Under the skin of Mars
Maxon makes motor fit for NASA's InSight mission
On November 26, the robotic probe InSight is due to land on Mars, carry out various measurements and provide insights into Mars and the formation of the Earth. To do this, a measuring probe will be driven five meters into the Martian soil.
DC motors from Maxon Motor are also on board. The engineers at the Obwalden-based drive specialist had to pull out all the stops to make their motor fit for the task. The mission is being carried out by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Five meters deep into the Martian soil
A compact motor-gearbox combination with a diameter of 22 millimetres is used in the HP3 measuring device, which was developed by the German space agency DLR and is intended to determine the temperature profile of the planet. Specifically, the maxon drive is located in a bolt, which the developers call a "mole". This bolt independently penetrates five meters deep into the ground by tensioning a spring with each rotation of the motor, which then discharges with great force and triggers a downward impact. In this way, the "mole" gradually works its way down into the ground - over a period of several weeks. As it does so, it drags along a cable equipped with sensors which, among other things, will help the researchers to determine the thermal state of the Martian interior and draw conclusions about its formation. As Mars is a rocky planet like Earth, the scientific results can also provide new insights for our own planet.
Special solution for more than 400 g
Mars is per se an unfriendly place for technology. Nevertheless, more than a hundred Maxon drives have already proven their worth on the Red Planet. For the current InSight mission, however, the Swiss engineers have been faced with even more challenges. To effectively drive the bolt into the ground, the DC motor has to withstand forces of over 400 g - more than 100,000 times. It took several variations and failed tests before the right solution was found: a standard DCX 22 motor, which was heavily modified with additional welding rings, welded bearings and specially shortened brushes. The GP 22 HD gearbox used, on the other hand, only received Mars-specific lubrication.
The InSight probe is powered by two solar panels for the duration of its mission. JPL has used designs from the successful Phoenix mission to save costs. To extend the solar panels, a maxon DC motor is used that was developed some time ago: an RE 25. This type of motor is also found in NASA's Opportunity rover, which has been active on Mars for more than 14 years.
This means that two generations of Maxon drives come together in the InSight robotic probe and together contribute to the success of the mission.
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