High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment Research Articles

On-orbit status of the High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment

The High Temperature Superconductivity (HTS) Space Experiment (HTSSE-II) successfully achieved orbit 23 February 1999 with the launch of the Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS). It contains eight HTS components and subsystems. Developed by various industrial and government laboratories in the 1992 to 1994 time frame, they were integrated with a closed cycle refrigerator into the HTSSE-II payload during 1995. The monitoring of the on-orbit performance of the HTS devices began in May 1999. After a brief description of the HTSSE program, the performance characterization of the HTSSE-II devices will be presented.

The High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment: 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‐I payload, which was to have been launched in 1993, did not achieve orbit and was lost. The second HTSSE experiment, HTSSETI, which employs HTS technology circa 1993‐94, consists of complex HTS components and hybrid subsystems consisting of HTS and conventional semiconductor components, the latter operating either at cryogenic temperature or at room temperature. The HTSSE‐II payload containing the HTS components, cryogenic refrigerator and monitoring electronics was built, space qualified and shipped from NRL to the satellite integrator in the Spring of 1996. The launch of HTSSE‐II on the Advanced Global and Research Observation Satellite (ARGOS), which was originally set for mid‐1996, is now scheduled for March 1998. 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.

The high temperature superconductivity space experiment (HTSSE-II) design

The high temperature superconductivity space experiment (HTSSE) program, initiated by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in 1988, is described. The HTSSE program focuses high temperature superconductor (HTS) technology applications on space systems. The program phases, goals, and objectives are discussed. The devices developed for the HTSSE-II phase of the program and their suppliers are enumerated. Eight space-qualified components were integrated as a cryogenic experimental payload on DOD's ARGOS spacecraft. The payload was designed and built using a unique NRL/industry partnership and was integrated and space-qualified at NRL.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory/NASA Lewis Research Center space qualified hybrid high temperature superconducting/semiconducting 7.4 GHz low-noise downconverter for NRL HTSSE-II program

A deep space satellite downconverter receiver was proposed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) for the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) high temperature superconductivity space experiment, phase-II (HTSSE-II) program. Space qualified low-noise cryogenic downconverter receivers utilizing thin-film high temperature superconducting (HTS) passive circuitry and semiconductor active devices were developed and delivered to NRL. The downconverter consists of an HTS preselect filter, a cryogenic low-noise amplifier; a cryogenic mixer, and a cryogenic oscillator with an HTS resonator. HTS components were inserted as the front-end filter and the local oscillator resonator for their superior 77 K performance over the conventional components. The semiconducting low noise amplifier also benefited from cooling to 77 K. The mixer was designed specifically for cryogenic applications and provided low conversion loss and low power consumption. In addition to an engineering model, two space qualified units (qualification, flight) were built and delivered to NRL. Manufacturing ,integration and test of the space qualified downconverters adhered to the requirements of JPL class-D space instruments and partially to MIL-STD-883D specifications. The qualification unit has /spl sim/50 K system noise temperature which is a factor of three better than a conventional downconverter at room temperature. Commercial applications such as intersatellite links and V-SATS are envisioned to benefit by >3 dB link margin, or a factor of 2 in antenna size, from a future hybrid HTS/semiconducting cryogenic receiver employing new InP based HEMT LNA. In a spread spectrum communication network, the number of users per beam would more than double.

High temperature superconducting space-qualified multiplexers and delay lines

A high temperature superconducting (HTS) four-channel multiplexer and a delay line were fabricated, space qualified and tested as part of the U.S. Navy's High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment II (HTSSE-II). The multiplexer had an architecture that included two branch-line hybrids and two identical parallel-coupled line filters per channel. Its operation was centered at 4 GHz, with 50-MHz-wide channels. It was fully integrated, with microstrip interconnections between channels and thin-film load terminations in the out-of-phase port of the output hybrid. The delay line was made up of two cascaded modules for a total delay of 45 ns between 2 and 6 GHz. Both devices were made using 5-cm-diameter LaAlO/sub 3/ wafers coated with epitaxial thin film YBa/sub 2/ Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/, on both sides in the case of the delay line. Both devices operated at 77 K.

A space-qualified experiment integrating HTS digital circuits and small cryocoolers

High temperature superconductors (HTS) promise to achieve electrical performance superior to that of conventional electronics. For application in space systems, HTS systems must simultaneously achieve lower power, weight, and volume than conventional electronics, and meet stringent space qualification and reliability requirements. Most effort to date has focused on passive RF/microwave applications. However, incorporation of active microwave components such as amplifiers, mixers, and phase shifters, and on-board high data rate digital signal processing is limited by the power and weight of their spacecraft electronic and support modules. Absence of data on active HTS components will prevent their utilization in space. To validate the feasibility in space of HTS circuits and components based on Josephson junctions, we need to demonstrate HTS circuits and critical supporting technologies, such as space-qualified packaging and interconnects, closed-cycle cryocooling, and interface electronics. This paper describes the packaging, performance, and space test plan of an integrated, space-qualified experimental package consisting of HTS Josephson junction circuits and all the supporting components for NRL's high temperature superconductor space experiment (HTSSE-II). Most of the technical challenges and approaches are equally applicable to passive and active RF/microwave and digital electronic components, and this experiment will provide valuable validation data.

