SmallSat Stirling Cryocooler for BMDS (SSC-X)

West Coast Solutions (WCS) proposes the development of the SSC-X Stirling cryocooler to enable the deployment of infrared (IR) payloads on small satellite platforms. We achieve extreme miniaturization (<500 cc total package) by operating at very high frequency (~200 Hz), and we mitigate risk by employing a well-established, long life, high efficiency Stirling architecture. In Phase I we scaled up the 80K / 0.2W concept design previously developed for NASA under the SmallSat Stirling Cryocooler (SSC) Program to meet the topic requirements of 2W at 110K for less than 20W input power. The Phase I design study confirmed our proposal premise that the combination of a proven Stirling long-life cooler architecture and targeted component-level innovations fully supports the topic requirements. Iterative thermodynamic, electromagnetic, and geometric solid modeling was performed to yield a design capable of producing up to 2.8 W of cooling at 110K within the specified power and volume limitations. Successful hardware demonstrations were performed to provide confidence in the advanced motor and cold finger designs. With these successes, WCS confidently proposes the build and test of a complete SSC-X cryocooler in Phase II. Approved for Public Release 19-MDA-10203 (4 Sep 19)