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---I Material Testing Device t right is a FAST'* system gas temperatures in for testing the effects of the utility and industrial space environment on boilers - thus spacecraft and space systems offering potential materials. Shown in the photo for increasing the is Robert H. Krech of Physical thermal efficiency Sciences Inc. (PSI), Andover, and availability of Massachusetts, co-inventor of energy producing the system with PSI president facilities worldwide. George E. Caledonia. With modifica- The FAST (Fast Atom Sample :ion, the OTM Tester) device simulates in a instrument could vacuum chamber how some JPL yielded anothr~~ dmrnercial find further application in waste materials react to contact with spinoff product, the Optical destruction and in energy inten- atomic oxygen and degrade Temperature Monitor (OTM) sive manufacturing operations under long term exposure. introduced in 1992. The OTM such as steel, glass, cement, The system was developed for (below) is a multi-wavelength petrochemical, pulp and paper SMALL BUSINESS NASA as a means of performing pyrometer designed for precise processing. The broad promise accelerated erosion testing measurement of high tempera- of the OTM prompted PSI to of spacecraft materials in a tures (between 700 and 2500 create a new company - PSI RESEARCH CONTRACTS simulated low Earth orbit degrees Centigrade) on materi- Environmental Instruments environment. als that have poorly known corporation - for manufacture YIELD ADVANCED Developed under a Small emissive properties or emissive and marketing of the system. Business Innovation Research properties that change with PSI also offers an Aerospace (SBIR) contract with Jet Propul- time or temperature. This Measurement Service to support COMMERCIAL sion Laboratory, FAST has instrument was developed origi- research, test and advanced become a source of commercial nally for application to materials development projects conduct- INSTRUMENTS business for PSI. The system is manufacture in space but, with ed by aerospace industry firms. being sold commercially for use additional funding from PSI This service also involves in aging certification of materi- and the National Science NASA technology transfer, since als intended for orbital opera- Foundation, the measurement much of the testing capability tion. Investigations are under techniques that evolved from was developed in the course way for application to etching the NASA-sponsored research of two NASA SBIR contacts, in subrnicron printed circuitry were extended to development one with Lewis Research Center and thin film coating. of a commercial instrument for and one with Marshall Space A second SBIR contract with measuring and controlling flue Flight Center. " FAST is a trademark of Physical Sciences Inc, Public Safety