Composite Material Definition

According to NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use, composite materials are defined as:

"Structural materials of metals, ceramics, or plastics with built-in strengthening agents which may be in the form of filaments, foils, powders, or flakes of a different compatible material."

NASA's interest in composite materials is as follows:

Exhaustive Interest : Physical and mechanical properties, production, handling, testing, and evaluation of composite materials for use in aircraft, rockets, launch vehicles, space vehicles, reentry vehicles, aircraft and spacecraft propulsion systems, and supporting facilities.

Selective Interest : Research and development on composite materials having potential aerospace applications.

Negative Interest : Routine developments of structural composite materials for use in housing, heavy industry, and earthbound transportation, unless a potential exists for aerospace use.

That right, NASA is not interested in composite materials used in "eathbound transportation..." Who knew? Perhaps they would be interested in a $150 edge-of-space camera?

Source: nasa.gov

Photo Credit: NASA Aug 2007