Applications to space operations of free-flying, controlled streams of liquids

A summary is presented of some potential uses of liquid streams in space, taking into account a liquid droplet radiator, aeroassisted deceleration, planetary gas scavenging, the transportation of material in space by liquid or slurry streams, space construction, fluid disposal, and liquid thrusters. It is pointed out that the success of the proposed applications is, in many cases, very sensitive to the actual performance which can be achieved by droplet streams. An introduction to droplet stream fluid mechanics is provided, and experimental results on stream angular and speed dispersions are presented. It is concluded that droplet streams formed from low vapor pressure liquids can have directional stabilities of at worst a few microradians. According to the reported studies, it will be possible to project droplet streams of low vapor pressure fluids over large distances, without agglomeration.