Predicting how materials survive the harsh vacuum of outer space
In short: NASA's Glenn Research Center hosts experts like Fransua Thomas who study the science of friction and wear. This video explores how engineers test material lifespans to ensure spacecraft components don't fail in extreme environments.
At NASA Glenn, Fransua Thomas is employed by the mechanical components and tribology division. The field of tribology focuses on examining friction, wear, and lubrication. By performing failure analysis tests on various surfaces and materials, Thomas helps determine how they interact with one another and calculates their potential lifespan in space environments.
These critical tests are supported by world-class facilities, including vacuum chambers and drop towers at the Lewis Field campus near Cleveland. Additionally, the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, provides 6,700 acres of space for some of the world's largest space simulation tests used by both domestic and international aeronautics communities.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Fransua Thomas -- Glenn Research Center
- Also: Glenn Research Center - NASA
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