We are amid a time of monumental importance for space technology and exploration. In the past few years alone, we’ve seen remarkable first-time accomplishments by both commercial and government space organisations, witnessing the first successful launch and landing of reusable rockets, the very first up-close images of Pluto, and the first launch of an asteroid mining mission. Additionally, vital human health and environmental issues are explored and improved regularly, thanks to the work aboard the International Space Station.
At VPT, these developments are especially exciting as our high-reliability products are part of the critical power systems on many of these astounding space programmes.
Mission #1: Decrease space mission cost with system reusability
In an effort to significantly lower the cost of space missions, reusable rockets and capsules are making a tremendous impact. Both Blue Origin and SpaceX have made developments in greatly diminishing the overall cost of space missions with their successful launches and landings of reusable space systems. In 2015, Blue Origin’s reusable rocket, New Shepard, became the first rocket to launch just short of low Earth orbit and land fully intact.
Soon after, SpaceX accomplished a similar feat with its Falcon 9 rocket, successfully completing the first-ever orbital launch and landing. Prior to this, no orbital class booster had ever landed intact. Additionally, both vertical take-off/vertical-launch (VTVL) vehicles continued to make additional launches and landings.
Most recently, SpaceX launched its Dragon capsule from its Falcon 9 rocket for a resupply mission to the International Space Station. Not only did the rocket land safely after launch, the Dragon capsule arrived at the International Space Station two days later. This marks the Dragon spacecraft’s second delivery to the space station, making it the first reusable and commercially built spacecraft to make repeat deliveries to the ISS. Both the launch vehicle and the cargo capsule had VPT parts onboard for this mission.
Humans have made impressive discoveries in space over the years, including one of the most significant events in modern history. On 14 July 2015, NASA’s interplanetary probe, New Horizons, made a flyby above the surface of Pluto, capturing the first high-resolution photos of the dwarf planet and its moon Charon. The mission has brought to light many facts about Pluto and its system that were simply unknown before; from evidence of water on Pluto to the colour of its atmosphere.
Launched in 2006, New Horizons made the nearly decade-long and 3.6-billion-mile journey to Pluto, with VPT power conversion parts onboard. This mission provided a first-time up-close look at Pluto and Charon, as well as Jupiter and the farther regions of our solar system. New Horizons is still in orbit, with an expected flyby of the Kuiper belt in January 2019, and a projected mission end-date in 2026.
Another significant mission for NASA is OSIRIS-REx, their first asteroid study and sample return mission. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will rendezvous with, and take samples from asteroid Bennu. This is the first mission designed to inform scientists about the solar system’s development by bringing actual samples from an asteroid back to Earth. In 2018, OSIRIS-REx is scheduled to make contact with the mountain-sized Bennu, studying it as it prepares for sample collection in 2020. The spacecraft will return to Earth in September 2023.
Since its launch, OSIRIS-Rex has performed flawlessly and remains on schedule, having also completed a successful deep space maneuver in December 2016, as well as capturing an image of Jupiter and three of its moons during a search for Earth-Trojan asteroids. While the Earth-Trojan survey did not yield any discoveries, it provided the mission team practice with hazard maneuvers that will help the spacecraft avoid collision with satellites as it approaches asteroid Bennu. NASA has included VPT parts on the vehicles used in both above-mentioned historic missions.
It is not NASA alone that trusts VPT with systems facing extreme space environments; VPT parts are also aboard the European Space Agency and Roscosmos on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). The ExoMars programme is designed to search for signs of life on Mars – past or present, as well as to test and collect samples from the Martian environment. The TGO entered Mars’ orbit on 16 October 2016 and will begin gathering atmospheric data in late 2017.
The ISS and its scientists have also played an essential role back on Earth with its water-purification technology, which has been adapted for Earth use and has helped save lives in regions that did not previously have safe drinking water. Additionally, the ISS onboard imaging system known as the ISS Servir Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV), captures images of Earth from space and has been used to help emergency and rescue workers respond to natural disasters. Since 2012, ISERV has collected data from 34 specific events which helped save countless lives.