Materials for Space Shuttles

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Materials for Space Shuttles

• Monsa, Chris, Alex, Aliya

2
Whats Going On

• We studied materials for space shuttles. It is
  very complicated so we stopped using Google
  Scholar.
• We separated into two teams external materials
  and internal materials, specifically the outer
  shell and inner works such as wiring and hinges.

3
What They Look Like

• In general most of the structures on spacecraft
  are made of aluminum or carbon composites. This
  is to make them as light as possible, and to
  ensure the strength of the materials. The
  composition is usually designed to withstand
  great heat.
• Other special materials are also used on
  spacecraft in certain places. For example where
  they may get very hot from entry or from burning
  rocket fuel, there are materials that can take
  extreme heat to protect the underlying surfaces.
• To protect against high temperatures space
  shuttles (orbiters) use a detailed thermal
  protection system (TPS).
• The TPS is made up of over 24000 tiles on the
  outside of the shuttle. They work to insulate
  the aluminum skin of the craft.
• They are coated in ceramic to reflect solar
  radiation.
• http//quest.arc.nasa.gov/mars/ask/about-nasa/Mate
  rial_used_for_spaceships_.txt
• Source Orbital Thermal Protection System
  www.-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/nasafacts/tps.htm

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The Previous Slide

• The previous slide shows a side view of the
  schematics of the materials used in an average
  NASA orbiter.
• The part that looks like bricks is Reinforced
  Carbon-Carbon, a composite material consisting of
  carbon fibre reinforcement in a matrix of
  graphite, often with a coating of silicon carbide
  to prevent oxidization. It is used in nose cones
  because it can take great heat.
• The part with short stripes is Advanced Flexible
  Reusable Surface Insulation, a blanket of
  insulation made of low-density fibrous silica
  batting (lots of silica). It too can withstand
  great heat.
• The part with dots is Felt Reusable Surface
  Insulation, a Nomex material that serves to
  isolate the tiles from the Orbiters structural
  deflections, expansions and acoustic excitation,
  basically stopping the tiles from breaking.
• Finally, the part thats dark with white dots is
  metal or glass, and is very minimal in comparison
  with other parts. These parts allow astronauts
  to view outwardly, and take a small part in a
  back panel and part of the tail.
• http//science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts
  -newsref/sts-tps.htmlsts-frsi
• http//www.space1.com/Artifacts/Space_Shuttle_Arti
  facts/AFRSI_Blanket/AFRSI_Blanket_Details/afrsi_bl
  anket_details.html
• http//science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts
  -newsref/sts_sys.html

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Misc.

• The hinges on the space shuttles are made of an
  alloy called inconel, which can withstand high
  temperatures.
• Bulk metallic glasses are emerging as popular
  structural components, because they have great
  strength and are resistant to corrosion.
• aero.org/publications/crosslink/fall2006/01.html