Zip ties on the Chinese Mars rover?

[restorer-john]

Saw the news picture of the Zhurong Chinese Mars rover with it's solar panels swung out.

Pretty messy build quality of you ask me, especially with @amirm 's favourite self adhesive zip tie mounts and blue zip ties!

And what's with the joystick with RGBY markings? Who operates that to open and close the panels? Matt Damon (The Martian)!

And when the panels are closed the joystick is hidden. Bad design language there.

Zoomed in:

As used in the Mars rover!

 

[Matias]

If it gets to Mars, I am sure they are fine inside an amplifier.

 

[tgray]

The joystick with colors is probably for camera calibration. Known colors and a fix on sun direction. I wouldn’t be surprised if NASA rovers have some zip ties either.

 

[digitalfrost]

Is there somewhere I can buy these space ziptipes? I want to replace those in my amplifier to improve the sound

 

[AudioAaron]

If you cant duct-it, f-ck-it.

 

[tgray]

Is there somewhere I can buy these space ziptipes? I want to replace those in my amplifier to improve the sound

Looks like ABB Ty-Raps are on Mars 2020.

 

[eriksson]

The Chinese landed a rover on mars in first attempt.

Hard to accept I guess.

 

[_thelaughingman]

Only two things to use when tools aren't available. Zip ties and duct tape.

 

[restorer-john]

The Chinese landed a rover on mars in first attempt.

Hard to accept I guess.

I reckon its awesome.

But soon enough, there will be people claiming it's all fimed in a studio with red dirt and remote control...

Remember Capricorn One (movie)

 

[Haflermichi]

I hope they're UV resistant. Something tells me, um, no.

I used to work in aerospace here in the US and every single outsourced material or component had to come with a C of C (Certificate of Conformance) stating that it met or exceeded mil-spec requirements stated on assembly drawings. That included raw material, zip ties, glues, heat shrink tube, fabric, thread etc. I once rescued a giant roll of heat shrink tube from the trash because it had exceeded the vendor's shelf life statement and could not be used.
Everything had to be "traceable" back to a C of C.
We once even rejected a batch of canvas bags that held gas masks in tanks because the sewing vendor missed the requirement for stiches-per-inch.

 

[dmac6419]

I hope they're UV resistant. Something tells me, um, no.

I used to work in aerospace here in the US and every single outsourced material or component had to come with a C of C (Certificate of Conformance) stating that it met or exceeded mil-spec requirements stated on assembly drawings. That included raw material, zip ties, glues, heat shrink tube, fabric, thread etc. I once rescued a giant roll of heat shrink tube from the trash because it had exceeded the vendor's shelf life statement and could not be used.
Everything had to be "traceable" back to a C of C.
We once even rejected a batch of canvas bags that held gas masks in tanks because the sewing vendor missed the requirement for stiches-per-inch.

Sounds like govment waste.

 

[Haflermichi]

That does happen.
But I have a lifetime supply of mil-spec. heat shrink tubing that's not going to go to waste. Wink, wink.

 

[PierreV]

 

[Raindog123]

Looks like ABB Ty-Raps are on Mars 2020

I hope they're UV resistant. Something tells me, um, no.

All you ever needed to know about aerospace zip-ties:
https://www.abb-conversations.com/u...e-born-in-the-aviation-industry-of-the-1950s/

 

[RickSanchez]

The joystick with colors is probably for camera calibration. Known colors and a fix on sun direction.

Correct. The Mars Rover has a similar device:

• https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/mission/instruments/calibration-targets/

 

[Vini darko]

Cable ties and duct tape are pro level engineering

 

[Chrispy]

Can't even imagine life without duct tape and zip ties....

 

[Snarfie]

As used in the Mars rover!
View attachment 130759

Those zip ties are ultra high end made of high grade nano titanium particles with a purity of 99,999% Each around 60.000,- usd Nasa could not afford them. You can order them by https://www.highfidelitycables.com/Nanoparticle/NPS1260.php

 

[audiofooled]

This is complex stuff and there are a lot of moving and electronic parts that will fail long before any of them zip ties...

 

[Wortifer]

Nasa uses cable ties. They are made of ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene.

https://www.sciencealert.com/no-thi...re-s-why-nasa-uses-cable-ties-on-their-rovers