How will a spacecraft harness connect every electrical device on the Europa Clipper, a Jupiter-orbiting spacecraft that will study Jupiter’s icy moon Europa? Jacklyn Perry, harness engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL), will provide the answer when she delivers the keynote address, “Harnessing Europa,” at the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE), on May 11.
Perry, who holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering, works at JHU APL as the lead engineer for the Propulsion Module Harness on NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft and the Lander harness for NASA’s Dragonfly mission. The Europa Clipper program is a joint mission between the JHU APL and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Perry leads the team working on the Europa Clipper’s propulsion module harness. Her group is responsible for ensuring that every component gets power and sends telemetry. As she explains, “The harness does not function as an electrical box might, but it connects all the destinations, like a vast network of highways and roads.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Jacklyn Perry to EWPTE,” said David Bergman, Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA) executive director. “I personally cannot wait to hear more about the importance of wiring harnesses on such an advanced spacecraft. It’s a fascinating subject and I look forward to hearing Jacklyn’s keynote.”
Produced by WHMA, EWPTE is the industry’s exclusive trade show attracting nearly 200 exhibitors and over 3,000 attendees from over 40 states and 25 countries for the electrical wire harness, wire, and cable processing industries. This exhibition connects buyers with local, national, and international manufacturers and distributors. Registration for EWPTE is free.