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. â–º 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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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.
Read MoreKnowledge Centers
ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ’s CW Tech Days: Infrastructure event offers a series of expert presentations on composite materials, processes and applications that should and will be considered for use in the infrastructure and construction markets.
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Review the state of the art in design, simulation, failure analysis, digital twins, virtual testing and virtual inspection.
LEARN MORELatest Space News And Updates
Firefly Aerospace successfully completes 14 days of surface operations on the Moon
Longest commercial Moon mission using Firefly’s composites-intensive Blue Ghost lander completes more than 346 hours of surface operations, transmitting more than 119 gigabytes of data back to Earth.
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Scorpius Type 5 tanks underpin second Intuitive Machines mission to the moon
IM-2 mission launch of Nova-C class lander on March 6 features composite propulsion system infrastructure that will enable successful lunar touchdown, exploration.
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Blue Ghost lunar lander makes successful soft landing on the Moon
After a 45-day trip, Firefly Aerospace’s first landing attempt landed Blue Ghost in an upright, stable configuration, followed by the start of surface operations.
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3D weaving capabilities achieve complex shapes with reduced labor times, costs
JEC World 2025: The specialized engineered woven fabrics company displays film-infused 3D woven joints, woven TPS and woven composite 3D structures.
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Firefly awarded launch agreement for U.S. Space Force VICTUS SOL mission
Third tactically responsive space mission will build on lessons learned from VICTUS NOX and HAZE launched aboard Firefly’s composite Alpha rocket, building up the company’s rapid response capability.
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Airbus awarded Oberon contract for two SAR satellites using CFRP Wrapped Rib design by OSS
Oxford Space Systems (OSS) has collaborated with Airbus subsidiary SSTL to deliver efficient CarbSAR SmallSat with large, scalable, stowable and lightweight reflector antenna using CFRP structures.
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Post Cure: Parallel winding technique demonstrates CFRP anisogrid design optimization
Over the years, CIRA has demonstrated its patented CFRP parallel winding technique in a variety of ways for space applications. The lattice structure for the Vega-C launcher stage is a prime example.
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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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Design for manufacturing, assembly and automation enables complex CFRP telescope supports
Airborne delivered two mirror support structures for the FYST and SOLAT telescopes, assembling 26,300 components while maintaining near-zero CTE, strict tolerances on 6.5 × 6.5 × 1.8-meter assemblies.
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Composites business growth through diversification, innovation
San Diego-based 2024 Top Shops qualifier Rock West Composites gives an overview of its relentless commitment to improvement, including its composite capabilities and its role as a trusted player in the space market.
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VIDEO: Rock West's growth in the space sector
Rock West Composites’ chief strategy officer discusses recent surge in space applications on the CAMX 2024 show floor.
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Post Cure: CFRP landing leg supports reusable launcher capabilities
MT Aerospace AG, as part of the EU’s Horizon Europe project SALTO, has successfully developed a 7-meter-long carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) landing leg demonstrator using advanced automated fiber placement and 3D printing technologies.
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