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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This CW Tech Days event will explore the technologies, materials, and strategies that can help composites manufacturers become more sustainable.
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Explore the cutting-edge composites industry, as experts delve into the materials, tooling, and manufacturing hurdles of meeting the demands of the promising advanced air mobility (AAM) market. Join us at CW Tech Days to unlock the future of efficient composites fabrication operations.
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Latest Space News And Updates
PHOEBUS project makes progress on CFRP liquid oxygen, hydrogen upper stage tanks
The ESA project has proven that linerless CFRP tanks for Ariane 6 rocket can handle the extreme temperatures of liquid H2 and O2, and are moving on to testing campaign for 2-meter and 3.5-meter tanks in 2026.
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DLR rocket flight in ATHEAt program demonstrates CMC nose, movable body flaps
Successful flight tests heat-resistant components and innovative sensor technologies.
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DLR exhibits full-scale CFRP liquid hydrogen tank test item for zero-emission aviation
The German Aerospace Center Institute for Lightweight Systems exhibits 1.9-meter autoclave infusion composite structure as part of LUFO UpLift project aiming for LH2 as part of short-haul aircraft propulsion by 2040.
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Airbus, Leonardo and Thales forge leading European space player
An MOU will combine their space systems and services activities into a joint venture expected to launch in 2027, with pooled expertise, an annual turnover of ~€6.5 billion and ~25,000 employees.
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Rocket Lab secures multiple launches with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Electron will launch JAXA’s payload demonstration SatellitE-4 and the JAXA-manifested rideshare in 2025 and 2026, respectively, further supporting Rocket Lab’s support of international space agencies.
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Atomic-6 composite Space Armor shields space operation communications, spacecraft and astronauts
Lightweight radio frequency-permeable orbital debris shield mitigates the creation of harmful debris upon impact and has proven to protect against the high-speed particles traveling space.
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Featured Posts
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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Automating oxide CMC for higher part volumes
FOX Composites has adapted infusion and RTM for slurry-based matrices, commercializing its VASI and IFOX technologies for automatable, scalable, serial production of high-quality oxide ceramic matrix composite parts, already proven in flight missions and a pilot-scale line.
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Optimizing a CFRP landing leg demonstrator
MT Aerospace achieves design for manufacturing, integrating multiple elements into one-piece structure using AFP and 3D printed tooling to meet time and budget constraints.
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