Aeronautics & Space

MTC video: How glass–ceramic products can be machined, polished

By / September 21, 2012

I’ve known for some time that glass–ceramic products can be machined, but I actually have never seen it done, so seeing that process and what tools have to be used,…

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Innovative ice management for aircraft with advanced materials

By Eileen De Guire / September 4, 2012

Ice is managed on aircraft by either preventing it or getting rid of it. One way of removing ice from wings while flying is with rubber de-icing boots. When they…

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Nextel ceramic fabric stars in recent International Space Station walk

By / August 27, 2012

Stuffed Whipple shield schematic. Credit: NASA. It didn’t get much attention (unless one is an International Space Station or NASA TV junkie) when a fairly significant event for the ceramics world occurred…

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The who, what and how of staying ahead of an economic downturn

By Eileen De Guire / August 22, 2012

A packed plenary session from last year’s MS&T. This year’s conference focuses on the latest materials science and engineering—all part of gaining and keeping the competitive edge in tough economic…

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Midweek news roundup

By Eileen De Guire / August 22, 2012

Some pretty cool stuff is going on out there… MIT ‘microthrusters’ are the size of a penny, could reposition tiny satellites Bus-sized satellites require massive engines for even the slightest…

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New flexible and stronger aerogel expected to open new applications for super-insulator

By / August 19, 2012

Newly developed flexible aerogels are 500 times stronger than earlier versions and can be used in everything from clothing insulation to building insulation. Credit: NASA. A NASA scientist has just…

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Video: Pulsed laser method removes paint, grease and crud from surfaces

By Eileen De Guire / August 16, 2012

A closed-loop, real-time sensor ensures that only the paint is stripped off the workpiece by a pulsed laser. Credit: GLC; You Tube. Lasers were invented in the 1960s (by whom…

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Other materials science stories that may be of interest

By / August 14, 2012

Lots of interesting work happening out there: Making “renewable” viable: Drexel engineers develop new technology for grid-level electrical energy storage A team of researchers from Drexel University’s College of Engineering…

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Back to the heavens: Sally Ride, 1951–2012

By Eileen De Guire / July 24, 2012

Sally Ride on board the space shuttle Challenger in 1983. Ride, who was the first female astronaut, died yesterday at age 61. Credit: Wikimedia. Sally Ride changed the world for…

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ICC4 Day 2

By Lee Leonard / July 17, 2012

A large crowd listened to three presentations on Monday morning’s ICC4 Plenary Session I. Credit: Russell Lee Leonard, ACerS. Monday was the second day of the 4th International Congress on…

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