The range of cryogenic coolers featured in this paper are based closely upon the well proven technology of the Oxford 80 K cooler developed for ISAMS. This original development was carried out by Oxford University and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The latter have further developed coolers for 4 K and 20 K to 50 K applications. British Aerospace Space Systems Ltd in collaboration with the European Space Agency have worked on a programme of development to ensure the availability of these coolers from industry, for current and future Earth observation and astronomy missions. The current state of development of these coolers is discussed. The work done both to qualify their suitability for space use, and to address issues such as the requirement for very low levels of self-induced vibration is reviewed. Flight qualification testing results are presented for both the 80 K cooler and the 20 K to 50 K cooler. These results include cooler performance characteristics, self induced vibration, launch vibration and thermal vacuum testing.
