The high-temperature superconductivity space experiment (HTSSE): present status and future challenges

Abstract

The high-temperature superconductivity space experiment (HTSSE) at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is exploring the feasibility of deploying high-temperature superconducting (HTS) electronic devices, components and subsystems in space. The initial HTSSE experiment, which employed HTS technology available in 1990, focused on simple microwave devices which were suitably packaged, integrated with a cryogenic refrigerator and built into a space-qualified payload. Unfortunately the HTSSE-1 payload, which was launched in 1993, did not achieve orbit and was lost. The second HTSSE experiment, HTSSE-II, which will use HTS technology circa 1993 - 94, will consist of complex HTS components and hybrid subsystems consisting of HTS and conventional semiconductor components, the latter operating either at cryogenic temperature or at ambient temperature. The HTSSE-II payload containing the HTS components, cryogenic refrigerator and monitoring electronics will have been built, space qualified and shipped from NRL in November 1995 to the satellite integrator for a planned Summer 1996 launch. A description of the HTSSE-II payload will be presented and the performance of the HTS components and their potential impact on future space communications systems will be described.