Precision in Orbit: Thin-Ring Bearings for Spaceflight

Rodriguez develops specially adapted thin-ring bearings for demanding space applications – from robotic arms to movable satellite systems. Image composition: AI-generated background with Adobe Firefly; product images: © Rodriguez GmbH.

Satellites are to be operated, maintained, repaired, or repositioned for longer periods in the future. This also increases the demands on mechanical components. Requirements include low weight, small installation space, high stiffness, and maximum reliability. Rodriguez develops compact precision bearings for demanding space applications, from robotic arms to movable satellite systems.

Thin ring bearings play an important role in this context. Their particularly slim design allows large diameters with small cross-sections, thereby reducing weight and space – crucial advantages for space applications. “Mechanical components must withstand strong vibrations and high G-forces right from the rocket launch,” explains Ulrich Schroth, Business Unit Manager for Value Added Products at Rodriguez. “In orbit, the focus is then on executing movements precisely and reliably over long periods.”

Typical applications include robotic arms for orbit servicing, which can maintain or reposition satellites, as well as movable solar arrays and other positioning systems. Specially adapted bearings from Rodriguez have been used for years in robotic arms on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS).

Customized solutions instead of standard bearings

Standard products are often not sufficient for space applications. Rodriguez therefore customizes thin ring bearings specifically to fit installation space and system requirements. Diameter, width, weight, materials, and lubricants can be tailored individually. Conditions such as vacuum, outgassing, radiation, and long operational periods must also be considered.

These customer-specific solutions are developed by Rodriguez in the Value Added Products (VAP) division based on their own bearing components. “We come into play where precise, reliable mechanical movement must be implemented in space, and in the smallest possible space,” says Schroth, “and thin ring bearings are a key technology for this.”

With the increasing number and lifespan of satellites, the importance of high-precision, lightweight, and individually tailored bearing solutions is also growing.