Mechanical Design

Our mechanical design capability spans test rigs and ground support equipment (GSE), wind tunnel test fixtures, parachute drop test vehicles and mechanisms for parachute and airbag systems. We use Solid Edge 3D CAD and FE analysis software to realise and fully stress our designs, allowing us to efficiently produce designs to further our missions, all to industry standards.

  • An inflatable structure design for the DADs and IADs project
  • A test vehicle design for the Earth Return Capsule project
  • A test vehicle with fairing design for the ERC project
  • A draft for the DADs and IADs project

Mechanical Design Case Studies

ESA – Supersonic Parachute on a MAXUS flight
ESA – Earth Return Capsule
ESA – Huygens Descent Control Sub-System (DCSS)
ESA – Mercury Landing Technologies
SSTL/ESA – Earth Re-Entry Vehice Demonstrator Pre-Phase A
SSTL/ESA – Venus Entry Probe