• Question: what metal is used to build space stations?

    Asked by spazzcrumb to Adam, Geoff, Rob, Sheila, Suzie on 16 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sheila Kanani

      Sheila Kanani answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      I’m pretty sure it is aluminium but I don’t know for certain. Maybe you could use websites like this one:
      http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/onthestation/facts_and_figures.html
      to help you find out.
      If you do find out please let me know! 🙂

    • Photo: Adam Tuff

      Adam Tuff answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      A good question, because I don’t actually know! I would guess two metals though, as they are used in spaceship construction – one is aluminium – it’s a fairly strong metal, and most importantly it is light – this makes it easier to take pieces of it up in rockets and on the space shuttle. The other metal is titanium – which is used as it is very strong and durable.

    • Photo: Suzie Sheehy

      Suzie Sheehy answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      Good question because I don’t immediately know the answer! I imagine you’d want to build it of something like aluminium so that it’s light to carry up there, but you’d probably need lots of insulation and possibly something like a titanium coating for strength.
      That’s just a guess though, and a quick search online didn’t give me much info! Maybe one of the other scientists knows?

    • Photo: Geoff McBride

      Geoff McBride answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Many different materials are used but weight is important as it cost fuel to get it all into orbit. I met a scientist yesterday that is working on an inflatable space station.

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