Cryogenics in space: a review of the missions and of the technologies Original Research Article

Cryogenics has made a remarkable amount of progress over the last 15 years. The increased reliability and simplicity of operations of cryogenic equipment have allowed to install and to successfully operate them onboard spacecrafts. At the same time, the improved performance of cryogenic devices, such as sensors and cold electronics, has drastically enlarged their utilisation, creating new perspectives for space-based applications. In this paper we provide an up-to-date review of the non-military space missions making use of cryogenic instrumentation and a summary of the present and envisaged applications of cryogenic equipment in space. The impact of cryogenics on the spacecraft system design and the main technical solutions presently adopted are also discussed. Finally, this paper provides an outlook on near- and mid-term future activities involving cryogenics in space and on the related technology development, with particular emphasis on the work carried out by the European Space Agency.