Windform launches into orbit on KySat-2 satellite

Moorseville, NC - CRP USA is pleased to announce the successful launch of the material Windform as part of the collaborative KySat-2 project, a 1U CubeSat, by students at the University of Kentucky and Morehead State University, with Kentucky Space acting as the mission manager and coordinator.

“There were several 3D printed components on the KySat-2 made by CRP USA from CRP Technology’s proprietary material Windform XT 2.0,” explains Twyman Clements, KySat-2 project manager, Kentucky Space. “One of the subsystems is the camera system that acts as an attitude determination system called Stellar Gyro.

“The 3D printed parts were produced using the additive manufacturing technology selective laser sintering and Windform XT 2.0 material,” Clements continued. “The additive manufactured process 3D printed the mounting hardware for the camera system, extensions for the separation switches, clips for holding the antennas in their stowed position, and the mounting bracket for the on board batteries. The process and the material were critical to achieve the right components for KySat-2.”

“Congratulations to the KySat-2 team on a very successful launch. We are excited for the KySat-2 team, and are looking forward to following their mission,” said Stewart Davis, director of operations of CRP USA. “As part of our overall work to expand the use of Windform beyond motorsports, this launch is another successful project that continues to add to our growing space flight heritage.”

On Tuesday, November 19, 2013, the collaborative team of students from the University of Kentucky and Morehead State University along with Kentucky Space launched the KySat-2 into orbit as part of the NASA ElaNa IV mission out of Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Thirty-five minutes after deployment from the launch vehicle, KySat-2 began beaconing its telemetry data and was almost immediately heard by amateur radio operators. Since then, the KySat-2 team began performing system checks for each of the various subsystems that make up the satellite. According to the KySat-2 team, all systems have been performing nominally.

Photos:
Top: KySat-2, a 1U CubeSat
Bottom: 3D-printed mounting hardware for camera system built with Windform XT 2.0