DUNMORE's High-Performance Thin Films to Protect Black-Hole-Hunting Space Probe
Multi-layer insulation (MLI) materials shield sensitive instruments from open-space conditions
BRISTOL, Pa. - When NASA's NuSTAR probe settles into orbit above the Earth to study black holes and supernovas, DUNMORE Corporation multi-layer insulation (MLI) materials will protect its sensitive instruments and circuitry from extreme outer space conditions.
NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) was launched today by a jet aircraft that carried it, mounted on a Pegasus Xl rocket, to an altitude of 40,000 feet. The rocket boosted NuSTAR into orbit above the Earth. NuSTAR is a 10-meter (30-foot) probe equipped with the first focusing hard X-ray telescope to orbit Earth. DUNMORE MLI materials provide lightweight but durable insulation from the extreme heat, cold and radiation of outer space.
MLI blankets cover NuSTAR parts and assemblies that are exposed to open space while MLI tape insulates wiring and circuitry inside the probe. MLI replaces heavier materials such as metals and composites used to shield sensitive space-based systems from cold, debris and radiation. Sub-contractors who built NuSTAR's vital systems also used DUNMORE electrostatic dissipative (ESD) film during production to protect components from static electricity in clean rooms.
"We haven't seen any drop off in demand for our MLI materials, even with the end of the Space Shuttle program," said DUNMORE Vice President John Jordon. "Programs like NuSTAR and the growth in private-sector space projects are creating a healthy demand for lightweight, high-performance materials."
NuSTAR is expected to greatly exceed the performance of the largest ground-based observatories that have studied this region of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is designed to answer questions such as how black holes are distributed through the cosmos and how heavy elements were forged in the explosions of massive stars.
DUNMORE is a major supplier of high-performance films for aerospace industry production and operational applications. DUNMORE materials are at work on the Hubble Space Telescope, the International Space Station (ISS), and NASA's Juno and GRAIL programs. DUNMORE is also supplying MLI materials to the Mars Science Laboratory Project, which plans to land a large exploratory rover on the planet's surface in August of this year.
About DUNMORE
DUNMORE Corporation is a global supplier of engineered coated and laminated films and foils. DUNMORE offers film conversion services such as coating, metallizing and laminating along with contract film manufacturing. DUNMORE produces coated film, metallized film and laminating film substrates for the photovoltaic, graphic arts, packaging, aerospace, insulation, surfacing and fashion industries. DUNMORE is privately held, ISO 9001:2008 and OSHA VPP Star certified. For complete information on DUNMORE's products, services and industries served, please visit DUNMORE's website: www.dunmore.com.
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DUNMORE Corporation
CONTACT: Media Relations: Steve Young, Marketing Manager, (215) 781-8895, steve_young@dunmore.com
Web Site: www.dunmore.com
