Space Tech Expo is Europe’s premier event for the space industry. Component manufacturers, subsystem suppliers, OEMs, key buyers, and space and government institutions come from all across Europe to see and hear about new developments in launch vehicles, orbital space stations, satellites, and other space-related technologies and innovations.

In addition to presenting its fiber-optic connectors and connectors for space robotics at its stand, SOURIAU showcased its three families of products qualified for space use.

Space-qualified D-Sub:  This range of rectangular connector is a non-magnetic version of the HD D-Sub connector and complies with ESA’s ESCC 3401 specification and NASA’s GSFC specifications. The most characterising feature of SOURIAU’s space-qualified D-Sub connector is the variety of the contact layouts, which allows signal, power, coaxial, and fibre-optic contacts to all be combined into the same shell. The signal contacts are solder contacts and are available as straight or 90° contacts for placement on electronic circuit boards.

microCOMP: These miniature rectangular connectors are ESA ESCC 3401 and QPL compliant. The design of the microCOMP series has been optimised for space use and particularly on satellites. The non-magnetic composite or aluminium shell is 65% lighter and takes up 35% less panel space than standard miniature HD D-Sub connectors. The microCOMP range is available in nine layouts of 7 to 104 removable crimp contacts (26 gauge) for currents of up to 2.5 A. The microCOMP series is ideal for Cat 5E cables used for Gigabit Ethernet connections.

MIL-DTL-38999:  This family of SOURIAU circular connector is used widely in civil and military aviation applications as well as defence systems. The space version complies with ESA ESCC 3401 and MIL-DTL-38999 Class G (QPL) .The three series (I, II, III) that make up the MIL-DTL-38999 family are complementary and withstand the specific constraints related to launch vehicles, orbital space stations, and satellites. Series II (bayonet lock) has a low profile that is perfect for applications where height is a limiting factor. Series III features a screw coupling with a self-locking internal ring.

The variety of shell sizes and contact layouts enables SOURIAU’s MIL-DTL-38999 connectors to meet any requirement for aeronautics and aerospace applications.

SOURIAU’s team of aerospace experts were delighted to show visitors SOURIAU’s connectors and SUNBANK’s accessories that are specifically designed for the aerospace markets.