ESA approves Windform RS, LX 3.0 for space flight applications

CRP Technology’s (Modena, Italy) Windform materials have reached a new, important milestone, increasing the number of Windform Top-Line composite materials officially approved for space flight. Carbon fiber-reinforced Windform RS and glass fiber-reinforced Windform LX 3.0 have passed European Space Agency (ESA) standard screening outgassing tests in accordance with ESA-TEC-PR-002015 (based on ECSS-Q-ST-70-02C). This means that they are officially suitable for the construction of applications to launch into space.

“Passing the outgassing tests is a crucial factor for those who supply materials to the space industry,” Franco Cevolini, CEO and technical director of CRP Technology, says. “The majority of Windform Top-Line composites are already approved for space applications, and now that two more Windform are officially compliant with ESA outgassing requirements, we are more competitive and ready to offer further added value to our most demanding customers.”

The test was conducted in the μVCM facility of the TEC-QEE laboratory at ESA’s ESTEC technical center in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The materials join Windform XT 2.0 (passed both ESA and NASA standard screening outgassing tests), Windform SP and Windform GT (passed NASA standard screening outgassing tests).