Springco, based in Portadown, Northern Ireland, has developed a substantial profile in the Space Sector. But April 2023, will involve another very proud moment and a very significant milestone for all of Springco’s team. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) mission to explore Jupiter and its largest moons has safely arrived at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, where final preparations for its April 2023 launch, are now underway. ESA’s website states:
“…….Launch around mid-April will open an eight-year voyage to Jupiter. Packing a suite of 10 instruments, Juice’s mission is to study Jupiter’s large, ocean-bearing icy moons.
The objectives include learning how such worlds might harbour life and studying the Jupiter system as a model for complex environments around gas giant planets across the Universe…….”
Over the last 10 years, SpringCo (NI) Limited has established a real foothold in the Space sector in the UK and Ireland. Some of the projects include:
- PEGASUS Satellite Programme – Operating since 1990
- HGAS actuator for the JPL CURIOSITY ROVER – currently on Mars
- GAIA Mission charting 3D map of the Milky Way Galaxy – Launched in 2013
- BepiColombo Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter Mission – Launched in 2018
- Solar Orbiter, I-Boom arm release mechanism – Launched in 2020
The Springco team headed by Group Operations Director, Connor Jordan have established a real heritage in the global space sector over more than a decade and are delighted to part of this European Space Agency ESA mission. Commenting on the imminent Juice launch Connor said:
“Springco have been actively involved in supplying quality spring solutions into a number of different Space Missions over the past 30 years. Our specialism and wide range of spring products satisfy all safety parameters for supply into Space. Springco have launched a new Research & Development Department currently looking into the development of new spring materials primarily for Deep Space activities. We are actively looking for collaborative partners and are always open to discussion.”
More information on Springco’s space heritage can be found at https://www.springco.co.uk/industries/