CRG Experiments Head to the International Space Station

On November 16, 2009 multiple CRG high-tech materials were launched on the Atlantis space shuttle. This 11-day flight brought materials and support to the International Space Station along with experiments for testing in the space environment. For the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) 7 mission, there are 700 materials samples installed in holders and placed in two experiment trays called Passive Experiment Containers (PEC). These PECs are mounted on the outside of the station. CRG expected its material PEC to be installed on the “wake” side, or back side, of the space station on flight day 8 during a spacewalk by crewmembers Satcher and Bresnick. This installment of experiments for the MISSE 7 program are the first to receive power directly from the station and use its communication system to receive commands and downlink data.

CRG’s materials for the space station testing consist of shape memory polymer composite material, including a truss and two membranes, designed to deploy in space environments. The company’s materials also include a conformal coating designed and developed by CRG that was placed over two USB drives. "This is a significant milestone in the development of next-generation, multifunctional materials for use in space environments. We are excited to be a part of this and to have an opportunity to demonstrate the results of many years of hard work and dedication on the part of our staff," says CRG CEO Dr. Patrick Hood. CRG’s materials will remain attached to the space station for eight months to one year before returning to CRG’s laboratories for post-flight analysis. (11-25-09)