maxon collaborate in a world first: mining on the moon

maxon Group Australia are excited to announce their collaboration with innovative Australian space company, Space Industries, to develop new mining technologies on the moon.

It’s not every day you receive an inquiry to help build a rover that will mine the surface of the moon. When maxon was contacted by Space Industries CEO, Joshua Letcher, with this exact query, a remarkable collaboration was born.

Specialising in the development of lunar and space mining vehicles, subsystems and systems for space systems, in a world-first, Space Industries are designing and developing revolutionary technology: a rover to mine elements on the lunar surface. “Space Industries are leading the way in space mining by focusing on gas production to produce resources that will sustain life on the Moon and other planets, along with producing Helium-3 for use in Medical and Energy industries on Earth” said Letcher. Soon to be located at Australia’s only dedicated Space Precinct at Perth Airport in WA, Space Industries have strategically positioned themselves amongst other leading global companies involved in civil engineering and research & development within the sector.

It was maxon’s long-standing involvement working with agencies such as NASA, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and European Space Agency, amongst others, that prompted Joshua Letcher to call maxon. maxon DC motors, drives systems and sensor technologies have already been used to drive several Mars rovers and withstood the conditions there. The DC motors resist brutal temperature changes, dust, dirt and storms. They are also built to survive a dynamic entry, descent and landing sequence as well as the harsh daily conditions on the moon. maxon Managing Director, Brett Motum, said “we are thrilled to be a part of not only an Australian first, but a world-first, invention that is going to redefine the term sustainable energy, open up exciting possibilities within the medical and energy sectors and of course, put Australia on the global Space map”.

It’s this type of application that sits at the heart of maxon – working with companies who share the same passion for innovation, technology and development of pioneering inventions. Particularly those that help to shape the future of this planet and perhaps even sustain life on the moon.

For further information please contact maxon Group Australia tel. +61 2 9457 7477 or Space Industries moon@spaceindustries.com.au

maxon Australia inspiring future engineers.

Head of R&D and Astrophysicist, Dr Carlos Bacigalupo, presented Q&A to children at a Northern Sydney primary school.

Corporate social responsibility is an important aspect of maxon Australia’s business. Beyond DC motors and drive systems, maxon recognises the importance of giving back to the community and the opportunity to inspire the future engineers, astrophysicists and designers of tomorrow. An engaging and lively Q&A session was held at a Primary School on Sydney’s leafy Upper North Shore on 13 August. Dr Bacigalupo was asked questions such as what are wormholes? How did the moon get made? Will Earth ever hit the sun? Will the sun ever die? What does the moon feel like?

The future engineers showed a particular interest in the scale of the Universe and there was a lot to talk about! maxon Australia has contributed to the software development of the TAIPAN instrument aimed to measure the expansion rate of the Universe to unprecedented precision. This world class instrument also relies on maxon DC motors to perform high precision measurements of the motion of distant galaxies. The audience enthusiastically learned about the successful, and sometimes not so successful, milestones of the development process.

For Dr Bacigalupo, answering the more than 400 questions extracted from not only his knowledge of planets and all things space but also from maxon’s involvement in the Aerospace industry, including the Mars Rovers and various aerospace applications.

For further information please contact maxon Australia tel. +61 2 9457 7477.