Powering Space Missions
Continuous power is a make-or-break aspect for spacecraft. Beyond Gravity understands this and designs mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted energy supply.
The company’s dedication to maximizing power efficiency has led to remarkable advancements. Their solar array drive mechanisms allow satellites to precisely angle solar panels toward the sun, capturing the most light. This, in turn, improves the efficiency and longevity of space missions. These mechanisms are critical. They enhance the performance of solar panels compared to standard modules, where efficiency typically hovers around 15-20%. This is also crucial considering the limitations of solar panels and launch costs. Without these mechanisms, solar panels would need to be bigger to generate the same amount of power, leading to higher expenses during production and launch. The goal is clear: to provide a reliable power source for space exploration and to propel innovation for upcoming missions.
European Production Surge
Beyond Gravity has experienced a significant boost in their European production capabilities, boosting their output fivefold. This expansion, which involved increasing the cleanroom space in Switzerland to 225 square meters, has positioned the company to produce approximately 200 mechanisms per year. This increase aligns with the rising demand, particularly from sovereign constellations planned in Europe. This surge can be attributed to projects like IRIS², Europe’s proposed multi-orbit broadband network, driving the need for advanced satellite technologies. This demand is driven by a shift in the satellite industry, which now emphasizes high-volume manufacturing to accommodate quicker replacement cycles. The Artemis lunar program (NASA) and Hera planetary defense mission (ESA), launched in October 2024, are also utilizing these advanced mechanisms. These collaborations are a step toward making European space initiatives even more self-sufficient.
US Expansion Plans
Recognizing the expanding demand in the United States, Beyond Gravity is assessing opportunities to expand its solar array drive mechanism production in Florida. This move is aimed at supporting several significant US space projects. These include the Golden Dome missile defense initiative and efforts of the Space Development Agency. The company is already serving domestic space primes from a 2,000-square-meter facility in Titusville, Florida. The automated manufacturing processes implemented in Florida mirrors the efficiency gains made in Europe. In Titusville, they have automated the manufacturing to achieve similar levels of efficiency. The company is equipped to meet the demands of the US space sector. The US expansion, coupled with its European successes, highlights Beyond Gravity’s strategic approach to global growth and leadership in space technology.
Modular Mechanism Design
Beyond Gravity is actively developing a modular two-axis solar array drive mechanism. This new system is designed to allow solar wings to consistently track the sun from many directions. This will lead to increased power generation in the dynamic lighting conditions of low Earth orbit. The company plans to make this new system available for orders by mid-next year, following further testing. The innovation isn’t limited to hardware. The company offers a broad range of solar array drive mechanisms designed for different spacecraft, from small microsatellites to larger Earth observation and telecommunications platforms. These mechanisms not only ensure better power generation but also help to achieve maximum power output from smaller solar panels. The aim is to optimize the performance of solar panels in space, thus contributing to more successful and efficient space missions.
