Motors enabling space travel
EDITOR ’ S CHOICE SUCCESS AMONG THE STARS
EMS
Motors enabling space travel
The space race didn ’ t get off to the best start this year , with the UK ’ s first ever satellite mission ending in disappointment . The launch highlights how the failure of just one component can lead to the demise of an entire mission . But space waits for no one , and as the race continues , how can we best ensure that future missions are successful ? Here , Dave Walsha , sales manager at DC motor supplier EMS , explains .
Virgin Orbit ’ s Start Me Up mission hoped to be historical : being the first orbital launch from the UK , the first international launch for Virgin Orbit , and holding the first satellite built in Wales .
Investigations into the reason for the project ’ s failure are still ongoing , but preliminary evidence suggests that the problem lies with a filter in the rocket ’ s second-stage propulsion system . The filter was dislodged , causing issues downstream and ultimately leading to premature shutdown of the engine .
The project highlights the complexity of space missions , and the importance of every single component — including micromotors — in ensuring a safe and successful mission . But what can reliable micromotors do for space applications ?
TAKING FLIGHT
Most orbital launch vehicles , including Virgin Orbit ’ s rockets , rely on RP-1 fuel for power . RP-1 is a highly refined form of kerosene , which has had additional unwanted compounds removed to produce a cleaner burn and prevent engine damage .
RP-1 is mixed with liquid oxygen ( LOX ) to create a combustion reaction . The nature of this reaction means precise ratios aren ’ t required , provided both reactants are present in some capacity . But if the ratio does begin to stray significantly from the ideal , then one reactant is likely to run out before the other , leaving the remainder as dead weight .
To avoid this from happening , butterfly valves are installed onto the fuel tank pipes . Controlled by servo motors , these valves allow precise control of reactant flow , which means that the fuel mixture can be kept as close to its ideal ratio as possible .
20 PECM Issue 62