This technology will directly fulfill a need identified in NASA’s Technology Roadmap (TA13) by providing a “portable gravity offload system [for] dynamic testing in simulated lunar, Martian, or other microgravity environments.” It will enable qualification testing of deployable solar arrays, antennas, instrument booms, etc., and with further development, it could be used for microgravity testing of spacecraft maneuvering, such as automated docking, robotic systems, and in-space construction.
The next generation of DoD and commercial spacecraft will require ever-larger solar arrays, antennas, and other structural elements that stand to benefit from improved qualification testing capabilities. ATA has also received several inquiries from the entertainment industry regarding possible adaptation of offloading technologies to a “zero gravity” theme park attraction or display. Other potential applications include industrial manufacturing and therapeutic treatment.
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