Aeroflex : Cobham (formerly Aeroflex) Products Now Orbiting Mars Aboard MAVEN Satellite

News Release

25 November 2014

HAUPPAUGE, NY - Cobham products are now orbiting Mars on the MAVEN Satellite (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN). Based on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey spacecraft designs, MAVEN will study the atmosphere of Mars and its interactions with the solar wind. Specifically, MAVEN instruments will study the Martian upper atmosphere, ionosphere and atmospheric interaction with the sun and solar wind.
Cobham's Motion Control Solutions (formerly Aeroflex Motion Control Solutions) business unit provided the Two-Axis Motor and gimbal Electronics (TAME) for the Articulated Payload Platform. The motors, resolvers and controller were dormant for the 10 month
cruise to Mars, and were powered-up after Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) in September. After completion of on orbit diagnostic testing, the platform has performed flawlessly using the TAME system. The TAME assembly incorporates Cobham's Motion Control zero cogging motors, which in conjunction with the Motion Control provided controller, minimizes torque ripple and jitter. This highly successful motor/controller combination is ideal for multiple low jitter, high accuracy pointing spaceflight applications.
Cobham Semiconductor Solutions (formerly Aeroflex Microelectronic Solutions -HiRel) QML integrated circuits were utilized throughout the MAVEN. These included a broad range of component solutions including FPGAs, used to hold custom logic, Logic, used to control data flow, and a one-time programmable memory device (PROM) that holds 256K bits of
user defined information.
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Please visit www.aeroflex.com/HiRel to review product datasheets.

Aeroflex Motion Control doing business as Cobham Motion Control Solutions

News Release

Cobham protects lives and livelihoods with its differentiated technology and know-how, operating with a deep insight into customer needs and agility. The Group offers an innovative range of technologies and services to solve challenging problems in harsh environments across commercial, defence and security markets, from deep space to the depths of the ocean, specialising in meeting the growing demand for data, connectivity and bandwidth.
Employing more than 12,000 people on five continents, the Group has customers and partners in over 100 countries, with market leading positions in: audio, video and data communications, including satellite communications; defence electronics; air-to-air refuelling; aviation services; life support and mission equipment.

Cobham's Motion Control Solution site provides complete and integrated motion solutions for space, military, avionics, and strategic industrial customers.
Cobham's Semiconductor Solutions Colorado Springs site is a supplier of semicustom and standard VLSI circuits and custom circuit card assemblies. They have a Qualified Manufacturer List (QML) certification for Class Q, Class T and Class V.
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Teresa Farris

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