Development of a High Capacity Two-Stage Pulse Tube Cryocooler

Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Technology Center (LM-ATC) has developed a two-stage engineering model pulse tube cryocooler to provide simultaneous cooling to an instrument at 35 K and 85 K. Both the compressor and the coldhead were scaled up from previous units developed at LM-ATC. This system is believed to be the highest cooling capacity system developed to date specifically for spacecraft operation. It provides the desired cooling and demonstrates the robust and smooth running characteristics common for this type of linear compressor pulse tube system.