Expanding the view. New Frontiers in Space Window Technology and Applications

After having summarized the main open challenges in the use of polymeric materials for space glazing, we propose a comparison between fused silica and acrylic glass exposed to electromagnetic waves. Whereas the two materials present comparable design strengths, the much lower stiffness of acrylic and its temperature dependence drive the need for panes with considerably higher thickness when windows of very large size—far exceeding current dimensions but envisaged in future applications—require verification in terms of deformability. Our theories predict that as the pane thickness is increased, the solar radiation absorbed by objects operating in low Earth orbit can induce temperatures that may potentially approach the glass transition limit of acrylic. Although these issues can be mitigated by active countermeasures, they require attention in the design phase.