To Infinity And Beyond: Aluminium In Space

Aluminium has many uses, from food and drink packaging to being a major component in the manufacturing and construction industries. Its popularity is often due to its weight to strength ratio. 

This light, durable metal is actually one of the more commonly found natural metals on earth and it is infinitely recyclable, making it a valuable and accessible material. To improve upon its already impressive attributes, a range of aluminium alloys can be created to ensure the metal is even better suited for its use. 

One area where the use of aluminium alloys has been researched intensively is for use on aircraft and spacecraft. The low density of aluminium makes it the perfect material to make aerospace parts as it is strong but low in weight.

Aluminium and aerospace

Aluminium has long been used in the aerospace industry. Not only did aluminium parts feature in the very first plane built by the Wright brothers but it was also used before this on the famous Zeppelin airships. 

 In modern times aluminium is commonly used on aircraft due to its valuable properties and relative cheapness. As it is lightweight but strong, aircraft are able to carry more cargo while also being more fuel-efficient. In addition to the relatively low cost of aluminium, it also has high corrosion resistance. 

The combination of these attributes allows aircraft to be manufactured to a high safety standard while remaining cost-effective. In addition, alloys are often used as they further improve the strength and safety of the metal. In fact, aluminium alloys commonly make up to 75-80% of aircraft parts. 

Aluminium in space

However, it is not just in the earth’s atmosphere that aluminium is used. The metal is an invaluable material when it comes to manufacturing spacecraft. These machines need to be light in order to take off carrying enough fuel to reach orbit and also need to have adequate protection from solar radiation to protect their crew or cargo.

Aluminium first ventured into space in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, the Sputnik 1. This was made from an aluminium alloy which needed to withstand the additional pressures put on the craft during its launch and lifespan in space. 

These alloys paved the way for space exploration and the building of satellites systems. They went on to be used extensively across the spacecraft industry including on the Apollo spacecraft, the Skylab space station, the Space Shuttles and of course the International Space Station. 

The future of aluminium spacecraft

Despite aluminium alloys being used to provide additional protection to spacecraft, the radiation in space can dissolve the hardening precipitates. This can create major problems for the vehicle and have potentially fatal consequences for any crew onboard the spacecraft. 

However, recent research carried out in Austria by MIAMI-2 and Montanuniversitaet Leoben (MUL) has found a new alloy which has a hardening precipitate which does not dissolve when subjected to radiation in comparison to existing aluminium alloys.

A paper that was published in the journal, Advanced Science, states that the alloy has a radiation-resistant hardening phase called a T-phase. This is an exciting discovery for spacecraft as it could improve overall safety and allow for longer explorations into space. 

The question now is whether this alloy will be approved for use on next-generation space exploration vehicles such as NASA’s Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). This space has already been constructed using an aluminium-lithium alloy which has been protected with a modified version of the thermal tiles used on the space shuttles. 

The demand for aluminium

As developing countries expand their aerospace industries, the demand for aluminium is likely to rise. In fact, it is predicted that demand will double over the next decade and that by 2025 global demand will surpass 80 million tonnes. 

In order to ensure supply can meet this demand, the aerospace industry is looking at how to recycle and repurpose aluminium and its alloys in order to sure up the supply chain. This will lead to further innovation in space and aircraft manufacturing in order to think of more efficient ways of using the material. 

However, if you need an aluminium part created, there’s no need to look to the stars. At Love Aluminium we are experts in aluminium extrusion and can create custom parts for your project no matter what size. 

Whether you’re looking for a one-off profile or a recurring order, we have solutions which can help you, including stock management and delivery. Get in touch with the team today on 0333 4560121 or by emailing [email protected].