Mankind has been exploring space for many decades. However, we have only just opened the cosmic door slightly. One reason for this is that the universe is full of cosmic background radiation consisting of protons and alpha particles and being extremely energy intensive. In addition to the radiation, extreme temperatures of down to minus 270 degrees Celsius make research in space difficult. For comparison: the lowest temperature ever measured on Earth is minus 93 degrees Celsius. All these circumstances make space a deadly danger for us humans from which we on Earth are protected by the atmosphere. Cosmic radiation and icy temperatures strain research satellites and their equipment. The material these instruments are made of can only withstand this for a certain amount of time before it becomes brittle. Exchanging parts is of course not as easy as here on earth making the longevity of the materials used crucial.
Our contribution: fused silica and amorphous metals
Depending on the intended use, sometimes amorphous metals, sometimes fused silica is suitable. Due to their properties these materials are particularly resistant to the extreme environmental conditions in space.
