The Present and Future of Space Materials Research

Information on the origination and development of space material research is presented; its basic tasks are the study of physical and chemical mechanisms of the effects of the space environment on materials and the development of methods for increasing the durability of materials and elements of equipment of spacecraft to its influence. The main directions of research are considered, the most important tasks of modern and future studies are formulated, and the prospects of the application of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials in space technology are discussed.