Aeronautics & Space

Video: Launch into testing—Lamborghini sends carbon fiber samples to International Space Station

By Lisa McDonald / November 6, 2019

On November 2, Lamborghini sent carbon fiber composite samples to the International Space Station to test the effects of extreme space conditions on composite materials. The project is part of a collaboration with the Houston Methodist Research Institute to research biocompatibility of composite materials.

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Video: World’s largest optical lens moves toward completion

By Lisa McDonald / October 23, 2019

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, targeted to begin operations in October 2022, is currently under construction in Chile. Funded through the National Science Foundation, LSST will contain both the largest convex mirror and largest optical lens ever made.

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Video: 120-year-old solar eclipse caught on film

By Lisa McDonald / June 26, 2019

The one and only total solar eclipse of 2019 takes place on July 2. To prepare for the occasion, take a look at the oldest surviving footage of a solar eclipse from 1900.

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Video: First five-seater air taxi takes flight

By Lisa McDonald / June 5, 2019

If flying cars are to be sustainably integrated into society, they need to hold multiple passengers. Air taxi startup Lilium GmbH recently conducted a first test flight with its five-seater jet.

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No more inert atmospheres—Molten salt synthesis prevents oxidation of materials in air

By Lisa McDonald / April 19, 2019

Nonoxide ceramics typically undergo high-temperature synthesis in an inert atmosphere to prevent spontaneous oxidation. Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich have now found that potassium bromide keeps nonoxide ceramics from oxidizing when synthesized in normal air.

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Video: How to image a black hole’s “shadow”

By Lisa McDonald / April 17, 2019

The first image of a black hole was publicly released on April 10. How did a team of over 200 researchers pull off such a feat?

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Vacuum plasma spraying: A different way to apply UHTC coatings

By Lisa McDonald / April 5, 2019

Ultra-high temperature ceramic coatings are conventionally applied to composites using chemical vapor deposition. In a recent study, researchers from Korea experimented with applying UHTC coatings using a vacuum plasma spray process instead.

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Ceramics in the skies! Materials for aerospace plus more inside April 2019 ACerS Bulletin

By Lisa McDonald / March 21, 2019

The April 2019 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring four articles looking at ceramics for aerospace, particularly ceramic matrix composites—is now available online.

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Video: ‘Tires as propellers’ for flying cars is a neat concept—but (probably) not possible

By Lisa McDonald / March 13, 2019

Goodyear released a concept design for AERO, a two-in-one airless tire that serves as both tire and propeller in future flying cars. Though realizing such a design may not be possible, it can trigger discussion about future directions for technology development.

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An easier way to measure out-of-plane resistivity in ceramic matrix composites

By Jonathon Foreman / March 8, 2019

Researchers from the United States and Germany developed a method for determining both in-plane and out-of-plane resistivity simultaneously, making it easier to check for damage in ceramic matrix composites.

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