A six-meter long prototype of the Mag-Lev cryogen transfer line

An innovative six-meter long prototype of the magnetic levitation suspended cryogen transfer line has design, constructed and tested to demo potentials of extending many missions by saving cryogens, or reducing the overall launch mass to accomplish a given mission. The use of magnetic levitation by permanent magnets (PM) and high temperature superconductors (HTS) provides support without mechanical contact and thus, the conduction part of the heat leak can be reduced to zero, which is ultimately the most serious heat leak after thermal radiation has been minimized. The configurations of HTS & PM, the levitation force in different arrangements, the mechanical design of the transfer line, the support/release structures, and the cryogenic testing results are also discussed.