How Can Composite Materials Help Humans to Travel Space?
Humans have constantly been trying to explore the facts hidden deep inside space for several decades to make the space industry more advanced.
Today, space travel is possible only due to the composite materials which have helped in making things easier for spacecraft. Several composite materials such as anti-corrosion resins and carbon fibers have enabled spacecraft to overcome the extreme demand of traveling in and back from space.
The composite materials have got all the important characteristics that are mandatory for the space industry to travel in the space, such as being lightweight, durable, easily mouldable, and stronger.
What are composite materials?
Composites are one of the best substitutes for titanium, steel, and aluminum in several space applications due to their features such as lightweight, low energy and carbon footprint, and high-performance properties.
Composite materials are classified into green composites, hybrid composites, biocomposites, and textile composites. Among these, green composites are more popular due to their properties such as biodegradable, environmental friendliness, and sustainability.
Role of Composites Materials in the Space Today
The spacecraft present today use the composites in some or other form for traveling into space. The spacecraft-related applications performed earlier using stainless steel or aluminum have been replaced by composite materials.
It is because the previously used materials in the spacecraft were much more difficult to produce, were heavier, and more vulnerable to massive corrosion. The evolution of composite materials has allowed engineers to make more spacecraft that are stronger and more reliable.
Composite materials can be found in different parts of the spacecraft, such as batteries or inside the operational components. They are also used for protecting the spacecraft system from issues such as overheating at the time of launch and while entering back into the earth’s atmosphere.
The composite materials help the spacecraft from consuming less fuel and need less human labor efforts to produce, due to which the spaceflight is left with more time for the safety inspections and proper preparations.
Market Insight Advanced Space Composite
There are many factors contributing to the high growth of the global advanced space composites market, such as increasing satellite launches, high need for radiation-hardened electronics, increasing deep space activities, advanced 3D printing technology, and adoption of several new materials that help in the manufacturing of space products.
According to BIS Research, the global advanced space composites market is expected to grow from a market value of $933.3 million in 2021 to $2,881.9 million in 2031, at a growing rate of 11.94% during the forecast period 2021–2031.
The end users are constantly working toward the development of cost-effective and efficient satellites and reusable launching vehicles.
As per BIS Research, the segment of the structure component is supposed to dominate the market through the forecast period from 2021 to 2031.
The key factor pushing the growth of structure components is the rising focus of several space companies on the development of small launch vehicles (SLV) and reusable launching vehicles.
The companies in the advanced space composites market are more engaged in the development and research initiatives and are constantly investing in creating innovative technologies which can help to enhance the current space system.
Applications of Composite Materials
Composite materials have been used for several applications in space for decades, and their uses are constantly growing and getting advanced with time.
The applications of the composite can be seen in spaceflights, launch vehicles, payloads, and satellites. The reason behind such high demand for composited spacecraft is the benefits it provides, such as environmental stability and lightweight, which are much critical for any space mission to be successful.
Composite materials are also used in launch vehicles due to their growing applications and demands in the space industry.
Most of the space composites material providers are constantly collaborating with several commercial space players and national space agencies with the primary focus on the development and innovations of composites products.
To increase the overall business, the space composites providers are constantly entering into several strategic partnerships to expand their customers.
Conclusion
The space industry has grown massively over the last few decades. However, there is still much scope for development left to make the space industry even more advanced.
Many spacecraft manufacturers have their focus on developing spacecraft that can be landed and launched multiple times with the support of small crews. To develop such spacecraft, composite materials’ role will be much more important, as it can let the spacecraft be as light as it can be.
