High flying sensor technology reaches the Thermosphere

SSC (Swedish Space Corporation) is a leading global provider of state-of-the-art space engineering, satellite and launch services based in Solna (Stockholm) and Kiruna (Northern Sweden).

Their rocket, the SubOrbital Express, is flying 260 km into the Thermosphere where they will perform scientific and technological experiments in weightlessness. All this on behalf of institutions, private individuals or companies.

These experiments take place over a duration of six minutes in a state of weightlessness. Afterwards the rocket falls back to earth where it lands, with the help of a parachute, in the landing zone north of Kiruna. After a helicopter retrieves the rocket, the SSC evaluates and analyses the data collected and shares it with the scientists.

On board this exciting journey, Keller’s series PAA-33X sensors have been integrated into the experimental module «ARLES-II».

The SSC used Keller sensors for monitoring pressure as early as the summer of 2019, in the experiment module «ARLES-I».

On the next flight, pressure transmitters will be used to monitor pressures in a series of experimental cells where experiments with liquid droplets and graphene particles (graphene is tear-resistant, highly elastic as well as electrically conductive and is considered to be the material of the future) will take place. In addition, KELLER pressure sensors will measure the pressure of the gas in a nitrogen gas cylinder on board.

The next flight of the SubOrbital Express departs on the 1st of June 2022. And when the countdown begins, Keller will be there again.