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Wilson Announces Albuquerque Small Business Awarded Grant from NASA |
January 25, 2002 |
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Adherent Technologies, Inc. developing innovative communications technology
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson today announced that Adherent Technologies, Inc. has been selected to receive up to $500,000 for its work on self-deploying foam antenna structures for space-based communications systems. The award will be granted under Phase II of NASA’s Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) program. The STTR program is designed to stimulate technological innovation, and increase the use of small business in meeting federal research and development needs. Through the program small businesses and established institutions are partnered to share in research and development. Adherent Technologies, Inc. is working with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory located in Pasadena, California.
There is an increasing need for large, reliable, and cost-effective inflatable space antennas for communications applications. Adherent Technologies, Inc. is working on the design and development of open-celled foams as structural elements in self-deploying antenna systems. The proposed work will result in a new materials technology for self-deployable spacecraft based on open-celled foam support structures. Use of this new technology will provide a much-needed advance in inflatable and deployable technology by providing controlled deployment and a lightweight, compact structural material with durability. Antennas and other structures based on this technology will quickly transfer from government and military applications into the commercial communications arena.
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