Spacecraft structure

Article By:

Haile, William Formerly, ATK Aerospace Systems Group, Spacecraft Systems and Services, Beltsville, Maryland.

Weinberger, Peter S. Spacecraft Systems and Services Group, ATK Aerospace Systems Group, Beltsville, Maryland.

Koont, Cengiz ATK Aerospace Systems Group, Spacecraft Systems and Services, Mechanical Engineering, Beltsville, Maryland.

Young, Daniel ATK Aerospace Systems Group, Spacecraft Systems and Services, Mechanical Engineering, Beltsville, Maryland.

Last reviewed:June 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.640100

The supporting structure for systems capable of leaving the Earth and its atmosphere to perform missions such as Earth observation, meteorology, planetary exploration, communications, or transportation and sometimes returning to the Earth and sometimes landing on other bodies. Among the principal technologies that enter into the design of spacecraft structures are aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, heat transfer, structural mechanics, structural dynamics, materials technology, and systems analysis. In applying these technologies to the structural design of a spacecraft, trade studies are made to arrive at a design that fulfills system requirements at a minimum weight with acceptable reliability and that is capable of being realized in a reasonable period of time.

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