The Effects of Space Environment on Structural Materials Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Div., Lockheed Aircraft Corporation

Format:

Conference/Event

Author/Creator:

Singletary, John B., author.

Conference Name:

National Aeronautic and Space Engineering and Manufacturing Meeting (1966-10-03 : Los Angeles, California, United States)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Warrendale, PA SAE International 1966

Summary:

The early estimations of spacecraft engineers concerning potential degradation of structural materials in the space environment have not been as extensive as was first believed. In general, the mechanical properties of bulk structural metals are very little affected by the space environment except, of course, for the probability of penetration by meteoroids. The fatigue life of flexed structural materials in simulated space vacuum has been studied and it has been shown by some investigators that fatigue life is decreased. However, other studies have shown that the reverse is true.The very thin plastic film structures such as the balloon satellites could be more susceptible to damage by the space environment. The successful performance of the Echo 1 satellite, however, has indicated some resistance to the deleterious effects of the space orbital environment by these materials. The development of the polyvinylidene films has resulted in a material more resistant to vacuum ultra-violet degradation than the polyethylene terephthalate previously used.However, the planning of programs for longed lived satellites (of the order of 1 year in space), multimanned satellites, manned space stations, missions, manned and unmanned, to the moon and planets, and orbiting astronomical observatories, have imposed more exacting demands upon the reliability of the properties of materials for aerospace applications

Notes:

Vendor supplied data

Publisher Number:

660675

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license