An ‘exhilarating’ moment as Cambrionix’s ThunderSync hub heads for ISS
Cambrionix’s ThunderSync3-C10 hub recently went into space after having been officially certified for use aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The ThunderSync3-C10 was transported to the space station on NASA SpaceX commercial resupply mission, which launched to the orbiting laboratory at 4.15am EDT on April 21, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This mission marked the 32nd commercial resupply services flight conducted by SpaceX under NASA’s commercial resupply services contract.
In addition to food, supplies, and equipment for the crew, the Spacex Dragon spacecraft delivered several new experiments, including a demonstration of refined manoeuvres for free-floating robots. Dragon also carries an enhanced air quality monitoring system that could protect crew members on exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, and two atomic clocks to examine fundamental physics concepts, such as relativity, and test worldwide synchronisation of precision timepieces.
The ThunderSync3-C10 is a state-of-the-art hub that uses Thunderbolt technology to simultaneously provide guaranteed data speeds between 1-4Gbps per port and efficient charging for ten devices.
Key features include:
- Ten USB Type-C ports deliver up to 15W of power for rapid charging
- A Thunderbolt 3 interface offering up to 40Gbps data transfer speeds overall, ensuring swift and reliable communication with connected devices
- Compatibility with various operating systems, including macOS, Windows, and Linux, facilitates seamless integration into diverse technological ecosystems
- Advanced management capabilities through Cambrionix’s proprietary ‘Connect’ software enable users to monitor and control each port individually.
The ThunderSync3-C10’s robust design and advanced functionality make it an ideal solution for mission-critical environments where reliability and performance are paramount. The certification underscores Cambrionix’s commitment to its mission in delivering the fastest, most reliable, most intelligent device connectivity solutions on the planet, for the most demanding environments.
“The ThunderSync3-C10 was not designed initially with space in mind,” Cambrionix CEO Andy Jones told the Cambridge Independent. “We put a lot of thought and effort into the design, testing and the materials used within our hubs to ensure the best performance.
“As a positive byproduct of that, apparently only Cambrionix’s ThunderSync3-C10 passed NASA’s rigorous testing under heavy heat and magnetic loads to meet the stringent standards required for operation aboard the International Space Station and proved capable of providing power and data necessary for the operation of critical hardware in orbit.”
The hubs are already in use in several sectors, Andy explains.
“Our hubs might seem like a very niche product, but they are hiding in plain sight and play an important part in mobile device management and overall connectivity, testing and management.
“Our hubs are used in industries such as software and hardware testing, eg helping businesses bring new mobile devices and apps to market, and we work with many companies in the circular tech sector – particularly mobile device recycling – to support those businesses in refurbishing mobile devices to go out to the second-hand market.
“Our hubs are used extensively in the education space to manage school district mobile devices.
“We are also an OEM, so we supply boards and finished products to support other businesses. Our hardware is increasingly behind the new fast charging stations in airports, hospitals and car dealerships.”
“As the lead electronics engineer at Cambrionix, seeing our product head to the International Space Station is beyond exhilarating,” said Fred Le Moal. “It’s a proud moment for the whole team – we’ve all worked incredibly hard together to design and build the best product possible, drawing on years of experience and deep expertise in USB technology.
“Knowing that our work is trusted and approved for use in space, supporting science and technology at the highest frontier, is just incredible.”
