Inside Northrop Grumman’s metallography lab in Redondo Beach, California, Engineer Kate Nabours and her colleagues uncover mission-critical details that are imperceptible to most people. Harnessing ultra-powerful microscopes, the close-knit team of technicians and engineers hunts for potential flaws in the microstructures — grain-like patterns visible only when magnified — of metals, alloys and other materials used in engine components, spacecraft and other products.
Zooming In
