In Spacecraft Life Support Systems

This paper discusses the development problems of the long life hydraulic pump sets based on electrical brushless D.C. motors with hydraulic static supports. The first test results of the new brushless D.C. motors for long life hydraulic pump sets developed in NPP VNIIEM to use on the space station “Alpha” are presented. The specific feature of the motors is elimination of the traditional bearing units and almost complete exclusion of mechanical wear during motor operation. Electrical pump sets using this type of motor are expected to have 100,000 hours service life.