High temperature superconductivity space experiment (HTSSE)

Abstract
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is exploring the feasibility of deploying high temperature superconducting electrical and electronic devices and components in space. A variety of devices, primarily passive microwave components, have been procured and will be integrated with a cryogenic refrigerator system and data acquisition system to form the space package. This space experiment will demonstrate that HTS technology is sufficiently robust to survive the space environment and that is has the potential to significantly improve space communications systems. The devices for the initial launch have been received by NRL, their electrical characteristics verified and their packages space qualified. The devices are currently being integrated into the final space package which will be shipped from NRL late in 1991 for integration into the spacecraft payload. Once placed in Earth orbit, the experimental package will be cooled to cryogenic temperatures and the characteristics of the HTS devices monitored periodically for the planned 12 months duration of the space experiment which is scheduled to start in 1993.

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