Two classes of material processing scenarios will feature prominently in future interplanetary exploration: in situ production using locally available materials in lunar or planetary landings and high performance structural materials which carve out a set of properties for uniquely hostile space environments. To be competitive, high performance materials must typically offer orders of magnitude improvements in thermal conductivity or insulation, deliver high strength-to-weight ratios, or provide superior durability (low corrosion and/or ablative character, e.g., in heat shields). The space-related environmental parameters of high radiation flux, low weight, and superior reliability limits many typical aerospace materials to a short list comprising high performance alloys, nanocomposites and thin-layer metal laminates (Al-Cu, Al-Ag) with typical dimensions less than the Frank-Reed-type (e.g., packing flaws or 'weak' points crystallographically) dislocation source. Extremely light weight carbon-carbon composites and carbon aerogels will be presented as novel examples which define broadened material parameters, particularly owing to their extreme thermal insulation (R-32-64) and low densities (<0.01 g/cm3) approaching that of air itself. Even with these low-weight payload additions, rocket thrust limits and transport costs will always place a premium on assembling as much structural and life support resources upon interplanetary, lunar, or asteroid arrival. As an example, for in situ lunar glass manufacture, solar furnaces reaching 1700 degree C for pure silica glass manufacture in situ are compared with sol-gel technology and acid-leached ultrapure (<0.1% FeO) silica aerogel precursors.


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    Title :

    High performance materials applications to Moon/Mars missions and bases


    Contributors:
    Noever, D.A. (author) / Smith, D.D. (author) / Sibille, L. (author) / Brown, S.C. (author) / Cronise, R.J. (author) / Lehoczky, S.L. (author)


    Publication date :

    1998


    Size :

    11 Seiten, 25 Quellen


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




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