| Dec. 2009: | |
| Kick-off for HPS MLI on AlphaSat | |
 | HPS Germany's subsidiary HPS Portugal has recently been awarded its first flight hardware development and manufacturing contract (MLI / multilayer insulation). |
HPS Portugal will deliver the MLI (Multi-Layer Insulation) system of the Portuguese TDP8 experiment currently being developed by EFACEC Sistemas de Electrónica S.A. (a Portuguese electronic hardware developer) under a Phase C/D contract of the Alphasat programme. This experiment is called the Alphasat Environment and Effects Facility (AEEF) and is composed of a number of different elements measuring specific environments and effects together with dedicated hardware for data storage and interface to the spacecraft. Additionally, AEEF includes a Component Technology Test Bed to investigate the effects of radiation on components (particularly of interest to the Alphasat payload).
The two electronic boxes that compose the TDP8 experiment, will be protected by MLI designed and fabricated in Portugal in what will be HPS first flight hardware project. The manufacturing will take place at HPS mother company's cleanroom by HPS engineers and technicians from CITEVE, a Portuguese institute devoted to research and development of technical textiles. HPS will be assisted in this first project by experienced consultants in the area of MLI development and manufacturing from Germany.