A PROTOTYPE OIL-LESS COMPRESSOR FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION REFRIGERATED CENTRIFUGE

摘要

Under a subcontract from Lockheed-Martin Space Operations, Mainstream Engineering Corporation has successfully designed, fabricated, and tested a new oil-less hermetic reciprocating compressor that will operate in a zero-gravity environment. This compressor is used in a refrigerated centrifuge, which will be placed on the International Space Station. The original centrifuge used an oil-lubricated hermetic reciprocating compressor that was unsuitable for use in the zero-gravity space environment. The prototype oil-less compressor was a modified version of the hermetic reciprocating compressor used in the refrigerated centrifuge. Exhaustive orientation and performance testing of the modified compressor was performed. Life testing of the prototype compressors is underway.