Curiosity lands on Mars with OmneticsConnector’s nanoconnectors

On 6 August, Curiosity landed on Mars. It is the world’s largest object ever placed on Mars. Many countries and researchers have tried, developed and failed in this and so Curiosity stands alone on many fronts. From the research and development stages, each component on board had a distinct job to do. Space qualified pin and socket nanominiature connectors were some of those vital components on board.

OmneticsConnector Corporation provided miniature and low-weight nanoconnectors used within two miniature inertial measurement units (MIMUs) on board the Curiosity. These components were vital in terms of ensuring a safe landing on the red planet.

The connectors within Omnetics two MIMUs supported guidance and altitude control from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This particular aspect of the mission to Mars was vital in terms of ensuring a safe landing. Travelling at nearly 20,000 km/h in the final stages, Curiosity had fewer than 11 kilometres to come to a halt.

Materials were selected for thermal expansion to sustain continued performance from the launch pad through geothermal orbit conditions. Materials were also used to ensure low out-gassing as temperatures varied significantly throughout the journey. Increased density of cable diameter and nanominiature connectors offer significantly reduced weight and lower payload costs. Special cable designs were developed to solve EMI, cross-talk and high speed problems. Connector back-shells, strain-reliefs, braided shields and special cables are often used to improve handling and extend the life of critical systems. This was the second successful mission to Mars since 2008.