Beyond Gravity: 100 Steering mechanisms contracted

With an order intake of around 24 million euros Beyond Gravity has recently received major orders for its steering mechanisms for electric satellite thrusters. “With around 100 ordered models in total, we show up as being among the world’s largest manufacturers of steering mechanisms for electric satellite thrusters,” says Oliver Grassmann, Executive Vice President Satellites at Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space). Satellites are increasingly using electric thrusters, in which ionized gases are accelerated using strong electric fields. Precise mechanisms are required to control these electric satellite thrusters. Beyond Gravity develops and manufactures the steering mechanisms at its site in Vienna, Austria.

Doubling the production area

Due to the high demand from satellite manufacturers worldwide Beyond Gravity doubled its clean room production area from 100 to 200 square meters. “The new clean room enables us to enter series production. Instead of one or two mechanisms per year, we will be able to produce around ten per year,” explains Wolfgang Pawlinetz, Vice President Thermal & Mechanisms at Beyond Gravity. “As the space sector is booming and many more satellite projects are planned, we expect many more orders in the future.” While mechanisms consisting of up to 6,000 individual parts were built in the past, the newly developed product only has 900, which allows for a much shorter production time. Pawlinetz: “It takes only 18 months from order to delivery. That is an express delivery, which sets us apart from others.” Unlike products from competitors, the standard APPMAX mechanisms do not require a hold down device for launch. This saves weight and eliminates a potential source of failure.

Cost-effective scalable mechanisms

The APPMAX2 (2 stands for two axes) is part of Beyond Gravity's family of Advanced Electric Propulsion Pointing Mechanisms (APPMAX). This product family includes cost-effective, scalable mechanisms for various applications and satellite platforms. Two flight models of APPMAX2 were delivered in October and two more in April. The two-axis pointing mechanism product family ranges from very small mechanisms the width of a shoebox to very large electric propulsion pointing mechanisms.

World’s largest steering mechanism for electric satellite thrusters

Beyond Gravity is building the world’s largest steering mechanism for electric satellite thrusters. The APPMAX2-Heavy mechanism will be used for the future NASA Gateway space station and will steer a 50 kilogram thruster. The customer is US satellite manufacturer Maxar, and delivery is scheduled for the end of 2025.

APPMAX3 for GEO satellites: very cost-effective adaptation

The 3-axis mechanism from Beyond Gravity is specifically designed for large geostationary satellites whose orbit is at an altitude of around 36,000 kilometers. 10 models of the 3-axis mechanism have already been ordered and 25 more are expected to be ordered this year. The modularity of this 3-axis arm enables very cost-effective adaptation to other satellites and other thruster types.

Video animation

Watch an animated video of our APPMAX2 steering mechanism on Youtube.