L3-CRY-INST-TEMP
CRITICAL
PRESERVATION
Level 3 · hardware
Cryogenic Temperature Sensors
Silicon Diode and Pt RTD Cryogenic Temperature Sensor Array
Precision temperature sensors monitoring all cryogenic storage zones at -196C
Purpose
Precision temperature sensors monitoring all cryogenic storage zones at -196C
Context
Child of L2-CRY-INST
Principles
- ▸Silicon diode sensors accurate from 1.4K to 500K with ±0.1K precision at cryogenic range
- ▸Platinum RTDs provide stable reference measurements with minimal calibration drift
- ▸Sensor placement at multiple heights in each dewar detects thermal stratification
- ▸Redundant sensors (minimum 3 per zone) enable voting and fault detection
Typical implementations
- ▸Lakeshore DT-670 silicon diode sensors (space heritage)
- ▸Heraeus Pt100 thin-film RTDs
- ▸Scientific Instruments Si410 cryogenic thermometers
Lunar considerations
- ▸Radiation damage causes silicon diode calibration shift over years - periodic recalibration needed
- ▸Sensor lead wires create heat leak paths into cryogenic zones - minimize cross-section
- ▸100-year operation requires replacement plan for radiation-degraded sensors
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Precision temperature sensors monitoring all cryogenic storage zones at -196C |
Physical
| materials | Silicon diode chips, Platinum thin-film RTDs, Phosphor-bronze lead wire, GE varnish thermal anchoring |
Interfaces
Provides
- Temperature measurements for cryocooler control loops
Requires
- Sensor excitation current (~1mW per sensor)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Cryogenic Temperature Sensors" (L3-CRY-INST-TEMP). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-CRY-INST-TEMP
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.