3M™ Space Qualified Dispenser Cathodes

The Premier Independent Manufacturer
3M is the most trusted independent manufacturer of high quality dispenser cathodes. Manufactured with extensive process controls to meet rigid civilian and military spacecraft specifications, 3M™ Space Qualified Dispenser Cathodes (PDF, 93.87 Kb) offer extraordinary quality for demanding applications such as high-power/high-bandwidth traveling wave tubes (TWTs), ion neutralizers and ion electric propulsion systems.

Tubes containing our space qualified dispenser cathodes can boost a radio signal up to one million times — enough power for a spacecraft to send data and images from the edge of the solar system all the way back to Earth.

Precision Through Process
3M has over 60 years of industry experience manufacturing cathodes. Our highly controlled manufacturing processes are designed to ensure consistent product quality and to meet the exacting standards of a wide array of military and civilian applications. We control each stage of the cathode manufacturing process, from basic raw materials through the manufacturing of critical components to final assembly.

Learn more about 3M™ Cathodes and Electron Guns (PDF, 1.1 Mb)

Industries and Applications

• High-power TWTs
• High-bandwidth TWTs
• Ion neutralizers
• Ion electric propulsion
• Extended interaction klystrons (EIK)