Electronics in space exploration missions such as Mars exploration rovers, lunar outposts, the James Webb Space Telescope, the Europa Orbiter, and deep-space probes need to operate reliably and efficiently under extreme cryogenic temperature conditions. Low-temperature electronics are also needed in the aerospace industry and the commercial sector in a wide range of applications that encompass advanced satellites, medical instrumentation, magnetic levitation, superconducting energy management and distribution, particle confinement and acceleration, and Antarctic missions. Besides surviving the hostile space environments, electronics capable of low-temperature operation would contribute to enhancing circuit performance, improving system reliability, extending lifetime, and reducing development and launch costs.
The Low Temperature Electronics Program at the NASA Glenn Research Center focuses on the development and space-qualification of electronic parts and circuits for deployment in space exploration missions. The operational temperature range of electronic parts and circuits is greatly extended beyond the present range for industrial- and military-grade devices through the utilization of advanced materials, the application of new design techniques, and the exploitation of emerging technologies. Extensive evaluation of the developed parts and circuits is performed in-house under extreme temperatures and the r-mal cycling to space qualify these components and to establish their reliability.
The photograph shows one of four L-Band Global Positioning System(GPS) preamplifiers that were space-qualified at Glenn for use over an extended temperature range and thermal cycling between -85 and 93 °C. NASA planned to deploy these preamplifiers on the space shuttle, but there was a concern that these preamplifiers might exceed their operational temperature limits because of the mounting configuration of the units on the shuttle’s structure. Testing at Glenn showed that the preamplifiers were robust, operated well in the extended temperature range, and maintained good operation during and after thermal cycling. On the basis of testing at Glenn, NASA approved flying the preamplifiers in the extended temperature range. The preamplifiers have flown successfully on all space shuttle flights beginning with STS-114.
Preamplifier unit with cover removed.
The research and development efforts in Glenn’s Low Temperature Electronics Program are being performed through support from the NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program, and through collaboration with other Government agencies, industrial and aerospace companies, and academia. The program supports missions as well as technology development efforts at the NASA Johnson Space Center, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Find out more about the research of Glenn’s Electro-Physics Branch: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/epbranch/ephome.htm
Glenn contact: Richard L. Patterson, 216-433-8166, Richard.Patterson@nasa.govLast updated: December 14, 2007
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