Posted to News on 18th Feb 2025, 12:00
Learn about drive systems for space at SPACE-COMM EXPO
maxon is presenting its precision drive systems for space applications at SPACE-COMM EXPO 2025 including its partnership with NASA throughout all the Mars missions launched to date.
(See maxon at Machine Building North, 10 April 2025, on stand 83)
Taking place at London Excel, 11 and 12 March, maxon will exhibit on stand B10. maxon's Space Engineers will be in attendance to provide their expertise to guide drive system specification for new space applications.
As a special feature at SPACE-COMM EXPO, maxon will display the electric drive systems used onboard NASA's Perseverance rover, currently operating on the Red Planet, as well as the motors used on NASA's ground-breaking Ingenuity drone. This includes the motion for Perseverance's sampling and caching mechanism, required to collect the vital Martian rock samples, plus the control of Ingenuity's swashplate, responsible for the pitch of the rotor blades.
Alongside the actual drive systems used onboard NASA's spacecraft, maxon will display a scale model of Ingenuity. Originally intended to fly five missions on Mars, Ingenuity's longevity enabled it to make 72 flights. The 1:3.3 scale model has been 3D printed and reproduced from NASA's CAD files.
maxon's Space Engineers at the show will also explain the development of drive systems for the European Space Agency's (ESA) new berthing and docking mechanism, intended to enable faster and safer entry and exit to the International Space Station (ISS). Drive systems for satellite applications will also be on display, including reaction wheel control.
At maxon's stand, Andrew Gibson, maxon UK and Ireland's head of space applications will be joined by maxon Space Lab's Head of Business Development, Stefan Dillier, as well as maxon engineer Ronak Samani. maxon's engineering team will advise space application engineers visiting the exhibition on the design and specification of electric drive systems for the demands of the space environment.
The precision drive system manufacturer will display a range of products, including DC and brushless DC (BLDC) motors, gearheads, sensors, and controls, as well as complete drive systems, designed and tested specifically for space. At maxon's Space Lab, products are tested according to extremes of radiation, gravity, vacuum, shock and vibration, as well as ultra-low and ultra-high temperature. Virtually all products developed for space applications are customised specific to the demands of each project.
