Groundbreaking superconducting magnet set for space launch
Paihau—Robinson Research Institute has partnered with Nanoracks, powered by Voyager Space, to launch an innovative superconducting magnet technology demonstrator to the International Space Station (ISS). Titled the Hēki mission, this marks a significant first for Aotearoa New Zealand, underscoring the country’s pioneering role in space research.
An industry leader in high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet development, the Paihau-Robinson Research Institute is undertaking a five-year research programme into the application of its proprietary magnet technology to applied-field magneto plasma dynamic (AF-MPD) thrusters, a type of electric space thruster.
Professor Nick Long, the Institute’s Director, says the research drastically reduces the mass and power consumption of these thrusters, leveraging Robinson’s 20-year track record in HTS magnet technology to do so.
“Our upcoming Hēki mission is a landmark project for New Zealand. It will create new opportunities for us to be on the leading edge of space research. This is a groundbreaking opportunity to see how the real space environment will impact the equipment.”
After the magnet completes its mission in space, it will be returned to New Zealand for further study—a unique opportunity, as most payloads do not return from space.
The operation of this technology in a relevant space environment marks a critical step towards its validation and commercialisation, explains project manager Dr Avinash Rao. “It is a great honour to be part of this project with such well-known partners like Nanoracks and Voyager Space," Dr Rao says.
The payload is scheduled to be shipped to the United States by the end of September this year for a launch in February 2025. Once it arrives at the ISS, it will be installed into the Nanoracks External Platform (NREP) by astronauts aboard the station. Engineers on the ground will then operate the magnet over several months, demonstrating its ability to generate a core magnetic field thousands of times stronger than that of the earth, while also providing shielding to ensure the safety and stability of surrounding equipment.
Paihau-Robinson's HTS technology has a variety of other space applications, including helping to control a spacecraft’s orientation in orbit with magnetorquers (which use a strong electromagnet to ‘push’ against the Earth’s magnetic field) and reaction wheels (which store angular momentum in a spinning wheel), radiation shielding, and ballistic re-entry shielding.
Nanoracks’ External Platform on the ISS provides many critical systems, including power, heat sinking, and telemetry, which Robinson would have to otherwise design, build, and test themselves. This opportunity to host payload on the ISS is facilitated through Nanoracks’ Space Act Agreement with NASA.
Maggie Ahern, Technical Lead at Nanoracks, says they are thrilled to enable this opportunity for Robinson.
“This is exactly why our team built the external platform. We want our customers to take step-by-step approaches to qualifying their technology in the harsh space environment while having the opportunity to review data and even receive their hardware back if desired. Congratulations to the Robinson team for this first big milestone in their spaceflight journey.”
Contact details
Contact the Primary Investigator for more information:
Prof. Nick Long
Director, Paihau—Robinson Research Institute
nick.long@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 0079
Nanoracks media contact:
voyager@nickellcommunications.com