Course Contents In this course a number of space missions (for example Vikings, Opportunity, Perseverance, ISS, Hubble telescope, James
Webb telescope, lightsail-2, Neowise, solar cruiser) will be presented as a carrier for material selection analysis.
Current material choice will be analysed and material designing principles will be explained. The concept of reverse material
engineering for metals, polymers and inorganic materials will be demonstrated in a series of lectures. In sessions of "case study",
The students will be trained to translate desired properties into material structures and microstructures and to think about suitable
material production processes to realize these properties.
Students are encouraged to propose alternative materials and reason for their choices. The structure of the lectures will be
tailored to maximize the student involvement. Students are expected to participate at least 12/14 lectures to have permission to
the final exam.
The course contains the following topics:
week 1: Mars exploration history from Missions to Materials; Material degradation in space - thermal cycling and vacuum
week 2: Material degradation in space - meteoroids and orbital debris; case study
week 3: Material degradation in space - UV, AO; Material degradation in space - space radiation
week 4: Materials testing for space applications (ESA guest speaker); case study
week 5: Materials for extreme missions (ESA guest speaker); Space mission energy supply and in-situ resource utilization;
week 6: Materials challenge in future space age (ESA guest speaker); case study/oral presentation
week 7: Oral presentations
week 8: Study period (Q and A)
week 9: exam week
Study Goals By the end of the course, you should be able to:
°LO1: Identify space environmental conditions and common materials used for space.
°LO2: Explain material degradation mechanisms in materials under space conditions such as radiation, vacuum, thermal
fluctuation etc.
°LO3: Evaluate or analyse material selection in space-related situations through reverse materials engineering
