When NASA, through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative—part of the agency’s Artemis program—enables the delivery of scientific payloads to the Moon, German high technology is literally along for the ride. Phytron GmbH supplies specially engineered stepper motors that form part of a high-precision instrument developed by the University of Bern, Switzerland. This instrument is scheduled to land near the Moon’s south pole in 2029 as part of Blue Ghost Mission 4 by Firefly Aerospace (USA) within the CLPS framework.

Phytron supplied the motor housings, meticulously machined from a titanium alloy. The subsequent PVD gold coating was applied by the research team at the University of Bern. This golden layer is far more than a visual highlight—it serves a vital thermal function: preventing unwanted radiative heat transfer from the motor to adjacent thermally regulated assemblies that require optical stability. As a result, dissipated heat is predominantly conducted away rather than radiated, maintaining the integrity of neighboring sensitive systems.

Made for the Moon 

Phytron’s phySPACE stepper motors are purpose-built for the extreme environmental conditions encountered in space. They withstand intense vibration, radiation, and extreme temperature variations. Using only ECSS-qualified materials, these motors meet the rigorous demands of ultra-high vacuum environments while offering optimized weight, minimal magnetic emission, outstanding precision, and exceptional durability. 

Part of a Historic Mission

The University of Bern’s instrument powered by Phytron motors is a laser-based mass spectrometer (Laser Ablation Ionization Mass Spectrometer). It will analyze lunar regolith near the south pole for its chemical and isotopic composition. The objective is to deepen our understanding of the Moon’s geochemical characteristics—an important step toward unraveling the origins of our solar system and potentially identifying resources for future lunar missions.

More about the University of Bern project

From Bavaria to the Moon

For decades, Phytron GmbH has been synonymous with high-precision motion solutions for extreme environments—from cryogenic particle accelerators to interplanetary missions. Our journey into space began in 1985 with ESA’s Giotto mission, one of Europe’s earliest deep-space probes, which performed a spectacular flyby of Halley’s Comet in March 1986 and later of Comet Grigg–Skjellerup in 1992. Even then, Phytron was on board with custom-developed actuator systems—a pioneering achievement in European space history.

Since then, our drives have proven themselves in countless scientific and space applications—from satellites to Mars experiments. With our current participation in NASA’s CLPS initiative and the University of Bern’s project, our technology not only returns to space but will quite literally land on the Moon—this time with a distinct golden brilliance. Thanks to the University of Bern’s gold coating, our motors embody both exceptional technical performance and radiant visual refinement.

Whether in vacuum, under radiation, at cryogenic temperatures, or amid intense vibration—Phytron develops and manufactures drives that perform when performance truly matters. From Bavaria to the farthest reaches of our solar system—and now, to the very south pole of the Moon.