contamination-free processing is obvious, with the proof of concept to be pursued shortly.Item Passive no moving parts capillary solutions for spacecraft life support systems(49th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2019-07-07) Weislogel, Mark; Jenson, RyanLife support systems for plant, animal, and crew habitats are replete with the challenges of managing poorly wetting aqueous solutions in a low-g environment. A brief review of noteworthy on-orbit system failures provides ample renewed motivation to understand microgravity capillary phenomena to the point such failures may be avoided in the future. Historic and recent NASA-funded low-g experiments are highlighted that greatly expand our experience base and comfort level to prepare for and preferably exploit capillary forces. Our specific aim is to replace the passive role of gravity on earth with the combined passive roles of surface tension, wetting, and container geometry in space. We demonstrate a general approach highlighting high-TRL examples pertinent to urine collection and processing. From this specific example we demonstrate more specific applications to passive in-line separator devices, beverage cups, and bio-sample de-bubblers. Broader applications can be made to other challenging processes such as brine drying, condensing heat exchangers, liquid sorbent CO2 scrubbers, wet lab unit operations, and habitats for plants and animals.Item Plant Water Management Experiments: Hydroponics 3 & 4(51st International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/10/2022) Wasserman, Marc; Weislogel, Mark; Torres, Logan; Hatch, Tyler; McQuillen, JohnAs humans consider longer-duration missions in space, NASA has identified production of fresh vegetables aboard spacecraft as beneficial for crew nutrition, mental wellbeing, and enabling bioregenerative life support (i.e., air, water, and waste processing). Current low-g plant growth techniques have successfully grown a variety of leafy and flowering plants. However, unique microgravity fluidics challenges to maintain plant moisture levels persist which hamper overall system reliability. The Plant Water Management (PWM) experiments seek to demonstrate low-cost, low-mass, reusable plant growth systems that leverage recent advances in low-g capillary fluidics phenomena to provide routine, largely passive, water delivery to plants. This paper presents findings from a series of PWM Hydroponics experiments, which were collected during four different ISS flight operations that occurred in February, March, May, and July of 2021. Open hydroponic capillary channel flows with synthetic evapo-transpiring plant models were used. Tests demonstrated flow stability for single, parallel, and serial channel flow configurations across a range of flowrates, plant types, and plant arrangements. Technology demonstrations of both passive aeration and bubble phase separation are also reported. We provide details of the data reduction and archive. Insights from the successful flight demonstrations provide a foundation from which follow-on PWM Hydroponics experiments on ISS, potentially incorporate living plants, are being considered.Item Plant Water Management in Microgravity(51st International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/10/2022) Hatch, Tyler; Wasserman, Marc; McQuillen, John; Weislogel, MarkThe NASA Plant Water Management (PWM) experiments conducted aboard the ISS are a set of technology development demonstrations that apply recent advances in microgravity capillary fluidics research towards the mundane yet problematic challenges of simply watering plants in space. Plant growth in a low-g environment is often hampered by inadequate aeration and over-saturation of the root zone. The PWM effort aims to exploit the passive capillary forces of poorly wetting liquids (i.e., contaminated water) within unique system geometries that effectively replace the role of gravity in providing sufficient aeration and hydration for simulated plants. Fourteen ISS operations supported by nine crew members were completed on-orbit in 2021, including approximately six days of soil-based and eight days of hydroponic models in single and parallel channel networks. Supportive terrestrial and low-g drop tower tests were conducted to aid in experiment design via small scale- and full-scale demonstrations. To date, the experiments demonstrate proofs-of-concept, limits of operation, system stability, and more. Applications are discussed in relation to plant growth facilities for both near-term microgravity plant science research and long duration human exploration missions.Item Plant Water Management in Microgravity(2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2020-07-31) Hatch, Tyler; Weislogel, Mark; Mungin, Rihana; Hernandez, MariaThe NASA Plant Water Management (PWM) technology demonstrations aboard ISS apply recent advances in microgravity capillary fluidics research towards the mundane yet problematic challenges of simply watering plants in space. Plant growth in a low-g environment is often hampered by inadequate aeration and over-saturation of the root zone. The present effort aims to exploit the passive capillary forces of poorly wetting liquids (i.e., contaminated water) within unique system geometries that effectively replace the role of gravity in providing sufficient aeration and hydration for simulated plants. Several ISS demonstrations are currently on orbit for experiments in late 2019 through 2020, including soil and