A triple-point cathode coating and method wherein electrically conductive NEA diamond particles cast or mixed with the adhesive medium and electrically insulative NEA diamond particles are cast or mixed with the adhesive medium to form a plurality of exposed junctions between electrically conductive diamond particles and electrically insulative diamond particles to reduce any electrical charges on a structure coated with the coating.

This invention relates to technology used for creating an enhanced artificial magnetosphere or electromagnetic shield for use in both manned and unmanned spacecraft. The invention includes an Interference Generating Pattern (IGP) which is tuned to the high-frequency radiation of X-rays and gamma rays and a conformal magnetic field. This technology will reduce the exposure of astronauts or other space travelers, as well as radiation-sensitive equipment, to the environmental hazards present therein. The net result will be reduced flux intensity in order to create a space radiation-free environment as to render space travel safe.

Systems (100) and methods (600) for providing a product with a radiation mitigation feature. The methods comprise: obtaining a composite base layer formed of a fiber-reinforced material; and performing a deposition process to dispose a first coating layer on the composite base layer so as to form the product with a radiation barrier, the first coating layer comprising 35% by mass or less of a metal constituent, at least 65% by mass of a germanium constituent, a zero or substantially zero coating stress, and/or an overall thickness between 2 microns and 8 microns.

The present invention is directed to an addition polymer comprising an addition polymer backbone; at least one moiety comprising a phosphorous acid group, the moiety being covalently bonded to the addition polymer backbone by a carbon-carbon bond; and at least one carbamate functional group. The present invention is also directed towards methods of making the addition polymer, aqueous resinous dispersions and electrodepositable coating compositions comprising the addition polymer, methods of coating a substrate and coated substrates.

A method of making a multi-layer coating on a substrate is provided and involves applying a mirror coating to a substrate then spraying a silicate topcoat onto the mirror coating. Applying the mirror coating can involve applying a reflective material to the substrate to form a reflective layer and applying an oxide layer to the reflective layer to form the mirror coating. The oxide layer can be made of one or more oxide layers, and each of the one or more oxide layers can include aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, or a combination thereof. The multi-layer coating provides increased IR emittance and decreased solar absorptance relative to conventional thermal control coatings.

A triple-point cathode coating and method wherein electrically conductive NEA diamond particles cast or mixed with the adhesive medium and electrically insulative NEA diamond particles are cast or mixed with the adhesive medium to form a plurality of exposed junctions between electrically conductive diamond particles and electrically insulative diamond particles to reduce any electrical charges on a structure coated with the coating.

Metamaterials are employed with satellites, e.g., small satellites, to increase the observability of such satellites. Any type of suitable metamaterial can be used. In exemplary embodiments fractal-based patterns or structures may be used. A super scatterer having a metasurface is employed for the satellite and enhances the radar reflection for a given area of the satellite. Such detection can be used for monitoring and/or controlling the orbits of satellite space craft.

In some examples, an additive manufacturing technique including forming an as-deposited coating on a substrate by depositing a filament via a filament delivery device, wherein the filament includes a sacrificial binder and a powder; removing substantially all the binder from the as-deposited coating; and sintering the as-deposited coating to form a thermal coating; wherein the thermal coating is configured to ablate in response to absorption of energy from an external environment, and wherein the ablation of the thermal coating reduces the energy transferred to the substrate.

Systems for insulating a space vehicle or space borne container from an external environment as well as cryogens from heat sources. Such systems also protect the vehicle from the high dynamic pressures, the high heat loads encountered in atmospheric flight, and provide storage capability that strongly limits, or effectively eliminates, cryogenic boil-off losses once in space. Such systems include an expandable structure having a plurality of contiguously adjacent expandable layers. The layers are connected by a plurality of tension connectors between successive layers. For launch and flight the layers can be restrained in a collapsed position. Whereupon exiting a free stream environment, the layers are expanded where they can lock into place or otherwise remain in an expanded state. The expansion creates separation between the layers with minimal conduction paths providing near theoretically perfect multi-layer insulation and extremely effective debris protection.

A spacecraft for changing an orbit or an attitude of a target in outer space by irradiating the target with a laser, the spacecraft includes: a laser apparatus configured to generate the laser; a focusing unit configured to converge the laser; a detecting unit configured to acquire detection information including a distance between the spacecraft and the target; and an irradiation control unit configured to control the focusing unit on the basis of the distance so that the laser converges on the target.