NASA's space shuttle Atlantis carried two little stars of its own when it was launched into orbit in November – two laboratory-grown diamonds. The diamonds were cultivated by the Department of Chemistry in the Israel Institute of Technology – the Technion.

The International Space Station released the diamonds into space in December, and they now "roam" space freely. They are expected back on Earth in one year's time.

Once back, they will be tested for any possible effects caused by exposure to space's atomic oxygen atmosphere, which is erosive to carbon-based elements. Diamonds are traditionally indifferent to chemically erosive conditions, and their compatibility for future satellite applications will be based on those test results.

The interaction between diamonds – which are nature's toughest substance – and a laboratory-made space environment is being explored by a team lead by Prof. Alon Hoffman and Dr. Joan Adler of the Technion, and Dr. Irina Gouzman of the Soreq Nuclear Research Center.

Materials considered for use in satellites are subjected to rigorous testing, as they must withstand the years a satellite stays in orbit, some 125-500 miles above Earth. The laboratory diamonds are subjected to atomic oxygen conditions mimicking the interaction a satellite would have with them.

"The future use of diamonds in space could include heat-conducting clear optical coatings, radiation detectors and much more," Technion Doctoral candidate Ze'ev Shpilman explains. "We aim to work with Soreq scientists in developing a diamond coating suitable for use in space."

Diamonds are highly durable and have good heat conductibility, and diamond coatings are already in use on Earth, added Hoffman, "But before we send something into space we need to know what will happen to it. This is why we have created a space-like environment in a laboratory. We found that diamonds are, indeed, durable in space and now we're testing that theory in actual space."

The lab-grown diamonds were sent to fellow Prof. Tim Minton of Montana State University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who delivered them to NASA. Both gems are now roaming space alongside other futuristic materials. They will be reclaimed by the International Space Station within a year and sent back to Earth.

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