The X-ray Spectrometer - A cryogenic instrument on the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics FacilityThe X-ray Spectrometer (XRS) is an instrument on the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF), the third of NASA's Great Observatories scheduled for launch in 1998. The XRS detectors have a resolution of approximately 10 eV over the range 0.3 - 10 keV. To achieve this resolution, the detectors are maintained at or below 0.1 Kelvin using an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator inside a superfluid helium dewar. In addition, split-Stirling-cycle mechanical coolers are used to extend the anticipated on-orbit helium lifetime to a minimum of 4 years. This paper describes the challenges of developing this hybrid cryogenic system and presents an overview of the current design of the system.
Document ID
19930064642
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Breon, Susan R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hopkins, Richard A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Nieczkoski, Stephen J. (Ball Electro-Optics/Cryogenics Div. Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: In: Advances in cryogenic engineering. Vol. 37B - Proceedings of the 1991 Cryogenic Engineering Conference, Univ. of Alabama, Huntsville, June 11-14, 1991 (A93-48578 20-37)
Publisher: Plenum Press
Subject Category
Spacecraft Instrumentation
Accession Number
93A48639
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
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Related Records
IDRelationTitle19930064581Collected WorksAdvances in cryogenic engineering. Vols. 37A & 37B - Proceedings of the 1991 Cryogenic Engineering Conference, Univ. of Alabama, Huntsville, June 11-14, 1991