Speaker
Description
Despite repeated proposals to utilize superconducting magnets in space since at least the 1970s [1], examples of their use remain scant [2]. One of the technical challenges is to maintain suitable cryogenic temperatures on a spacecraft. This challenge can be alleviated by the use of flux pumps [3] to reduce the required cryogenic cooling power needed to energize the superconducting magnet.
This talk/poster details the flux pump implemented in the Heki mission [4] - a mission that will operate an open-bore high-temperature superconducting magnet to at least 0.3 Tesla on an external platform of the International Space Station in 2025.
We provide an overview of the mission and its requirements, highlighting the how flux pump technology proved to be mission enabling due to the reduction in the required cryogenic cooling power it affords compared with conventional current leads [5]. We then describe the design methodology to meet the flux pump's performance requirements, particularly relating to the distinct aspects of operating the system in space. Finally we show the flux pump's performance measured during the qualification testing of the integrated payload for the Heki mission, in which we could demonstrate the system exceeded its performance requirements.
We anticipate an on-orbit demonstration mid 2025, with launch scheduled for April. Such a demonstration will signal a maturing of this emerging superconducting technology for both in-space and terrestrial applications.
[1] Sullivan D B and Vorreiter J W, 1979 Cryogenics, 19 627–631, doi:10.1016/0011-2275(79)90063-8
[2] Poulturak et al., 2000 IEE trans. microwave theory and techniques, 48, doi:10.1109/22.853476
[3] van de Klundert LJM, ten Kate HHJ, 1981 Cryogenics 21 195–206, doi.org/10.1016/0011-2275(81)90195-8
[4] Pollock R et al., 2024 IEEE Aerospace Conference, p1–11, doi:10.1109/AERO58975.2024.10521198
[5] Mallett BPP et al., 2024 Superconductivity, 12 100129, doi:10.1016/j.supcon.2024.100129
