ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9948
Open Date: 03/09/2019
Closing Date: 15/10/2019 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 19.133.13
Prog. Ref.: Technology Developme
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Mechanisms / Mechanisms ¿ C&P / Lubricant (dry, fluid), etc / Satellites & Probes / Parts / Mechanical, Optical and Magnetic parts / Connecting parts (nuts, bolts, etc), Separating parts (springs, cutters, etc), Spacing Parts, Bearing Parts, Control Parts (gears), ¿
Technology Domains: Mechanisms / Tribology Technologies / Lubrication Technologies / Mechanisms / Tribology Technologies / Material Surface Technologies / Materials and Processes / Materials Processes / Characterisation and Feedback
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Mechanical Engineering Department
Division: Structure and Mechanisms Division
Contract Officer: Garre, Maximilian
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 03/09/2019
Update Reason: Tender issue

Objective(s) of the Activity:The generic objective of the activity is to extend lifetime of space mechanisms tribological surfaces(e.g. fluid or dry lubricated gears or bearings) by applying surface functionalization technologies.The specific objectives of the activity are to:1. Identify and select candidate SF technologies which could improve space tribology of typical space mechanisms components considering the application domains:a. Improve life (number of revolutions, teeth encounters) of tribological contacts (fluid or dry lubricated bearings, gears)b. Creation of oleophilic surfaces (capable of retaining fluid lubricants on tribological surfaces, having affinity for oil)c. Improvement of adhesion of MoS2 coatingsd. Creation of oleophobic (e.g. repelling oil) surfaces replacing traditional creep barrierse. Increase of static coefficient of friction of separable contacts e.g. hold down andreleasemechanism support structuresf. Surface hardening of gears / harmonic drive gears teeth surfacesg. Improvement of fatigue resistance of mechanism components such as e.g. flex pivots (3D printed metallic flex pivots)2. Evaluation of the selected SF technologies for application on typical mechanism contacts considering:Surface (bearings, gears, plain bushes) Materials (bearing steels, gear steels, hardening methods) Lubricants (MoS2, PFPE lubricants, MAC lubricants) Environment (Air, vacuum, N2, operational and launch loads, preload in bearings, operational contact stresses, stresses due to thermal cycling and differential thermal expansion)3. Further develop or modify best performing SF technologies4. Verify the selected processes on sample level in relevant environment (thermal vacuum)5. Verify the selected processes on component level in relevant environment6. Establish a path to qualification and industrialisation of successful SF technologies