Materials challenges for space exploration

Content

• 

  Across the Universe

  Highly sophisticated materials properties and engineering efforts are crucial for the success of missions for space exploration and settlement.

  Editorial24 Sep 2018 Nature Materials
• 

  Materials for space exploration and settlement

  Space missions require materials that can preserve functional integrity under extreme conditions of heat, impact and radiation. This Comment outlines the materials properties needed for some of the most ambitious space missions and presents the design and testing principles before their incorporation.

  • Tommaso Ghidini

  Comment24 Sep 2018 Nature Materials
• 

  Materials challenges for the Starshot lightsail

  This Perspective explores the optical, mechanical and thermal properties required to successfully design an ultralight spacecraft that can reach Proxima Centauri b, which is the goal of the Starshot Breakthrough Initiative.

  • Harry A. Atwater
  • Artur R. Davoyan
  • Joeson Wong

  Perspective7 May 2018 Nature Materials