E Ink Samples Launch to the International Space Station for Orbital Exposure Test
- Oct 28, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 8
Los Angeles, CA — SQUID3 Space is proud to announce that its E Ink samples are en route to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard JAXA’s HTV-X1 spacecraft, carrying the MISSE-21 (Materials International Space Station Experiment) platform. The vehicle is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Wednesday October 29, 2025 at 08:50 AM PST.
ASTRID, SQUID3's E Ink-based software-reconfigurable radiator tape, will undergo a six-month exposure on the exterior of ISS. This mission will characterize E Ink's long-term thermo-optical stability under the harsh conditions of space — including atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, and thermal cycling. The resulting data will help minimize degradation and improve the reliability of advanced thermal control materials for future spacecraft.
Among the test articles are two E Ink Prism samples, a promising new class of smart surfaces for next-generation spacecraft thermal control systems — and now flying to space for the first time. The experiment will collect in-orbit performance data to help advance the technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to TRL 7.
Following docking, NASA and Aegis Aerospace, operator of the MISSE platform, are expected to install the payload carrier on the ISS exterior in late December 2025. The samples will remain exposed for approximately six months before returning to Earth for detailed post-flight analysis.
SQUID3 Space’s participation in MISSE-21 marks another step in its mission to explore novel materials that redefine spacecraft thermal capabilities. For decades, the space industry has relied on the same polymeric materials — Teflon, Kapton, and Mylar — first adopted in the 1970s. SQUID3 believes it’s time to move beyond these legacy materials and bring new generations of materials into orbit.
About SQUID3 Space
SQUID3 Space is a premier provider of advanced thermal control materials for satellites and space systems. Founded in 2023, the company focuses on innovating and delivering reliable, space-qualified thermal products critical to mission success. SQUID3 Space’s standard product lineup includes Silver Teflon (Ag/FEP) tapes, multilayer insulation (MLI) materials, and Flexible Optical Solar Reflectors (FOSR) engineered to meet the demanding thermal requirements of LEO, MEO, and GEO missions.