ADAPTION OF AN INDUSTRIAL HIGH END MICRO SWITCH FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS

Micro switches with a high repeatability are commonly used components in s pace mechanisms and instruments, e.g. for end-stop position detection, counting or displacement sensoring. Due t o the harsh space environment, standard industry s witches or components can usually not sustain the environmental conditions required for space applications. In the frame of a curre nt mechanism development project, RUAG started a cooperation with Baumer Electric AG, a supplier of i nnovative and high class quality sen sor products for applications in factory and process automation. The aim of this cooperation was to adapt and qualify an existing, proven and reliable high quality industrial micro switch and its co mponents for space applications. Therefore the com plete design as well as t he manufacturing processes have been reviewed and modified in accordance to the ECSS Standards and the relevant mission performance requirements. Non-suitable materials have been replaced by space proven ma terials; manufacturing processes have been adapted according to ECSS Standards (e.g. soldering). Qualification tests h ave been executed to verify the performance, e.g. life cycles testing in cold environment. RUAG intends to use t his component generally as a preferred part for space mechanisms and i nstruments and to further extend its qualification range considering the needs and requirements of future programmes. RUAG will o ffer this space adapted and qualified product, which is exclusively manufactured for RUAG, including the required engineering support to the open space community.