As the number of launches of rockets, communication satellites, and other spacecraft continues to increase so does the amount of space debris, not to mention the presence of natural micrometeoroids in low Earth orbit.
In addition to the likelihood of high-speed debris impact with these natural and human-made objects, spacecraft must be designed to withstand extreme temperature, radiation, and erosion from atomic oxygen. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are working on novel ways to make spacecraft more resilient.
The Center for Resilient & Autonomic Aerospace Structures is a multi-disciplinary research project, which includes the Beckman Institute at UIUC. It is funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research/Research Technology Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory.
“This project has three key thrusts. First, we will explore new ways to treat the external surfaces of spacecraft against erosion from atomic oxygen and other factors. The second thrust will develop damage-triggered, self-reinforcing structures that will heal themselves after an impact. And in the third thrust, we’ll be using self-assessing space structures based on thermography and active heating,” said Department of Aerospace Engineering Founder Professor and lead investigator on the project Jeff Baur.
Other contributors are Swanlund Endowed Chair and head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering Nancy Sottos; Ikenberry Endowed Chair of Chemistry Jeff Moore; Bliss Professor of Aerospace Engineering Philippe Geubelle; and Aerospace and Caterpillar Professor of Engineering Ioannis Chasiotis.