Chrome coating technology for Mars mission

Poeton Industries is providing hard chrome plating expertise for the launch clamp ring for the Beagle 2 lander of European Space Agency's Mars Express mission.

Poeton Industries is providing hard chrome plating expertise for the launch clamp ring (LCR) for the Beagle 2 lander of European Space Agency's Mars Express mission, due to be launched from Baikanour in Kazahkstan in May/June 2003.

The launch clamp ring acts as a coupling between Beagle 2, the British-built landing component of the Mars Express mission, and the launch vehicle.

A hard chrome coating was specified for the release mechanism of the LCR to prevent friction causing cold welding of the titanium used in its manufacture.

Chrome was also chosen because it is a pure metal and will not out-gas in space, which could contaminate other components.

Poeton became involved in the Beagle 2 mission through its acknowledged expertise in applying Apticote 100 hard chrome to titanium and other specialist alloys, and its experience with difficult materials, components and processes.

Says Sean Hammond, Poeton Commercial General Manager: "We were involved from the early stages of the project via Insys (a subcontractor for Beagle 2).

Also, during detailed discussions with the mission's industrial Prime Contractor, Astrium we were able to suggest variations to the specification that would meet their requirements and help maintain the programme's tight production schedule".

Poeton has plated other components on Beagle 2 in addition to the launch clamp ring.

Six of the LCRs have been produced but only one will make it into space.

The Poeton spokesman stresses that if the release mechanism doesn't work Beagle 2 doesn't land.

Work on Beagle 2 has stimulated interest from the US space agency NASA, also a long-time Poeton customer that has specified Apticote 100 hard chrome to coat palettes used in the cargo hold of the Space Shuttle.

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