Applied Physics Laboratory Applied Physics Laboratory Overview The APL develops a variety of special instrumentation and tools for answering specific vehicle processing and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) requirements including focus areas in optics, acoustics, capacitance, Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) and other technologies. Read More Mark Nurge in the Applied Physics LaboratoryNASA Applied Physics Laboratory Capabilities The APL develops a variety of special instrumentation and tools for answering specific vehicle processing and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) requirements including focus areas in optics, acoustics, capacitance, Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) and other technologies.