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Two $550K grants to be awarded for new lightweight cores research. Applications due by Dec. 16, 2014.

CW talks with Syensqo, Spirit AeroSystems and other consortia members about current funding, specification of the next world’s largest press, organizational structure and projects to support U.S. companies in the race to deliver >40,000 sustainable and efficient aircraft over the next 20 years.

NASA has announced the design competition finalists for its 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge.

Dutch startup Arceon is working with leaders in space, hypersonics and industry to test its Carbeon CMC, validating near-net-shape parts with <3% porosity and performance at 1600ºC, targeting UHTCMC and a presence in the U.S. in 2025.

When humans do finally travel to Mars, they will have to be well protected from a less-than-hospitable environment. The suit designed to do the job is already in development at NASA, and it relies heavily on composites.

Tests versus stainless steel tubing show 10 times faster chill down, fuel flow in 2 seconds and less boil-off for significantly faster fueling and refueling of LH₂-powered space vehicles, aircraft and trucks.

One-piece bladder tooling helps to actualize NASA/Boeing’s revolutionary fluted core design for next-gen cryogenic fuel tank skirt.

As humans travel further into space, the structures in which they live will become extremely important. NASA is working with six companies on development of deep space habitat designs that could represent a new end market for composites.

A NASA study shows that steel/composite hybrid gears save significant weight, and could mitigate vibration-related noise.

A decade since NASA opened extraterrestrial space to potential use as a commercial industry workplace, CW traces the role composites have played in public/private progress toward that goal.