Can Electronics made of COTS components work at cryogenic temperatures?
Space travel is so attractive to us while it is so challenging to scientists and engineers. For long time since 1957 when the first space mission was launched, designing device that can survive the extreme conditions in the space has been the priority of any space exploration program. The on-board electronics for space applications presents special requirements for the materials, packaging, components, and protection. The specially designed electronics for space systems, such as the electrical power management and control systems that are capable of all designated functionalities in the ultra-low temperature environments offers lots of advantages over the current systems housed in the “warm box” that utilizes radioisotope heating units to keep the on-board electronic devices at a constant 20 C. Electronic devices that are capable of working at cryogenic temperature can overcome the harsh environment of deep space, shrink the size, reduce the overall weight, lower the power consumption and shorten the development time. From the aspect of performance, power electronics can have higher efficiency at lower temperature than room temperature, which in turn results in optimal device behaviors and fault tolerance in the electrical and thermal properties of the semiconductor and dielectric materials at low temperatures. The Low Temperature Electronics Program at the NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH, has conducted a research on devices and systems for planetary exploration and their efficient and reliable performance down to cryogenic temperatures as low as -243°C or 30K. Their research involves characterizing the COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) components and some developed passive and active devices.
Space environment is hostile to not only human but also electronics. The spaceships must be designed to withstand the ultra-low temperature, vibration at various frequencies, high-g shock, and cosmic radiation. For the temperature, it varies within a much wider range than the operating temperature range for most electronic components have been specified, from -55 to +125°C. For example, the surface temperature pf the Moon ranges from -200°C to +200°C. The following picture shows the temperature contour map of the south pole of Moon.
