SBIR-STTR Award

West Coast Solutions (WCS), in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology and Creare LLC, proposes an adaptation of our SmallSat Stirling Cryocooler (SSC) technology in response to STTR Topic MDA17-T003: High-Efficiency, Low-Volume, Space-Qualified Cryogenic-Coolers. In Phase 1 we will scale up a design currently in development for NASA to meet the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) topic requirements. Our approach achieves extreme miniaturization by operating at very high frequency (~200 Hz) while employing a well-established, high efficiency space cryocooler architecture, namely an active Stirling with motor-driven displacer. Termed the SSC-X because this version is larger than the 200 mW @ 80K NASA variant, initial modeling results indicate that the MDA version of the SSC will provide 2.3W heat lift at 110K for 17.6 WDC bus power at 300K warm end, all packaged with electronics and cryocooler mount within a 500 cc volume.Approved for Public Release | 18-MDA-9522 (23 Feb 18)

The WCS approach achieves extreme miniaturization by operating at very high frequency. During the proposed Phase II, the SSC-X Team will extend on the substantial risk reduction achieved to date to realize a flight-design cryocooler that meets all of the performance (thermodynamic, exported vibration, current ripple, etc.) and environmental (thermal vacuum, random vibration, shock, EMI) requirements to enable miniature, high performance next generation infrared imaging sensors. With the compressor development having been completed in the prior phase, the Phase II initially addresses the two remaining unknowns, thermodynamic model correlation vs. operating frequency and the regenerator physical configuration. Those final risk reduction experiments lead immediately into the final design of the flight-design SSC-X Cryocooler, eliminating all non-flight features. The prototype flight coolers will then be subjected to extensive performance and environmental testing with the goal of exiting the program with a cryocooler immediately suitable for an on-orbit flight experiment. Approved for Public Release | 22-MDA-11339 (13 Dec 22)