Label Meets NASA Standards

Published: April 01, 2010

CHARLOTTE, NC | A laser-engraved label from tesa tape was part of a Mission International Space Station Experiment by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The experiment was designed to test the durability and readability of both human and machine-readable markings and part identifiers after being exposed to environmental elements of the low earth orbit environment for an extended time period.

Coded specimens, including the tesa Secure 6973 PV3 laser-engraved label, were photographed and placed on the exterior surface of the International Space Station. They remained in orbit for more than one year.

Upon retrieval from orbit, each specimen was photographed again and tested for readability using select reading devices. The tesa label was read successfully and now is considered one of the acceptable marking and coding methods for NASA.