ABSTRACT
The AIAA reported on the state of space technology in SPACE 2000-2020. New and more advanced polymer composites having lighter, stronger, more dimensionally stable, and stiffer properties were predicted as being needed to develop space platforms to exploit the solar system [1]. Although international space station programmes have been delayed due to worldwide economic problems, there have been many technically notable successes, such as on board satellite repair technology, planetary exploration using space vehicles such as the US Mars pathfinder, deployment of large space structures, and the development of application satellites. During this period, graphite/epoxy carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite (CFRP), which is an advanced polymer composite, has been developed actively and used in spacecraft primary structures. It is still almost the only suitable material for these primary structures. High temperature matrix resins such as addition-type polyimides and high temperature thermoplastic resins are under development (see chapters 13 and 15), but are not yet familiar in space [2].
