Commercial aerospace is thriving and will become an important component of humanity's future. The current best practices for new materials applied in this field are reflected in the International Space Station (ISS) and satellites serving Earth and embarking on exploration journeys into the solar system. Some materials are more adaptable to vacuum environments than others.
ALUMINIUM
Perhaps the most useful characteristic of aluminum is that it is both sturdy and very lightweight. Aluminum itself is not durable enough for use in space, but it is the most common additive used in the manufacture of alloys for space. Adding aluminum is because it can reduce the weight of the finished product without sacrificing too much strength. For example, astronauts use aluminum louvers on the International Space Station to protect the station from flying space debris.
Titanium and titanium alloys
Titanium is a lightweight metal used in jet aircraft and can be used alone or made into space alloy materials. Titanium is extensively used in the existing space infrastructure on the International Space Station and satellites. A etched pure titanium plate from the Rosetta Project is now installed outside the International Space Station, containing records of Earth's languages. Titanium can withstand extreme environments in space, including temperature fluctuations, cosmic and solar radiation.
Carbon carbon composite materials
This material, also known as RCC, is crucial in the US space shuttle program. It covers an important area on the surface of the space shuttle wings and withstands extreme heat upon re-entry into the atmosphere. The working principle is like a complex car radiator, releasing heat. It is placed anywhere where extreme heat may affect the operation of the spacecraft and transfer heat away from more sensitive areas of the spacecraft. RCC is lightweight, but also very fragile. During the launch of the space shuttle Columbia, a piece of polyurethane foam insulation material that fell off the external fuel tank caused partial damage to the insulation material, resulting in a catastrophic event that killed seven crew members. The X-37 military space shuttle and Dreamchaser used a more advanced version of RCC called TUFROC (short for Toughened Single Chip Fiber Reinforced Antioxidant Composite).
Kevlar
Kevlar fiber is an important space material. As is well known, it is used for designing durable clothing. The military and law enforcement agencies use Kevlar fiber vests to protect soldiers and police from bullet injuries. Just as it can block bullets, Kevlar fibers in space can protect satellites, spacecraft, and the International Space Station from floating debris and space debris in Earth orbit. Kevlar fiber is lightweight and durable, capable of withstanding extreme heat and cold temperatures without deformation.
Insulated glass
The windows of the International Space Station, Dragon spacecraft, and other manned spacecraft are made of heat-resistant glass. Ordinary glass will break in the space environment and cannot withstand the impact of launch or passing through the atmosphere. The characteristics of heat-resistant glass enable it to withstand the constantly changing pressure of spacecraft entering and leaving space. It can withstand extremely hot and cold temperatures without cracking or breaking.
Silica cloth and aerogel
For areas on spacecraft that require more flexibility, silicon cloth is usually used. For example, the area around the landing gear of the US space shuttle uses silicon cloth. Although it is not the most durable material, it can withstand the harsh test of space travel without breaking. Aerogel has been used in the space shuttle of the United States and is now used in NASA's Mars probes, including Curiosity and Perseverance. The chemical structure of aerogel is similar to that of glass. Its pores contain gas or air rather than liquid. A single pore is less than one ten thousandth of the diameter of a human hair, only a few nanometers. The nano porous nature of silicon aerogel makes the material have the lowest thermal conductivity in known solids.
