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R.G. Ross
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Pasadena CA 91109
R.F. Boyle
1Cryogenics and Fluids Branch
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt MD 20771
P. Kittel
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field CA 94035
Mechanical cryocoolers are a significant enabling technology for NASA's Earth and Space Science Enterprises. An overview is presented of ongoing cryocooler work within NASA in support of current flight projects, near-term instruments, and long-term technology development. Many of NASA's instruments require cyrogenic refrigeration to improve dynamic range, extend wavelength coverage, and enable the use of advanced detectors. Although the largest use of coolers over the last decade has been at medium to high cryogenic temperatures (55 to 150 K), reflecting the relative maturity of the technology at those temperatures, important new work is focusing on a lower temperature range (6 to 20 K). NASA's development of a 20 K cryocooler for the European Planck spacecraft and its new Advanced Cryocooler Technology Development Program for 6 - 18 K coolers are examples of the low temperature range.
Advances in Cryogenic Engineering: Transactions fo the Cryogenic Engineering Conference - CEC, Vol 49 B, ed. J. Waynert et al. pp. 1197 - 1203 (2004)