phySPACE Stepper Motors for NASA’s CLPS Initiative

Phytron GmbH supplies specially developed stepper motors for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Initiative, part of the Artemis Program. These motors are integral to a high-precision instrument from the University of Bern, Switzerland, which is expected to land on the Moon’s South Pole in 2029 with the Blue Ghost Mission 4 (Firefly Aerospace Inc., US). The motor housings are precisely crafted from a titanium alloy, with a subsequent PVD gold plating applied by the University of Bern’s research team. This gold coating is not merely cosmetic; it prevents unwanted radiative heat transfer from the motor to adjacent, thermally regulated structures, ensuring optical alignment. The phySPACE stepper motors are designed for extreme space conditions, resisting vibrations, radiation, and significant temperature fluctuations. They utilize ECSS-qualified materials to meet the stringent requirements for ultra-high vacuum environments, offering optimized weight, low magnetic emission, excellent precision, and exceptional robustness. These motors are part of a laser-based mass spectrometer that will analyze lunar regolith near the South Pole for its chemical composition, contributing to understanding the solar system’s formation and identifying resources for future lunar missions.