Space - Propellant Tanks
Joint welding of satellite propellant tank
Satellite propellant tanks are often made of titanium due two reasons. First titanium offers a great specific strength and second it has good corrosion resistance.
Lifting a mass of 1kg into the orbit is not a bargain - starting at 2,500€ and rising up to several 10,000€ depending on the orbit height. To save weight and therefore money for the rocket start, propellant tanks of satellites are made of thin titanium sheets with a thickness between 0.8-1.2mm. This thin titanium skin acts as a tight membrane. To withstand the enormous pressure resulting due the gauge pressure and the evacuated space, the titanium membrane is wrapped by carbon or glass fibre reinforced plastic layers.
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