You're building a spacecraft. What materials should you use for your aerospace engineering project?

For spacecraft structures, consider materials like lightweight alloys (aluminum, titanium), composites (carbon fiber, fiberglass), and advanced materials (ceramics, metallic foams). These materials offer high strength-to-weight ratios, thermal resistance, and durability required for space missions.

These form the framework of the spacecraft and must withstand the mechanical stresses of launch and the harsh conditions of space. Examples include aluminum alloys and titanium.

For a spacecraft, you'd typically use lightweight yet durable materials like titanium, aluminum alloys, carbon composites, and heat-resistant ceramics.

Building a spacecraft requires careful consideration of materials to ensure safety, durability, and efficiency in the harsh environment of space. Various factors come into play when selecting materials for aerospace engineering projects, including weight, strength, thermal properties, and resistance to radiation and micrometeoroids. some of the key materials commonly used in spacecraft construction Aluminum Alloys Titanium Alloys Composite Materials Ceramic Materials Space-Grade Plastics Radiation-Shielding Materials Glass-Ceramics The selection of materials for building a spacecraft involves a careful balance of performance requirements, cost considerations, & technological advancements to meet the demands of space exploration

Composite materials and also aluminum materials are suitable for both of the aspects of engineering design and manufacturing capability.

Composite materials, such as carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) or fiberglass reinforced polymers (FRP), are excellent choices for spacecraft structures due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, resistance to corrosion, and ability to withstand extreme temperatures and harsh environments encountered in space. These materials offer advantages in terms of reduced weight, increased structural integrity, and improved fuel efficiency for space missions.

Repairing composite structures can be more complex and costly compared to traditional metallic structures, primarily due to the specialized techniques and materials required. However, advancements in composite repair technologies, such as composite patches and adhesives, have reduced repair costs over time. Still, it’s essential to factor in potential repair expenses when considering composite materials. Stress, brittleness, radiation, and electrical characteristics need to be addressed.

LFT materials are thermoplastic composites reinforced with fibers that have an aspect ratio exceeding 100.For more than three decades, the automotive sector has utilized LFTs in semi-structural roles. LFT materials can be shaped through both compression and injection moulding methods. Compression moulding offers benefits such as being more cost-efficient, enhancing fibre orientation, allowing for a greater content of fibre, minimizing fibre damage and distortion, and being more appropriate for intricate and sizable structures compared to injection moulding.

The thermal protection materials are the ones that protect the spacecraft from the extreme heat and cold that it encounters in space and during atmospheric entry. They have to be able to insulate, reflect, or absorb heat, and to resist erosion, ablation, and oxidation. Some of the most common thermal protection materials are ceramics, such as silica tiles, carbon-carbon composites, and ceramic matrix composites. They have high melting points, low thermal conductivity, and high thermal shock resistance. However, they also have low strength, high brittleness, and high porosity.

Thermo protective materials are crucial for space travel because they shield spacecraft and astronauts from the extreme temperatures encountered in space. In space, there's a stark contrast between extreme heat from direct sunlight and extreme cold in shadowed areas. Thermo protective materials help regulate temperatures inside the spacecraft, preventing overheating or freezing of vital systems and ensuring the safety and comfort of astronauts. Additionally, during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, these materials protect the spacecraft from the intense heat generated by friction with the atmosphere, enabling a safe return to Earth.

For thermal protection in spacecraft, consider materials like ablative materials (such as phenolic impregnated carbon ablator), ceramic tiles (like those used on the Space Shuttle), and insulating foams (like reinforced carbon-carbon). These materials provide effective thermal insulation, heat resistance, and protection against re-entry temperatures during atmospheric re-entry.

Satellites, in general, while in service in their operational orbits, will not experience significant friction with the atmosphere. As such, there is no need to implement ablative materials, ceramics, or similar materials. Passive thermal control involves, mostly, two main activities: selection of suitable mult-layer insulation MLI, and selection of materials with relatively low thermal expansion coefficients.

