Gravitics Inc’s Post

Gravitics to Build Space Infrastructure for Commercial Space Station. https://lnkd.in/eSxxZmxe

We're building bigger

NASA and Gravitics sign SAA with focus on verification and validation solutions for large spacecraft. More info here: https://lnkd.in/e3vAhmhV

Gravitics is pleased to announce that we are developing orbital platforms for the United States Space Force. More info here: https://lnkd.in/e8HjXRWJ

Extravehicular activities (EVAs), commonly referred to as spacewalks, have played an important role in space since the early days of human spaceflight. On March 18, 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov ventured outside of his capsule, becoming the first human to float freely in space. This initial test lasted about 12 minutes and had a few complications. Leonov’s suit expanded so much while outside that he had trouble fitting back inside the spacecraft. He ended up opening a valve to let some air out of his suit, venting it beyond safety limits before he was able to climb back into the airlock. He also reported that he perspired so much, he was sloshing in sweat within his space suit. As EVAs have become more frequent and longer in duration, the equipment has evolved. The EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) for example, is a space suit designed to provide astronauts with life support, mobility, and protection from extreme temperatures. The EMU includes a helmet with a visor to shield against the sun, radiation, and micrometeoroids, as well as a backpack that provides oxygen, cooling, and communication capabilities. EVAs have been instrumental in the assembly and construction of space stations such as Skylab, Mir, and the ISS. As part of building these stations, astronauts performed intricate maneuvers to connect modules, deploy solar arrays, and install external components, helping transform modules into complex orbiting laboratories. Gravitics believes in the benefits of a robust human and robotic presence in space. Overall, extravehicular activities continue to be indispensable for facilitating scientific research, supporting human systems, exploration, and the maintenance of spacecraft and space stations. New and exciting EVA equipment is currently in development. The Gravitics team is looking forward to seeing advanced systems in operation as space suits and procedures continue to evolve. #SpaceStationSaturday 

The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, commonly known as DEXTRE, is a sophisticated robotic arm system employed on the International Space Station (ISS) for a wide range of maintenance, repair, and assembly tasks. Developed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), DEXTRE serves as an essential robotic assistant, enhancing the capabilities of the ISS by performing intricate maneuvers that would otherwise require astronaut spacewalks. Its modular design allows for the attachment of specialized tools and payloads tailored to specific mission objectives, such as replacing failed hardware components and conducting scientific experiments. DEXTRE is equipped with two highly dexterous arms, each boasting seven degrees of freedom, which allows it to reach and manipulate objects with remarkable precision. Mounted on a mobile base system, DEXTRE will often attach to the Canadarm2, and traverse the exterior of the ISS, accessing various work sites and payload attachment points. DEXTRE can also be connected to the Mobile Base System (MBS), a railcar platform that travels along the length of the ISS truss structure, extending DEXTRE's reach to different locations across the station's wingspan. Robotic systems like DEXTRE will continue to be an important part of the infrastructure in low Earth orbit, especially as commercial space stations are assembled and become operational. Over the next decade, these systems will play crucial roles in building infrastructure, manufacturing products in space, supporting human activity, and more. #SpaceStationSaturday

Methane (CH4) as a propellant for space launch vehicles has gained considerable attention in recent years. The first successful usage of methane to get a launch vehicle to orbit came in July 2023 with the launch of the Chinese Zhuque-2. Previously, methane-powered rockets were undergoing extensive research and development, but none had reached this milestone. Being stable, non-toxic, and efficient—methane-based propellant offers distinct advantages over traditional cryogenic fuel options. Compatibility with existing infrastructure is a key strength, along with safer handling and its abundance on Earth and beyond. It can be synthesized from various sources such as natural gas, biomass, and recycled carbon dioxide, which makes it a good candidate for in-situ production on other worlds. Several space agencies and private aerospace companies have been actively investigating methane-based propulsion systems for a variety of applications, including lunar and Mars exploration missions. SpaceX, for example, has been developing the Raptor engine, which utilizes methane as fuel for its next-generation Starship spacecraft. Starship successfully reached orbit, powered by liquid methane and liquid oxygen, for the first time on March 14th 2024. Other notable examples of methane-powered space launch vehicles include ULA's Vulcan, Rocket Lab's Neutron, and Blue Origin's New Glenn. At Gravitics, we’re leveraging the inherent safety of this readily available propellant for thrusters that will power our modules in low Earth orbit. These are gas-gas thrusters that operate in multiple modes, providing high thrust for extended orbit change maneuvers as well as precision pulsing for attitude control, proximity operations, and docking. Being powered by non-toxic gaseous propellants simplifies the Gravitics thruster operation and greatly extends propellant storage lifespan in space. Read more at https://lnkd.in/einfY4hx #Spacestationsaturday

We are ready for next-gen launch vehicles. Are you? Starship's performance in space today is only the beginning. Congratulations to SpaceX, NASA, and every person working on the Starship program.