High temperature superconductive wideband compressive receivers

Wideband compressive receivers are an attractive application niche for analog high temperature superconductive (HTS) microwave filters. Chirp filters form the basis of compressive receivers, implementing a chirp-transform algorithm in the analog domain for real-time spectral analysis. HTS tapped-delay-line chirp filters are an enabling technology for instantaneous bandwidths greater than 1 GHz, and have evolved sufficiently to support dispersive delays as long as 40 ns with multigigahertz bandwidths and time-bandwidth products in excess of 100. Long dispersive delays have been obtained using a bonded/thinned-wafer technique to fabricate YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub O7-/spl delta// stripline devices on 5-mil-thick, 2-in-diameter LaAlO/sub 3/ substrates. These filters have produced better than -18-dB error sidelobes. In addition, a 3-GHz-bandwidth HTS compressive cueing receiver was recently delivered to the Naval Research Laboratory to be flown on the high temperature superconductor space experiment (HTSSE), and demonstrations have been performed combining HTS chirp filters with conventional compressive-receiver hardware. A novel compressive cryoreceiver architecture is proposed combining HTS, cryoelectronic, and advanced high-speed semiconductor technologies. The proposed receiver will rival the sensitivity of a narrowband receiver while providing unprecedented sideband instantaneous frequency coverage. Future developments will extend the bandwidth capability. Detailed comparisons are made to an all-digital receiver and to channelized-filter receiver architectures. An HTS compressive receiver is projected to be clearly superior in overall size, weight, and power. Applications include electronic warfare and dynamic molecular spectroscopy for remote sensing.

The NRL Josephson junction monitoring experiment on HTSEE-II

An experiment designed to ride on the high temperature superconductor space experiment (HTSSE-II) satellite package is described, which monitors the current-voltage characteristics of two high temperature superconductor (HTS) Josephson junctions. The junctions are typical examples of the state-of-the-art at the time of incorporation, and were obtained from two industrial laboratories: TRW and Conductus. Stringent requirements on shielding the devices from RF interference and DC magnetic fields are necessary to ensure that the measurements are meaningful. An additional constraint is imposed by the necessity to minimize flow of heat into the device package. Engineering solutions to these problems, and the resulting performance of the measurement system, are described. The package and associated electronics have been integrated into the flight satellite.

Cryogenic microwave channelized receiver

The channelized receiver being presented demonstrates the use of high temperature superconductor technology in a microwave system setting where superconductor, microwave-monolithic-integrated-circuit and hybrid-integrated-circuit components are united in one package and cooled to liquid-nitrogen temperatures. The receiver consists of a superconducting X-band four-channel demultiplexer with 100-MHz-wide channels, four commercial monolithically integrated mixers, and four custom-designed hybrid-circuit detectors containing heterostructure ramp diodes. The composite receiver unit has been integrated into the payload of the second-phase NRL high temperature superconductor space experiment (HTSSE-II). Prior to payload assembly, the response characteristics of the receiver were measured as functions of frequency, temperature, and drive levels. The article describes the circuitry, discusses the key issues related to design and implementation, and summarizes the experimental results.

Space-qualified superconductive digital instantaneous frequency-measurement subsystem

We have constructed a five-bit high temperature superconductive digital instantaneous frequency measurement (DIFM) subsystem capable of determining the frequency of unknown signals over a 500-MHz bandwidth, centered on 4 GHz, with a resolution of 17.8 MHz. The system consists of three parts: a limiting amplifier and filter, a comparator and data processing unit operating at room temperature, and a cryogenic subsystem containing five discriminator modules based on superconductive delay lines, GaAs mixers and power dividers. With a single-tone CW input between -40 dBm and +10 dBm, the frequency quantization boundaries of the subsystem are, on average, 3.1 MHz from their design values. This system was built for the High-Temperature Superconductor Space Experiment, Phase II (HTSSE II). It has passed all required qualification tests for vibration, shock and thermal cycling. The system is currently scheduled for satellite launch in fall 1996. Compared to a conventional system, the superconductive version of the DIFM is considerably smaller and provides enhanced resolution. In addition, the technology employed can be readily extended to a system with additional bits and wider instantaneous bandwidth. The system built demonstrates the potential for system-level applications of high-temperature superconductive electronics in instrumentation, communications, radar, and electronic warfare.

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

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.

