The Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS)`s MicroCooler is a split configuration pulse tube cooler incorporating a coaxial cold head connected via a transfer line to a vibrationally balanced back to back linear flexure bearing compressor. Designed for > 10 year operation with no degradation in performance, this 900 gram cryocooler incorporates a very efficient pulse tube cold head for operation over a range of temperatures above 40K. This paper presents the results of a series of tests designed to qualify the NGAS MicroCooler to the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. The MicroCooler was subjected to launch vibration and thermal cycling conditions appropriate to space applications. The measured load lines and unchanged refrigeration performance of the cooler throughout the qualification program demonstrated the robustness of the design. The performance of the MicroCooler was also characterized over a range of rejection temperatures and input powers to demonstrate its suitability for a wide range of missions and applications. The successful completion of series of tests has demonstrated that this very small, low vibration, high frequency cooler is qualified to be integrated into space payloads or an integrated detector cooler assembly (IDCA) for tactical applications, similar to those used with shorter lived tactical coolers.


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    Title :

    Qualification of Northrop Grumman MicroCooler to TRL6


    Contributors:
    Nguyen, T. (author) / Amouzegar, L. (author) / Petach, M. (author) / Abelson, L. (author) / Carlson, C. (author) / Russo, J. (author)

    Conference:

    Infrared Technology and Applications XLV ; 2019 ; Baltimore,Maryland,United States


    Published in:

    Proc. SPIE ; 11002


    Publication date :

    2019-05-07





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Qualification of Northrop Grumman MicroCooler to TRL6

    Nguyen, T. / Amouzegar, L. / Petach, M. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2019


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