ROSETTA manipulator
4-axis manipulator for use in deep space
Application
COSIMA is a mass spectrometer on board the space probe ROSETTA. It collects dust from comets and analyses their chemical composition.
CEMEC developed the handling system which "holds" the sample carriers for COSIMA during the trip into space. Once there, it delivers them to the mass spectrometer and scans them with an accuracy of 3µm. The handler also places the sample carriers into the storage port and transports them to the chemical analysis unit.
The Mission
The sample carrier remains precisely positioned even if power fails
Rosetta is designed to perform research on the origin of our solar system by analysing one of the oldest and most original celestial bodies, a comet. The mission consists of an orbiter and the landing unit. Rosetta reached its target, the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, in April 2014. After 10 years in sleep mode, all of the units were woken up successfully.
Services
Complete development of the concept, mechanical design, drive sizing, modelling, and position detection concept.
Manufacturing
All mechanical systems including assembly, custom ball guides, custom spindles with a special coating, sample carriers out of gold, platinum and palladium.
Noteworthy
Very small overall size and low weight, Ariane 5-B launch conditions (43 g from three directions, low drive power, cumulative positioning error of 3.0 µm.
Customer
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Munich
External link: Max Panck Institut
Technical Data
| Overall size | 120 x120 x 250 mm³ | Length x width x height |
|---|---|---|
| Total weight | 1250 g | without housing |
| Drive power | 5 W | per axis |
| Accuracy | 3 µm | Positioning error |
| Operation in a vacuum | 10 x 1E-14 Torr | deep space vacuum |
| Launch specifications | 43 g from all 3 directions | ARIANE 5-B |