SM series current sensing resistors used in space laboratory

Orbiting the earth at an altitude of 350Km and travelling at over 27,000Km/h , The European Columbus
laboratory space module is now part of the International space station.

On board Columbus are several SM series current sensing resistors made by Isabellenhutte. These
components need to function reliably in high vacuum, low temperature, high radiation environments, and also need to survive the high vibrations of a space shuttle lift-off. To ensure this reliability, these parts are
subjected to a large number of tests performed on individual components taken from normal production lots. These tests include: aging, detailed visual inspection and vibration tests.

These resistors are manufactured using ISA-PLAN technology. This process ensures a high continuous load capacity (3 watts) as well as a high pulse power rating. These devices also feature a very low thermal
resistance which in turn leads to a correspondingly low resistance drift.

The resistance element of these current sensing resistors (manufactured from Manganin) has a very low
thermal EMF ( less than 1 >V/°C ) and an excellent long term stability better than 0.5% at full load after 2000
hours.

Resistors manufactured by Isabellenhütte have already been used in satellites for over 12 years. It has
been announced that this series of current sensing resistors is to be adopted into the European preferred
parts list (EPPL).

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• Rhopoint Components Ltd

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