In 1997, the Lockheed Martin Corporation introduced National Space Day as a one-off event, and it was later expanded to International Space Day in 2001 due to its extreme popularity. Former astronaut and senator, John Glenn, championed the space day expansion into today’s International Space Day to inspire the pursuit of knowledge and progress in space. On the first Friday in May each year, scientists, astronomers, astronauts, science buffs, and the like observe this space day and celebrate its mysteries and beyond. There is plenty to discuss and everyone can benefit from learning about the planets, stars, space travel, and rocket ships.
Space Travel Today
For more than 21 years, humans have continuously lived and worked aboard NASA’s International Space Station (ISS), advancing scientific knowledge, and demonstrating new technologies that enable us to prepare for human exploration to the Moon and Mars. The station’s design requires humans living aboard to maintain it, operate it, and upgrade it; thus, International Space Station operations, resupply, and crew, are essential to the mission. Regular commercial crew rotation missions enable NASA to continue the important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the station. Such research lays the groundwork for future exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. SpaceX Crew-4 mission with Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, recently docked on the ISS after 17 hours of space travel on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, securing efforts to restore and maintain American leadership in human spaceflight. The astronauts will spend the next six months conducting scientific research and investigations. With these amazing feats of science, generations to come will have access to the great beyond of space in highly engineered shuttles and rockets of varying models and components.
Every Piece Matters
The national aerospace industry and the subsequent private commercial space travel markets require superior products that solve the growing need for improved safety, noise reduction, vibration damping, air and dust sealing, and chilled pipe insulating in space. Our wide range of foam solutions help provide safety and answers to the challenges of space travel. Our ArmaFlex® pipe insulation is actually used on the AC cooling lines in Destiny, the U.S. Laboratory attached to the ISS, to prevent sweating or freezing in space.
We are continuously working to improve our products and foam formulations so we can meet the changing needs of this industry and its suppliers. Many ArmaComp™ solutions including ArmaSport® products are on Boeing’s approved source list for various aerospace applications. Many ArmaSport®, EnsoLite®, and Monarch® are listed on other aerospace OEM approved source lists such as Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman. Utilizing advanced technologies in space like our product solutions to insulate ice cold propellants, seal out air and dust, or dampen noise and vibrations is a novel idea.