CubeSat Cryocooler System (CCS)

The vision of the CubeSat Cryocooler System (CCS) is to advance the state of the art in CubeSat Cryocooler systems by developing a high efficiency, low power, two-stage coldhead pulse tube cryocooler and integrating it with proven mini Low-Cost Cryocooler Control Electronics (mLCCE) to enable performance capabilities of detectors and sensors on NASA missions. The low-cost, low-weight, and small size of the CCS caters specifically to CubeSat applications. A key objective of this effort is to develop and demonstrate cryogenic cooling technologies that allow science measurement capabilities with smaller, more affordable spacecraft while concurrently reducing system risk, cost, size, and development time, consistent with NASA SBIR Science Subtopic S1.10. During the Phase I effort, a paper study will be conducted for the thermodynamic and mechanical design optimization of a two-stage pulse tube cryocooler configuration. Also during the Phase I effort, a Cryocooler Control Electronics (CCE) brassboard will be designed, fabricated, tested, and delivered in a proof-of-concept and risk reduction effort for a follow-on Phase II which would involve developing a space qualified system.

The CubeSat Cryocooler System can be applied to any NASA Commercial mission that requires cryogenic cooling for a detector, sensor, or similar instruments to fit within a CubeSat platform. More specifically, the CCS equipped with a two-stage pulse-tube coldhead would be the natural candidate for infrared detectors and focal plane electronics.

The current potential commercial applications for the CCS range from supporting imagery and surveillance capabilities, with a strong outlook for additional applications. Skybox Imaging and Planet Labs are two companies marketing optical and near-infrared imagery as well as full-frame video collected by microsats to capture Earth imagery.In November 2013, Skybox Imaging launched its first satellite and began offering submeter resolution for visible-wavelength imagery and 30 hertz optical video at slightly lower resolution. Planet Labs has also launched over 30 Cubesats with intent to launch 100 more in 2015. These private initiatives to capture Earth imagery utilizing CubeSats highlight the opportunity to provide CubeSat Cryocooler Systems to enable the detectors and sensors that are being implemented. CubeSats can also be utilized for weather monitoring purposes, which require microwave imaging capabilities that the CCS would be an ideal candidate to support. Surveillance Cubesats to track geostationary objects has also been demonstrated, which shows the feasibility of using a microsat to host an optical payload capable of sensing small objects in geosynchronous orbit from LEO. These capabilities can be improved and promoted with supporting infrastructure that the CCS would provide. Thus, small satellites satisfy a growing range of data gathering missions, requiring high-accuracy sensors, indicating the number of CCS commercial applications could increase in the future.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.