A RETURN TRIP
Micromotors aren ’ t only helpful in ensuring an efficient launch — they can be just as important when it comes to making the return journey .
Since the first unmanned space mission Sputnik in 1957 , unmanned space probes have been used for a more cost-effective and safer method of space study . Small samples of rock and dust are collected from other planets in the hopes that they contain some clues about planet formation and potential signs of life .
Return capsules are responsible for bringing these samples safely back to Earth for analysis . Their smooth , dome-like shape offers them greater aerodynamics . But one might ask : with no exterior flaps , how can the capsule retain its stability and avoid spinning off course ?
The answer is to use linear DC servo motors within the capsule . By moving up and down the X and Y axes , the motors can help to shift the capsule ’ s centre of mass and help to stabilise it in flight . In some cases , the weight of the motor can be sufficient to act as a counterweight ,
Micromotors aren ’ t only helpful in ensuring an efficient launch — they can be just as important when it comes to making the return journey .
but additional weights can be added if a higher mass is needed .
MOTOR POWER
Expectations of these motors are high . They must be able to operate in the harshest of conditions , whether it ’ s the extreme heat of re-entry or the absolute zero temperatures of space . They must also be able to withstand extreme force and vibrations , with no loss of integrity . In the case of providing stability in real-
time , the motors need to be able to quickly change direction . The linear servo motors in sample return capsules may need to travel along their axes up to four times a second .
The motors must also be as compact as possible , with free space often a commodity . High reliability is another necessity , as the role these motors play can be significant in ensuring safe and efficient spacecraft operation .
FAULHABER motors , supplied in the UK and Ireland exclusively by EMS , are able to deliver to such a specification . In fact , there are already numerous FAULHABER motors hard at work in space , in applications ranging from seismometers and rovers to satellites and artificial assistants .
We never know what we ’ ll find in the cosmos , or even if we ’ ll find anything at all . The complexity and unpredictability of space means it ’ s almost impossible to guarantee the success of one mission to the next . But by choosing components carefully to match the harsh conditions and requirements of such missions , each spacecraft can be given the best possible chance of success .
For further information , please visit www . ems-limited . co . uk
Issue 62 PECM 21