Innovations in space travel have come a long way in recent years. Space travel has now reached a point where civilians can take a ride to the edge of the atmosphere and experience the life of an astronaut for a few minutes. The James Webb Telescope has sent us sharper images of space than we’ve ever seen before. There are five times as many satellites above our heads today than there were in 2010.
With all of these innovations comes a demand for mechanical parts and protective shielding parts that can withstand the pressures of travel to space. Companies like Mueller pride themselves on producing the highest-grade vacuum metalized parts for the space travel industry. In the coming years, there will continue to be a demand for these kinds of parts for a wide range of uses.
The Latest Innovations in Space Travel
Civilian Flights Into Space
Companies like Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic have started transporting clients to the edge of space. These trips last just a few minutes outside the atmosphere, providing a feeling of weightlessness like astronauts. While the trips may be short, high-paying customers find the experience worth every penny.
The long-term plan for these companies and others is to make civilian space travel a reality. In the near future, we could see the development of a new area of the travel industry, sending customers to the edge of space or beyond for days-long vacations. This will require many devices and tools to be created for use on these trips, and manufacturers will need high-grade parts that can handle the extremes of space.
The James Webb Telescope
Launched on Christmas day in 2021, the James Webb telescope is the newest and most powerful telescope ever sent into space. Replacing the Hubble telescope in visual quality, scientists hope the James Webb telescope will produce the best images of space we’ve ever seen for the next 20+ years.
A telescope that will operate for the next two decades requires parts that can withstand the pressure, heat, and cold of space. Manufacturers were called upon to produce incredibly durable parts to ensure that the James Webb telescope would be able to handle the elements. Future telescopes and similar systems will need high-grade parts as well.
The Future of the International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) was launched in 1998 and is managed by the space programs of the USA, Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada. Now over two decades old, there are plans for the decommissioning of the ISS and the development of its replacement.
While nothing is official yet, the ISS will either be greatly revamped or replaced completely. The space programs that manage the ISS will need specialty parts that are able to handle decades of life at the edge of space without failing. Manufacturers of these parts will need to know how to create and test these parts to ensure their quality.
The Increasing Number of Satellites
In 2010, there were an estimated 1,000 satellites orbiting the Earth. Today, the estimate is closer to 5,000. These numbers are only going to rise with the addition of new aerospace companies and telecommunications businesses that seek to deliver service around the globe. There are even some companies that want to deliver high-speed Wi-Fi internet access across the Earth through satellites.
With the rising number of satellites in the sky, manufacturers will be called upon to create durable parts that will last for years. The companies that provide devices and parts that can withstand the heat, cold, and pressure of space will be able to partner with these companies for years to come.
Mueller Creates Durable Parts for the Aerospace Industry
At Mueller, we work hard to constantly innovate new products to match the needs of the industries we serve. As the aerospace industry continues to innovate, so do we.
We use the newest tools and systems to carefully coat our parts with metals such as nickel, copper, stainless steel, chrome, and silver. We use a vacuum metalizing technique that guarantees an even coating across every inch of our products. We also have testing facilities where we put our products through extreme cold, extreme hot, and high-pressure scenarios.
Our goal is to always provide customers with the best possible parts for their products. As the demand for aerospace innovation continues, Mueller is ready to provide the necessary parts for devices that will be needed throughout the industry.
