The new Vega satellite launcher, which recently completed its maiden flight for the European Space Agency (ESA), is the first in what's expected to be a new class of launch vehicles with carbon-fiber composite shells. The Vega is designed to be a compact tool for economic launches into polar and low-Earth orbits for the multiple European satellites used for scientific and earth observation missions.
Design engineers are applying carbon-fiber reinforced (CFR) composites to satellite launch vehicles for the same reason they're using this material in cars, planes, and wind turbines: a higher strength-to-weight ratio than metals. That means you can make a large object lighter or a small one stronger. In the case of launch vehicles, keeping the vehicle small and making it stronger as satellites get bigger is the primary gain.
On Feb. 13, the first Vega satellite launcher, incorporating carbon-fiber composites, began its maiden flight from the Guiana Space Centre. (Source: S. Corvaja/European Space Agency)
The launcher was designed and developed in Italy by the Avio Group, the program's prime contractor. Unlike most other small satellite launchers, the Vega can send multiple payloads into orbit on a single trip. It will transport mainly lower-cost satellites weighing 300-2,500kg and is expected to ease the strain on the rest of the satellite infrastructure, which serves larger, more costly satellite launches.
"Vega is the first launcher that is entirely made of carbon fiber [composites], with advanced digital controls and high configuration flexibility that make it capable of launching satellites of different sizes and functionalities in the same mission," Francesco Caio, Avio's CEO, said in a press release.
Thanks, Dave, for all that info on potential dangers of composites, as well as the info about the lack of dangers in some cases. I agree, the unintended consequences of a new technology must be carefully considered before its implementation.
@3drob: You're right about carbon fibers causing a skin rash. It's not particularly serious from a medical perspective, but apparently it can cause a world of discomfort.
You're also absolutely right that it's important to consider all kinds of possibilities when evaluating a new technology.
Believe it or not, NASA actually did a study regarding the possibility of damage to electrical and electronic equipment resulting from the crashing of commercial airliners with carbon-fiber reinforced parts. Carbon fibers are electrically conductive, so presumably if they are released in the atmosphere after a crash, they could get into ground-based electronics and cause shorts. NASA did a fairly detailed analysis and concluded that this was very unlikely.
A lot of work has also been done on how carbon-fiber reinforced composites break up during atmospheric re-entry. This is actually something that's fairly well understood, since one use for carbon-fiber reinforced composites is as ablative barriers (where the break-up of the composite protects a capsule on re-entry).
Dave Palmer answered my question about inhalation dangers. I've heard from people that work with it that while fiberglass fibers work their way out of your skin, carbon fibers tend to work back into the skin (so the disintigration in atmosphere could be a source of polution).
My other question was centered on the idea that objects constructed of carbon fiber are fundamentally more durable than those constructed of standard materials. The assumption with a booster is that it will disintigrate on use (unlike prior applications like planes, well, at least hopefully planes). If so, they may not disintigrate as assumed and could become a hazard to earth bound objects (myself included). Even if they disintigrate, they may not become small enough pieces to be harmless. How durable are carbon fiber materials?
It wouldn't be the first time some game changing technology was introduced by Engineers who didn't re-examine long held prior assumptions.
@3drob: Inhalation of carbon fibers is not really all that dangerous, at least as far as inhalation of foreign substances goes. (When it comes to carbon nanotubes, it may be a different story). At any rate, the airborne concentration of carbon fibers produced by re-entry of a launch vehicle is likely to be extremely small -- the earth's atmosphere is really big, and fibers are likely to be widely dispersed by the time they reach ground level. Inhalation hazards are more of a concern for people working in composites manufacturing, where it is important to have adequate personal protective equipment.
3drob, if by airborne you mean more or less in flight, then no--CFR composites have been used in aircraft for several decades, including military aircraft:
Chuck, composites have been used in launchers before, but not for the entire shell. The reasons for their use are basically the same ones as in other aerospace apps: light weight and toughness. CFR composites just keep getting stronger. Here's some info from Hexcel:
TJ, those are interesting questions. I didn't find a lot of technical detail about the design. However, there's some info at this link (even though it's called a press kit):
Do these materials pose a risk once made airborn? Carbon fibers are certainly more dangerous than other materials (biologically) so if they atomize they may cause issues.
But even as a bulk material, will carbon fibers simply burn up or remain as a large object falling to earth and pose a blunt object risk?
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