Four commercial Sunpower M87N Stirling-cycle cryocoolers will be used to extend the lifetime of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-02 (AMS-02) experiment. The cryocoolers will be mounted to the AMS-02 vacuum case using a structure that will thermally and mechanically decouple the cryocooler from the vacuum case. This paper discusses modifications of the Sunpower M87N cryocooler to make it acceptable for space flight applications and suitable for use on AMS-02. Details of the flight model qualification test program are presented. AMS-02 is a state-of-the-art particle physics detector containing a large superfluid helium-cooled superconducting magnet. Highly sensitive detector plates inside the magnet measure a particle's speed, mass, charge, and direction. The AMS-02 experiment, which will be flown as an attached payload on the International Space Station, will study the properties and origin of cosmic particles and nuclei including antimatter and dark matter. Two engineering model cryocoolers have been under test at NASA Goddard since November 2001. Qualification testing of the engineering model cryocooler bracket assembly including random vibration and thermal vacuum testing was completed at the end of April 2005. The flight cryocoolers were received in December 2003. Acceptance testing of the flight cryocooler bracket assemblies began in May 2005 .


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Design and Qualification of the AMS-02 Flight Cryocoolers


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Space Cryogenics Workshop ; 2005 ; Colorado Springs, CO, United States


    Published in:

    Cryogenics ; 46 , 3-Feb


    Publication date :

    2005-08-25


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Space Flight Qualification Program for the AMS-02 Commercial Cryocoolers

    Shirey, K. A. / Banks, I. S. / Breon, S. R. et al. | Springer Verlag | 2003


    Space Flight Qualification Program for the AMS-2 Commercial Cryocoolers

    Shirey, K. A. / Banks, I. S. / Breon, S. R. et al. | NTRS | 2002


    Space Flight Qualification Program for the AMS-2 Commercial Cryocoolers

    K. A. Shirey / I. S. Banks / S. R. Breon et al. | NTIS | 2002


    Space Flight Qualification Program for the AMS-02 Commercial Cryocoolers

    Shirey, K. A. / Banks, I. S. / Breon, S. R. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003


    Linear Drive Stirling Cryocoolers: Qualification and Life Testing Results

    Rawlings, R. M. / Granger, C. E. / Hinrichs, G. W. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995