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A reaction wheel \u2013 one of the heaviest parts of a space mission, its changing rotation used to shift a satellite\u2019s orientation \u2013 seen in a plasma wind tunnel belonging to the\u00a0High Enthalpy Flow Diagnostics Group\u00a0(HEFDiG) at the\u00a0University of Stuttgart Institute of Space Systems\u00a0(IRS). Arc-heated gas in the test chamber reaches speeds of several kilometres per second, reproducing reentry conditions, while the reaction wheel itself is being rotated, reproducing the tumbling that takes place as a satellite plunges through the atmosphere.<\/p>\n
The reaction wheel itself comes from Collins Aerospace\u00a0in Germany, which has supported Design for Demise (D4D) activities for many years and introduced several modifications to their TELDIX reaction wheel making it more likely to come apart during satellite reentry in support of demisability.<\/p>\n
This test clip was presented during this year\u2019s\u00a0Space Mechanisms Workshop\u00a0at ESA\u2019s\u00a0ESTEC\u00a0technical centre in the Netherlands, focused on current and future requirements and guidelines to reduce the risk from orbital debris, including\u00a0ESA\u2019s Zero Debris Charter. The event was attended by more than 130 space mechanisms specialists from European industry and academia.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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