SmallSat Stirling Cryocooler for Missile Defense (SSC-X)

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)