Space
Composites have been used in space since our early steps into the cosmos. Often turned to for their light weight and high strength, these materials have a history of use in spaceflight in such applications as payload fairings, satellite structures and heat shields. ► Explore the technologies, materials and strategies used by composites manufacturers working in the evolving space market at our virtual CW Tech Days: New Space Applications. Learn more and register here!
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Composites end markets: New space (2025)
Composite materials — with their unmatched strength-to-weight ratio, durability in extreme environments and design versatility — are at the heart of innovations in satellites, propulsion systems and lunar exploration vehicles, propelling the space economy toward a $1.8 trillion future.
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Materials & Processes: Composites fibers and resins
Compared to legacy materials like steel, aluminum, iron and titanium, composites are still coming of age, and only just now are being better understood by design and manufacturing engineers. However, composites’ physical properties — combined with unbeatable light weight — make them undeniably attractive.
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Materials & Processes: Resin matrices for composites
The matrix binds the fiber reinforcement, gives the composite component its shape and determines its surface quality. A composite matrix may be a polymer, ceramic, metal or carbon. Here’s a guide to selection.
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Materials & Processes: Introduction
High strength at low weight remain the winning combination that propels composite materials into new arenas, but other properties are equally important. This article outlines the case for composites and introduces SourceBook's overview of the materials and processes used to make them.
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Latest Space News And Updates
Dawn Aerospace closes $25 million Series B for global reusable space transportation expansion
Aligned with the global aerospace and defense surge, the Balerion Space Ventures-led funding round builds up Dawn’s spaceplane rollout and commercialization, and 2028 Loop refueling network demo.
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AeroVironment is awarded $20M contract for ceramic, CMC materials research
Work conducted under the CAMP program for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force will accelerate development through additive, 3D printing and sensors integration.
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Arceon launches U.K. subsidiary to close British defense CMC manufacturing gap
The Netherlands startup brings its founding team's 40-plus years of combined LSI process expertise and series production capability to the U.K. defense and space sectors.
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Taniq software helps European student team WARR fly its Type 5 pressure vessel
SNAPSHOT: The filament-wound composite vessel, designed and manufactured using Taniq's TaniqWind Pro software, successfully flew aboard the EX-4C rocket at the European Rocketry Challenge in late 2025.
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NordSpace installs robotic AFP systems, progresses build of launch vehicle tanks and primary structures
SNAPSHOT: Vertical manufacturing integration with Addcomp equipment lays the path for Canadian space sovereignty through Tundra and Titan launchers.
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Aciturri Aerostructures completes integrated Type 5 space tank demonstrator
SNAPSHOT: Under the CRETAN project, a shared cryogenic bulkhead tank promises to reduce up to 30% in weight for space launchers, touting a significant competitive advantage.
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Featured Posts
2025 CW rewind: The top stories and emerging trends of the composites industry
High-temp solutions, high-rate production and renewable energy trends set the stage for overcoming technical challenges and meeting global demand.
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Industrializing rapid tape shearing for high-rate, 3D composite structures
ICOMAT’s first RTS factory creates preforms in 5 minutes for parts with -65% weight, higher strength and damage tolerance for wingskins, spars, fuselage, space tanks, auto chassis and more.
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National Composites Week 2025: Space
Commemorating the theme “Performance With Purpose,” CW has gathered key stories over the last year that exemplify how composites have progressed space exploration and satellite programs.
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Ultrasonic welding for in-space manufacturing of CFRTP
Agile Ultrasonics and NASA trial robotic-compatible carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic ultrasonic welding technology for space structures.
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Revolutionizing space composites: A new era of satellite materials
A new approach for high volumes of small satellite structures uses low-CTE, low-cost CFRP cellular core, robust single-ply skins and modular panel systems to cut lead time, labor and cost for reflectors, solar arrays and more.
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Paris Air Show highlights advanced materials, industry momentum
This year’s international air show offered a glimpse of the rapidly expanding future for composites in aerospace.
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