SCIENTISTS in Derby were astronomically proud when the Philae probe landed on comet Churyumov-Gerasminko, having played a key part in the early stages of the epic project.
Peak NDT, off Stores Road, was responsible for testing the solid-fuel motors that first blasted the Rosetta mission off on its 4 billion-mile journey.
Comets are suspected to have carried the water and organic material that provided the origins of life on earth.
The Philae probe was designed by the European Space Agency to test this theory.
The Rosetta's Philae Lander Makes History, Successfully Lands On Comet 67P http://t.co/sxZjoa2894
— Dilip Chalil (@chalil) November 19, 2014Peak NDT designs and produces ultrasonic testing equipment that detects the tiniest defects in safety-critical equipment used in the aerospace, nuclear and petrochemical industries.
More recently, the firm's technology and expertise has won it a large-scale deal with a Californian firm involved in the NASA space programme.
Even a tiny imperfection in a rocket can be catastrophic and can cause hundreds of millions of dollars to go up in smoke.
Peak NDT has a long-standing relationship with suppliers to the European Space Agency, testing the rocket motors on the Ariane 5.
It uses a probe mounted on a beam placed inside the rockets to check every millimetre of metal for the smallest defects.
Derby firm Garrandale was responsible for manufacturing the 12m bogey that carries and manoeuvres the rockets during testing.
Director Andy Whittle said: "It was incredibly exciting to have played a part in this project that has taken so long and represents such a major achievement for humanity.
"It is a tremendous privilege to have been involved in the design phase and to have delivered the inspection system to Italy."
Mr Whittle and wife Alison, also a director in the business, followed the progress of the project closely.
"We have been following it closely on television and Alison has been getting regular updates from the European Space Agency website so had updates in real time as the vehicle approached the comet."
Peak NDT, which employs 11 people, is one of only a handful of companies in the world capable of carrying out this kind of work although the technologies marketed by its competitors have different capabilities.
The Derby firm's phased array testing equipment works on a similar principal to scans on pregnant women, however, Peak NDT's kit is far more powerful, sending out hundreds of ultrasonic pings, mere nanoseconds apart.
Like an ultrasonic spotlight, the sound travels through an object, bounce back and show up any flaws.
Mr Whittle said: "Phased array is a tremendous technology
Working with Bristol University, Peak NDT is involved in the next stage of innovation in non-destructive testing, referred to as the total focusing method.
It is this technology that Peak NDT's new Californian partner is interested in.
The issue of nondestructive testing in the US space programme was brought into sharp focus last month when an unmanned supply rocket to the International Space Station developed a fault and had to be blown up seconds into its launch.
The rocket's refurbished Soviet-era engines are currently being investigated as a possible cause of the catastrophe.
Mr Whittle said: "It costs an astronomical amount of money to put a rocket into space and so it is imperative that this equipment is tested properly."
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