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Flight demonstration of a 10 K sorption cryocooler.

Author(s) : BARD S., KARLMANN P., RODRÍGUEZ J., WU J., WADE L., COWGILL P., RUSS K. M.

Summary

The Brilliant Eyes Ten-Kelvin Sorption Cryocooler Experiment (BETSCE), manifested for flight on STS-77 in May 1996, is the first-ever spaceflight demonstration of sorption cryocooler technology. The sorption cryocooler alternately heats and cools beds containing metal hydride powders to circulate hydrogen as the refrigerant fluid in a closed cycle. On command, it periodically cools a cold head assembly to below 10 K within 90 seconds. The paper describes how BETSCE successfully achieved its primary objectives of: 1) demonstrating the microgravity performance of critical sorption technologies and acquiring the needed flight performance data; 2) identifying and resolving interface and integration issues; and 3) providing hardware qualification and safety verification heritage.

Details

  • Original title: Flight demonstration of a 10 K sorption cryocooler.
  • Record ID : 1998-1518
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Cryocoolers 9. Proceedings of the International Cryocooler Conference.
  • Publication date: 1996/06/25
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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