Cryo Harness
The MIRI ICE harness provides the electrical link between all mechanisms, heaters, temperature and position sensors as well as the calibration source of the MIRI Optical Bench Assembly (OBA) and the Instrument Control Electronics (ICE). The harness will allow for operation at 300K the initial temperature after release and the 7K operational temperature of MIRI.
The main design requirements for the Cryo-harness are: low thermal conductivity, low electrical resistivity, a layout that ensures operation in a cryogenic environment and high redundancy to assure the mission objectives. These requirements are partly in confliction and therefore a challenge for the designers.
Below is a picture of a cryo harness under test
Below is a picture of a structural model of the MIRI with attached cryo harnesses
Find out more at the Paul Scherrer Institut website: