Thermal Conditioning Unit

This document describes a Thermal Conditioning Unit (TCU) concept that can be used to keep samples at any selected temperature between -20 °C and 50 °C in space environment.

The adaptation to the two mission scenarios (Biorack in Spacelab IML-2 and MIR station) where the concept has been used is described, providing design solutions, performances and test results.

Proposals for new future configurations are also presented.

Safety and reliability aspects are assessed.