38/2023: Spacecraft Materials with ionic and Covalent bondings

 Get ready to put on your lab coats and safety goggles, because we're about to embark on a thrilling adventure into the fascinating world of materials science! As budding with JPL Egineers, you'll be working hand-in-hand with us to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing space exploration today. Imagine building a rover that can withstand the blistering heat and crushing atmospheric pressure of Venus, a planet where the surface temperature can soar up to a scorching 460°C! Or how about designing a spacecraft that can navigate the icy terrain of a frozen planet, or even dive deep into the murky depths of an alien ocean? The possibilities are endless, but the key to unlocking these challenges lies in the science of materials.

As materials Engineers of JPL, you'll be delving into the properties of different metals and alloys, exploring their behavior under extreme conditions and finding ways to optimize their performance in space. You'll need to think creatively, drawing on your knowledge of chemistry to find the right combination of elements that can withstand the harsh realities of the cosmos.

The material used in spacecraft is a crucial component that must be taken into account since it must be appropriate for the mission's objectives and destinations. A crucial area of chemistry for us, is the study of how materials respond to chemicals or other situations. Because aluminum is lightweight and inexpensive, the New Horizons spacecraft needed less fuel to launch into orbit.

Titanium was utilized extensively in the suspension system of the Mars Curiosity rover because it is durable and radiation-resistant. The Juno spacecraft's science equipment were shielded from Jupiter's strong radiation by the use of titanium. As seen by rust on a vehicle or bicycle, which occurs when iron oxidizes to generate iron oxide, metals can be very reactive to other substances or conditions. Planning the suitable material for the spaceship requires knowledge of the chemicals that will be present at the destination.

And the best part? You'll be working alongside with us who are at the forefront of space exploration, gaining invaluable insights into the cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of space travel. You'll be able to ask questions, share your ideas, and get hands-on experience with the very materials that could one day make space exploration a reality. So get ready to dive into the exciting world of materials science, and join us for a day in the lab that you'll never forget!

Throughout the lab, students should be wearing gloves and safety eyewear. Before students use the aluminum sample, it may be beneficial to quickly polish it using steel wool or a brush. Because that aluminum is a rather reactive metal, this is done to remove any aluminum oxide that accumulates on the surface (but still safe to handle).

Be prepared to correct students' misunderstandings while they are being observed. On the surface of the metal samples, the copper that has been reacted out of the blue copper (II) solution appears as brown elemental copper. Students can believe that their metal samples are rusting as a result of this. This is a chance to talk about and make it clear that rust is iron oxide, which is absent from our chemical process.

When building a satellite or rover for Venus, it is important to choose metals that are less reactive with sulfuric acid and avoid those that are highly reactive. This includes platinum, gold, and tantalum. However, building spacecraft entirely out of unreactive metals can be difficult or expensive, and other factors, such as cost, weight, and melting point, may also come into play. To incorporate more reactive metals into a design without having to worry about the spacecraft dissolving, coat them with a layer of a less reactive metal. This would allow for a wider range of metals to be used in the spacecraft's design, without sacrificing the mission's success. For example, Platinum is very inert, making it a great material for the electronic parts of the spaceship. It may not be practicable to use it for structural components because it is also quite pricey. Another inert metal, gold, is equally pricey but has a low melting point, making it appropriate for soldering. Another excellent material for structural components is tantalum, which has a high melting point and is comparatively unreactive. It might not be the ideal option for components that need to be lightweight, though, as it is also very hefty.

The clouds on Venus contain droplets of sulfuric acid (H2SO4). If we were building a satellite or a rover that would travel to Venus, which metals should we use? Which ones should we avoid? Explain your reasoning below. Acids are listed as Hydro on the activity series. So, any metal higher in the activity series will react with the acid, harming our car. The best options would be copper, silver, or gold. Iron and aluminum would not be sensible metal choices.

Remind that rusting is not the same as the single replacement response they are seeing, as was explained above. One metal enters and one metal exits the latter. In the former, when the two come together, the metal interacts (in this example with oxygen) to create a new compound.

A test tube containing 20mL of water 

A test tube containing 20mL of water plus a tablespoon of table salt 

A test tube containing 20mL of hydrogen peroxide 

A test tube containing 20mL of hydrogen peroxide plus a tablespoon of table salt

Educator Guide: Spacecraft Materials and the Chemistry of Space Exploration | NASA/JPL Edu