Linköping supplies global space project

NASA's new megaproject – the James Webb telescope – is beaming back to Earth an extraordinary new understanding of space. Launched on Christmas Day in 2021, the telescope can see even further away and deeper into the history of the universe than the well-known Hubble telescope, thanks to its use of infrared radiation. It weighs 6.2 tons, has a diameter of 6.5 meters, is close to three times the size of Hubble and 100 times more powerful.

The sensitive and important deployment sequence, when the telescope is separated from the rocket and placed in orbit, took place with the help of a separation system built in Linköping by the company Beyond Gravity.

Thanks to the deep knowledge of the Swiss company's Linköping unit, they often receive major assignments from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).

"Since the start in 1981, we have delivered separation systems to approximately 1,200 satellites in orbit. All the separations have been successful, which is hard to beat,” says Per Lovatt, operations manager in Linköping.

"Of course, there’s a lot of prestige when NASA commissions us as part of such a huge and expensive project. But there’s no denying the fact that we are world leaders in the field – always accurate and reliable,” adds Beyond Gravity’s marketing manager, Magnus Engström.

"We have many international customers who visit us here in Linköping because we have products that cover their needs and above all requirements for reliability," adds Ann-Louise Eriksson, program manager for Launcher separation systems.

Twenty seven minutes after its launch, the telescope separated from the Ariane 5 rocket and its solar panels automatically unfolded in a kind of reverse metal origami. The whole package is as high as a three-story house when fully extended.

Expanding in Linköping

Now, Beyond Gravity is expanding rapidly in Linköping by building a new state-of-the-art space factory in the Cavok District business park and recruiting 60 new employees. The expansion is needed not least because they have received their single largest order ever from Amazon for their Project Kuiper. The project will increase global broadband access. It's about fast broadband at affordable prices for people all over the world. Beyond Gravity's mission is to design and manufacture the scalable separation systems that will enable the placement of multiple satellites in orbit at each rocket launch.

"The future looks incredibly exciting and the development opportunities are great in an innovative and expansive city like Linköping," says Per Lovatt.