Cable ties, components and critical space exploration

Cable ties, components and critical space exploration

As NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover begins exploring its new planetary home (after landing on 18 February 2021) it’s operating with the world’s most advanced technology and equipped with Ty-Rap cable ties from ABB, the same ties that are widely used on Earth.

Found in buildings, subways, the deepest oceans and outer space, ABB’s Ty-Rap cable ties are designed to withstand the demands of space flight and to resist corrosion and radiation in the most extreme environments. NASA has integrated the same Ty-Rap cable ties, which are used in commercial applications worldwide, to fasten the rover’s interior and exterior conduit and components and to secure research and lab equipment.

“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,” says 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 business, known today as ABB Installation Products, has provided products to the space programme since 1973, and Ty-Rap cable ties are in continued use on the still active NASA Curiosity rover and were previously used on the twin Spirit and Opportunity rovers.

Originally patented in 1958, standard Ty-Rap cable ties became known for their grip-of-steel locking device in business and household use. Since then, nearly 30 billion Ty-Rap cable ties have been produced – laid end-to-end, enough to stretch to the Moon and back more than a dozen times.

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. The mission addresses high-priority science goals for Mars exploration, including key questions about the potential for life on Mars.

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