Solderjoint_No2_Magazin - Flipbook - Page 67
First light of MIRI on JWST: its detectors captured
photons that began their 13+ billion-year journey in the
early universe. Örs Hunor Detre and his team were the
lucky VIPs of humankind, witnessing young galaxies at
the edge of the observable universe for the first time
in history. Living moments destined for the pages of
science history — he feels blessed to have been part of
this team and the small part he could contribute.
long-term exposure to radiation and
vacuum. A single weak joint can jeopardize
the entire mission.
Weller: What are some common applications for soldering in satellite or telescope
systems?
As mentioned, most satellites and space
telescopes are electronics-dominated
systems, so soldering is everywhere: from
power distribution units and sensor, detector
interfaces to data processing boards and
actuator drivers, tied together with high
reliability connectors and cryogenic
harnesses. Reliable soldering is the invisible
backbone that holds all these critical
subsystems together.
Although I was in a lead role – more on the
planning side – I truly enjoyed spending time
in the labs. I was closely involved in the
other side of such missions: developing the
testing environment and the Electrical
Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) for
various sub-assemblies of MIRI and other
missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space
Telescope. EGSEs and test equipments are
essential in space projects, since each team
or location typically works on just one small
part of the overall system. For proper testing,
you often have to physically simulate the
‘rest of the telescope’ – or even simulate the
incoming starlight into the optical path.
While EGSEs don’t have to meet the same
stringent standards as flight hardware, they
interface directly with it – so they must be
soldered, tested, and documented with the
same level of care and precision. The
key difference is that materials and certain
testing requirements can be more forgiving,
allowing for faster iteration and practical
adjustments during development.
Weller: How do you see the future of sustainable space missions?
Sustainability in general is becoming a central theme in space missions. Part of it, as we
increase our presence in orbit, we face
growing challenges – one of the most urgent
being space debris. With more and more
satellites and rocket stages remaining in
orbit, the risk of collisions rises. This could
lead to a chain reaction known as the Kessler
Syndrome, where debris from one collision
triggers others, eventually making certain
orbits unusable, or even making access to
space from Earth entirely impossible. It’s a
very real and growing risk, which is why NASA,
ESA, and other space agencies treat debris
mitigation as a top priority in all future
mission planning.
Experience with Weller
I started soldering with a simple
gun-style iron in the Eastern Bloc. At 19,
I took a big step and invested in my
first temperature-controlled station –
a Weller WS 50. Nearly 30 years later,
I still use it at home. In most of the labs
I’ve worked in, Weller Tools have been
the go-to standard – especially when
precision and reliability are critical.
Hand-soldering still depends heavily on
skill, but the right tools make a big
difference. Dual-channel stations
streamline complex tasks, and thermal
wire strippers are invaluable for working
with space-grade harnesses. Rework
stations are especially useful during
early development phases.
In lab environments, soldering is all
about precision – every joint must be
flawless, particularly in prototypes or
flight hardware. In industry, consistency
and efficiency are key. In education,
the focus is on usability and building
confidence through hands-on experience.
#SOLDERjoint
#2 – 2025
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