In January 2023, Dragonfly Aerospace launched EOS SAT-1, one of seven satellites in the world’s first agricultural-focused constellation. The 180 kg advanced Earth observation satellite is used as an observation unit for the agricultural industry. The satellite is able to monitor harvests, seasonal planning, application mapping, yield prediction, and soil moisture. This information is vital for helping growers to reduce both their financial losses and their carbon emissions.
However, agriculture is not the only industry that can benefit from the satellite data. EOS SAT-1’s detailed data is made possible by its dual high-resolution cameras, which provide exceptional resolution and rapid retargeting capabilities, enabling the data to be used in a wide variety of industries, from insurance and government initiatives to environmental conservation programmes, all industries that require precise, up-to-date information.
When the Stellenbosch-based Space Advisory Company faced financial instability, some of the employees were not ready to abandon the heritage and capability of South Africa’s space industry, and founded Dragonfly Aerospace at the start of 2020. Their mission was to create compact, high-performance imaging satellites and payloads designed for large imaging constellations that provide persistent views of the earth in a wide range of spectra. The goal was to produce up to 48 satellites per year that will enable unprecedented business intelligence, to help improve the lives of people around the world.
To reach their goal, Dragonfly needed to set up a 3000 m2 design and manufacturing facility with 1000 m2 of clean room area for microsatellite production. Creating a business of this nature at the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown was certainly no easy feat, and the newly fledged aerospace company credits one of its partners, TANDM, for its current successes.
Dragonfly’s vertical integrated approach ensures that they are able to maintain in-house control of all satellite subsystems, a crucial element in a time where global supply chain management is under pressure, and the ability to manage obsolescence of components is essential.
With optimisation of resources being a key component for Dragonfly, they called on TANDM to assist in creating and heavily expanding their environmental testing capabilities by providing a vibration test system that allowed them to perform in-house vibration and shock testing.
Jean-Pierre Serfontein, head of Mechanical Engineering at Dragonfly said that TANDM was chosen because of its quality solutions and exceptional reputation in the industry. The vibration test system that was supplied and installed by TANDM in September 2021 consists of a Brüel & Kjaer LDS V8900 electrodynamic shaker with hydrostatic-bearing slip table and head expander. Shaker control is achieved with the Crystal Instruments Spider 81, a premium vibration controller suited for Random, Sine and Resonance Search, Track & Dwell (RSTD), and Transient Time History Control (TTH)). The shaker is accompanied by a 32-channel HBM QuantumX data acquisition system and a variety of uniaxial and triaxial accelerometers, to measure the vibration response of the imaging satellites, sub-systems and payloads.
Dragonfly uses the vibration test system to simulate the nine-minute period that the imaging satellites and payloads experience in the launch environment for the purpose of qualification and acceptance testing. The satellites are released into a low Earth orbit (LEO), at a target altitude of 550 km and an orbital velocity of 28 600 km/h.
Serfontein says that the vibration test system solution has been instrumental in Dragonfly Aerospace reaching its initial goals, optimising its workflow and staying on course for delivery, with ongoing shaker maintenance and training. “Our facilities allow for the production of up to 48 satellites annually, of varying size up to a 600 kg class, enabling us to compete with the most advanced agile aerospace companies in the world,” he concludes.
Bringing true mobile welding capability to SA agriculture
Other technologies
Bolt and Engineering Distributors has launched the new Fronius Ignis Battery. This is a next-generation, battery-powered welding system engineered for mobility, reliability and performance in off-grid agricultural environments.
Read more...Monitoring relays keep operations running Omron Electronics
Other technologies
OMRON’s K8 series relays are designed to prevent breakdowns, protect critical assets and support smarter maintenance strategies on the plant.
Read more...Additives drive fuel efficiency and engine protection Bearing Man Group T/A BMG
Other technologies
Rising fuel costs and increasing pressure on equipment reliability are driving demand for solutions that improve diesel engine efficiency. BMG addresses this requirement in Africa through its range of Liqui Moly additives.
Read more...Next-generation grease pumps SKF South Africa
Other technologies
SKF has introduced its latest advancement in lubrication technology with the unveiling of a new line of air-operated grease pumps.
Read more...Oil analysis is an investment that pays a cost-savings dividend
Other technologies
The majority of organisations implementing oil analysis face the challenge of maximising operational cost savings against the pressure to achieve full production and enhance shareholder value. An organisation may, or may not, achieve the intended benefits for several reasons, chief among them being the failure to implement a sound corrective-action strategy.
Read more...The cost of incorrect lubrication
Other technologies
Sam Kekana, technical sales representative at Lubrication Engineers has spent years working with plant maintenance teams across a range of industries, and he has seen where lubrication goes wrong and what it costs companies when it does.
Read more...The AI skills every engineer now needs
Other technologies
To use AI responsibly and effectively, you need at least a basic understanding of how they work and where they can fail. Generative AI then becomes a powerful assistant; without it, you are effectively ‘prompting and praying’, exposing yourself to errors and professional embarrassment.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version