• Question: Camilla what is the most used metal in rockets?

    Asked by 961spcc25 to Camilla on 24 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Camilla Weiss

      Camilla Weiss answered on 24 Jun 2015:


      It’s really hard to get to space – it takes a lot of energy to fight Earth’s gravity so this means rockets need to be as light as possible, but they also need to be really strong so that they don’t break up in the atmosphere. Most rockets are made from a strong but light metal, like aluminium or titanium. Also rocket fuel often used powdered aluminium to give it more of a kick. Our satellites are the same – we have to use a metal which is both strong and light so we make most of the satellite from aluminium. We also use other materials like carbon composites to build parts because this is again very strong and light.

Comments