Variohm supplies NASA-approved temperature sensors

As a part of its distribution partnership with Betatherm, Variohm-Eurosensor is supplying high-reliability thermistors used to monitor critical temperature for extended space flight applications.

The NASA approved and Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC 311) rated temperature sensor has been supplied to ABSL Space Products based in Abingdon, UK and the US to perform the essential temperature measurement of lithium-ion battery packs that are used to power the life-support system in astronauts' space suits.

The advanced design of the ABSL Space Products battery pack includes a sophisticated control system with cooling fans and heaters together with the epoxy-encapsulated Betatherm thermistors that maintain the battery temperature within a strict range to provide an optimal operational life.

The battery packs are used to power different types of space suit including the Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs) that astronauts typically use when space walking - so the need for the absolute and total reliability from all components used is critical.

Quality control for the NASA-approved range includes re-qualifying products annually by screening visual and mechanical requirements, testing thermal shock, high-temperature storage and insulation resistance to ensure total reliability for space flight and other high-reliability applications.

The working accuracy tolerance for the space suit application is typically better than +/-0.5 per cent over a range of 0C to 70C, with an operational storage temperature range of -55C to +70C.

Betatherm thermistors find applications in demanding temperature measurement, control and compensation applications in biomedical, automotive, aerospace, instrumentation, HVAC, consumer industries and instrumentation.

The range has a reputation for total reliability and accuracy with product features that include interchangeability to +/-0.05C, miniaturised designs to less than 0.35mm diameter, and a high degree of engineering flexibility including rapid prototyping of customised designs.

Betatherm also designs and manufactures high-reliability temperature sensors for European Space Agency (ESA) specified and approved applications.

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