Ultralight Dewar Phase II

Ground based and airborne infrared astronomy is limited by atmosphere and telescope heat. These systems require a cold helium cooling of the instruments with a dewar for cryogen storage. Given the limited lift capability of a scientific balloon, the dewar mass is of critical importance. For structural, low mass flight applications, carbon fiber is a clear winner. GTL has developed BHLtrade;, a micro-crack free, re-usable carbon fiber material for use in cryogenic vessels. GTLrsquo;s BHL is well suited for the application of the liquid helium dewar, with low mass, low thermal mass, and low thermal conductivity as carbon fiber is an excellent insulator at lt; 20K, far better than glass-fiber or epoxy itself.The proposed effort is directly relevant to NASA future mission planning. This is an enabling technology for a new generation of balloon-borne cryogenic observatories. Large (3 meter) cooled telescopes at balloon altitudes would have up to 100,000 times faster mapping speed than the current state of the art (SOFIA#39;s ambient temperature telescope at 39,000 feet).