Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
NASA's exploration goals include extending human presence beyond low earth orbit (LEO). As a result, habitation for crew is a critical requirement for meeting this goal. However, habitats are very large structures that contain a multitude of subsystems to sustain human life over long-durations in space, and one of the key challenges has been keeping weight to a minimum in order to reduce costs. Thus, light-weight and multifunctional structural materials are of great interest for habitation. NASA has started studying polymeric composite materials as potential lightweight and multifunctional structural materials for use in long-duration spaceflight. However, little is known about the survivability of these materials when exposed to the space environment outside of LEO for long durations. Thus, a study has been undertaken to investigate the durability of composite materials when exposed to long-duration radiation. Furthermore, as an addition to the primary study, a secondary preliminary investigation has been started on the micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) susceptibility of these materials after radiation exposure. The combined effects of radiation and MMOD impacts are the focus of this paper.
Keywords:
Composite Materials
Type:
JSC-CN-24520
,
53rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference; Apr 23, 2012 - Apr 26, 2012; Honolulu, HI; United States|14th AIAA Non-Deterministic Approaches Conference; Apr 23, 2012 - Apr 26, 2012; Honolulu, HI; United States|13th AIAA Gossamer Systems Forum; Apr 23, 2012 - Apr 26, 2012; Honolulu, HI; United States|20th AIAA/ASME/AHS Adaptive Structures Conference; Apr 23, 2012 - Apr 26, 2012; Honolulu, HI; United States
Format:
application/pdf
Permalink