NASA scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory used a specialized chamber called DUSTIE to mimic the surface conditions of giant asteroid Vesta after meteoroid strikes. The goal was to study the origins of deep channels, or gullies, on Vesta’s surface. By rapidly reducing air pressure around liquid samples, they replicated the environment around fluid that comes to the surface.
The experiment found that pure water froze instantly in a vacuum environment, but salty fluids remained flowing for longer periods before freezing. This discovery sheds light on the unique properties of Vesta’s surface and its potential geological history.
Source: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia26070-using-jpls-dustie-planetary-simulation-chamber-to-mimic-vesta