Sandvik Coromant Reveals Metal Cutting Considerations For Outer Space
Just how much is known about the tools that are engineering space exploration? William Durow, Global Engineering Project Manager for space, defense and aerospace at Sandvik Coromant, reveals the metal cutting considerations for outer space.
A new record for the number of people in space all at once was set in May 2023, with 20 people simultaneously in orbit. Among the many space missions that have taken place last year, Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 01 marked the first commercial suborbital spaceflight mission for the company, with SpaceX also gearing up for its first commercial spacewalk. From space tourism to rocket innovation, man is diving deeper into the great black.
We have seen several giant leaps for mankind in recent years. The European Space Agency’s JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission launched in April 2023 and is set to arrive in the Jovian System in 2030.
It will then take three-and-a-half years to observe Jupiter’s three moons. Roughly 100 launches are also planned by SpaceX this year, and NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex has recently returned to Earth in September 2023. And that’s just a handful of the recent, current and future projects aiming to help us know more about our galaxy.
Ensuring success among the stars takes many considerations. Be it thorough mission planning, rigorous simulation, qualified mission managers or effective contingency planning, a successful space trip requires careful planning, preparation and execution.
Additionally, materials used in space applications must withstand some of the most extreme conditions one could imagine — such as vacuum, radiation, thermal cycling and micrometeoroid impacts.
Tough Materials
Building anything destined for space involves a range of material considerations to ensure its safety, performance and functionality in extreme conditions. Structurally, materials must be able to withstand high pressures and stresses experienced during launch and in-flight.
Spacecraft will also experience intense heat during re-entry to the Earth’s atmosphere and so external materials must work to stop the vehicle burning up, while other components, such as rocket nozzles, must also be made from heat resistant materials.
Weight is also a consideration, particularly for elements such as rocket propellant tanks where a lighter tank can better withstand structural stresses and can aid with payload capacity. The more the rocket itself weighs, the less payload, including satellites, scientific instruments and crew, it can carry into space. Lighter tanks allow for a larger portion of the rocket’s total weight to be allocated to payload, maximising the mission’s capabilities.
Read more here at page 17
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