PROJECTS
Even the best mechanical engineers need help in solving some of the most complex issues in the spacecraft industry. Fortunately, Nitrexo offers the ideal and cost-effective solution to address the growing need for critical technologies that can boost a company’s value.
From conducting conceptual studies and developing 3D thermal models to conducting various analyses (e.g. stress, optomechanical, numerical simulations, etc.), Nitrexo is a company that delivers innovative and dynamic software solutions to help space and aeronautic companies stay ahead of the curve.
Case Studies
The following are some of Nitrexo’s most successful projects to date:
Project: Computing ExoMars STR Radiator View Factors
Industries: Space and Life Sciences
ExoMars was a joint mission project of the European Space Agency and Russia’s Roscosmos that aimed to find signs of life on planet Mars.
The project’s main objective was to reach a minimum direct view factor to space of 80% by building a detailed geometry model of the STR Radiator to help with the mathematical computation.
The project required team members to have unparalleled expertise on thermal and requirements analysis, modelling, satellite subsystem, and intensive knowledge on the use of Windows 10/ESATAN-TMS 2017.
Project: Thermal Analysis of PROBA-3’s LCEU and CCRR
Industries: Space
A satellite mission led by the European Space Agency, PROBA-3 was the third in a series of low-cost missions, which intended to validate newly developed spacecraft technologies and other similar scientific instruments.
To validate the satellite’s previous thermal designs of both the Laser Control Electronics Unit (LCEU) and the Corner Cube Retroreflector (CCRR), Nitrexo built detailed models of each unit to help identify the temperature limits and certified compliance of the existing model within the set temperature range.
The models also helped define the unit’s worst-case scenarios in case the temperature reached either of the extremes (hot or cold). This in turn has opened the doors to further improve and optimizing the thermal designs of both units.
Project: Calculating PROBA-3 spacecraft DARA instrument extreme temperatures in hot and cold nominal cases
Industries: Space
Aside from performing thermal analyses, Nitrexo was also responsible for building an elaborate detailed model unit and conductors to accurately compute the temperatures under steady and transient state conditions.
Project: Thermal Analysis of Luna-Resource Lander LEIA (LIDAR for Extra-terrestrial Imaging Applications)
Industries: Space
Luna-Resource Lander is a planned unmanned mission and a continuation of the Luna-Glob program, which is spearheaded by the Russian Federal Agency (Roscosmos) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Its main objective is to send a landing sensor on the Moon’s south side region to look for possible raw materials to make fuel and oxygen, as well as find possible sources of water in the area.
If proven successful, the next mission is to determine if establishing a permanent human settlement is possible in that area.
Nitrexo assessed the survival heater budget for the non-operational cold scenario. The assessment defined the best- and worst-case cold scenarios and determined how much power heater is required to maintain the critical components, even when the temperature is already a few degrees above its non-operational temperature limit.
Project: Correlations and Elaboration of reduced models of mid and side antenna panels of SCA instrument on MetOp-SG
Industries: Space
The Meteorological Operational Satellite-Second Generation, or MetOP-SG for short, is a series of satellites developed by ESA, set to be deployed in 2021.
The objectives of this project were to build elaborate reduced and detailed models and to optimise the mid and side antenna panels of its SCA instrument, as well as to compare the temperature results of the reduced model to that of the detailed model unit.
This helped in the calculation of optimised temperature under steady conditions.
Project: Predictions and Calculations of conductive and radiative heat fluxes within the harness radiator of EUCLID spacecraft in the nominal case
Industries: Space
EUCLID is not just another spacecraft; it is a visible-to-near-infrared space telescope developed by the ESA. As with its other projects, Nitrexo built elaborated, detailed, and reduced models for the computation of conductive and radiative heat fluxes within EUCLID’s harness radiator under steady state conditions.
Project: Creation of reduced model of Aperture Cover (ACV) and Corner Cube Mechanism (CCM) on Meteosat Third Generation (MTG)
Industries: Space
The third generation Meteosat is slated as the future of geostationary satellites. Scheduled to launch in 2021, the MTG offers an evolutionary imaging service, which includes a new Lightning Imager. Nitrexo built reduced models for both ACV and CCM components to obtain the calculated temperatures under steady conditions. In addition, Nitrexo built a detailed CCM model to calculate the temperatures under steady and transient conditions
