Low Cost Radiation-Hardened Cryocooler Control Electronics for Space Missions

Many NASA and commercial space science missions require high performance electronics within strict budgetary limits. Many of these missions, therefore, use commercial-grade electronic products despite significant technical risk due to lack of radiation hardness. Creare proposes to evolve our commercial‑grade, three-phase Brushless DC motor drive electronics to be adaptable for missions which require higher reliability, radiation-hardened cryocoolers at reasonable cost. During PhaseI, we developed a drive electronics design which meets cost and radiation-hardness requirements for LEO and lunar missions. We will ensure compatibility for future missions by working closely with a leading developer of low-cost cryocoolers with dozens of space flight coolers delivered to date and with dozens more already known in the future pipeline. During PhaseII, we will work closely with our partner to fabricate and qualify a radiation-hard, low-cost cryocooler-control electronics solution for space missions. Successful completion of this program will substantially expand the use of low-cost cryocoolers for space-borne science, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. Creare aims to develop an optimized set of electronics with cost, reliability, electromagnetic-interference, and radiation-hardness characteristics making a complete cryocooler system available for a range of small-platform space-flight missions. We will package the system electronics and cryocooler within a 3U CubeSat frame and the fully integrated system will cost less than $50,000. We also have incorporated gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMT) in our design, benefiting from heavy-ion and prompt-dose radiation testing we performed on these devices under another project, since we have demonstrated that these GaN devices are inherently tolerant of the radiation found in space.  These innovations will make it feasible to include a complete cryocooling subsystem in low-cost CubeSats and other small satellite systems with sufficiently high radiation tolerance to support missions lasting for up to two years in low earth orbit (LEO), greatly increasing the number of space missions that can afford to include a cryocooler. Detailed objectives to accomplish this aim include finalizing program requirements; refining our Phase I design; fabricating the finalized design; acquiring a Ricor K508N rotary cryocooler; using our system to operate the cryocooler and characterize its performance; updating our Phase I analyses of cost, radiation tolerance, thermal behavior, ability to withstand launch-induced vibrations, and reliability; and carrying out environmental testing to evaluate the system’s tolerance of non-functional and functional sinusoidal and random vibration, shock, and survival shock, as well its electromagnetic compatibility. Deliverables include a kick-off meeting presentation, quarterly progress reports, a test report, the final results meeting presentation, design documents, a draft final report, and a final report.

The successful completion of this program will provide mission planners with high-performance and low‑cost cryocooler control electronics that satisfy radiation-hardness requirements for small platform missions. The primary NASA application will be for cooling detectors, sensors, shields, and telescopes for planetary science missions. The proposed cryocooler control electronics are ideal for small, cost-constrained satellite missions such as LEO CubeSats. Military applications include space‑based surveillance for Operationally Responsive Space missions and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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