NEA has over 10 years of continuous innovation in the field of space rated non-pyrotechnic release mechanisms. At the heart of our technology is the NEA patented Fuse Wire Assembly (FWA). NEA utilizes our patented FWA design across all our product lines to initiate the release operation of our restraint and release devices and our battery bypass switches. Most recently, as part of a deep space mission, cryogenic temperature testing was performed on our FWA down at 18° Kelvin (K). The testing discussed in this paper validates that the FWA, which is a critical component of the overall mechanism design, is robust enough to reliably operate in space at extremely low power levels and temperatures. In this paper, NEA will describe the cryogenic temperature tests along with test results. As the space community explores further into our solar system and beyond, this validation testing of our product enables new found confidence that existing technologies can be used for fielding deployable structure in deep space.
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