Search results for "satellites"
Geckos inspire the ultimate outer-space adhesive
A piece of tape can only be used a few times before the adhesion wears off and it can no longer hold two surfaces together. But researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, are working on the ultimate system of stickiness, inspired by geckos. This article's main image shows an artist's conception of a future robot that could use its "gecko" feet to carry out, for example, ISS maintenance.
Microsemi provides space-age power, comms & avionics
Microsemi has announced that its industry-leading space solutions are onboard NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto. The Microsemi products onboard include power supplies, electromechanical latching relays, several JANS class diode and transistor discretes, and RTSX-SU FPGAs which are used in imaging cameras providing high-resolution images, as well as in the comms, avionics and payload systems.
Production tester accelerates GNSS solutions
A speed-optimised production tester - the R&S SMBV100A vector signal generator from Rohde & Schwarz, is equipped with the R&S SMBV-P101 package. During production testing of modules and receivers for satellite-based communications, the basic GNSS signal reception and the connection between the antenna and GNSS chipset need to be checked.
Space qualified resistors span wide temperature range
The PHR series and TNPS series space qualified resistors from Vishay are now ready for shipment from TTI in Europe. The devices benefit from very high reliability and proven thin film technology. PHR series thin film wrap around resistors are space level ESA qualified according to ESCC4001/023 and offer a wide operating temperature range from -55°C up to +155°C.
Rad-hard FPGA dev kit suits high-bandwidth space designs
Microsemi has announced the availability of its RTG4 FPGA Development Kit, the first of its kind to provide space designers with an evaluation and development platform for applications such as data transmission, serial connectivity, bus interface and high-speed designs using Microsemi’s RTG4 high-speed signal processing radiation-tolerant FPGA device.
NASA seeks CubeSat payload providers
Space enthusiasts have an opportunity to contribute to NASA’s exploration goals through the next round of the agency’s CubeSat Launch Initiative.The Initiative provides access to space for CubeSats developed by NASA centres, accredited educational institutions and non-profit organisations, giving CubeSat developers access to a low-cost pathway to conduct research in the areas of science, exploration, technology development, education ...
New sensor range boosts data logger capabilities
The TSR Data Logger line now includes a new ±20 g sensor range. The built-in XYZ accelerometers eliminate the need for time-consuming sensor hook-up, an internal battery and simple software, expediting data collection. The data logger can capture up to 2,000 transient shock events or run as a continuous data recorder for seconds to days.
Rad hard multiplexers provide outstanding ESD protection
Radiation hardened (rad hard) multiplexers, claimed to offer the industry’s highest signal chain accuracy and timing performance, have been introduced by Intersil. The ISL71840SEH and ISL71841SEH provide outstanding ESD protection.
Pac-Man inspired space debris clean-up
Space debris is the collection of objects travelling at up to 17,500 mph in orbit around Earth, including spent rocket stages, old satellites, fragments from disintegration and more. According to NASA, there are more than 20,000 pieces of debris larger than 10cm and 500,000 pieces of debris larger than 1cm being tracked, as well as the many millions of pieces of debris that are too small to be tracked.
Newbury Electronics helps UK school to win European competition
Newbury Electronics was delighted to hear that Team Impulse, a group of students from St Paul’s School, London had won first place in the European CanSat 2015 competition. The company first became involved with this team of young engineers when they were asked to supply prototype PCBs back in the autumn of 2014. These were then incorporated into the satellite that secured them first place in the UK competition and took them onto the final i...