Upper Austria's space pioneer: State-of-the-art technology for the future

Upper Austria's space pioneer: State-of-the-art technology for the future

The Upper Austrian company Peak Technology recently put a state-of-the-art electron beam welding machine into operation in Holzhausen. The Governor of Upper Austria, Thomas Stelzer, visited the company to see for himself the technological innovation. Peak Technology is rightly called the “hidden champion” of space technology and is one of the leading technology companies in Austria. Since its founding in 2007, the company has specialized in important areas such as lightweight structures, high-pressure tanks for space travel, hydrogen tanks and structures for launch vehicles and satellites. The new welding machine is a decisive step towards increasing the precision of connections between space components and has the potential to significantly increase quality standards in the industry, as tips.at reports.

In his speech, Stelzer emphasized Upper Austria's international pioneering role in the space industry and emphasized the creation of highly qualified jobs. Similar views were expressed by Dieter Grebner, President of Austrospace and Managing Director of Peak Technology, who highlighted the enormous potential of the space industry for the regional and national economy. Political interest and support is essential for the further development of this industry, especially with regard to the budget of the European Space Agency (ESA).

Strategic orders and future missions

In addition to the new technology, Peak Technology has received a significant contract from ESA, which includes a development worth almost 1.7 million euros. The company will manufacture the ATHENA FMS (Fixed Metering Structure) demonstrator, a critical component for the world's largest X-ray observatory, which will be launched into space in 2035. This mission, also known as the “Eye of the Universe,” is designed to study unsolved astrophysical phenomena and uses state-of-the-art scientific instruments to answer questions about the growth of black holes, as wirimbild.at reports.

The FMS is a central structure of the ATHENA telescope and will hold together the telescope's various modules, including the mirror assembly module, the service module and the science instrument module. It also has a focal length of 12 meters and is designed for use at a distance of around 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. This spatial arrangement is of great importance for carrying out precise astrophysical measurements.

Dynamics of the space industry

The space industry is considered a dynamically developing growth industry that contributes to regional added value and creates many highly qualified jobs. Austrian companies like Peak Technology have established themselves in niche markets and are benefiting from the global expansion of the sector. Austrospace, the platform for Austrian expertise in space technology and research, now includes 20 leading companies and research institutions that are working together to advance the industry's innovative strength and are involved in renowned projects such as ATHENA.

The positive development in the space industry in Austria is reflected in the diverse projects and continuous research and development, which are crucial for the future of the industry. If current trends and developments continue, Austria could play an even more important role in international space travel in the coming years.