Revolv Space, provider of high-performance space mechanism and power solutions, announced earlier this month that its specialised solar array subsystem has been successfully activated and is currently being validated in orbit. The hardware has been produced and delivered to C3S for the Mauve (magnetic activity and ultraviolet radiation of stars) mission. Since its launch on 28 Nov aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-15, the mission recently reached a major milestone achieved at commercial speed when Mauve captured first light from a star located 104 light-years from Earth.
Read the full press release via the Revolv Space website
High-profile collaboration on EU-funded Mauve mission
The recent capture of its first star marks the beginning of a new era of astronomical data. It is the first time that a commercial space science satellite has successfully launched and sent back data to astronomers about our universe – and ESA BIC Noordwijk alumnus Revolv Space is part of it.
Mauve is a prestigious flagship 16U CubeSat astronomy mission, representing a significant achievement in European research. The mission is financed by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme and the satellite carries a UV–visible spectrometer designed to monitor stars’ activity and assess the habitability of exoplanets. The Mauve satellite was developed by Blue Skies and was built by C3S, with ISISpace providing the pointing solution. The platform is powered by Revolv Space’s solar array subsystem technology.
To ensure the quality of these sensitive observations, the mission required astronomy-grade stability, demanding a solar array system with very high mechanical rigidity, guaranteed by Holly, one of the mechanisms delivered by Revolv Space.
Revolv Space’s flight-proven hardware
For this critical mission, Revolv Space served as the design authority and the single point of contact for the power generation subsystem, acting as a subcontractor of C3S. This included activities like design and testing custom 16U single-deployable wings. These wings incorporated Revolv Space’s proprietary, Holly deployment hinge and the Pavel solar array, which are now officially flight-proven following their successful operation in orbit. Revolv Space was supported by a subcontractor for the PVA (photovoltaic assembly) manufacturing process.
A crucial technical accomplishment was successfully meeting the mission’s requirement for a very high natural frequency in deployed configuration. This was essential to maintain the satellite’s challenging stability requirement, thereby preventing structural vibration that could cause spectral data blurring during extended observations.
To meet the launch window on SpaceX’s Transporter-15, Revolv Space utilised its quick-to-orbit delivery model. This leverages a custom-designed flexible printed circuit (FPC) technology to avoid manual string wiring and reduce manufacturing times, alongside advanced welding for improved fatigue resistance.
“This collaboration with C3S has been a great success for Revolv Space. Supporting the Mauve mission allowed us to demonstrate our ability to design, engineer and validate high performance power generation subsystems and mechanisms in a record time for such a prestigious mission,” comments Filippo Oggionni, co-founder and CCO of Revolv Space.
The role of C3S
C3S, serving as the platform prime, undertook the integration of the wings into the 16U CubeSat. Following delivery, C3S performed a comprehensive validation campaign, verifying electrical integrity and mechanical deployment through rigorous environmental stress tests and system coupling. These inspections ensured a flawless integration between the solar wings and the satellite’s power and navigation subsystems prior to launch.
“This collaboration demonstrates the strength of European space partnerships and the importance of reliable, high-quality industrial cooperation in space missions. The joint effort supports a mission that will significantly contribute to the study of stellar activity and exoplanetary environments,” said Gyula Horváth, CEO of C3S.
View the full press release via the Revolv Space website
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Contact:
- Revolv Space – Filippo Oggionni (filippo@revolvspace.com)
Further technical exploration
Discover the underlying architecture and additional technical details by visiting the comprehensive deep-dive page (mauve.revolvspace.com).
About Revolv Space
Revolv Space empowers small satellites with “superpowers” by providing high-performance, cost-effective mechanisms and turnkey power systems. Specialising in agile, low-lead-time solutions, the company offers a vertical power generation product range, including solar array drive assemblies, deployment hinges and solar arrays. Revolv Space maximises power generation and payload availability for Earth observation, communications and scientific research. revolvspace.com
About C3S
C3S is a space industry company developing and manufacturing highly reliable 3U, 6U, 12U and 16U CubeSat platforms, as well as power distribution subsystems for large satellites. The company supports smallaat customers from mission planning through operations, covering the full mission lifecycle. C3S builds on experience from more than 40 agency and commercial space projects and has accumulated over 100 satellite-months of on-orbit operations experience. c3s.hu
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