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Phone: 707-584-2801 
Fax: 707-584-3418



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Home > Space Heritage



OUR SPACE HERITAGE




A BRIEF HISTORY OF EMPIRE MAGNETICS PRODUCTS IN SPACE

For over 30 years Empire Magnetics has provided electric motors and motor
assemblies for space equipment and aerospace applications. During this time we
have developed significant relationships with organizations including: NASA,
Space Sciences Laboratory at UC Berkeley, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Anteon, Space
Dynamics Laboratory, Space Systems Loral, European Space Agency, and SAIC. Our
products can be found on the International Space Station, global satellites,
space shuttles, and in space labs and testing facilities around the world.

Due to the confidential nature of many of our partners and their projects, we
are unable to share many details. Following is a timeline of a few highlights:


1986 After the Space Shuttle Challenger crashed, Morton Thiokol contracted with
Empire Magnetics to provide motors for the pentameters (devices to measure the
O-rings while sitting on the launch pads). We delivered a system that functioned
without presenting an explosion hazard resulting from the rocket fuel vapors
1987 Empire Magnetics provided a set of motors for the vacuum test chambers at
the Marshal Space Flight Center. These vacuum-prepared motors were incorporated
into the test equipment used to qualify other products for vacuum compatibility.
This equipment was funded via the Smithsonian Institute. 1990 Boeing hired
Empire Magnetics build a set of motors with gearboxes and brakes, all carefully
specified with space flight requirements. We believe they may have been used for
the docking ring on the International Space Station; however, Boeing never
revealed the specific function, and we never asked! 1992 For NASA’s Wake Shield
Lab Module, (http://www.uh.edu/svec/wsfp-desc.html). Empire Magnetics provided a
gear motor assembly that was part of the momentum control system. This assembly
was launched, orbited and recovered on three different occasions. There was no
maintenance required to our motor assemblies between launches. Joe Pineda, the
project engineer, even called to thank us before he retired. 1994 When Hughes
Aircraft need vacuum motors to test a DOE satellite, they turned to Empire
Magnetics Inc. In order to support a nonstop seventy-day tumble test we
developed a liquid nitrogen cooled assembly that worked flawlessly. 1995 When
the European Space Agency built the long wave X-ray telescope, Thales Alenia
Space, built the craft, while Bicron was contracted to build the calibration
system for the scintillators. Empire Magnetics provided the motors that move the
cesium sources across the face of these sensors to keep them calibrated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_Space_Observatory 1998 Corning OCA was
tasked with finding motors that would operate at -200 C and survive 25 G shock
loads for the Brilliant Eyes program. Empire Magnetics supplied units that
passed all the tests. 1999 For the Japanese communications B Sat II satellite,
built by Orbital Space Systems, engineers needed a small actuator that would
operate during launch. Due to the G forces it had to be exceptionally stiff.
Empire Magnetics designed and built a custom linear actuator using a double
ended screw combined with a hollow shafted motor. This arrangement put all the
thrust loads on the screw, so the motor only needed enough torque to turn the
screw. This resulted in a light weight system that solved the problem.
2000/2002 Goodrich used sets of custom versions of Empire Magnetics size 17
stepper motors for two sets of satellites. 2000 Via Preece Inc came to Empire
Magnetics for a set of motor gearbox assemblies to be used in the human
habitation area of the International Space Station (ISS). These gear motor
assemblies control fluid flows in the lab modules. (See photos.)



2001 Hughes Aircraft needed to tumble a large satellite in a vacuum chamber that
had to run nonstop for 70 days. Empire Magnetics designed and built a motor
gearbox assembly cooled with liquid nitrogen to do the job. 2002 Anteon
International need a highly accurate turntable for a satellite test at cryogenic
temperatures in a vacuum environment. Using a magnetic drive for the feedback
resolver, we solved the problem of dimensional change over the temperature
range. This allowed angular position to be measured to better than .008 degrees.
(See photo.)



2005 NASA’s JPLpurchased a test motor from Empire Magnetics for proof of concept
for a gas sampler to be used on a voyage to Saturn’s moon Titan. The test motor
ran successfully for 6 months at cryogenic temperature in vacuum. 2014 For
Angelicvm (Chile), we designed and built motor gearbox assemblies intended for a
moon rover. (See photos)



2015 Installed on the exterior of the International Space Station, the hatch
covers of NASA’s Cloud-Aerosol Transport System, (CATS) Lidar remote-sensing
instrument are activated with motors built by Empire Magnetics. 2017 Empire
Magnetics shipped motors and gearboxes to be installed in the new NIRAC camera
scheduled for installation on the International Space Station in Feb. 2018. (See
photo)





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Temperature Stepper Motors Dust Proof Motors Abrasive Dust Proof Motors Standard
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5830 Commerce Blvd Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Phone: 707-584-2801
Fax: 707-584-3418
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