Expert Lecture Spotlight | Prof. Gregory M. Odegard
US-COMP: Next Generation of Composite Materials for Crewed Deep Space Missions
To reach Mars and beyond, we need materials that are stronger, lighter, and smarter than anything currently used in aerospace.
That’s the mission of US-COMP—the NASA-funded Space Technologies Research Institute for Ultra-Strong Composites by Computational Design. In this visionary lecture, Prof. Gregory M. Odegard presents how US-COMP is revolutionizing composite design for future deep space vehicles.
Why it matters:
Current aerospace composites aren’t light or strong enough to meet the structural demands—and fuel constraints—of crewed interplanetary travel. US-COMP aims to close that gap through a computationally driven materials development approach.
Key US-COMP strategies:
- Develop new simulation tools to accelerate material discovery
- Advance experimental validation techniques
- Build robust, open-access material property databases
- Integrate with the broader Materials Genome Initiative (MGI) to streamline the design-to-deployment cycle
End goals:
- Design, fabricate, and test composite panels that meet or exceed NASA’s mission requirements
- Train the next generation of materials scientists and engineers to power the future space workforce
US-COMP represents a paradigm shift in how we design aerospace materials—from empirical guesswork to data-driven, simulation-led innovation.
Watch the full lecture on the cdmHUB YouTube channel as part of the Global Composites Expert Webinar Series.
