European Researchers Develop Self-Healing Composite Material for Spacecraft

Researchers from CompPair and the European Space Agency have developed a new composite material for spacecraft with an embedded healing agent.

European Space Agency, Paris, France

Healable spacecraft structures could soon be possible thanks to cutting-edge composite technology. Swiss companies CompPair and CSEM, and Belgian company Com&Sens have partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA) to modify their self-healing carbon fiber product for use in space transportation.

Project Cassandra - an abbreviation for Composite Autonomous Sensing and Repair - includes sensors and a heating element within a composite carbon-fiber material, allowing spacecraft to autonomously repair initial stages of damage.