A new propulsion system for the Romanian Navy Forces frigates
February 2, 2023
COMOTI attended Researcher’s Day 2023
December 11, 2023
Development of a sealing system for space exploration missions
During 2016-2020 COMOTI successfully implemented the SEALPHO project - "Breadboard of a Sealing Systems for a Phobos Sample Return Mission" which was financed by the European Space Agency (ESA) within the MREP-2 program "Mars Robotic Exploration Programme" ". Through this project, COMOTI improved its skills and gained considerable experience in the development of mechanisms for the space industry. Thus, a large European integrator - LEONARDO (Italy) collaborated with COMOTI to develop a critical equipment for the first European robotic arm that will reach Mars as part of the "Mars Sample Return" mission.
This mission was established as part of a strategic partnership between NASA and ESA and has the main objective of collecting soil samples from the planet Mars and, for the first time in history, bringing them back to Earth, to be subjected to a series of detailed analyzes in specialized laboratories around the world.
The exploratory space mission "Mars Sample Return" is a complex one comprising a series of spacecraft and rocket launches, one of the rockets being launched from the surface of Mars, together with the collected soil samples. The first stage of this mission is underway, the Perseverance rover, developed by NASA through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is on the surface of Mars, collecting soil samples that will be handled by the European robotic arm and then brought to Earth.
The mission also includes the existence of a stationary platform (Sample Retrieval Lander), developed by NASA, which will be equipped with the robotic Sample Transfer Arm (STA). It has the role of retrieving and handling the capsules containing samples collected by the Perseverance module, and then storing them in a special compartment of the rocket that will be launched into the orbit of Mars.
COMOTI was responsible for the development of a critical equipment for the "Mars Sample Return" mission, called Hold Down & Release Mechanism (HDRM). They have the role of locking and protecting the robotic arm (STA) during the launch from Earth, throughout the journey to Mars, including the deceleration phase, so that it is not damaged during the mission due to mechanical loads and shocks, respectively of the thermal expansions occurring following exposure to a large range of temperatures. Once the Sample Retrieval Lander reaches Mars, the equipment developed by COMOTI will release the arm so it can begin its intended mission.
Thus, taking into account the configuration of the robotic arm to be protected (joints, degrees of freedom, mass, stiffness, etc.), COMOTI ensures its equipment with 3 HDRMs, two of which are active and one passive. The HDRMs will protect both the mechanical interface containing the robotic arm developed by LEONARDO, and the interface containing the stationary Sample Retrieval Lander platform developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (USA). A team from COMOTI will collaborate in the various stages of the "Mars Sample Return" mission with both European and American partners and will participate in the integration phases of the mechanisms on the robotic arm in Italy and on the Sample Retrieval Lander platform in the USA, which is an unique opportunity of knowledge transfer from ESA and NASA to Romania.
This project represents a first for Romania, the mechanisms made entirely by COMOTI are the first equipment to be sent into space as part of a planetary exploration mission - proof of the increase in technological maturity in the Romanian space area.
During 2016-2020 COMOTI successfully implemented the SEALPHO project - "Breadboard of a Sealing Systems for a Phobos Sample Return Mission" which was financed by the European Space Agency (ESA) within the MREP-2 program "Mars Robotic Exploration Programme" ". Through this project, COMOTI improved its skills and gained considerable experience in the development of mechanisms for the space industry. Thus, a large European integrator - LEONARDO (Italy) collaborated with COMOTI to develop a critical equipment for the first European robotic arm that will reach Mars as part of the "Mars Sample Return" mission.
This mission was established as part of a strategic partnership between NASA and ESA and has the main objective of collecting soil samples from the planet Mars and, for the first time in history, bringing them back to Earth, to be subjected to a series of detailed analyzes in specialized laboratories around the world.
The exploratory space mission "Mars Sample Return" is a complex one comprising a series of spacecraft and rocket launches, one of the rockets being launched from the surface of Mars, together with the collected soil samples. The first stage of this mission is underway, the Perseverance rover, developed by NASA through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is on the surface of Mars, collecting soil samples that will be handled by the European robotic arm and then brought to Earth.
The mission also includes the existence of a stationary platform (Sample Retrieval Lander), developed by NASA, which will be equipped with the robotic Sample Transfer Arm (STA). It has the role of retrieving and handling the capsules containing samples collected by the Perseverance module, and then storing them in a special compartment of the rocket that will be launched into the orbit of Mars.
COMOTI was responsible for the development of a critical equipment for the "Mars Sample Return" mission, called Hold Down & Release Mechanism (HDRM). They have the role of locking and protecting the robotic arm (STA) during the launch from Earth, throughout the journey to Mars, including the deceleration phase, so that it is not damaged during the mission due to mechanical loads and shocks, respectively of the thermal expansions occurring following exposure to a large range of temperatures. Once the Sample Retrieval Lander reaches Mars, the equipment developed by COMOTI will release the arm so it can begin its intended mission.
Thus, taking into account the configuration of the robotic arm to be protected (joints, degrees of freedom, mass, stiffness, etc.), COMOTI ensures its equipment with 3 HDRMs, two of which are active and one passive. The HDRMs will protect both the mechanical interface containing the robotic arm developed by LEONARDO, and the interface containing the stationary Sample Retrieval Lander platform developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (USA). A team from COMOTI will collaborate in the various stages of the "Mars Sample Return" mission with both European and American partners and will participate in the integration phases of the mechanisms on the robotic arm in Italy and on the Sample Retrieval Lander platform in the USA, which is an unique opportunity of knowledge transfer from ESA and NASA to Romania.
This project represents a first for Romania, the mechanisms made entirely by COMOTI are the first equipment to be sent into space as part of a planetary exploration mission - proof of the increase in technological maturity in the Romanian space area.
