Predicting the Lifespan of Materials in Space
Kim de Groh with the MISSE-9 samples.
Media Credit: NASA
It is vital for scientists to understand exactly how long a material will last in outer space. Knowing this information allows engineers to build longer-lasting vehicles for spaceflight. The upcoming SpaceX resupply mission will launch 138 different material samples to the International Space Station to be part of the first mission to use the space station’s new external materials testing platform, the the ISSInternational Space Station National Lab-sponsored MISSE-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF).