European Space Agency Relies On Gore Cables In The Most Demanding Environment
The International Space Station has been called the greatest international space project in history. Orbiting 400 kilometers (248 miles) from the Earth's surface, the facility provides researchers with an environment where they can perform tests that require the unique conditions of space. Daily research on the space station includes special focus on biology, physics, astronomy and meteorology. Although crews man the spacecraft, much of the research is controlled remotely.
As a result of the project, scientists hope to better understand the effects of long-term space exposure on the human body; the nature of proteins, enzymes and viruses; environmental changes taking place on Earth; the effects of low gravity on flames, fluids and metals; and numerous other topics. Ultimately, the research could help determine whether humans are capable of participating in lengthy space travel. It also could lead to new treatments
The space station has benefited from contributions from space agencies in the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia and 11 European nations. The station's construction, which began in 1998, is scheduled for completion in 2011. After the station is complete, operations will continue for several years.
Enabling the Data Transmission Critical to Space Exploration
The European Space Agency's (ESA) largest contribution to the International Space Station is the Columbus Laboratory, where research into fluid physics, materials science and life science is conducted. Gore was selected by ESA to supply 28,000 meters of cables and assemblies for the Columbus module. The devices distribute electrical power and enable the transfer of more than 2 million bits of data per second without signal loss.
ESA also chose Gore's cables for its Automated Transfer Vehicles—the supply ships that carry air, water, scientific payloads, rocket propellant and other provisions to the International Space Station. In addition to supplying cargo, they provide crew members with a place to discard waste, and they periodically boost the station higher into orbit to compensate for atmospheric drag. After each vehicle completes its mission, it embarks on a destructive re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. To date, the ESA has launched one supply ship and will launch another in 2010, with six more to follow.
Each supply ship uses approximately 38,000 meters of Gore cables, which transmit data that help position the ship for docking. The cables also distribute electrical power and are used in safety installations, including life support systems and temperature and air pressure monitors.
For decades, Gore's cables and cable assemblies have contributed to the success of high-profile spaceflight missions. With a failure-free flight record, Gore's specially designed cables continue to earn use in applications with challenging mechanical, electrical, environmental, and reliability requirements.
SOURCE: W. L.Gore & Associates