Scott Nicholas
Lockheed Martin‘s advanced technology center has built an ultra-compact cryocooler system to offer a quick-startup feature for infrared sensors used to support military operations.
Lockheed said Wednesday its Fast Cool Down Microcryocooler is designed to quickly activate IR-sensing platforms utilized on space observation and weapons targeting missions.
Jeffrey Olson, a research scientist at Lockheed’s advanced technology center, said the technology can help reduce the average cooling time of IR sensors from 15 minutes to approximately three minutes.
The microcryocooler is also designed to have a decade-long life span and a capacity to support compact, hand-carried weapon systems and small spacecraft such as cubesats, Lockheed noted.
The company also offers the High Power Microcryocooler variant offered in the marketplace.
