Innovation Case Study #28: American Elements Develops Unique Radiation Shielding Foils for Orbital ATK Satellite
#28: American Elements Develops Unique Radiation Shielding Foils for Orbital ATK Satellite
The Challenge
In 2017, Orbital ATK won a contract to create a flexible and modular satellite platform for the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program Satellite-6 (STPSat-6), an experimental spacecraft designed to detect nuclear explosions and collect weather data. Orbital ATK engineers needed to carefully consider which advanced materials and manufacturing methods would maximize the vehicle's ability to withstand the extreme conditions of outer space.
The Innovation
Orbital ATK turned to American Elements for assistance in determining the most effective way to shield electrical wiring harnesses from space radiation. American Elements engineers discovered that by wrapping the wires in flexible tantalum foils coated with a proprietary laminate material would not only provide radiation shielding but also prevent the absorption of free protons.
The Result
The coated tantalum foils were successfully implemented in Orbital ATK's platform. The DoD intends STPSat-6 to be the primary payload onboard the Space Test Program (STP) 3.
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