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Low-Temperature Spacecraft: Challenges/OpportunitiesImagine sending a spacecraft into deep space that operates at the ambient temperature of its environment rather than hundreds of degrees Kelvin warmer. The average temperature of a spacecraft warmed only by the sun drops from 279 K near the Earth's orbit to 90 K near the orbit of Saturn, and to 44 K near Pluto's orbit. At present, deep space probes struggle to maintain an operating temperature near 300 K for the onboard electronics. To warm the electronics without consuming vast amounts of electrical energy, radioisotope heater units (RHUs) are used in vast numbers. Unfortunately, since RHU are always 'on', an active thermal management system is required to reject the excess heat. A spacecraft designed to operate at cryogenic temperatures and shielded from the sun by a large communication dish or solar cell array could be less complex, lighter, and cheaper than current deep space probes. Before a complete low-temperature spacecraft becomes a reality, there are several challenges to be met. Reliable cryogenic power electronics is one of the major challenges. The Low-Temperature Power Electronics Research Group at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has demonstrated the ability of some commercial off the shelf power electronic components to operate at temperatures approaching that of liquid nitrogen (77 K). Below 77 K, there exists an opportunity for the development of reliable semiconductor power switching technologies other than bulk silicon CMOS. This paper will report on the results of NASA GRC's Low-Temperature Power Electronics Program and discuss the challenges to (opportunities for) the creation of a low-temperature spacecraft.
Document ID
20010041227
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Dickman, J. E.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Patterson, R. L.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Overton, E.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Hammoud, A. N.
(DYNACS Engineering Co., Inc. Cleveland, OH United States)
Gerber, S. S.
(Zin Technologies, Inc. Brook Park, OH United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Forum on Innovative Approaches to Outer Planetary Exploration 2001-2020
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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