Cosmic bearings are special purpose bearings used for equipment operating in cosmic environments such as space equipment and satellites. Due to the harsh working conditions in the universe, cosmic bearings need to have the following characteristics:
1. High vacuum resistance: Cosmic bearings need to be able to operate normally in a vacuum environment and not be affected by the vacuum environment on the material. Gas resistant materials are required inside the bearings to ensure vacuum sealing performance.
2. Radiation resistance: There is a radiation environment in the universe, so cosmic bearings need to have radiation resistance to resist radiation damage from the sun, cosmic rays, and other radiation sources. Material selection and design should consider protective performance.
3. Temperature adaptability: Cosmic bearings need to be able to adapt to harsh temperature changes. There are situations in the universe where temperatures are low and high, and bearings require the use of special materials and lubricants to provide good lubrication and operational performance.
4. High reliability and durability: Cosmic bearings operate in harsh environments, so they need to have a high degree of reliability and durability. Bearing design needs to consider reducing friction and wear, as well as providing good sealing and dustproof performance.
5. Light weight and small size: Cosmic bearings need to have the characteristics of lightweight and miniaturization to adapt to the obstruction space of spacecraft and satellites. The selection and design of bearing materials require the pursuit of lightweight and compactness.
Due to the unique nature of the cosmic environment, the research and manufacturing of cosmic bearings is a challenging task. At present, research and technology specifically tailored to the needs of space bearings are constantly developing to meet the requirements of aerospace equipment such as spacecraft and satellites.
