Spacecraft are often perceived as single integrated machines, yet they are built from many specialized materials, each selected for a specific function. Titanium is one of those materials. Titanium, along with other crucial elements, is used in critical parts where strength, heat resistance, and reliability really matter.
As a certified titanium manufacturer, we at Hermith GmbH understand how critical material selection is in industries where performance, safety, and reliability are non-negotiable — and space is one of the clearest examples of this.
That is the reason titanium is such an excellent example of space engineering as it is. Engineers choose titanium exactly because it combines high strength with relatively low weight, making it perfect for those high-stress areas. In space missions, materials choices often go unnoticed, yet they are fundamental to mission success. Titanium is used in selected structural elements, pressure-related components, and in parts that must withstand extreme forces during launch and re-entry. From our experience at Hermith GmbH supplying demanding industries including aerospace, these same material characteristics are exactly what make titanium indispensable in mission-critical applications.
NASA’s Orion spacecraft is a prominent modern example. As NASA’s Orion Reference Guide points out, the spacecraft’s crew module features large pieces of aluminium alloy, while NASA’s Artemis materials also note the use of titanium in selected critical structural and thermal-protection-related applications. This is important since the heat shield is part of the vehicle’s most important safety system: it helps to protect the crew module from high heat exposure that will occur on atmospheric re-entry. As Hermith GmbH works extensively with aerospace-related titanium applications, we closely follow how advanced programs such as Orion continue to demonstrate the value of titanium in next-generation engineering.
The timing makes Orion especially relevant now. Artemis I launched uncrewed on November 16, 2022, as a test flight that lasted 25 days and travelled around 2.3 million km. Artemis II followed with a crewed mission that launched on April 1, 2026, marking NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. So, when people talk about titanium in spacecraft today, Orion is one of the most recent and visible examples.
Titanium also has a long Apollo history. The Apollo missions took place from 1969 to 1972, and NASA’s technical data indicate titanium was used in selected Apollo spacecraft components, including pressure-related and structural applications.
This shows that titanium was not just a modern-spacecraft material. It was already part of the engineering logic of Apollo, when NASA had to build vehicles that could travel approx. 386 242 km to the Moon, survive launch, land softly, and return safely to Earth. Even 50+ years later, Apollo gives the historical foundation for the same material story we still see in Artemis today. For us at Hermith GmbH, this continuity is particularly remarkable: despite decades of innovation in materials science, titanium remains a trusted solution where proven performance matters most.
What connects all these missions is the basic engineering principle: use the right material for the right job. As a company focused on certified titanium production and reliable supply, this principle is very familiar to us at Hermith GmbH — successful engineering often begins with choosing the right material. Titanium offers a highly favourable strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and high-temperature performance.
As the space sector continues to expand and advanced space technologies attract growing attention worldwide, titanium remains a strategically important material for this industry. At Hermith GmbH, as a German certified titanium manufacturer, we see significant opportunities in supporting the evolving needs of the space sector, alongside aerospace, medical, industrial and other demanding applications. With more than 20 years of experience in titanium, certified quality standards, and reliable production and supply capabilities, Hermith supports customers with high-performance titanium solutions for industries where material reliability is critical.
Thus, the main points are the following:
- Titanium withstands extreme stress, heat, and demanding environments needed in space industry.
- From Apollo to Artemis, titanium remains mission-critical.
- Its strength-to-weight ratio keeps titanium highly relevant.
- Space innovation continues to expand opportunities for titanium.
- Hermith GmbH supports these industries with 20+ years of titanium expertise.
From proven traditional applications to emerging technologies, we at Hermith GmbH are committed to contributing our expertise to industries shaping the future.
Sources:
- https://www.nasa.gov/reference/spacecraft-components/
- https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-i/
- https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/03/30/nasas-artemis-ii-launch-mission-countdown-begins/
- https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/orion-reference-guide-111022.pdf
- https://www.nasa.gov/specials/apollo50th/missions.html
- https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19700058337
- https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/
Editorial Note:
References to NASA programs, including Apollo, Orion and Artemis, are used solely for informational and editorial purposes. Hermith GmbH is not affiliated with or endorsed by companies mentioned in this press release.
