Composite molding compound replaces Invar for lightweight small satellite structures.

The article discusses the increasing demand in the space industry for lightweight small satellite structures, citing a shift from building one satellite per month to hundreds. Patz Materials & Technologies, in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, has developed a carbon fiber/epoxy molding compound to replace heavy Invar, reducing weight and enhancing performance for small satellite optics housings.