On the Earth’s surface, life is fairly orderly in terms of human understanding of the elements, but in space, temperature fluctuations, radiation and chemical interactions can all have a great effect on the resilience of materials used in the construction of spacecraft.

In addition to environmental factors in choosing spacecraft materials, factors like weight, mass, gravity and energy usage must also be considered. Much like conventional aircraft, spacefaring vehicles must maintain a weight balance in order to safely achieve lift and maintain flight.

While orbiting, the mass of a spacecraft can affect its ability to use thrust and maintain a navigational vector. Because weight and mass are often correlated in design, both factors must be included in material choice for spacecraft.