The secret to protecting next-gen spacecraft might be eggshells

In 2007, a piece of space debris caused a bullet-like hole in the radiator panel of US space shuttle Endeavor. Now, with more satellites, telescopes, and spacecraft being launched into orbit, the issue of space debris has only worsened. Chinese scientists have now developed a new aluminum material inspired by eggshells to provide better protection against these fragments, according to a paper published in the Journal of Applied Physics.

Eggshells have intrigued scientists due to their unique mechanical properties, such as a shell's ability to crack under precise force without breaking apart entirely. In 2012, MIT mechanical engineer Pedro Reis collaborated on a paper explaining the relationship between an egg's shape and its rigidity, which is crucial when determining how much force an object can withstand before cracking.

Reis took inspiration from a physics demonstration where walking on cartons of eggs without breaking them was achieved by aligning the eggs with their narrow tip facing upwards and distributing weight evenly across their surface area. Despite an eggshell requiring only 5.5 pounds of force to crack, the direction and distribution of force play crucial roles.