In space, temperatures, pressures and forces are different from those in the environments we have been familiar with. Because of this measurement technology ?up there? is exposed to specific stresses. WIKA has developed, tested and supplied special force transducers for space travel. These are customer-specific load pins that have now proven themselves on a flight into space.
Space travel is definitely commercialised, and concepts for space tourism are taking shape. In the development departments of the space industry, plans are maturing for new generations of launch vehicles along with other transporters for multiple, and therefore resource-saving, missions. To create passengers, crew and vehicles safely back to earth, sophisticated technology, reliable atlanta divorce attorneys situation, is indispensable.
A central role is played by the flight control system, which ensures the correct orientation of the spacecraft for safe missions into space and back. Load pins are critical components for this. They must measure precisely the forces acting on the flight control surfaces of the spacecraft. Conventional load pins are not up to this task ? the criteria for spacecraft force transducers are too demanding for them.
Requirements for force transducers in space travel
In the search for load pins ideal for space, an aerospace company had initially enquired with another manufacturer. But this supplier was not able to meet up with the extraordinary requirements. The strain pins would have to:
function reliably at extremely cold temperatures (right down to -65 �C)
withstand very high loads and become fatigue-proof
have very compact dimensions (the diameter of the measuring bore was just 8 mm)
A long time of experience with load pins and miniaturisation
WIKA has developed and built this version of lots pin for a space mission.
Ultimately, the drawings, technical data and test requirements finished up at WIKA. Due to their many years of experience, both with load pins and also in instrument miniaturisation, WIKA?s force measurement experts succeeded in developing and manufacturing exactly the products that the client had wanted.
But that was only the initial challenge. The second was to subject the load pins to a variety of tests in order to guarantee, with absolute certainty, they would function correctly in space. However, the testing facilities needed for this were not available, neither internally nor externally. Just how could Tragic operating conditions of the sensors be simulated?
Special test equipment for the space-travel force transducers
There was only 1 answer: WIKA had to create and build its own special test facility with a heating chamber and an adjustment and calibration machine. It had to:
apply an alternating load of 23,860 kg every seven seconds
maintain an internal temperature of -65 �C
This new equipment ultimately provided proof that the load pins maintained the mandatory measuring quality, even with 100,000 test cycles at the required low temperature. This was then also demonstrated in the application form: The control surfaces of the spacecraft functioned perfectly and enabled a safe flight into space and back.
Measuring solutions for aviation too
As well as space flight, WIKA also serves the aviation industry with specific measurement solutions. One of these of this may be the development of a force transducer within the European ?Clean Sky? programme, which aims to reduce emissions from aircraft. WIKA also supplies DirectDrive pressure gauges for oxygen systems and pressure transducers for ice detection in jet engines.
Note
Further information on load pins and other force measurement technology for extreme conditions, for example ring force transducers and strain transducers, are available on the WIKA website. You may also download a brochure with a concise summary of WIKA?s force measurement technology. In case you have any questions, your contact will gladly assist you to.
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