The secret to protecting next-gen spacecraft might be eggshells
like walking on eggshells
3D-printed aluminum eggshell arrays filled with water proved more effective at impact resistance.
Credit: Wang et al., 2026
In 2007, a piece of space debris punched a bullet-like hole through the radiator panel of the US space shuttle Endeavor. The shuttle program ended in 2011, but the space debris problem has only intensified as we launch more and more satellite constellations, telescopes, and spacecraft into orbit. That’s why Chinese scientists have devised a new aluminum material inspired by eggshells that they believe could offer enhanced protection against debris fragments, according to a new paper published in the Journal of Applied Physics.
Eggshells have long fascinated scientists because of their mechanical properties. For instance, it’s well known that cracking an egg requires applying just enough force to the center to achieve a clean break without completely shattering the shell. In 2012, MIT...
Copyright of this story solely belongs to arstechnica.com. To see the full text click HERE
