Minimum‐gage, maximum‐stiffness graphite/thermoplastic spacecraft structures

Advanced thermoplastic matrix composite materials have been studied for use in aircraft applications since about 1980. This Strategic Defense Initiative Organization/Air Force project was initiated in 1987 to study the suitability of this class of materials for use in spacecraft applications. This paper will report on the following work in progress: development of ultrahigh-modulus, pitch-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites; development of thin-ply graphite/thermoplastic materials for gage-limited spacecraft applications; and producibility demonstrations for generic spacecraft structures including open frames and T and L members, circular and square-tube truss configurations, and stiffened-skin modules.