Rawlplug screws DIN 7984 were used to build the NASA Mars Curiosity rover, which as part of the Mars Science Laboratory programme performs research on the former and current environment of the planet. It is the largest and most technologically advanced vehicle that NASA sent to Mars so far.
No element of the rover entered its structure due to chance. Due to the extreme conditions that Curiosity will face, only the elements capable of meeting the highest demands in terms of and resistance to external factors have been selected in the design process. One of the priorities during the development of this project was weight reduction, which is a difficult task, if we take into account that the study of the surface of Mars takes place at temperatures from -127 to +40 degrees celsius, requiring solid construction and strength.
Curiosity's mission in a 563,000,000 km Glean Mars crater was originally planned for 687 days, but thanks to the extremely robust construction of the rover and the excellent components, the period was significantly extended. As of August 5th, Curiosity's mission has been going for 2,487 days, 1,800 more than originally planned.
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
