Thermal-Isolation Structure for Low-Temperature Experiments

The figure shows a tension/compression structure that provides rigid suspension and a high degree of thermal isolation for a small instrument assembly used in low-temperature experiments. The structure is designed primarily for use in a microgravitational environment; specifically, to support a sensor package in the Critical Dynamics in Microgravity Experiment (DYNAMX), which is scheduled to fly on the space shuttle as part of the Microgravity Science Payload in early 2002. The structure also is adaptable to scientific experimentation in normal Earth gravity in cases in which there are requirements for lightweight, rigid, thermally isolating structures in confining geometries.