ESA Science Core Technology Development Success Story - Critical Cooling Technology Enabling Complex Science Missions [Aug/2023]
Development of long-life Joule Thomson cryocoolers, funded by
ESA’s Science Core Technology programme, creates compact, performant and
competitive European solutions, with terrestrial applications in quantum
technologies. These technology developments are being undertaken by UK
organisations: Science and Technology Facilities Council-Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory (STFC-RAL), a UK-based scientific research and development institute
that is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and Honeywell, a global
aerospace leader.
Cryocoolers are essential components in regulating the
temperature of instruments and sensors onboard spacecraft to ensure optimised
performance and mission lifetime. ESA helped fund the development of a 4K
(kelvin) Joule-Thomson cryocooler for its PLANCK and HERSCHEL missions, based
on the Oxford Stirling cooler technology. Now ESA is looking to build on these
technology developments to equip its next generation of science missions with
improved cryocoolers, meeting their stringent requirements. Therefore, the Core
Technology Programme funded activities have been focused on developing
solutions with no moving parts and relatively simple components, so that they
can be reduced in size, meet the mission requirements, and be produced with
additive manufacturing technologies.
Whilst the 4K JT-cooler, 2K JT-cooler and the 30K cooler are
all still undergoing developments, some initial socio-economic benefits have
been identified. Thanks to its leading position in cryocooler technology,
especially with Joule-Thomson cryocoolers and certain Stirling coolers, the
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)-RAL and Honeywell have built
partnerships within the broader industry that have helped the UK become a key
actor in the wider cryocooler supply chain. Recognising that the UK has a
strong cryogenic academic, science and business community, STFC commissioned a
“Cryogenics Impact Report”. STFC’s engagement in cryogenics-related work
brought wider benefits to society, including:
- Investing in national skills capabilities – with direct impacts such as building leading capabilities in cryogenics through growing research, technical and business skills, as well as transferrable skills, such as how space-related technologies (i.e. cryocoolers at STFCRAL and Honeywell) can be utilised in the aerospace and defence sectors.
- Fostering collaborations between research and industry including SMEs – through STFC and the British Cryogenics Cluster, there is a wide range of support through testing facilities, business incubation space, and coordination and networking events such as the Cryogenics Cluster Day hosted at STFC-RAL, bringing together industry and scientists.
- Championing local and regional economic development - cryogenics infrastructure has built up around STFC facilities, including STFC-RAL, with a variety of actors ranging from global corporations to niche expertise in industry and science. The combination of these stakeholders and infrastructure together provide a foundation for further business expansion and investment.
- Securing societal well-being and improving the public’s understanding of science – a key example of this being STFC-RAL’s cryocooler development for the Planck explorer mission, providing insight into complex science questions about the universe.
The full case study report can be accessed in the restricted
area here
(please log in before).
The infographics can be accessed in the restricted area here
(please log in before).
This initiative is led by ESA’s Science Core Technology
Programme. More information can be accessed at ESA
- Science Core Technology Programme (CTP).
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