Resistors keep space lab running

SM resistors need to function reliably in high-vacuum, low-temperature, high-radiation environments and also need to survive the high vibrations of a space shuttle liftoff.

Orbiting the earth at an altitude of 350km and travelling at over 27,000km/h, the European Columbus laboratory space module is now part of the international space station.

Onboard Columbus are several SM series current sensing resistors made by Isabellenhutte.

These components need to function reliably in high-vacuum, low-temperature, high-radiation environments and also need to survive the high vibrations of a space shuttle liftoff.

To ensure this reliability these parts are subjected to a large number of tests performed on individual components taken from normal production lots.

These tests include ageing, detailed visual inspection and vibration tests.

These resistors are manufactured using Isaplan technology.

This process ensures a high continuous load capacity as well as a high pulse power rating.

These devices also feature a very low thermal resistance, which in turn leads to a correspondingly low resistance drift.

The resistance element of these current sensing resistors provides long-term stability better than 0.5% at full load after 2000 hours.

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