Aerodyne Controls switches On-board Stardust Spacecraft

Several acceleration switches designed and manufactured by Aerodyne Controls are being used onboard the Stardust spacecraft, which has encountered the Comet Wild 2. The Stardust spacecraft was launched in February 1999, and had encountered the Asteroid Annefrank in November 2002. The spacecraft has recently past near the Wild 2 Comet.

The Stardust spacecraft mission is to collect dust particles, photos, and perform various scientific experiments during its flight near the Asteroids/Comets. After its encounter with Wild 2, the spacecraft will head back to earth, which is expected in January 2006.

Comet Wild 2 is shown in this image taken by the Stardust navigation camera during the spacecraft's closest approach to the comet on January 2. The image was taken within a distance of 500 kilometers (about 311 miles) of the comet's nucleus with a 10-millisecond exposure.

The Aerodyne switches serve several functions onboard the spacecraft. The 7200-6-000 switch senses the penetration of the tail and deploys the dust gathering mechanism. Once the spacecraft exits the tail, the dust collector will be retracted back into its housing.

Upon reentry into earth’s atmosphere, Aerodyne’s 7200-9-000 switch will sense the deceleration of the spacecraft. This will cause the housing to deploy a parachute to enable a safe landing on earth.

Aerodyne Controls (A Circor International company) located in Ronkonkoma, NY, designs and manufactures custom motion switches that can sense many different changes in physical environments, such as: acceleration (linear, impact, spin, launch, shock, etc), tilt (angle), and motion (disturbance), in addition to precision fluid controls components & systems to the Aerospace and Military Industry.

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