Aerospace

Ever since the launch of Sputnik a half century ago, aluminum has been the material of choice for space structures of all types: satellites, sounding rockets, space probes, and launch vehicles. Chosen for its light weight and its ability to withstand the stresses that occur during launch and operation in space, aluminum has been specified in space applications as divergent as the Apollo missions, Skylab, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station.

Special high-strength alloys have been developed over the years to cope with the strains placed upon the metal both during launch and while in orbit. An aluminum-beryllium alloy is used in some communications satellites, and an aluminum-beryllium alloy may be used to strengthen primary rings and brackets in spacecraft. These alloys consist of physical and mechanical properties that exceed those of standard aluminum alloys in such areas as mechanical stability, dampening, thermal management and reduced weight.