Space programs [ Return towards  Space  ]

A turbo engine for the MELFI cryo-freezer on the ISS

Air Liquide has designed and developed a unique cold producing turbo engine that forms the active part of MELFI, on behalf of the European Space Agency.

See detail

A dilution cooler for PLANCK

Air Liquide has designed and produced, in collaboration with the CNRS-CRTBT, the first dilution cooler ever qualified for use in the space industry. It is built into the European Planck satellite and will be used to cool one of its scientific observation instruments to a temperature of 0.1 K (-273.05°C) for a period of more than 2 years.

See detail

A supercritical helium pressurization tank for Ariane 5

Air Liquide has produced the liquid helium tank used for the in-flight pressurization of the oxygen tank on the main cryotechnical stage of Ariane 5.

See detail

A liquid helium cryostat for Herschel

Air Liquide has produced the liquid helium tank for the containment of superfluid helium to cool the Herschel space telescope and related cryogenic equipment (heat screens and links, lines, auxiliary tank).

See detail