Space shuttle launch as we know it today would not be possible without the use of steel, both in the shuttle and rockets themselves as well as in the space centre and launching pad. Space shuttle missions began in 1977 with the launch of the first Enterprise flight, and more flights are being planned for the future in 2010. The main reason why it has taken humanity so long to get into space is because of the technological and industrial requirements that are needed to launch a ship into orbit. Part of the makeup of the space aviation field is the steel that is built into the shuttles and also makes up the rotating structure where the shuttles sit at Kennedy Space centre in Florida. Steel is used in space shuttle construction along with aluminium, titanium and other high grade materials.
The Space Shuttle is officially known as the Space Transportation System (STS), and is a term used to define the three main components of a space shuttle mission. An external tank is the first component, the double rockets boosters are the second and the orbiter or actual spaceplane makes up the third part. The orbiter is often referred to by itself as the spaceshuttle, however all three parts are absolutely essential for a launch to take place. There are many sections on the space shuttle where high-grade steel (Edelstahlrohr) elements are used to great effect, along with other specialised materials. There are a number of different space shuttle designs which have developed since the 1950s, but all follow this basic framework of having three distinct sections.
The US air force has developed a number of different options all based around the concept of a reusable manned space plane that can glide back to earth. One of the best known programs of this type was called Dynasour (short for Dynamic Soaring) which included an expendable launch vehicle alongside the rockets that are necessary for take off. The orbiter part of the space shuttle design was where the astronauts would be during the mission, and a crew of seven people in space for a period of seven days was what was designed for. One of the main concerns for this type of design was related to how this orbiter would re-enter the atmosphere. At first a number of metal and steel plates were used to protect the vehicle and the astronauts from the high temperature heat of re-entry. Later developments of the space shuttle however, have seen the use of high tech aluminium along side thermal tiles and blankets.
The science of materials is a very important part of our everyday life, from the construction of the little things such as Butt Weld Fittings (Schweissfittings) and screw heads to the big things such as space shuttle design and development. Helicopters, airplanes and space shuttles all depend on steel for their construction, and in any of these situations – no other substance is good enough. One part of the space shuttle that uses steel is the solid rocket booster cases, each one about 1.3 cm thick of high grade steel. Although steel is a very durable substance that is used primarily for its strength properties, there are issues in relation to metal fatigue in the space shuttle designs. Some new high tech materials are replacing steel as more becomes known about metal fatigue under these high pressure and temperature conditions.
When launching a space shuttle, years of preparation work has gone into the design of both the shuttle itself and the launching facility. The use of steel materials and components in both of these designs is essential for any space mission to take place. As the industrial revolution has changed life on earth due to the introduction of important infrastructures and new building designs, the use of industrial steel has also changed the way that we view the heavens. With continual design and development opportunities, the sky is no longer the limit.