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Spinoff story
Vibration Isolator Steadies Optics for Telescopes
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
For some very sensitive optics, even ordinary ground vibrations throw off the results. A vibration isolator, which creates a very stable platform, can help. Minus K Technology makes vibration isolators based on negative stiffness mechanisms, which, among other benefits, can work extremely well in a vacuum. The Los Angeles-area company improved its vacuum-capable system for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and now sells it to companies that make semiconductors and optics, as well as the Department of Defense and the National Laboratories.