ASA is tackling the challenge of spacecraft fuel management, crucial for long-duration missions like trips to Mars. Cryogenic fuel stored in spacecraft tanks heats up in space due to solar radiation, leading to significant fuel loss. Traditional passive insulation systems aren’t sufficient, prompting the development of Zero Boil-Off (ZBO) or Reduced Boil-Off (RBO) systems. These active systems use innovative technologies like jet mixing and droplet injection to prevent fuel sublimation. NASA conducts experiments on the International Space Station to refine these systems for future missions, highlighting the complexities of fluid dynamics in microgravity.

source: https://www.universetoday.com/166184/nasa-is-working-on-zero-boil-off-tanks-for-space-exploration/