NASA Space Cryocooler Programs—An Overview

Abstract

Mechanical cryocoolers represent a significant enabling technology for NASA’s Earth and Space Science Enterprises. An overview is presented of ongoing efforts at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center in support of current flight projects, near-term flight instruments, and long-term technology development. Highlights of the past year include the launch into space of three new cryocooler systems aboard NASA missions: 1) a Sunpower 80 ¶K Stirling cooler on the RHESSI gamma-ray spectrometer spacecraft launched February 5, 2002, 2) an 80 ¶K Creare turbo-Brayton cooler added to the NICMOS instrument during the Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission of March 1-12, 2002, and 3) a pair of TRW 55 ¶K pulse tube coolers on the AIRS instrument aboard the EOS Aqua platform launched May 4, 2002. In addition, a major NASA cryocooler development initiative referred to as the Advanced Cryocooler Technology Development Program (ACTDP) was kicked off with four parallel industry contracts in April, 2002. The ACTDP concepts are required to provide dual cooling at 6 ¶K and 18 ¶K and are focused at NASA low temperature applications.