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James Webb Space Telescope Mid Infra-Red Instrument Pulse-Tube Cryocooler ElectronicsThe latest generation of long life, space pulse-tube cryocoolers require electronics capable of controlling self-induced vibration down to a fraction of a newton and coldhead temperature with high accuracy down to a few kelvin. Other functions include engineering diagnostics, heater and valve control, telemetry and safety protection of the cryocooler subsystem against extreme environments and operational anomalies. The electronics are designed to survive the thermal, vibration, shock and radiation environment of launch and orbit, while providing a design life in excess of 10 years on-orbit. A number of our current generation high reliability radiation-hardened electronics units are in various stages of integration on several space flight payloads. This paper describes the features and performance of our latest flight electronics designed for the pulse-tube cryocooler that is the pre-cooler for a closed cycle Joule-Thomson cooler providing 6K cooling for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Mid Infra-Red Instrument (MIRI). The electronics is capable of highly accurate temperature control over the temperature range from 4K to 15K. Self-induced vibration is controlled to low levels on all harmonics up to the 16th. A unique active power filter controls peak-to-peak reflected ripple current on the primary power bus to a very low level. The 9 kg unit is capable of delivering 360W continuous power to NGAS's 3-stage pulse-tube High-Capacity Cryocooler (HCC).
Document ID
20150008049
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Harvey, D.
(Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Flowers, T.
(Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Liu, N.
(Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Moore, K.
(Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Tran, D.
(Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Valenzuela, P.
(Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Franklin, B.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Michaels, D.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
May 13, 2015
Publication Date
June 24, 2013
Subject Category
Spacecraft Instrumentation And Astrionics
Engineering (General)
Electronics And Electrical Engineering
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Cryogenics Workshop
Location: Girdwood, AK
Country: United States
Start Date: June 23, 2013
End Date: June 25, 2013
Sponsors: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Cryogenic Society of America, Inc.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
thermometry
pulse tube
Advanced Cryocooler Electronics (ACE)
electronics
AIRS

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