Space applications and implications of high temperature superconductivity

The High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment (HTSSE) opened new opportunities and applications for high temperature superconductivity. Space missions inherently benefit from reduced weight, size and power and HTS offers an order of magnitude improvement in these as well as simultaneously improving performance. The paper provides a short history of HTSSE and the current status of the next phase. The author outlines lessons learned from building the first space experiment and some challenges still remaining. He addresses the unique problems faced when HTS is "qualified" for use in the space environment and concludes with projections and predictions of what is next. The paper is intended to be of general interest and addresses material and electronics aspects of space applications. Summary results of tests conducted at the Naval Research Lab and elsewhere are presented as they relate to space qualification of HTS.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Superconducting cueing receiver for space experiment

Exploiting the high-temperature superconductor YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ (YBCO), we have extended chirp-transform processing to instantaneously analyze the spectrum of an incoming signal over greater bandwidth than any competing technology. A compact receiver has been developed that can analyze a 3 GHz bandwidth in 120 ns with 110 MHz resolution. The cryogenic YBCO chirp filter and ambient-temperature semiconductor electronics have been space qualified for flight on the US Navy's High-Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment, a package to be launched on the US Air Force ARGOS scientific satellite. >

The high temperature superconductivity space experiment (HTSE)

Abstract The High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment (HTSSE) program, initiated by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in 1988, is described. The HTSSE program focuses high temperature superconductor (HTS) technology applications on space systems. The program phases, goals and objectives are discussed. The devices developed for this program and their suppliers are enumerated. For HTSSE-I, 15 space-qualified, passive microwave devices were integrated onto a cryogenic cold bus as an experimental payload on a DoD spacecraft. The experiment payload and scientific data measurements systems, designed, developed, and built by NRL, are described.

Space applications of high temperature superconductivity: The High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment (HTSSE)

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is exploring the feasibility of deploying high temperature superconducting electrical and electronic devices and components in military systems, especially in space. The initial High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment (HTSSE-I) will demonstrate that High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) technology is sufficiently robust to survive the space environment and that it has the potential to significantly improved military systems. The devices for this mission have been procured, tested, space qualified and integrated into a space package which was shipped from NRL for on-orbit mission which is scheduled for 1993. The second HTSSE program began in 1991 when contracts were awarded for the procurement of a variety of advanced devices and subsystems based on HTS technology. Two versions of each component in space qualified packages will be delivered to NRL for electrical verification, space qualification, and integration with cryogenic refrigerators and the necessary ambient temperature electronics into a payload which will be in orbit late in 1996. This paper will describe the properties of superconductivity which may impact communications and surveillance systems and describe how HTS can be employed beneficially in operational electronic systems.

The High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment: HTSSE I-Components and HTSSE II-Subsystems and advanced devices

The goals and objectives of the High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experimental (HTSSE) program are described, and a description of the first launch package and plans for future experiments (HTSSE-II) are presented. The objective of the program is to prove that HTS technology is sufficiently robust to survive the space environment and that it has the potential to significantly improve space communications systems. The devices for the initial launch (HTSSE-I) have been delivered to US Naval Research Laboratory, their electrical characteristics have been verified, and their packages have been space-qualified. These devices will be integrated with a cryogenic refrigeration system and a data acquisition system, all space-qualified. Once placed in earth orbit, the experimental package will be cooled to cryogenic temperatures and the characteristics of the HTS devices monitored periodically. The HTSSE-I mission, scheduled to start in 1993, will last for at least six months.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Survivability of high-T/sub c/ microwave devices in space radiation environments

In order to investigate the suitability of high-T/sub c/ devices for satellite applications, a High Temperature Superconductivity Space Experiment (HTSSE I) is due for launch in 1993. The purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of nonionizing radiation on the performance of high-T/sub c/ devices intended for deployment on HTSSE I. A low-temperature radiation damage study of first-generation passive microwave devices fabricated from high-temperature cuprate superconductors has been performed in order to examine the effects of nonionizing radiation damage. Changes in performance due to radiation-induced shifts in the transition temperature and to film erosion are discussed. The results show that if these relatively simple passive devices are reasonably well shielded, they should survive in typical five-year space applications.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Radiation effects in high temperature superconducting films and devices for the NRL high temperature superconductivity space experiment

The effects of proton irradiation on the performance of films and microwave devices made from the high temperature superconductors YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7- delta / and Tl/sub 2/Ca/sub 2/BaCu/sub 2/O/sub 8/ have been measured and can be explained in terms of radiation-induced changes in material parameters such as surface impedance, critical current and transition temperature. Changes in material parameters can in turn be linked to atomic displacement effects.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

A superconducting hydrogen maser resonator made from electrophoretic YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7- delta /

The construction and test of three loop-gap resonators which are being prepared for the high-temperature superconductor space experiment (HTSSE) are discussed. The loop-gap electrodes are the lossiest parts of such a resonator. In a first step these electrodes, with a surface of 150 cm/sup 2/, were covered with YBCO. The Q values of the resonators at 77 K ranged between 2.3*10/sup 4/ and 3.1*10/sup 4/ and exceed the minimum requirement for a later maser application. They correspond to a surface resistance between 0.7 and 1.4 m Omega , which is a factor of three to five below the equivalent value of copper. The cavities can be excited in a higher-order mode (HOM) at 4.3 GHz with a field distribution that is still sensitive to the superconducting electrodes. Thus, the experimental requirements for the HTSSE project can be fulfilled.