• The structure that holds up the satellite is very important
• A satellite must have a frame just like a bicycle or a bed does
• The frame must be very lightweight and as compact as possible
• It must be rigid enough to protect satellite, but also able to conform to the design criteria of a particular satellite
• A frame can be made out of many of the same materials as those used to protect the satellite's instruments or out of the material used to protect satellite from collisions
• Frames can use special design shapes that are especially sturdy
• If it uses shapes like eggs, hexagon patterns, and honeycomb patterns, the satellite has more structural integrity
• A material commonly found on satellites is Kevlar
• Kevlar is the trademark name for a fibre discovered and manufactured by the company DuPont
• It has high strength and stiffness, yet low weight and low density
• It is resistant to high temperatures, non-conductive, and durable
• Kevlar fibers are five times as stong as steel on an equal weight basis, and 43% less dense than fiberglass
• Kevlar can also dampen vibrations, making it a useful material for parts jarred by the extreme vibrations of a space launch
• Kevlar is also used in bullet proof vests and as thermal reinforcer inside space shuttle rocket fuel tanks
• In 1991, an experimental 1,200 pound NASA satellite was tethered to the space shuttle using a 12-mile cable of Kevlar that was thinner than a pencil