Over the past 60 years, NASA scientists and engineers have developed many advanced technologies and processes. But NASA has also partnered with industry, using commercially available products to complete its missions. Here, some of those companies join NASA in celebrating these collaborative successes.

Starting with the Mercury and Apollo missions, to Mars missions and Earth-orbiting programs, NASA's success is Microsemi's success. Now a subsidiary of Microchip, Microsemi built its legacy by providing the reliability and radiation performance needed for flight-critical space systems. Our semiconductors were instrumental in the collection and return of data from outer planets, including images of Saturn captured by Cassini-Huygens. Microsemi's technology was critical in views of Pluto from the fly-by of the New Horizons spacecraft. Today, our devices support the Curiosity Mars rover in its return of unparalleled scientific data. We look forward to contributing to more NASA missions.

Microsemi
www.microsemi.com

Nuvotronics, Inc. partners with NASA to deploy radiometry and radar Earth Science observation capability for the microwave and millimeter-wave spectrum. Nuvotronics works with Goddard Space Flight Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory within the SBIR and Earth-Science technology development programs. These developments target future Observing System Priorities including the Designated Clouds, Convection, and Precipitation mission, and the Explorer Snow Depth and Snow Water Equivalent mission (2017-2027 Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space). Nuvotronics congratulates NASA for the successes of the previous 60 years and predicts participation in similar scientific successes over the next 60.

Nuvotronics
www.nuvotronics.com

Before liftoff, Volume Graphics products help NASA check components going to space for their integrity and safety. Our software visualizes voxel data gained from computed tomography, which NASA then uses to search for cracks, voids, and other defects non-destructively. This process is more important today when additive manufacturing produces structurally complex and unique pieces. Once a mission returns to Earth, the samples gathered are analyzed for contamination or damage, even if they are hidden within structures. Digital copies of this data can be shared across the country with scientists, ensuring an accurate and mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge.

Volume Graphics
www.volumegraphics.com

VORAGO Technologies created the industry's first radiation-hardened ARM Cortex-M0-based microcontroller that is currently being used in a NASA experiment on the International Space Station. VORAGO microcontrollers satisfy NASA's requirement for a robust processing solution that can be used in deep-space, long-duration missions, yet they're cost-effective enough for use in lower-budget, small satellite missions such as NASA's TechEdSat 7 and TechEdSat 8. VORAGO's proprietary HARDSIL radiation-hardening technique can be used to harden any CMOS semiconductor, and is being used on NASA-funded projects to create system-inpackage, non-volatile memory and next-generation IO Expander projects.

VORAGO Technologies
www.voragotech.com

yet2, a global open innovation services company, provides technology scouting to NASA. In more than six years, we have completed 15 projects in diverse areas including lunar landers, LiDAR, flow modeling, flexible electronics, laundry, computer memory, in-space manufacturing, intracranial pressure monitoring, magnetic field modeling, solid-state power amplifiers, and more. One NASA project leader determined working with yet2 saved $150K in manpower over two projects, resulting in an ROI of $110K. Our projects have culminated in the green light for BAAs, SBIRs, Pos, and/or other granting mechanisms. We consistently deliver unknown or unconsidered leads rated as high interest for NASA partnerships.

yet2
www.yet2.com

Our SCM5B, miniature 8B, and DSCA signal conditioning module families have played an integral part in a multitude of varied NASA projects and applications. These have included rocket engine, gravity, space shuttle tile adhesive, and both large-scale and supersonic wind tunnel tests; satellite communication beam angle control; and onboard, inflight weather systems. Recently, the SCM5B38-04 strain gage module was used in testing a new NASA-designed spacesuit to ensure the suit's integrity during highly stressful astronaut maneuvers. We are extremely proud of our ongoing contributions to NASA's success.

Dataforth Corporation
www.dataforth.com

Over the past 60 years, NASA Scientists and engineers have developed many advanced technologies and processes. But NASA has also partnered with industry, using commercially available products to complete its missions. Here, some of those companies join NASA in celebrating these collaborative successes.

Two of the most significant contributions Goodfellow has made to date to NASA's success involved the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and its moon Titan, and the AMS-2 particle physics detector deployed on the International Space Station. To the former, we supplied high-purity metals for sensors in the Huygens probe, and for the latter, we fabricated light guides as part of a Ring Imaging Cherenkov Counter. Both Cassini-Huygens and AMS-2 were models of international scientific cooperation, and Goodfellow was honored to play a role in their success.

Goodfellow
www.goodfellowusa.com

The Lee Company provided a specially calibrated, screened restrictor to control oxygen flow to the astronauts from their spacesuit backpack when they walked on the Moon in 1969. Though a much smaller company at that time, Lee had a unique skill in manufacturing highly reliable miniature fluid control products. Lee's employees and management took great pride in helping with this successful and historic mission. Since then, Lee's expanding line of products has performed in mission-critical applications on NASA's space shuttles, the International Space Station, and the current generation of launch vehicles and satellites.

The Lee Company
www.theleeco.com

PIC Wire & Cable, A Division of The Angelus Corporation, has been a NASA supplier for over 10 years. We have provided specialty interconnect technology for several video and data applications. Our sophisticated designs ensure mission-critical systems are accurate and reliable to support NASA's important space exploration missions.

PIC Wire & Cable
www.picwire.com

Konica Minolta Sensing Americas products have become a staple in research and manufacturing environments, helping organizations to meet product quality and operational goals with less waste, time, and effort. This led us to develop the world's first portable spectrophotometer and the first light meter, used onboard Apollo 8.

Konica Minolta Sensing Americas
sensing.konicaminolta.us

Smalley's partnership with NASA is a point of pride for the company. Our Crest-to-Crest® Wave Springs provide up to 50% weight and space savings over traditional springs. Smalley parts are AS 9100-certified and available in carbon and stainless steel, and we have exotic alloys readily available, ensuring that they can withstand even the harshest environments. Smalley's dedication to precision springs gives NASA the reassurance that our parts can be trusted in their critical applications, whether they're here on Earth, up in the sky, or on the surface of Mars. We're honored to be a trusted supplier to NASA.

Smalley Steel Ring
www.smalley.com

The Weiss-Aug Group is proud to be a part of the successful exploration of the Red Planet by the Curiosity Mars rover by delivering stamped connector components for this vehicle. Giving this small input into NASA's exploration of harbored life on Mars, The WeissAug Group is honored to contribute to the historical finding of liquid water and chemical ingredients for life on the Red Planet. As a custom solutions provider for metal stamping, insert molding, and assembly, The Weiss-Aug Group can meet most demanding requirements and make the difference.

The Weiss-Aug Group
www.weiss-aug.com

Wavelength Electronics is proud to have added precision to NASA's terrestrial and extraterrestrial laser-based sensing missions for almost 20 years. Congratulations on your 60th, NASA. We look forward to being with you on your next adventure.

Wavelength Electronics
www.teamwavelength.com

Invocon has worked closely with NASA to provide instrumentation for monitoring many of its space vehicles. Most notably, we provided the system that monitored the Space Shuttle Orbiters’ wing leading edges for impacts after the Columbia disaster. We also help to increase safety and reduce costs by providing systems to monitor several portions of the Space Shuttle Orbiters and the International Space Station.

Invocon
www.invocon.com