DA 15-N Actuator Successfully tested at 110,000 Feet Near the Edge of Space

110,000 feet. Roughly 33,000 meters. The edge of space – cold enough that most electronics quietly give up, with almost no air left to speak of. That’s exactly where one of our actuators spent a day: the DA 15-N, to be precise.

How do you validate actuator performance in conditions that are nearly impossible to recreate in a laboratory? Sometimes, you take the test to the edge of space.

At an altitude of 110,000 feet, temperatures drop dramatically, air pressure is extremely low, and many electronic systems reach their operational limits. It was in exactly these conditions that our DA 15-N actuator was put to the test. 

A Real-World Challenge

The project began when Sent Into Space approached us about using our actuators for their high-altitude missions. Their applications require reliable motion control in demanding environments, making the collaboration a natural fit. 

To support the project, we provided actuators for one of their missions. In return, the DA 15-N would undergo a test that cannot be fully replicated on a test bench: exposure to real altitude, real temperatures, and a complete mission cycle including recovery. 

More Than a Passive Flight 

Simply sending an actuator into the stratosphere would not have demonstrated much. We wanted to see it perform. 

At 110,000 feet, the DA 15-N successfully executed its task, deploying a flag and demonstrating controlled, reliable movement in an environment where many electronic components would struggle to operate. The mission also included a light-hearted touch, with a cartoon version of our CEO Phillipp Volz symbolically claiming the edge of space for Volz.

While playful in concept, the test delivered serious proof of performance: precise actuator movement under extreme environmental conditions. 

Performance That Lasts

The most important result was not the altitude reached, but what happened afterward. 
Many components can withstand a single extreme event. Far fewer can complete the entire journey, return safely, and continue operating exactly as intended. Following recovery, the DA 15-N remained fully functional and performed without issue. 

For customers operating in aerospace, industrial, and other demanding applications, this level of reliability is not an added benefit – it is a fundamental requirement. 
The mission provided valueable real-world validation of the robustness, precision, and durability that define Volz actuators, even in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. 

Watch the full mission in the video below: