NASA utilizes Amphenol CIT's space flight cable assembly as part of its Red Planet mission launched in July 2020. CIT components help optimize communication among NASA's Perseverance Rover, Curiosity helicopter, and base command.
The mission continues the search for signs that Mars may have been habitable in the ancient past and signs of past microbial life. The Perseverance rover includes a drill that can collect core samples of the most promising rocks and soils and set them aside in a "cache" on the surface of Mars. A future mission could potentially return these samples to Earth. The mission also provides opportunities to gather knowledge and demonstrate technologies that address the challenges of future human expeditions to Mars.
Amphenol CIT's next-generation interconnect solutions are designed to meet space flight's harsh demands with enhanced performance and provide reliable communication. CIT's space flight cable assemblies are currently integrated within the MAVEN spacecraft launched in 2013. With an original mission life of about two years, MAVEN has recently been extended to support the upcoming MARS Rover mission. NASA will utilize the CIT MCJ142A space flight cable assembly, terminated with the CIT space-grade SMA connectors, to support the Rx/Tx location signals between the helicopter and rover.
Amphenol CIT has worked with the space program for more than 50 years, from NASA's Apollo 11 program to the more recent James Webb Telescope development and Artemis 1 mission. We offer a range of mission-critical products, including cables, cable assemblies, connectors, and EMI Shielding. We have a long history of working with space program engineers to bring their innovative ideas and applications to life, supporting groundbreaking research work, and ensuring every component of every mission is a success.
To learn more about our current space program, click here.
