US breaks ground on FORTRESS space electronics facility

The 6,200-square-foot, $4.5 million facility will be located next to the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate Deployable Structures Laboratory.

It will enable researchers to develop systems for trusted, high-performance electronic components with necessary space and strategic-hardening, says the research organisation. The goal is to ensure the survivability of key U.S. Space Force and Air Force systems.

The facility is designed to enable AFRL researchers to investigate and develop solutions for trusted, high-performance electronic components with necessary space and strategic-hardening to ensure the survivability of key U.S. Space Force and Air Force systems in harsh, natural and man-made environments.

“Replacing a facility that is over 50 years old, this new laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art structure to house and use our irreplaceable test equipment,” said Erin Pettyjohn, deputy director of AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate, last week at the ground-breaking ceremony.

“Ionizing radiation sources are essential for the development of technologies and components needed for our national security space and nuclear deterrence systems and operations.”

QA Engineering, an Albuquerque-based engineering and construction firm, will construct the FORTRESS building with an estimated completion date of November 2023.

Pictured above is Erin Pettyjohn, the deputy director of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate, speaking at the ceremony.

Image: AFRL, Lt. Nina Rogers

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