SKF Roller Screws a Critical Element of New Satellite Launcher(Pic)

SKF Roller Screws a Critical Element of New Satellite Launcher(Pic) The latest generation of roller screws from SKF, the leading knowledge engineering company, are an essential element of the thrust vector control (TVC) subsystems of the new Vega satellite launcher. The Vega launcher has been specifically developed by the Italian Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA) to put small satellites into orbit. The launcher is just 30 metres high and three metres in diameter, and is a single-body launcher with three solid rocket stages and a liquid rocket upper module. The thrust vector control is a critical subsystem for the Vega launcher because it ensures control during the key propulsion phases. The TVC system comprises two electromechanical actuators, an integrated power and drive unit, a battery set, and a cable harness that connects all individual elements. The integrated power and drive unit receives its commands directly from the onboard computer, which is monitored from the base station.