Feature

How can we empower motors to ensure success among the stars?

The space race didn’t get off to the best start this year, with the UK’s first ever satellite mission ending in disappointment. The launch highlights how the failure of just one component can lead to the demise of an entire mission. But space waits for no one, and as the race continues, how can we best ensure that future missions are successful? Here, Dave Walsha, Sales Manager at EMS, explains.

30/06/2023 11:06:50

Virgin Orbit’s Start Me Up mission hoped to be historical: being the first orbital launch from the UK, the first international launch for Virgin Orbit, and holding the first satellite built in Wales.

Investigations into the reason for the project’s failure are still ongoing, but preliminary evidence suggests that the problem lies with a filter in the rocket’s second-stage propulsion system. The filter was dislodged, causing issues downstream and ultimately leading to a premature shutdown of the engine.

The project highlights the complexity of space missions and the importance of every single component – including micromotors – in ensuring a safe and successful mission. But what can reliable micromotors do for space applications?

Read the full article in DPA's July issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.