Microwave cable assemblies on Mars mission
19 May 2004
Interconnection
Fire & Safety
News & Events
Martin Schnyder, Industrial, Space + Defence, Huber + Suhner
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.
Further reading:
Omniball through-hole contacts
Spectrum Concepts
Interconnection
Mill-Max has introduced an expansion to its Omniball spring-loaded contact range with a new series of through-hole mount Omniball pins designed for robust and versatile interconnect solutions.
Read more...
Phoenix’s Push-X range is growing
Phoenix Contact
Interconnection
With the new XT 1,5 terminal blocks, Phoenix Contact is extending the series to include versions for conductor cross-sections from 0,34 to 2.5 mm
2.
Read more...
Connector range for demanding environments
Future Electronics
Interconnection
TE Connectivity’s DEUTSCH connector range offers high-performance interconnect solutions engineered for demanding environments where reliability and durability are essential.
Read more...
The role of safe storage in mitigating burglary and fire risk
Gunnebo Safe Storage Africa
Products & Solutions Fire & Safety Smart Home Automation
Household burglary and fire remain amongst the most common threats to household assets in South Africa. Statistics South Africa’s 2024 Victims of Crime Survey reported approximately 1,5 million incidents of housebreaking in a single year.
Read more...
The mechanical side of power
Spectrum Concepts
Interconnection
[Sponsored] Power delivery has always been a key requirement of electronic systems, but the way power is generated, distributed, and consumed is changing rapidly with renewable energy installations and energy storage systems introducing new power sources.
Read more...
Reshaping South Africa’s built environment
Securex South Africa
Facilities & Building Management News & Events Commercial (Industry)
FM teams are responsible for the overall operational environment of a building, while security teams focus on protection, control, and incident response. Increasingly, both rely on the same data streams, infrastructure, and digital tools.
Read more...
Banking’s AI reckoning
Financial (Industry) News & Events AI & Data Analytics
From agentic commerce disputes to quantum-powered risk modelling, SAS experts offer a ‘banker’s dozen,’ 13 industry-defining predictions that will separate institutions that master intelligent banking from those still struggling with the basics.
Read more...
Dahua showcases smart city solutions
AI & Data Analytics Fire & Safety IoT & Automation
Dahua showcased its smart city solutions at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, which brought together experts, innovators, and city leaders from around the globe to explore the future of urban transformation.
Read more...
Magnetic connectors with 2,54 mm pitch
Spectrum Concepts
Interconnection
This expansion of the company’s Maxnetic product line delivers next-generation high reliability magnetic connectors designed for use in ever shrinking electronic devices and their applications.
Read more...
Reliable connectivity in harsh environments
Future Electronics
Interconnection
The ecomate family of circular, multiway connectors from Amphenol delivers exceptional durability, safety, and versatility for power and signal applications.
Read more...
printer friendly version