Materials Selection and Process

The Materials Science engineering group at KSC brings expertise that spans several decades -- from NASA’s Gemini program to commercial customers of today.  The team provides unique solutions to a multitude of problems associated with flight hardware and ground equipment for all customers, including:

• Materials test and evaluation
• Materials and processes engineering design and consultation
• Advanced Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE)
• Failure Analysis

Materials Science engineering is supplemented by several test laboratories including Materials Selection laboratories, Failure Analysis laboratories (mechanical and electrical), and NDE laboratories, which provide the following support:

• Materials Science Lab laboratories provide rapid response testing of materials including:
  • M&P evaluation, assessment, and selection for design/development and operations for metals, nonmetals & composite materials
  • Selection for design & manufacturing (metallic/nonmetallic materials, welding, coatings, corrosion control and composites)
  • Oxygen compatibility assessment
  • Ongoing research in advanced NDE techniques, composites, corrosion coatings, refractory concrete, self-healing materials

• Failure analysis laboratories provide:
  • Root cause determination of in-flight and ground issues and development of mitigation plans and processes
  • Support for mishap investigations for NASA and commercial companies