NASA Langley Research Center has developed an innovative radiation shield made by layering metal materials in the Z-shielding method. It is a new, low-cost, and easy-to-implement method to protect CubeSat electronic circuits from ionizing radiation found in low Earth orbits. It is estimated that this approach can extend the life of CubeSat electronics by an order of magnitude.

A high-density metal, such as tantalum or tungsten, is coated onto thin aluminum sheet in precise ratios and thicknesses. The combined sheet is then easily formed into standardized enclosures compatible with CubeSat design and performance specifications.

NASA is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology. Please contact The Technology Gateway at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to initiate licensing discussions. Follow this link here  for more information.