The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Advanced Material Development (AMD) have entered a contract for joint development on AMD’s proprietary thin-film graphene-based coatings technology, a radio frequency absorbent nanomaterial that can be applied to a range of substrates. JPL is a NASA-funded research and development facility run by the California Institute of Technology.
The teamwork will be put to use in the electromagnetic compatibility test program for the NASA Europa Clipper spacecraft. The materials from AMD could make it possible for the Europa Clipper project to verify that the spacecraft’s delicate ice-penetrating radar would function properly at crucial frequencies in order to achieve science goals.
Numerous close flybys of Jupiter’s moon Europa will be made by the Europa Clipper spacecraft as it collects data from various sensors, including the radar instrument, to determine whether the moon might have conditions favorable for life. Finding out if there are any potential habitats for life beneath Europa’s surface is the main goal of Europa Clipper.
AMD’s Chief Operating Officer, Richard Lee, commented on the partnership, saying, “Working with JPL, NASA’s internationally renowned “space frontier” technology lab, is a testament to AMD’s capability and its future, as well as confirmation that AMD’s nanomaterial science continues to offer solutions for difficult problems. It is an enormous honor to be part in the difficulties of space exploration, even though this contract marks a significant turning point in AMD’s development.
