Paihau—Robinson Space Blog

The Hēki team and colleagues at Voyager Technologies (formerly Nanoracks) recently completed the final safety review and approval for the Hēki technology demonstration payload, scheduled to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025. NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s expert panel assessed Hēki’s materials, structures, and electronics design and performance to ensure that they are safe for flight.

Hēki will validate that several novel technologies are compatible with launch and operations in space. These experimental components will improve the efficiency of spacecraft ion thrusters and include a high-temperature superconducting magnet, its “flux pump” power supply, and custom control electronics. Testing included shaking to validate that key parts of the system will survive a rocket launch, thermal cycling of the entire experiment to verify that Hēki can stay within its operational temperature range in the vacuum of space, and electromagnetic compatibility testing to ensure that Hēki will be a “good neighbour” to the experiments around it. Once testing was complete, engineers packed Hēki safely for shipment to Voyager Space, as shown in the header image.

Hēki was designed, built, and tested at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington’s Paihau—Robinson Research Institute, with team members from IDS Consulting, Asteria Engineering Consultancy, University of Auckland, and of University of Canterbury contributing to its successful completion. Voyager Technologies will coordinate Hēki’s launch, deployment, and operations with the ISS.