Spacecraft encounter extreme temperatures. Materials like silica aerogels or reinforced carbon-carbon are used for thermal shielding

One thing I have found helpful is that these ensure the proper functioning of the spacecraft’s onboard systems. Copper and gold are commonly used for wiring and connectors due to their excellent conductivity.

Radiation hardening and testing your on board electronics for single event upsets in case of bit flips. Can the electronics detect this? Will the software function correctly if there is a bit flip?

For electrical and electronic components in spacecraft, use materials such as radiation-hardened semiconductors (like gallium arsenide), high-temperature solder alloys (such as Sn-Ag-Cu), and space-grade insulating materials (like polyimide). These materials offer resistance to radiation effects, thermal stability, and reliability required for long-duration space missions in harsh radiation and temperature environments.

Fiber optics and photonics are starting to come into their own and should be considered for both data and power transfer as well as command and control systems. They are not sensitive to radiation effects and they are near speed of light and data and commands and secure from outside interference or interception.

For functional materials in spacecraft, consider using materials such as shape memory alloys (like nitinol), piezoelectric materials (such as lead zirconate titanate), and smart coatings (like self-healing polymers). These materials enable various functions such as shape change, energy harvesting, and self-repair, enhancing the spacecraft's performance, adaptability, and reliability throughout its mission.

It depends on many factors: the type of mission, the orbit, the lifetime, the availability and reliability you are requesting, the mass you can afford, the schedule and the budget. After defining this high level requirement, your question can be discussed.

Biological materials are not commonly used in spacecraft due to their susceptibility to degradation in space environments. However, some biologically derived materials, like certain polymers or proteins, may be used in specialized applications such as bioregenerative life support systems. Additionally, research into bio-inspired materials for structural or functional purposes may offer insights for future spacecraft design.

Spaceships have to be Biological to survive in space. Space is about maintaining life so if the ship isn't Biological it'll be difficult to experience other planets or the benefits of being alive. Space is based on advanced Aerospace channels through time and they require Biological systems. Like a planet.

You have to consider the environmental conditions that will impact the likelihood of mission success. Space is an unforgiving environment with wide temperature variations, electromagnetic radiation that could cause upset events to electronics and power systems, as well as potential collisions with space debris and/or asteroids while your spacecraft orbits the target celestial body gathering the data of interest associated with the mission. Additionally, there are standards/protocols associated with the volume and mass [to name a few properties] of the spacecraft/payload to be integrated into a given launch vehicle for the mission.

For building a spacecraft, selecting materials that offer a balance of strength, durability, lightweight properties, and resistance to extreme temperatures and radiation is paramount. Common materials used include lightweight metals such as aluminium and titanium for structural components, advanced composites like carbon fiber reinforced polymers for their high strength-to-weight ratio, and heat-resistant materials such as ceramic composites for components exposed to high temperatures during re-entry. Additionally, thermal insulation materials like aerogels are utilized to protect sensitive equipment from temperature fluctuations.

All of those types of materials are important, you need a certain structure to support the space trying to rip it apart, you need electrical components, you need it to be light enough yet durable and able to support the cold of the space and the heat of the inside, so it has to be a material able so support thermal expansion and thermal shock, also has to resist sun radiation, dust and space garbage colliding into it.

Currently, there are enough materials known to humanity to sustain mission flight successes, specifically for aerospace projects in national defense. Therefore, challenges arise in creating new materials that will outpace private and public industries. Like time travel, its more prudent to go back than forward, adapting and realigning timestreams. New materials should align with environmental factors that will naturally flow with atmospheric entry. Finding a balance with nature instead of fighting it would yield generational benefits, not only in aerospace but also in agricultural sectors.

Certain types of plastics, such as high-performance polymers like polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), exhibit excellent resistance to corrosion and chemical degradation. These materials are suitable for aerospace applications where exposure to harsh environmental conditions, such as moisture, fuel, and hydraulic fluids, may occur.