Space Certification Program


Taylor Devices, Inc., is Most Recent Space Foundation Certification Program Partner

Written by: developer

The Space Foundation welcomes Taylor Devices, Inc., of North Tonawanda, N.Y., and its seismic damper technology into the Space Certification Program. Earlier this year, Taylor Devices, Inc., and seismic damper technology were inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame.

About the Seismic Damper
In the 1960's, Taylor Devices was awarded a NASA contract to develop a system to safely disengage hoses and mechanical gear jettisoned off of launch vehicles. The first motion dampening systems were hydraulic dampers controlled by electronic valves.  While this approach safely contained the motion of the gear, the system itself was complex and prone to reliability issues.

Improvements continued, and in 1972 the system controlled swing arms on the Space Shuttle launch platform. Today, this technology is still in use to protect equipment on the International Space Station.

In the 1990's, a commercial application was developed to protect buildings and bridges from the destructive vibrations induced by earthquakes. These seismic dampers proved far more effective than the best stress-relieving technologies used at the time. Today, the technology is successfully defending hundreds of buildings and bridges around the world against the effects of high winds and earthquakes.

Some notable installations in the U.S. include the Los Angeles City Hall, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, four elementary schools for the Ceres Unified School District in Ceres, Calif., and at North American Air Defense Command at the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. There have also been installations in China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, UK, UAE/Dubai, Mexico, Romania, New Zealand, South Korea, Italy, Indonesia and Mexico, Romania, New Zealand, South Korea, Italy, Indonesia and others.

Leader in Innovative Shock Control
Incorporated in 1955, Taylor Devices, Inc., is the leading manufacturer of shock absorbers, liquid springs, shock isolation systems, seismic isolators, vibration dampers, powerplant snubbers and other types of hydro-mechanical energy management products. The products form the cutting edge of technology in the marketplace, and are backed by more than 50 years of successful experience in the shock and vibration control field. Taylor Devices, Inc., products offer a turn-key solution to shock and vibration problems, while providing full analysis, development, manufacturing and testing capabilities to satisfy the most exacting customer requirements. For more information, visit http://taylordevices.com/tayd.htm.

About Space Certification
Products and services that display the Space Certification seal are guaranteed to have stemmed from, or been dramatically improved by, technologies originally developed for space exploration or to have significant impact in teaching people about the value of space utilization.

Developed and administered by the Space Foundation, the Space Certification program serves three purposes:

  • Providing a unique marketing edge for Space Certification partners
  • Demonstrating to the public how space technologies now improve life on Earth
  • Making space knowledge more interesting and accessible to everyone

There are three classifications of Space Foundation Certified Products:

  • Certified Technology Products - Products or services that directly result from space technology or space program development or advances in space technology
  • Certified Educational Products - Products used in educational environments to stimulate interest in and knowledge about space
  • Certified Imagination Products - Entertainment products, games or toys that increase interest in and excitement for space and inspire new generations to take an active interest in space

For more about Space Certification, click here, or contact Rebecca Williams, Space Awareness Program Coordinator, at [email protected].

This article is part of Space Watch: August 2015 (Volume: 14, Issue: 8).


Posted in Space Certification Program