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Lancaster firm delivers thermal system to NASA for lunar exploration
The team at Advanced Cooling Technologies prepare to send the Thermal Management System to NASA – PHOTO/ADVANCED COOLING TECHNOLOGIES
Lancaster firm delivers thermal system to NASA for lunar exploration
Listen to this articleLancaster-based Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (ACT) is going to space again.
The company has delivered its Thermal Management System (TMS) to NASA for NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) mission.
ACT said the delivery marks a multi-year development that began at the concept stage and culminated in the delivery of essential flight hardware, solidifying its commitment to advancing space exploration.
ACT’s team developed TMS to help NASA’s VIPER “Survive Lunar Night”, which includes extended dark periods where temperatures drop to liquid nitrogen levels, the company said in a statement. Through engineering efforts and qualification regimens, ACT completed the program and has shipped this one-of-a-kind TMS to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for final integration into the VIPER flight vehicle.
“The successful development and delivery of the Thermal Management System for the NASA VIPER mission, exemplifies ACT’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of thermal management technology in support of space exploration,” said Bryan Muzyka, vice president of sales and marketing. “We are honored to have worked with NASA on this mission and are extremely proud of the large team that worked on this program. We look forward to witnessing VIPER’s groundbreaking discoveries on the lunar surface.”
TMS is comprised of four Loop Heat Pipes (LHPs) and four radiators that will remove excess heat during lunar exploration. ACT said the heat pipes act as the circulatory system, transporting heat away from critical components and into the lunar atmosphere.
This unique capability enables the science instruments and avionics to remain warm and functional during the frigid lunar shadow periods, ACT said.
Throughout the development process, ACT said it maintained a close and collaborative working relationship with NASA engineers. This partnership was instrumental in ensuring that the Thermal Management System met NASA’s stringent requirements and specifications.
