Test & Measurement Online - September 2009

Minus K Technology's Negative-Stiffness Vibration Isolators Selected for James Webb Space Telescope Ground Testing

Inglewood, Calif. - Minus K Technology Inc. has been selected by ITT Space Systems LLC, subcontractor to Northrop Grumman Corp., to provide vibration isolators for the ground testing of the new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). The JWST will be placed in a vacuum chamber at the Johnson Space Center and supported by a set of custom Minus K vibration isolators.

The James Webb Space Telescope is a large aperture infrared space telescope currently planned to be launched in 2014 from Kourou, French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle. JWST is designated to succeed the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).

"A major factor in selecting Minus K is our ability to not only isolate vibrations vertically, but also horizontally at less than 1 Hz," states Dr. David Platus, president and principal inventor of the patented negative-stiffness vibration-isolation technology. "Minus K's passive isolators do not require air and offer better isolation performance than air and active isolation systems."

Minus K Technology works with many aerospace and education laboratories for custom vibration isolation systems. The company also offers a line of standard bench top and table vibration isolation products.