Abstract:
Extreme aerospace environments such as aerodynamic heating, corrosive and caustic damage, high thermal extremes and cycles, abrasive lunar dust, impacts from micrometeoroids and space debris, space radiation, extreme vacuum, microgravity, thrust plume ejecta, and their synergistically adverse effects make the advancement in aerospace vehicle technology and space exploration extremely challenging. Exceedingly robust and advanced materials and structures are needed to protect crew and equipment, extending the aeronautical performance and space missions longer and safer with minimal service and repair needs. Recent progress at NASA on advanced multifunctional structural materials will be highlighted, including boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) and BNNT composites, bio-based sustainable aircraft composites, radiation shielding materials, solar sail materials, and wear-resistant materials.
Bio:
Cheol Park is a Senior Researcher in Advanced Materials and Processing Branch at NASA Langley Research Center, USA. Their research activities include synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes/carbon nanotubes and development of multifunctional nanocomposites for extreme space environments. Expertise in nanotube dispersion, sensing/actuation/electrical properties of nanocomposites, solar absorption/thermal emission materials, supercritical fluid infusion, chiral polymer metamaterials, radiation shielding materials, lunar dust mitigation materials, and thermal protection systems.