Flight-Qualified Flow Controls
With the intense pressures they operate under and their critical role in flight, valves used in spacecraft must meet incredibly strict tolerances. No matter whether it serves as a component of the vehicle’s engine, helps pressurize the crew cabin or feeds fuel to vital systems, each valve has to be extremely reliable and capable of delivering exceptional performance in extreme conditions.
Marotta Controls offers space valves with over 60 years of flight-proven heritage. Our spacecraft pressure regulation and control valves played a critical role in the earliest days of manned spaceflight, from the fuel control valves on the Saturn rocket to propulsion systems for the Lunar Module ascent and descent engines.
With extensive experience and success in our space control systems we are able to leverage our heritage and product portfolio and have evolved our qualified controls to meet the increasing requirements of Space applications. Today, our spacecraft pressurization systems and propulsion controls provide reliable, cost-effective performance without compromise to commercial and military space control systems and spacecraft.
- Alpha
- Artemis
- Atlas
- CCTCap
- CST-100
- Delta II, IV
- Dream Chaser
- GOCE
- H2A/H2B
- ISS
- LauncherOne
- MetOp-SG
- New Glenn
- New Shepard
- SLS
- SpaceshipTwo
- Space Shuttle
- Talon-A
- Terran
- Chemical injection
- Engine controls
- Ground support equipment and systems
- Fuel purge lines
- Launch vehicles
- Pneumatic systems
- Pressurization systems
- Propellant feed systems
- Propulsion, including satellite propulsion
- Testing equipment
CoRe® Flow Controls
CoRe® Flow Controls series of space-qualified solenoid valves is the optimal solution for complex commercial launch vehicle applications. CoRe combines proven high-performance and high reliability with affordability and availability.
- High volume production capability
- Reusable
- Wide-range of applicable systems
CoRe® is a commercial-launch-optimized solenoid product line designed to meet the requirements of spacecraft and launch vehicles without over-engineering. It is compatible with propellant feed systems, pressurization circuits, purge lines, and spacecraft pneumatic systems commonly found in modern launch architectures. It has been designed for reusability across multiple flight cycles and ground operations, suitable for multiple vehicle configurations and mission profiles.
Electronic Pressure Regulation
Electronic pressure regulators provide precise control to propellant feed systems and are designed to handle high operating pressures and are qualified for use in dynamic spacecraft and missile environments.
- Up to 10,000 psi
- Triple modular redundant
- Scalable operation
Marotta’s electronic pressure regulators are used to maintain stable propellant feed pressures across varying mission phases, with triple modular redundancy to ensure reliability. Scalable across small satellites, large spacecraft, and launch vehicles, it is designed to handle high operating pressures, thermal extremes, and dynamic launch conditions.
Satellite Propulsion
Our flight qualified engineered propulsion controls are compact, lightweight, use minimal power and are compatible with storable propellants used in electric propulsion and chemical propulsion feed systems.
- Latching and non-latching spacecraft isolation valves
- Thruster control valves
- Proportional control valves
These space-qualified control components deliver precise flow modulation for thrusters during orbit insertion, station-keeping, and attitude control. They serve crucial roles in primary propulsion as well as fine control subsystems, with their design enabling consistent performance across varying thermal conditions, pressure ranges, and mission phases encountered during spaceflight.
Solenoid Valves for Space Applications
With over 77 years of experience and hundreds of patented valves, we have the widest selection of solenoids as well as the expertise to design and manufacture solutions to meet your requirements. We have the expertise to ensure material selection meets requirements for vacuum operation, thermal cycling, and propellant compatibility.
- Balanced poppet design to minimize pressure sensitivity and leakage
- Customized solutions
- Space-flight qualified
Check Valves
Spacecraft check valves incorporate a poppet with internal flow passages for minimal pressure drop. These rapid response, low pressure-drop designs are ideal for applications that require a compact, lightweight package.
- Large L/D ratio, minimal chatter
- Smooth operation
- Cryogenic fluids
These valves prevent backflow within propellant, pressurization, and purge systems. Their internal flow passages and poppet design serve to reduce pressure losses and system inefficiencies, with a compact form factor that makes them ideal for spacecraft integration.
Relief Valves
Advanced spacecraft relief valves for systems that contain gases and liquids in a variety of pneumatic, hydraulic and cryogenic applications.
- Compact & lightweight
- Pressure balanced poppet
- Narrow regulation band for maintaining predictable system behavior
Relief valves are crucial for protecting tanks, lines, and spaceflight control components from the effects of over-pressurization. They are compatible with gaseous, liquid, pneumatic, hydraulic, and cryogenic systems.
Our space-qualified products for the above applications include flow controls, electronic pressure regulators, flight-qualified propulsion controls, solenoid controls, check valves, relief valves, piezo regulators, isolation valves, thruster valves, cryogenic space valves, and more. Our space-qualified products for the above applications include flow control valves, electronic pressure regulators, in-space propulsion controls, solenoid controls, check valves, propellant feed control valves, relief valves, piezo regulators, isolation valves, thruster valves and more.
Pressure Control Mechanisms in Space Applications
Maintaining precision control over pressure in spacecraft cabins and fuel containers is crucial when operating in the vacuum of space. These valves have to be designed to meet extremely rigid requirements for performance and durability.
Another key consideration for a valve used in spacecraft is its weight. Every component that goes into a space vehicle has to be carefully engineered and manufactured to contribute as little mass as possible to the entire vehicle. Marotta Controls is proud to be able to say that our lineup of space valves continues to meet the exceptionally high standards of commercial space, just as they did in the earliest days of the American space program.
We offer an extensive line of services and support — all on-site under one roof. Our state-of-the-art facility enables us to design, develop, qualify, test and manufacture in one location, increasing our product quality and reliability while reducing lead times to protect program schedules. Our capabilities and expertise include design engineering, production engineering, development labs, assembly workstations, production cells, machine shop and a wide range of cutting-edge testing equipment.
With extensive accolades and credentials, we are proud to let our experience and success speak for itself. We:
- Hold more than 200 patents
- Are the only small business to win the coveted NASA George M. Low Award for Quality and Excellence — twice
- Emphasize quality control and customer services
- Hold quality approvals and certifications from numerous organizations, including S9100:D, ISO 9100-2015 (Revision D), AS9100, MIL-Q-9858A, MIL-I-45208 — and many, many more
Frequently Asked Questions About Space Control Systems
What are spacecraft controls used for?
These high-reliability spacecraft components manage flow, pressure, isolation, and propulsion-related functions that enable safe and predictable operation of space vehicles. They regulate the flow of gases and fluids within propellant feed systems, pressurization circuits, and purge lines as well as supporting ground support equipment and pre-launch operations.
How are spacecraft controls qualified for spaceflight?
Marotta spacecraft controls undergo extensive qualification and validation processes to confirm their performance in space environments. These include exposure to vacuum conditions, thermal extremes, vibration, and pressure variations. This ensures they will provide repeatable performance over extended mission durations and multiple operational cycles.
What types of valves are commonly used in spacecraft systems?
Common valve types used to control the flow of liquids and gases within spacecraft systems include solenoid, check, relief, isolation, and proportional valves. They serve critical roles in applications such as propulsion feed systems, pressurization, overpressure protection, and isolation functions.
Why are weight and power consumption critical in spacecraft controls?
The mass of each component within a spacecraft directly impacts launch cost and overall vehicle design constraints. Engineers must balance performance with size and power efficiency to preserve the limited onboard power resources, as well.
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