In space no one can hear the materials engineer scream...

The challenges of materials selection, manufacture and use for space flight applications

Dr Robin OAKLEY, QinetiQ

Wednesday 14 July 2021 at 19:00

Solar electric propulsion system

Space flight applications, both manned and unmanned, deep space exploration and near earth orbit, pose a number of demands on the selection and use of a range of materials. From design selection through to manufacture, test, launch and flight, materials and processes engineers are key to delivering technological breakthroughs and ensuring safe and effective performance. The requirements driving how materials solutions are selected and validated for space applications will be reviewed, and some of the common problems encountered described, with particular examples from QinetiQ’s heritage in ion thruster electric propulsion (flying on the ESA BepiColombo mission to Mercury) and planetary communications radios (as used on the ESA ExoMars missions).

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