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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 2 2 F O C U S M A N U FA C T U R I N G "No material will withstand this envi- ronment indefinitely," he says. "We need to know how long they'll ablate and how long they'll last in the environment." Moon shots Elmet Technologies, a Lewiston manu- facturer of high-performance tungsten and molybdenum components for the aerospace market, recently supplied parts for the Orion space capsule, part of NASA's Artemis mission that will bring astronauts to the moon for the first time in 50 years. e first uncrewed mission to the moon and back launched in November. at will be followed by a crewed flight. For Orion, Elmet manufactured aero- space-grade tungsten heavy alloy ballast weights, ranging from 7 to 33 pounds, for the heatshield. e job included pressing, sintering and machining, plus mechanical and ultrasonic testing. Other space-related contracts have included machining molybdenum parts for space-based missile defense detec- tion systems, space satellite surveillance imaging systems and space satellite GPS systems. New this year is a contract with NASA's Dragonfly Program, a small rotorcraft expected to launch in 2026 and in 2034 arrive on Titan, a moon of Saturn about 800 million miles from Earth, to collect soil samples. Elmet is supplying custom-machined thin molybdenum shells to use in a small furnace onboard Dragonfly. Specifications for space applications, said Elmet's director of quality and continuous improvement, Dan Drinan, include the ability for the components to operate and maintain strength at temperatures ranging just below nega- tive-400 degrees Fahrenheit to over 350 degrees F. Elmet has adapted with investments in tooling, technology and quality pro- cesses, and expanded to meet material specifications and demands. "Cleanliness of parts used in space- craft and satellites must be strictly controlled to prevent small particles or debris from floating around and possibly damaging sensitive electronic circuitry," said Drinan. The future of manufacturing starts today. Together, we can build better tomorrows for Maine. It's time for purpose-led business and technology consulting. Custom Occupational Health For Your Custom Business • Work injury management • Testing services • Immunizations • Physical exams • Ergonomics • Fit testing See a full list on our website: workhealthllc.org Phone: ... Our commonly requested services Northern Light Work Health is here to be your partner in a healthy and productive workforce by working with employers to provide the most accessible and custom- ized occupational health experience. Our services keep your people at their best. No material will withstand this environment indefinitely. — Patrick Sullivan FMI C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Poised for space M aine is well positioned for research, education and commercial devel- opment in the new space industry, says Terry Shehata, executive director of the nonprofit Maine Space Grant Consortium in Augusta and director of the Maine NASA EPSCoR Program in Augusta. The consortium's mission is to improve space research infrastructure, encour- age student participation in science, tech- nology, engineering, and mathematics careers, and enhance NASA's presence throughout Maine. The vision includes development of a Maine space complex that engages companies and other stakeholders across the new space economy value chain and the underlying infrastructure needed to support the value chain. "This the way to get Maine involved in this economy," Shehata says. A strategic plan for the proposed complex identifies 85 companies involved in the aerospace supply chain that have the potential to transition into the new space economy with training. "Although most of the companies are directly or indirectly involved in the aerospace industry, many do not realize they have an opportunity to expand or diversify the new space economy value chain," says Shehata. "We are in the midst of a project to identify skills gap and develop training and awareness activities to help companies enter the new space economy." F I L E P H O T O Terry Shehata

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