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Practice:

Material selection is an important aspect of design. Often the success of the design is critically dependent on a material or materials performing as desired. This is especially true in the case of advanced composite materials with polymer matrices reinforced with carbon or aramid (Kevlar®) fibers. The important considerations necessary for a proper selection of a fiber-reinforced polymer composite material in NASA spacecraft and satellite structures include fiber material, fiber reinforcement form, fiber volume, matrix material, ply lamination, processing, cost, database, health and safety factors and end-item properties.