SNC's Space Systems products position, move, and deploy critical components on spacecraft. We have spent over 20 years developing a world-class team of engineers, scientists, technicians and support staff to deliver advanced spacecraft mechanical components. 

The Space Technologies product line is responsible for the design, development, and delivery of pre-qualified “catalog products” as well as mechanisms that incorporate these components. Many of these products are derivatives of our heritage technologies that are known for their ability to restrain, then release, very high loads with little shock and full resetability.

Our components and mechanisms are known worldwide for their innovative use of technology, unequalled performance, and stellar heritage: Thousands of devices flown on hundreds of spacecraft, with 100% success.
 

Clamp Band Separation Systems:   

Clamp band separation systems are used to release spacecraft from launch vehicles. Our clamp band systems incorporate the patented Fast Acting Shockless Separation Nut (FASSN) release technology that, on release, instantaneously translates the strain energy stored in the clamp band to rotational energy of a flywheel within the FASSN. This results in remarkably low shock levels.

Hold Down Release Mechanisms (HDRMs):   

Our HDRMs use High Output Paraffin (HOP) Actuators, Shape Memory Actuators (SMA), or solenoids to effect release of loads on deployables. These devices are used to restrain components during launch and then release them on orbit. They are characterized by very low shock and full resettability, meaning that the device can be tested as many times as necessary prior to flight to ensure proper function of the deployable.

Modular, Intelligent Power and Data Ring (IPDR) Avionics Architecture:

SNC's Space Systems has developed a low-cost configurable avionics system to support our modular bus as well as other bus platforms.  The system IPDR Nodes incorporate a processor containing a radiation tolerant Field-programmable Gate Aray (FPGA).  The combination of the radiation-tolerance and the fault-tolerant capabilities makes IPDR suitable for any space application.
 

Thermal Louvers:   

SNC's Space Systems design and build thermal louvers that use bimetal thermal actuators to passively control louver blades that can alternately expose or cover spacecraft radiators to provide highly effective passive spacecraft thermal control. These devices are qualified in various configurations from single blade to 20 blade designs.

Thermal Switches and Radiators:  

SNC's Space Systems is the world’s leading supplier of thermal switches for spacecraft. These devices will passively open or close a thermal connection at a particular temperature set point, allowing for payloads with variable heat loads to be passively controlled to a precise temperature. These devices are provided as stand-alone switches, or combined with a thermal radiator to provide a complete thermal solution.

High Output Paraffin (HOP) Actuators:   

The HOP Actuator is the original product and heritage of Starsys, providing a very high force linear actuator from a very small package. The expansion of melting paraffin is used to create high pressure, which is then translated to either extension or retraction of an actuator rod. HOP actuators are used as pin pullers, or as a linear “pusher,” for either one time or  multiple use spacecraft mechanisms.

Cell Shorting Devices (CSDs):   

CSDs have a specific application to spacecraft batteries and are a unique application of the HOP technology. A CSD is an integrated voltage sensor and cell shorting device. A single CSD is mounted to the terminals of each individual cell of a spacecraft battery. The CSD monitors the voltage of the cell. If the voltage change indicates a faulty cell, an integral HOP actuator activates, triggering a switch that removes the cell from the battery, thereby preserving the overall battery performance.

Deployable Structures: 

Space Systems satellites are enhanced by our in-house product lines that give us access to world class space rated electromechanical components and subsystems, and cutting edge deployable structures. Our deployable booms and structures can make our small satellites perform like large satellites.

Deployable Structure-Enabled Small Sat

Cover Systems:   

SNC's Space Systems is the world leader in the design and delivery of cover systems for spacecraft instruments. We have delivered cover systems for apertures of one inch to greater than ten feet in diameter. Our cover systems incorporate hermetic seals for contamination protection, labyrinth seals for particulate protection, and can also simply provide light shielding or thermal protection. We have the unique capability to deliver “roll-up” membrane covers that stow in small footprints. These cover systems are often used for applications for which a traditional cover was deemed “impossible” due to the large footprint of a conventional approach.

Deployment Hinge Systems:   

A critical component in many deployment systems is the hinge-line, which often incorporates the deployment actuator. Space Systems designs and delivers a wide variety of spacecraft hinge systems that can be passive (no deployment force is provided) or active, in which the deployment torque is provided by integral springs, HOP actuators, or motors. These systems can be designed with high-accuracy endpoints for the deployment of components that have critical pointing requirements. They can also be provided with integral dampers that control the rotational energy during deployment.