APPMAX2 Electric Propulsion Pointing Mechanism
Beyond Gravity (ex-RUAG Space)
Low-cost, easy-to-integrate 2-axis thruster gimbal for electric propulsion, supporting 1 to 5 kW thrusters within a 15 degree pointing cone.
Typed specifications27 values
Discloses 7 of 9 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 2).
- Mass
- 13.8 kg APPMAX2 Mass · datasheet p.7 13.8 kg APPMAX2-Baseline | 29.5 kg APPMAX2-H | 8 kg APPMAX2-S
- Travel range per axis
- 15 deg datasheet p.7 15 deg 15 deg half cone around vector perpendicular to S/C interface…
- Angular resolution (step)
- 0.1 deg max · Repeatability · datasheet p.7
- Envelope (L×W×H)
- 486x484x281 APPMAX2-Baseline, LxWxH · datasheet p.4 493x765x497 APPMAX2-H, LxWxH | 340x340x152 APPMAX2-S, LxWxH | 486x484x281 LxWxH
- Power consumption
- 1–5 W product page
- TRL
- 8 APPMAX2-Baseline, TRL8 for 2 different customers · datasheet p.4 6 APPMAX2-S, qualification on TRL6 in Q2/Q3 2025
- Mechanism type
- two-axis gimbal for thruster electric propulsion pointing mechanism, 2 axis · datasheet p.1
- Axes
- 2 datasheet p.1
- Motor type
- stepper motor two stepper motor based actuators (LA15) · datasheet p.3
- Max payload mass
- 15 kg APPMAX2-Baseline · datasheet p.4 50 kg APPMAX2-H | 5 kg APPMAX2-XS | 15 kg max · thruster mass 8-15 kg, APPMAX2-Baseline | 5 kg max · thruster mass up to 5 kg, APPMAX2-S +1
- Repeatability
- 0.1 deg max · better than 0.1 deg · datasheet p.4
- Drive electronics
- external actuators only, position defined by step counting · datasheet p.3
- Missions flown
- 21 Beyond Gravity EP pointing mechanisms: 21 flight models in or… · datasheet p.2
- Launch lock included
- yes Launch Lock by Actuators (unpowered holding torque); HDRM for… · datasheet p.3
Each value is typed with its unit and measurement condition and cites the datasheet page it was taken from. Nothing is guessed: a field that is absent here has not been published by the manufacturer. machine-extracted ✓ checked by NewSpace Market ✓ manufacturer confirmed by the manufacturer.
As published by the supplier12 lines, in the manufacturer's own wording
- Axes
- 2-axis pointing mechanism
- Thruster power range
- 1 to 5 kW
- Pointing range
- 15 degree cone
- Integration
- Simple integration without zero gravity devices
- Variants
- APPMAX2-H (50 kg thruster, with hold-down and release mechanism), APPMAX2-S (downscaled, in preparation)
- Thruster types supported
- Hall effect and ion thrusters
- Repeatability
- better than 0.1°
- Thruster Mass
- 8-15 kg
- Mass
- 13.8 kg
- Stiffness stowed
- 110 Hz
- Stiffness stowed, with opt. Damping
- 80 Hz
- Stepper Motor Phase Resistance at 20°C
- 82 Ω
About
The Beyond Gravity APPMAX family is a series of low-cost, standardized, modular, and scalable 2-axis and 3-axis pointing mechanisms for electric satellite propulsion. The APPMAX family can accommodate a wide range of satellite thruster types and sizes, making it a versatile solution for a variety of spacecraft applications.
The APPMAX2 is a low-cost, easy-to-integrate pointing mechanism for a spacecraft’s electric propulsion. It is designed for simple integration without zero gravity devices and easy scaling to support a wide range of thruster types and sizes, including thrusters of 1-5 kW. The APPMAX2 points in a 15 degree cone.
The APPMAX2-H (Heavy) variant is upscaled for a 50 kg thruster and equipped with a hold-down and release mechanism (HDRM). Beyond Gravity is also preparing the downscaled APPMAX2-S for future constellation satellite missions.
Applications of the APPMAX family include North/South and East/West station keeping, compensation of center of gravity shift, orbit raising and dropping, momentum wheel off-loading, graveyard de-orbit at spacecraft end of life, and interplanetary travel.
Documentation
- Beyond Gravity_Productsheet_APPMAX_pointing mechanism_family.pdf PDF source: www.beyondgravity.com ↗
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.