Metals in Aerospace Construction
Where are metals for aerospace use tested?
In laboratories, at the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) - (Either answer works)
What does composite mean?
Synthetic building materials made of two or more materials.
What is the most commonly used metal for spacecraft structure?
Aluminium
What job was Alouette designed to do?
To monitor the ionosphere from above
It helps the rocket cut through the air.
What metal, when mixed with other metals, is strong and the most common metal for spacecrafts?
Aluminium
What are the characteristics of fibreglass? (name two)
What is the best-known aramid material?
Kevlar
What kid of satellites are RADERSAT satellites?
Earth-observation satellites
Fins stabilize the rocket during flight.
What is the lightest metal that must be mixed to be useful?
Magnesium
Around what temperatures can ceramic withstand?
Around 1650 degrees celsius
What two metals are mixed with steel to make stainless steel?
Chromium, nickel
What year was the first RADARSAT launched?
1995
What is apogee?
Highest point of a flight
What metal is lightweight with high strength, ductility, and strong corrosion resistance? (Weighing half as much as stainless steel)
Titanium
What is aramid?
A polymer with high tensile strength, used for high-stress and vibrating parts, twists and bends in flight.
What method is used to stiffen carbon-fibre materials
What does MOST's orbit provide?
A continuous‑viewing zone (CVZ) allowing uninterrupted observation of a target star for up to 60 days.
What does the launch lug do?
Guides the rocket off the launch pad
What metal is an alloy of nickel and chromium, resistant to corrosion, and heat resistant?
Stainless steel
Name one difference and one similarity of the characteristics of carbon and graphite?
Difference: Carbon forms at ~1315°C; graphite forms at ~1900°C. Carbon forms long strings.
Similarity: Both have high compressive strength and stiffness.
What are the altitudes of LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits
LEO: up to 1,000 km
MEO: 1,000 km to 35,000 km
GEO: 35,000 km and higher
What program followed the success of Alouette?
ISIS program
What are two properties of robots that make them desirable for certain aerospace-related jobs?
They never get tired, endure harsh conditions, operate in airless environments, don't get bored, and cannot be distracted