hydroponic models in single and parallel channel networks. Supportive terrestrial and low-g drop tower tests are conducted to aid in experiment design via scale- and full-scale demonstrations. The test demonstrate proof-of-concept, limits of operation, system stability, and more. Applications are discussed in relation to plant growth facilities for both near-term microgravity plant science research and long duration human exploration missions.Item The Plant Water Management Experiments on ISS: Soil(51st International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/10/2022) Wasserman, Marc; Weislogel, Mark; Mungin, Rihana; Hatch, Tyler; McQuillen, JohnA simple means of watering plants in the low-g environment aboard orbiting spacecraft is not obvious. Since the beginning of spaceflight, numerous approaches have been pursued to water plants that seek to maximize plant viability and system reliability, while minimizing crew time and system complexity. We are not there yet. The Plant Water Management (PWM) Soil experiments seek to apply recent advances in low-g capillary fluidics phenomena to the challenges faced by plant growth operations aboard spacecraft. The primary challenge is to establish earth-like flows minimizing low-g specific adaptations required of the plants. This is difficult due to the ever-present fluid physics challenges associated with poorly-wetting multiphase inertial-visco-capillary flows in geometrically complex conduits and containers�which change dramatically as the plants grow. In this paper, we present recent flight results for the simple visual PWM-Soil experiments where arcillite �soil reservoirs� are arranged in a non-wetting host soil that serves as an O2-breathing wetting barrier. In this way, a largely terrestrial water-soil environment might be mimicked where, as liquid is evapotranspired through the growing plant foliage, the effective water table passively �falls� reducing viscous lengths and increasing oxygenated water uptake for the plant. We present data from 6 days of 24-7 experiments on the ISS testing 3 different plant root models geometries. Not everything goes as planned as the �widely� varying plant models eventually perform similarly regarding total transport rate. We explain why via reference to a capillary flow model developed to capture the primary features of the flow. We summarize that successful passive capillary soil delivery systems can be designed at will, but the time/growth-dependent water requirements for plants in low-g environments may prove an elusive requirement.Item A Thin Film Liquid Sorbent Reactor for CO2 Scrubbing Aboard Spacecraft(2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2020-07-31) Mohler, Samuel; Weislogel, MarkFor decades, direct contact liquid-gas CO2 sorbent beds have functioned successfully aboard confined crewed vehicles (i.e., submarines). Despite the unique challenges of microgravity fluids management, such approaches also offer attractive benefits for spacecraft air quality control. In a recent ISS technology demonstration experiment (CSELS—Capillary Sorbent), two 16-parallel open capillary channel contactors plumbed in series demonstrated passive ‘thin film’ control, modeling both absorption and desorption functions for a potential low-gravity CO2 scrubbing system for spacecraft. The open wedge-shaped channels mimic terrestrial falling film reactors by exploiting capillary pressure gradients instead of gravity. In this paper, we highlight the fluid mechanics of the process with and without the effects of CO2 absorption across the surface. The dramatic changes in fluid properties due to CO2 absorption in the contactor and temperature rise in the degasser are addressed via approximate analytic and numerical solutions to the species, energy, and momentum transport equations. We identify the limits of operation, stability, and transients for systems as functions of wedge geometry and working fluid thermo-physical properties. Analytical solutions are found that may be applied to systems of n-parallel channels. The analytical approach serves as the building blocks for massively parallel systems requiring large surface areas to achieve the desired performance.Item The Unrealized Potential of Superhydrophobic Substrates in Advanced Life Support Systems(49th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2019-07-07) Rasheed, Rawand; Weislogel, MarkNearly all water processing equipment aboard spacecraft is to a large extent controlled by capillary forces arising from substrate wetting conditions. Superhydrophobic wetting conditions provide an essentially passive means to keep water away from certain substrates providing a level of no-moving-parts phase separation and control. This work presents a host of non-wetting aqueous microgravity capillary fluidics phenomena arising from interactions with easily fabricated superhydrophobic substrates. The value of such phenomena for potential life support applications aboard spacecraft is clear, especially for substrate properties that are thermally robust, corrosion resistant, and self-cleaning for both long- and short-term applications. Large length scale low-g demonstrations of the phenomena are provided in HD video format for the extensive drop tower tests conducted. The broader crosscutting impacts to numerous fluids processing operations for life support are discussed. Current practical applications addressed in light of superhydrophobicity include urine-processing, water recovery, fire safety, and others.