Abstract
Cryogenic cooling is useful to most detectors in astronomical and atmospheric observation for improving the sensitivity and reducing the background noise. Recently cryocoolers are often adopted as cooling devices. This paper describes a single stage Stirling cryocooler. It is designed, manufactured and tested for space borne mission. The typical cooling power is 2W at 80K with 50W input. The cooler on the X-ray telescope satellite "Suzaku" was launched July 2005. It is operating over 1 year without any trouble. On the other hand, a cooler achieved 50,000 hour operation in the lifetime test on the ground. Same type coolers will be launched on the lunar explorer and the Venus orbiter of Japan
