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The car-sized craft is the most advanced to ever land on another planet, capable of analysing the Martian environment using seven instruments. Its mission is to further understanding of the planet’s geology and to look for signs of ancient life, with potentially huge ramifications for our knowledge of the Solar System. It even comes with a helicopter-style flying drone, which could help “significantly extend the limits of scientific exploration”.
It might come as a surprise, then, that parts of the $2.7bn rover are held together with strips of plastic that are little different to the ones found in hardware stores, around lampposts or securing home tools within their packaging.
Cable ties are, however, used on the craft. Supplied by ABB, the Ty-Rap strips handle some not insignificant tasks – fastening the rover’s interior and exterior conduit and components, and securing research and lab equipment.
Widely used on Earth, the ties are also designed to withstand the demands of space flight, and to resist corrosion and radiation in the most extreme environments. They are made of high-performance fluorine-based plastic ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene), also known as Tefzel. The material has been tested for physical durability and resistance to chemicals, ultraviolet light, extreme temperatures and 2,000-times more radiation than the nylon used in standard cable ties.
“Similar to how standard cable ties are a practical solution for use around the home to organise everything from indoor cords to outdoor lights, high-performance Ty-Rap cable ties connect and secure the rover’s wires and equipment,” said Matthias Heilmann, president of ABB Installation Products.
“For nearly 50 years, these Ty-Rap cable ties have performed in the most intense conditions on Earth and protected components from high-impact elements and radical temperature changes in previous space expeditions.”
The company has provided products to the space programme since 1973. Ty-Rap cable ties, originally patented in 1958, are in continued use on the still-active Curiosity rover and were previously used on the twin Spirit and Opportunity rovers.
Despite their previous use, their inclusion alongside multi-million dollar hardware on the ultra-modern Perseverance has captured some attention. As astro-engineer Jamie Gilbert wrote on Twitter:
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.