Space Micro Pulse Tube Cooler

Presented at the 16th International Cryocooler Conference, held May 17-20, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.The Northrop Grumman space micro pulse tube cooler (micro) is a split configuration cooler incorporating a coaxial cold head connected via a transfer line to a vibrationally balanced back to back linear compressor. The micro compressor is scaled from the flight proven high efficiency cooler (HEC) compressor and contains non-wearing pistons suspended on flexure bearings. Designed for > 10 year operation with no performance change, the 800 gram mechanical cooler can cool sensors and optics to temperatures