Flight acceptance of the 0.1K Dilution Cooler for PLANCK HFI
- Paper number
IAC-05-D1.2.05
- Author
Mr. Louis Sentis, Air Liquide DTA, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Jean Delmas, Air Liquide DTA, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Philippe Camus, CNRS, France
- Year
2005
- Abstract
The European Space Agency Planck satellite is a European infra-red space observatory dedicated to mapping the temperature anisotropies of the cosmic background radiation. It is planned to be launched in 2007.
AIR LIQUIDE and the CNRS/CRTBT are providing the dilution cooler used to cool the High Frequency Instrument (HFI) down to its 0.1 K operating temperature.
The main challenges of the dilution cooler development are : continuous cooling at 100mK, temperature stability of few µk at 0.1 K without active PID regulation, qualification for launch vibrations, control of the small gas flows required to operate the dilution cooler.
This paper describes the dilution cooler system, the qualification tests carried out, the achieved performances and the integration process onto the spacecraft. We highlight the critical aspects of the system and the way they were solved : heat loads optimisation, shape memory alloy launch blocking system, clogging risk mitigation.
We conclude with the potential applications of the dilution cooler technology for space and the main advantages of using such a system for scientific missions requiring temperatures below 100mK : continuous operation, no vibrations, no stray electro-magnetic fields and high reliability.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-D1.2.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.