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Fly To Mars In A Plastic Ship

Posted by Zonk on from the wouldn't-go-any-other-way dept.

saskboy writes "NASA reports that an old polymer may be the spaceship material of the future. Polyethylene is in household garbage bags, and it is also an effective solar radiation shield. I learned three years ago in astronomy class that polyethylene is used in the sleeping quarters on current orbiting space vehicles, but now NASA has developed a way to toughen the polymer into a product they call RXF1 which is 'even stronger and lighter than aluminum'. As you may know, radiation in space is currently a major obstacle to manned missions outside of the Earth's magnetic field, so better radiation shielding is essential to planned manned missions to Mars and beyond. Get the mp3 podcast of the article here."

7 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Plastic aluminum? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    but now NASA has developed a way to toughen the polymer into a product they call RXF1 which is 'even stronger and lighter than aluminum'.

    Is it transparent?? Plastic usually is/can be. Perhaps this is what they really meant by transparent aluminum. We should really make sure none of this time's whales have been recently stolen!

    Why, no I didn't read tfa.

  2. I want to say one word to you. Just one word. by Mr.G5 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Plastics.

  3. ...and when the mission is over by tinrobot · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can toss your spaceship in the blue bin for curbside recycling!

  4. a new fashion by igny · · Score: 5, Funny

    NASA has developed a way to toughen the polymer into a product they call RXF1 which is 'even stronger and lighter than aluminum'.

    Yeah, and polyester hats should be much more fashionable than the tin foil ones.

    --
    In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. - Yogi Berra
  5. I beg your pardon. by reality-bytes · · Score: 3, Funny

     
    it's an audio file with the intent of being news listened to on a portable audio device


    Sorry to bring you up there, but my system weighs around 40kg now with the fluid cooling and it's anything but portable; even If I could work off with it, It'd rip the IEC out of the UPS after 4 feet.
    --
    Ripping an new rectum in the fabric of spacetime.
  6. Plastic Kits by MrSteveSD · · Score: 3, Funny

    Actually this is going to make spacecraft a lot cheaper. NASA will be producing future vessels in kit form with components attached to a large plastic framework. Construction will be a simple matter of twisting off the right parts and gluing them in place.

  7. Coming soon to a pair of scissors near you by EEBaum · · Score: 3, Funny

    As frequently happens with NASA tech, I expect this will make its way into the private sector.

    How long will it be until they're packaging our scissors, walkmans, and USB hubs in this stuff? You thought those packages are hard to open NOW!

    --
    -- I prefer the term "karma escort."