AMS Composite Cylinders: Powering the Future of Space Exploration

Space exploration is back—in a big way. The next half decade is likely to be one of the busiest periods in space history, and it is set to peak with the Artemis Moon 2 mission in 2025, which plans to put astronauts back on the Moon.

One key to this second wave of the space race is standardisation. Standardisation has helped dramatically cut costs for those looking to go beyond the final frontier. AMS Composite Cylinders has been a big part of that, supplying standardised Type 3 carbon composite gas cylinders for some of the world’s leading aerospace companies.

As the space industry undergoes this transformative shift, our cylinders are playing a pivotal role in driving cost efficiency, reliability and performance. In this blog, we’ll uncover the role AMS cylinders play in space exploration and the wide range of options we offer.

Driving Space Engines

AMS Composite Cylinders has been at the forefront of satellite and space engine gas technology for several years – supplying cylinders used in dedicated small launches and for mission-critical on-orbit mobility by satellite builders and operators worldwide.

Our specialist aerospace cylinders are lightweight and durable, and stand up to the challenges of launch as well as offering long-term performance in orbit.

Due to their high-pressure capacity, our cylinders can store sufficient fuel for long-duration missions and subsequent planned deorbiting. AMS cylinders are designed to withstand the extreme conditions and unique challenges of space. If you look to the night sky, you could see some of our AMS-powered satellites orbiting the Earth.

Surviving Space – Specialist Materials for Aerospace Cylinders

At AMS Composite Cylinders, we take pride in the design and performance of our aerospace cylinders.

It starts with our traditional Type 3 carbon composite cylinders – which are already ultra-light, high-pressure (300 bar) and extremely durable.

With the challenges of space providing even more stress on the cylinders, we’ve adapted the carbon fibre and resin system to match the challenges of the environment, ensuring they are unaffected by launch vibrational stresses and environmental challenges such as temperature and radiation.

Versatile Options – Bespoke and Standardised Cylinders

While standardised solutions have helped re-ignite space exploration, AMS Composite Cylinders also offers bespoke design to meet the varied needs of launch vehicles, pressure systems, and satellite designs.

Our AMS cylinders can be custom-created to suit a wide range of diverse capacity and shape requirements, providing flexibility without compromising on quality or performance.

Whether you’re looking for standardised or bespoke cylinders, we offer a full range of sizes – from 1 L to 500 L or more.

Exceeding Aerospace Industry Standards

AMS cylinders have a proven track record in space, with all our cylinders made to meet a wide range of industry standards across Europe, the USA, Asia and beyond.

Our cylinders can be produced to the requirements of DOT, ISO and ANSI AIAA S-081B (2018), the American National Standard for Space Systems – Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vehicles. This demonstrates our commitment to providing high-performance cylinders that meet and exceed the stringent requirements of the space industry.

Conclusion

As the aerospace industry evolves towards standardisation, AMS offers innovation, reliability, and industry-standard options for a wide range of launch vehicles and satellite propulsion systems.

From our standardised range to bespoke options, all AMS cylinders have been built to exceed the rigours of space travel. With an established presence in the space exploration industry and an increasing number of countries and companies exploring space, AMS Composite Cylinders are helping propel the future of space exploration, one cylinder at a time.

Performance and Safety Standards 

AMS Composite Cylinders prioritise performance and safety. Our durable, high-performance cylinders offer high pressure (300 Bar), NLL (Non-Limited Life) performance, and are accredited for use worldwide – holding a wide range of quality assurance accreditations, including ISO 11119-2, UN-TPED Pi, DOT (USA) and TC (Canada).