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Increasing numbers of regulations in Europe (e.g. RoHS, REACH, CLP) are implemented targeting sustainable development, environmental impact and protection of human health. The most imminent implication is the possible obsolescence of qualified materials, processes and technologies, as manufacturers are forced to change materials compositions, alter manufacturing processes or take the decision to remove materials from the European market.

Thermo-optical coatings are used to control and to protect sensitive surfaces of satellites and spacecrafts. The paints are mostly either black (high alpha) and conducting or they are white (low alpha) and non-conducting. Most paint also do not originate from Europe. COIN COAT is an acronym for COnducting Inert Non-hazardous COATings and wants to overcome the statement that a conducting paint needs to be black.

Louvers are active thermal control elements that are typically placed over external radiators to be able to tune heat rejection from typically a factor 1 (fully closed) to 5 (fully open). The most commonly used louver is the bimetallic, spring-actuated, rectangular blade louver also known as venetian-blind louver. One of the known drawbacks of this technology is the mass and volume it requires, in particular with regards to the deployment of blades.

Micro-switches are position sensors that provide position information once per movement or once per turn. Micro-switches are frequently used in Space mechanisms to provide telemetry or to provide positive indication of the achievement of a desired position or function (i.e. open, close, ready-to-latch, latched, end of travel, turn, reference position, etc.) for different mechanism applications like deployment mechanisms, instrument mechanisms, antenna pointing mechanisms, rotary mechanisms, etc.