Wiremasters to distribute GORE Space Cables
On 20 June, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. announced that WireMasters is the first authorised distributor of select GORE Space Cables for high data rate applications. Product offerings in stock at WireMasters include Type GBL (Balanced Shield Line) for dataline applications and Type SpaceWire for satellite, telescope observatories and other critical spaceflight operations.
Headquartered in Columbia, TN/USA, WireMasters is an industry leader in the sales and distribution of Mil-Spec BMS, and EN wire, cable, tubing and accessories, having provided value-added services to the aerospace and defence market for 30 years.
“We’re excited to support Gore’s industry-leading presence in the space industry and serve as the global stock distributor for their balanced datalines and SpaceWire cables,” David Hill, President and CEO of WireMasters, said.
John Frantz, Channel Manager for Gore’s Americas region, added: “WireMasters provides tremendous value to customers through excellent customer service and their inventory of Gore cables. We expect WireMasters will continue to provide customers with efficient options that include specific GORE Space Cables.”
Gore’s cables ensure power is delivered safely and reliably while improving signal speed and integrity among electrical systems in the challenging environmental conditions of outer space. With specialised insulation materials that are more durable, these small, lightweight cables have been thoroughly tested and are ESA-qualified according to ESCC specifications for long-lasting performance. The high flexibility and tight bend radius of these cables also facilitate easy installation and routing.
Data transmission is essential to the success of every space mission. If data canott be transmitted, the spacecraft could lose communication with mission control, leading to inefficiencies or even a failed mission.
Gore Space Cables for SpaceWire applications ensure excellent, constant data transmission aboard various types of spacecrafts. “Our cables provide bidirectional, high-speed data transmission up to 400Mbit/s with minimal crosstalk, signal attenuation and low skew,” the company states. Additionally, the cables meet the stringent electrical and mechanical requirements of ESCC 3902/003. Using a serial, point-to-point dataline with Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS), Gore space cables for SpaceWire applications reduce costs because they can be integrated into many different satellite programmes without the need for custom designs. Among the cables’ applications are high-resolution cameras and radar sensor equipment, and they are used aboard the James Webb Space Telescope and the Sun Dynamics Observatory.
The key to the performance of Gore Space Cables for SpaceWire applications is the proprietary material used in the cable insulation, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). Using ePTFE, Gore supports Low Voltage Differ-ential Signaling (LVDS), which allows data to pass through the cable without significant signal loss. By combining this LVDS technology with standard hardware protocols, the cables provide a simple alternative to the need for customised programme designs.
