Technical programme

C2.1. Space Structures I - Development and Verification (Space Vehicles and Components)

The topics addressed in this session cover the aspects of the development and verification of space vehicle structures (e.g. pressurized propellant tanks, non-pressurized structures of space vehicles, control surfaces) and their components (e.g. fluidic equipment and propulsive lines). The aspects of development, verification, and qualification concern: • Thermo-Mechanical loads and environment • New structural concepts (e.g. multi-functional structures, design concepts for reusability) • Structure design and verification (stiffness, strength, static and dynamic stability, damage tolerance, reusability) • Structure optimization • Materials • Static and dynamic ground testing • Exploitation of flight measurements and in-orbit testing • Lessons learned related to space vehicle structures and components development, verification and qualification

C2.2. Space Structures II - Development and Verification (Deployable and Dimensionally Stable Structures)

The topics to be addressed include evaluation of analysis versus test results for deployable and dimensionally stable structures, e.g. reflectors, telescopes, antennas; examination of both on-ground and in-orbit testing, thermal distortion and shape control, structural design, development and verification; lessons learned.

C2.3. Space Structures - Dynamics and Microdynamics

The topics to be addressed include dynamics analysis and testing, modal identification, landing and impact dynamics, pyroshock, test facilities, vibration suppression techniques, damping, micro-dynamics, in-orbit dynamic environment, dynamics and control of robotic manipulators for the assembly of space structures, wave structural propagation, excitation sources and in-orbit dynamic testing.

C2.4. Advanced Materials and Structures for High Temperature Applications

The topics to be addressed include advanced materials and structures for high temperature applications in space related domains. This includes carbon-carbon and ceramic matrix composites, ultra high temperature ceramics, ablative materials, ceramic tiles and insulations, together with innovative structural concepts making use of the above, for propulsion systems, launchers, hypersonic vehicles, entry vehicles, aero capture, power generation. The session covers the full spectrum of material, design, manufacturing and testing aspects.

C2.5. Advancements in Materials Applications and Rapid Prototyping

The topics to be addressed include advancements in materials applications and novel technical concepts in the rapid prototyping of space systems. Continuous improvements in materials and structural concepts are always needed to achieve extremely demanding goals in performance, reliability, and affordability of space components, especially in terms of greater accuracy/dimensional stability, longer life, greater survivability to both natural and threat environments, and producibility capability for high volume production. Different rapid prototyping processes are currently used for different materials in the fabrication of metal, ceramic, and plastic parts. However, as very new technique, Additive Manufacturing is strongly emerging due to the capability of optimization of structural parts for space applications as it concerns weight reduction, improvement of mechanical properties and reduction of development and lead times as well as the reduction of costs. Furthermore AM processes make three-dimensional parts directly from CAD models by adding materials layer by layer.

C2.6. Space Environmental Effects and Spacecraft Protection

The focus of the session will be on space environmental effects and spacecraft protection. The effects of vacuum, radiation, atomic oxygen, spacecraft charging, thermal cycling, dissociation, meteoroids and space debris impact on space systems, materials and structures, and microelectronics will be addressed. Protective and shielding technologies, including analysis simulation and testing of debris impact, and susceptibility of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) micro-electronics to space radiation will be covered.

C2.7. Space Vehicles – Mechanical/Robotic/Thermal/Fluidic Systems

The topics to be addressed include novel technical concepts for mechanical/robotic/thermal/fluidic systems and subsystems of launchers, manned and unmanned spacecraft, re-entry vehicles and small satellites. Advanced subsystems and design of future exploration missions will be covered, considering issues arising from material selection, cost efficiency and reliability, and advancements in space vehicle development with respect to engineering analysis, manufacturing, and test verification. It is also planned to discuss the issues of experimental and computational simulation of functioning and full-scale tests of space vehicles and their systems/subsystems. Attention will be paid to the problem of verification and validation of mathematical models for the design and experimental development of these objects at various phases of their life cycle.

C2.8. Specialized Technologies, Including Nanotechnology

Specialized material and structures technologies are explored in a large variety of space applications both to enable advanced exploration, and science/observation mission scenarios to perform test verifications relying on utmost miniaturization of devices and highest capabilities in structural, thermal, electrical, electromechanical/ optical performances offered by the progress in nanotechnology. Examples are the exceptional performances at nano-scale in strength, electrical, thermal conduction of Carbon nanotubes which are experiencing first applications at macro-scale such as nano-composite structures, high efficiency energy storage wheels, MEMS and MOEMS devices. Molecular nanotechnology and advances in manipulation at nano-scale offer the road to molecular machines, ultracompact sensors for science applications and mass storage devices. The Session encourages presentations of specialized technologies, in particular of nanomaterial related techniques and their application in devices offering unprecedented performances for space applications.

C2.9. Smart Materials and Adaptive Structures

The focus of the session will be on application of smart materials to spacecraft and launch vehicle systems, novel sensor and actuator concepts and new concepts for multi-functional and intelligent structural systems. Also included in the session will be new control methods for vibration suppression and shape control using adaptive structures as well as comparisons of predicted performance with data from ground and in-orbit testing.

C2.IP. Interactive Presentations - IAF MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES SYMPOSIUM

This session offers a unique opportunity to deliver your key messages in an interactive presentation on any of the subjects of Materials and Structures addressed in the classic Sessions. The presentation will be displayed on a digital screen in a dedicated location and available for view by all Congress attendees for the entire Congress week. In addition, one afternoon is dedicated exclusively for the attendees to view the Interactive Presentations, and the author will be assigned a specific ten minute slot to personally present the topic and interact with the attendees present. The Interactive Presentation may take advantage of all electronic display capabilities, such as: PowerPoint charts, embedded hot links, pictures, audio and video clips etc. An award will also be presented to the author of the best Interactive Presentation in the C Category at a special ceremony. An Abstract that follows the standard format must be submitted by the deadline for standard IAC abstracts.

C2.IPB. Interactive Presentations - IAF MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES SYMPOSIUM

C2.LBA. Late breaking abstracts