Technical programme

C2.1. Space Structures I Design, Development and Verification (Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles, including their Mechanical/Thermal/ Fluidic Systems)

The topics addressed in this session cover the aspects of the design, development and verification of space launch system structures (e.g. pressurized propellant tanks, non-pressurized structures of space vehicles, control surfaces) and their components (e.g. fluidic equipment and propulsive lines, thermal control systems). The aspects of design, 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) • design, verification and qualification of fluidic and thermal control systems • 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 (Orbital deployable and dimensionally stable structures, including mechanical and robotic systems and subsystems)

The topics to be addressed within this session concern all aspects of deployable and dimensionally stable structures e.g. reflectors, telescopes, antennas etc. It includes structural design, analysis and verification, shape control and thermal distortion as well as evaluation of analysis versus test results, of both on-ground and in-orbit testing. Furthermore, related mechanical, thermal and robotic systems and subsystems/mechanisms will be covered.

C2.3. Space Structures III Design, Development and Verification (Orbital infrastructure for in orbit service & manufacturing, Robotic and Mechatronic systems, including their Mechanical/Thermal/ Fluidic Systems)

The topics to be addressed include all aspects of orbital infrastructures design, development and verification, including their mechanical/robotic/thermal/fluidic systems and subsystems, such as manned and unmanned spacecraft, space stations, 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 development with respect to engineering analysis, manufacturing, and test verification. Furthermore, design and testing of robotic and mechatronics systems for exploration, in-orbit servicing and manufacturing of space structures will be addressed. It is also planned to discuss the issues of experimental and computational simulation of functioning and full-scale tests of space infrastructures 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.

C2.4. Space Structures Control, Dynamics and Microdynamics

The topics to be addressed include dynamics analysis and testing, modal identification, landing and impact dynamics, pyro-shock, test facilities, vibration suppression techniques, damping, micro-dynamics, in-orbit dynamic environment, wave structural propagation, excitation sources and in-orbit dynamic testing. Attention will be paid to dynamics modelling and control of robotic and mechatronic systems (e.g. manipulators for the servicing and/or assembly of space structures, pointing mechanisms, etc).

C2.5. Space Structures and Materials for Extreme Environment (High-temperature and cryogenic-temperature applications including thermal insulation concepts)

The topics to be addressed include structures and materials for extreme environments, including both cryogenic applications and high temperature applications in space related domains. The session covers the full spectrum of material, design, manufacturing and testing. Operation of structures and mechanisms in cryogenic environment is quite challenging. This concerns the components design as well as the materials they are made of or lubricants needed for proper functioning. Tanks for storage of cryogenic propellants for launch vehicle application or long term storage of cryogenic liquids require an appropriate material selection and characterization, especially when organic composite materials are considered. Cryogenic insulation for propellant tanks and lines, especially for reusable launch vehicles exposed to aerothermal loads might require a combination with high temperature thermal protection systems. (Foam with metallic protection, vacuum insulated sandwich, stand-off thermal protection…). For the elevated temperature regime, this session includes carbon-carbon and ceramic matrix composites, ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites, ablative materials, ceramic tiles and insulations, together with innovative structural concepts making use of the above, for propulsion systems, launchers, hypersonic vehicles, re-entry vehicles, aero capture, power generation.

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. Manufacturing and industrialization for Launch Vehicle and Space Vehicle Structures and components (High volume production, industrialization, automatization and digitalization)

This session will focus on manufacturing, inspection and testing technologies to enable efficient high volume production for launch vehicle and spacecraft structures as well as components. This includes industrialization aspects of series production as e.g. high cadences automatization design, design-to-manufacturing concepts and lean production principles. Other topics covered are the use of digitalization in particular of artificial intelligence, AR, VR, machine learning, digital twins and real-time manufacturing data evaluation to support spacecraft production.

C2.8. Advancements in Materials Applications, Additive Manufacturing, and Rapid Prototyping Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping

The topics to be addressed include advancements in materials applications, novel technical concepts in the rapid prototyping of space systems, and materials and processes for in space manufacturing and construction. 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 additive manufacturing (AM) processes are currently used for different materials in the fabrication of metal, ceramic, and plastic parts. New and different processes are being developed for utilization of lunar regolith materials for manufacturing and construction. As a very new technique, AM 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 cost reduction. The ability to utilize in situ resources for manufacturing and construction is very attractive for logistics reduction for deep space exploration.

C2.9. Smart Materials and Adaptive Structures & Specialized Technologies, Including Nanotechnology

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. 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.

C2.10. CATEGORY C "TECHNOLOGY" - Extra Session

CATEGORY C "TECHNOLOGY" - Extra Session

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 (LBA)