The rationale and prospects for using photocurable monomers for a variety of space applications are discussed. In particular, the fabrication of lightweight composite structures for use in earth orbit as well as for planetary exploration using ambient solar irradiation appears to be attractive. Such structures could be transported either into space or to the surface of the moon or planetary bodies in a collapsed condition. Therefore, they could be deployed by inflation with a gas and then allowed to become rigid as a result of polymerizations induced by light. The key to this technology is the development of photosensitive initiators and specially tailored monomers and reactive oligomers.
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