Aerospace Industry

Abstract

This chapter aims to introduce some of the specific bonding-related issues that face those responsible for bonding operations in space applications: extremely high mechanical loads over a short time, with the launcher and its payloads subjected to gravity magnified by about 20, followed by exposure to extremely high temperatures over a very long period, with the observation and telecom satellites under zero gravity. To design for such oxymoronic specifications and to select materials, such as the adhesives, is just the first in a series of challenges. To perform tests on Earth reproducing space-like environments whilst subject to terrestrial gravity is the second, and not the least significant. This chapter is intended to be an introduction to the issues which have to be connected together in the case of spatial bonding from the bottom, on Earth, upward, to Space.

Keywords Antenna - Ariane - atmospheric reentry - carbon fiber - composite - cryogenic temperature