The drive systems developed by Obwalden-based company maxon are key to the success of the current Mars mission by the U.S. NASA space agency, which has now been running for over 1,000 days. This was the view expressed by NASA Project Manager Jennifer Harris Trosper in an interview with SRF (Swiss Radio and Television). NASA “relies on Swiss innovation”, she said.
In the interview, which was initially broadcast as part of the Echo der Zeit program and later published online as an article, she emphasizes maxon’s central role in the mission: “We want to find out whether there was previously life on Mars. To achieve this, our robot acquires rock samples. The robotic arm that collects and packs the rock samples operates with motors produced in Switzerland. These motors are also used in the helicopter that we use to perform flights on Mars.”
maxon drive systems are “very familiar with Mars”, according to a maxon press release published before this Mars mission. Over 100 motors produced by the manufacturer of precision drive systems have been used in previous robotic missions on the Red Planet.
The next mission, which the NASA Project Manager says is more delicate, will go a step further: a rocket will be launched from Mars and brought back to Earth. “That will require a lot more precision and high tech”.
