SPACERACE

SPACERACE is a Czech company in Brno, Czech Republic, that makes precision electro-mechanical products for space and defence. Its main products are release actuators, tensioning tools and control electronics. The company says its parts are built for both space and ground use.

ATLAS Orbital is a non-explosive release nut actuator and launch lock. It is made for synchronised release and launch lock tasks. It has a preload capacity of 22 kN, an operating range of plus or minus 150 degrees Celsius, and can be reset by the user in the field. ATLAS Ground is a version for assembly, integration and testing. It matches ATLAS Orbital in key parameters but is built for long life, and it is tested for hundreds of cycles.

ARES is a medium duty, non-explosive pin puller and launch lock with a radial preload capacity of 1 kN. It also works from minus 150 to plus 150 degrees Celsius and can be reset by the user.

Two control units support test campaigns. The Initiation Control Unit can fire up to five actuators together, over ten power lines, with user-set current pulses of 1 to 10 A and millisecond precision. It can also run actuators from other makers. The Heating Control Unit runs shape memory alloy actuators and works with temperature or voltage control up to 42 V. It runs on a 120 Wh battery for dozens of tests, with no PC or grid power needed.

UNIKA is a handheld tensioning tool for hold down and release mechanisms, made for cleanroom use. It generates up to 50 kN of axial preload with less than 1 percent force deviation, using shape memory alloy.

These products serve solar arrays, antennas and booms, deployable covers that protect optics, satellite separation and mechanism launch locks. They also serve ground preparation work. The company offers built-to-spec work and consultancy.

SPACERACE makes the core parts of its actuators in house. It also does rapid prototyping and keeps its own test capability. It describes itself as a fully digital company with decades of combined space engineering experience.

Services

• Release nut actuators
• Non-explosive pin pullers
• Launch locks
• Initiation control units
• Heating control units
• Preload tensioning tools
• Rapid prototyping
• Testing
• Built-to-spec design
• Consultancy