Interconnection


Microwave cable assemblies on Mars mission

19 May 2004 Interconnection Fire & Safety News & Events

The planet Mars is an unforgiving environment, even for Huber+Suhner's highly rugged Sucoflex microwave cable assemblies. However, these products satisfy the most rigorous demands of space applications, a fact borne out by their use in the 'Mars Express' space probe. They are being applied for the first time on the planet Mars.

With the Red Planet as close to Earth as 55 758 006 kilometres, it was a good occasion for the European Space Agency ESA to launch one of the most interesting missions in its history. The last time Mars came so close was 73 000 years ago. On 2 June 2003, the Mars Express space probe was dispatched to Mars, with the purpose of finding traces of life or at least whether life was once possible.

Riding piggyback on the Mars Express was 'Beagle 2'. After a journey of over six months, this small high-tech lab detached from the space probe to land on the surface of Mars. Hardly bigger than a microwave oven, it contained two spectrometers, three cameras, a sample-collecting robot and a mechanical gripping arm. Eight instruments, at a total weight of only about 30 kilograms, is a record. In Beagle 2, Sucoflex microwave cable assemblies transmit the measurement data back to Earth which the various instruments supply. Sucoflex products have been applied in various satellites since 1996.

At Huber+Suhner, ESA-certified employees manufacture products for space applications under clean room conditions. In-house test laboratories allow Huber+Suhner to conduct its own extensive production and qualification tests. The design and production of radio-frequency cables, connectors and assemblies are combined under a single roof. This allows the various products to be optimally matched.

But these are not the only capabilities that make Huber+Suhner a world-class provider of products and services for space applications. Indispensable in space missions is a low product weight and an assured top product quality too. Moreover, the customer had sought a supplier for the Beagle 2 project who - in addition to offering a customised product - would also provide top service. In research projects such as this one flexibility is crucial, since specifications may change in the course of development. Sales engineers from Huber+Suhner advised the customer during the entire project so that the very best solution could be found.



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Highest increase in global cyberattacks in two years
Information Security News & Events
Check Point Global Research released new data on Q2 2024 cyber-attack trends, noting a 30% global increase in Q2 2024, with Africa experiencing the highest average weekly per organisation.

Read more...
DeepSneak deception
Information Security News & Events
Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis researchers have discovered a new malicious campaign which is distributing a Trojan through a fake DeepSeek-R1 Large Language Model (LLM) app for PCs.

Read more...
Value and industry insight
Securex South Africa Training & Education News & Events
Securex South Africa 2025, co-located with A-OSH EXPO, Facilities Management Expo, and Firexpo, drew thousands of security professionals from across the continent and beyond, offering a platform for networking, product discovery, and knowledge sharing.

Read more...
Survey highlights cost of cyberdamage to industrial companies
Kaspersky Information Security News & Events
The majority of industrial organisations estimate their financial losses caused by cyberattacks to be over $1 million, while almost one in four report losses exceeding $5 million, and for some, it surpasses $10 million.

Read more...
Digital economy needs an agile approach to cybersecurity
Information Security News & Events
South Africa is the most targeted country in Africa when it comes to infostealer and ransomware attacks. Being at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation puts South Africa in the crosshairs for sophisticated cyberattacks

Read more...
SIEM rule threat coverage validation
Information Security News & Events
New AI-detection engineering assistant from Cymulate automates SIEM rule validation for SecOps and blue teams by streamlining threat detection engineering with automated testing, control integrations and enhanced detections.

Read more...
Blade terminals deliver greater power density
Spectrum Concepts Interconnection
[Sponsored] Connectivity has become more important as designers pack more power into smaller spaces, all while managing thermal loads and ensuring efficiency.

Read more...
What’s the big deal with open pin fields?
Spectrum Concepts Interconnection
The concept behind the open pin field array is that it provides many contacts that are not limited to a single role.

Read more...
Hirose Electric’s push-on bayonet lock connectors
Avnet Abacus Interconnection
Hirose Electric’s HR22K Series is a compact, waterproof, and oil-resistant connector designed for demanding industrial environments.

Read more...
Igniting standards, powering protection
Securex South Africa News & Events Fire & Safety
Fire safety is more than compliance, it is a critical commitment to protecting lives, assets, and infrastructure. At Firexpo 2025, taking place from 3 to 5 June at Gallagher Convention Centre, that commitment takes centre stage.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved