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Gecko-Inspired ON-OFF Adhesives for Orbital Debris Mitigation, Year 1
Completed
TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
Description
Validated controllable ON/OFF gecko-like adhesives as a potential technology for grappling objects in Earth orbit by testing the adhesives at minus-80C and demonstrating the adhesives in an omni-directional anchoring mechanism using opposed sets of adhesive pads. Small, 8 in2 anchors supported >1kg on flat surfaces like metal and glass, and several hundred grams on 3 meter and 1 meter diameter tubes.
Benefits
Automating grapple sequence makes the capability for space demonstration through Edison, GCD, or ISS. Demonstrating capture of a floating object will enable new NASA missions with a unique capability.
Details
| Program | Center Innovation Fund: JPL CIF (JPL CIF) |
| Lead organization | Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA |
| Start date | 2011-12-01 |
| End date | 2012-09-30 |
Project contacts
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