Composites design helps nano-sized lunar rover hit big milestones
Developed by Carnegie Mellon University, the ultralight, composites-intensive Iris nano-rover will make its lunar debut later this year.
Hannah Mason
Associate Editor, CompositesWorld
Stratolaunch completes second test flight
All-composite carrier aircraft successfully flew for three hours and reached an altitude of 14,000 feet in preparation for supporting the upcoming hypersonic testbed vehicle, Talon-A.
Ingenuity helicopter begins new demonstration phase
Proving its mettle at controlled, powered flight on Mars, Ingenuity’s transition to an operations demonstration phase will bring a new flight envelope, and perform aerial observations for future missions.
AeroVironment celebrates composite-intensive Ingenuity Helicopter flight on Mars
The AeroVironment team played a key role in developing the helicopter’s carbon fiber airframe and major subsystems.
NASA selects SpaceX to head human lander development for Artemis moon mission
HLS to act as final mode of transportation to take astronauts to the lunar surface for the Artemis program, with potential future travel to Mars and other destinations.
NASA Ingenuity helicopter succeeds in historic first flight on Mars
Ingenuity’s two 4-foot-wide carbon fiber and foam core rotor blades successfully interacted with Mars’ gravity and atmosphere, logging a total of 39.1 seconds of flight.
NASA invites public to join the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter first powered, controlled flight
A livestream confirming Ingenuity’s first flight is targeted for April 12, with a pre- and postflight briefing, live shots and remote live interviews and a series of informal talks as additional media opportunities.
The Alpha launch vehicle: Designing performance in, cost out
Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha 2.0 launch vehicle, designed to deliver satellites into low Earth orbit, gets a composites makeover in pursuit of larger payload capacity and more cost-effective performance.
Hannah Mason
Associate Editor, CompositesWorld
Virgin Galactic SpaceShip III unveiling to deliver commercial space travel
Manufacturing ramp-up and ground testing for VSS Imagine spaceship within the Virgin Galactic fleet, with glide flights commenced for summer 2021.
NASA provides $45 million boost to U.S. small businesses
Three-hundred and sixty five small business proposals were selected for SBIR and STTR programs based on technical merit and commercial potential, including six composite companies.
NASA Ingenuity Mars helicopter prepares for first flight
The composites-intensive helicopter is to make the first attempt at powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet, with the goal of hovering 3 meters above the Martian surface.
Airbus PERIOD project to pioneer satellite factory in space
PERIOD consortium to prepare concept for in-orbit demonstrator for satellite assembly and manufacturing in space, with potential for composite materials.
ÉireComposites to develop Ireland's first carbon fiber satellite optical instrument
Development and manufacture of three composite stray light baffles for the ESA’s ALTIUS satellite will assist in climate change research.
NSMSS and CRASTE 2021 event explores advanced materials and technologies for commercial space
The National Space & Missile Materials Symposium (NSMMS) and Commercial and Government Responsive Access to Space Technology Exchange (CRASTE) are two space-focused forums occurring June 21-24, 2021.
Composites launch to Mars
NASA’s recently launched Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter are supported by numerous composite materials and structures.
Hannah Mason
Associate Editor, CompositesWorld
AnalySwift and University of Central Florida work with NASA to develop thin-ply composites
Materials will be characterized and performance modeled for wide array of aircraft and space applications.
Perseverance rover landing previews touchdown footage
NASA’s Perseverance rover relays a high-resolution still shot of its descent to the surface of Mars. Rover indicates positive health reports.
Perseverance rover takes one step for composites on Mars
The rover’s successful landing on Feb. 18 begins a two-year science investigation of Mars’ Jezero Crater for ancient microbial life.
NASA selects Firefly Aerospace for Artemis commercial moon delivery in 2023
Part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander will deliver 10 technology payloads to the moon.
Northrop Grumman completes rocket motor validation test for Vulcan Centaur
The 63-inch-diameter graphite epoxy motor (GEM 63XL) was developed in partnership with United Launch Alliance to provide the rocket with additional lift capability.
Virgin Orbit LauncherOne rocket reaches space
Air-launched, liquid-fueled rocket makes historical debut with successfully targeted orbit and 10 NASA NSP payloads deployed.
Seeking inspiration in a virtual environment
In an increasingly digital world, how far can the virtual environment take us? Only so far, Dale Brosius says. At some point, we have to get real.
Dale Brosius
Contributing Writer, Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI)
Orbex secures $24 million funding round for U.K. space launch
New funding secures roadmap to first launch of composites-intensive Orbex Prime rocket from Sutherland spaceport in Scotland.
Airbus qualifies Europe's first 5-meter deployable reflector for radar satellites
The unfurlable, parabolic, composite reflector offers significant advantages in satellite deployment and marks Airbus’s entry into the market for cost-effective and small radar missions and constellations.
HX5 thermoplastic nanocomposite demonstrates electromagnetic shielding properties
Certified for use from rockets and satellites to amphibious transport vehicles, EMI testing indicates exceptional attenuation when bare or plated for shielding effectiveness.
Environmental testing completed for NASA James Webb telescope
Successful acoustic and sine-vibration testing ensures the composites-intensive space telescope will survive all of the harsh conditions associated with a rocket launch to space.
NASA looks to advance 3D printing construction systems for the Moon and Mars
Off-world construction is taken to a new level with NASA’s MMPACT project, which will test lunar soil simulant with various processing and printing technologies to determine 3D printing feasibility in space.
Airbus concludes Zephyr HAPS flight test campaign
The composites-intensive Zephyr HAPS satellite is a stratospheric unmanned aerial system, which, with this recently successful flight test, is one step closer to providing local satellite-like services.
