The SPIRIT thermal system

M. DiPirro; C. Cottingham; R. Boyle; S. Ollendorf; D. Leisawitz

doi:10.1117/12.734140

20 September 2007 The SPIRIT thermal system

M. DiPirro, C. Cottingham, R. Boyle, S. Ollendorf, D. Leisawitz

Proceedings Volume 6687, UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts III; 66870D (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.734140
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT) is envisioned to be a pair of one meter diameter primary light collectors on either side of a beam combiner, all cooled to 4 K or lower. During an observation, the collectors are required to move toward and away from the beam combiner to obtain information at various baselines to simulate a filled aperture. The thermal design of this mission as presented in this paper provides each light collector and the beam combiner with separate cryogenic systems. This allows the boom that attaches the combiner and collectors, the motors and many of the mechanisms to operate at room temperature, thus simplifying ground testing and reducing mission cost and complexity. Furthermore, the cryogenic systems consist of passive radiators and mechanical coolers - a cryogen-free approach. This paper gives a description of the requirements and resulting design for this architecture and some of the benefits and difficulties of this approach. A subscale thermal vacuum test of one of the collector thermal systems was performed. The thermal model and test agreed very well showing the viability of the thermal design and subscale cryo-thermal test approach.

Citation Download Citation

M. DiPirro, C. Cottingham, R. Boyle, S. Ollendorf, and D. Leisawitz "The SPIRIT thermal system", Proc. SPIE 6687, UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts III, 66870D (20 September 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.734140

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