Uploaded August 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The welding process usually involves pretty extreme levels of heat. But it turns out that in the cold vacuum of space, metals can weld together... automatically.
Hosted By: Hank Green
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Sources:
http://esmat.esa.int/Publications/Published_papers/STM-279.pdf
https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/10/23/cold-welding%EF%BC%8D%EF%BC%8Dspace-operations-nightmare/
core.ac.uk/download/pdf/42768209.pdf
trs.jpl.nasa.gov/handle/2014/32404
nasa.gov/audience/formedia/factsheet/Galileo_communication_factsheet.html
chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Bellarmine_University/BU%3A_Chem_103_(Christianson)/Phase_3%3A_Atoms_and_Molecules_-_the_Underlying_Reality/9%3A_Chemical_Bonding/9.5%3A_Metallic_Bonding
https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/I_12.html
everyspec.com/ESA/download.php?spec=ECSS-E-ST-33-01C.048198.pdf
laserfocusworld.com/optics/article/16546805/optical-fabrication-optical-contacting-grows-more-robust
web.archive.org/web/20090331235008/http://www.precisionphotonics.com/vitem_axpd.asp?id=16&itemtype=Technicalpapers
nature.com/articles/nnano.2010.4
twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-cold-welding
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-007-0874-7_1
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.1936.0151
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1464-4258/3/1/314
asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/tribology/article-abstract/103/2/169/423515/Friction-The-Present-State-of-Our-Understanding
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780121038021500113
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rspa.1974.0167
britannica.com/technology/welding
Images:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galileo_spacecraft_leaves_the_Orbiter.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galileo_in_1983.jpg
storyblocks.com/video/stock/close-up-slow-motion-welding-of-a-metal-part-in-an-auto-repair-shop-bpdt8rtrokn60ew0l
istockphoto.com/photo/worker-welding-parts-of-stell-construction-gm678821660-124372509
istockphoto.com/photo/old-stainless-steel-spoons-background-gm1168849327-322882976
storyblocks.com/video/stock/machine-workpieces-metallurgical-plant-hiwbmehbinq614w8
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galileo_spacecraft_%26_IUS_deployment_sequence_in_OV-104%27s_payload_bay_on_STS-34_(S34-71-000AK).jpg
istockphoto.com/photo/abstract-background-gm495067894-77795073
istockphoto.com/photo/abstract-sparks-background-gm1251201142-365075401
The welding process usually involves pretty extreme levels of heat. But it turns out that in the cold vacuum of space, metals can weld together... automatically.
Hosted By: Hank Green
SciShow has a spinoff podcast! It's called SciShow Tangents. Check it out at scishowtangents.org
----------
Support SciShow Space by becoming a patron on Patreon: patreon.com/SciShowSpace
----------
Huge thanks go to the following Patreon supporter for helping us keep SciShow Space free for everyone forever: GrowingViolet & Jason A Saslow!
----------
Like SciShow? Want to help support us, and also get things to put on your walls, cover your torso and hold your liquids? Check out our awesome products over at DFTBA Records: dftba.com/scishow
----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook: facebook.com/scishow
Twitter: twitter.com/scishow
Tumblr: scishow.tumblr.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thescishow
----------
Sources:
http://esmat.esa.int/Publications/Published_papers/STM-279.pdf
https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/10/23/cold-welding%EF%BC%8D%EF%BC%8Dspace-operations-nightmare/
core.ac.uk/download/pdf/42768209.pdf
trs.jpl.nasa.gov/handle/2014/32404
nasa.gov/audience/formedia/factsheet/Galileo_communication_factsheet.html
chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Bellarmine_University/BU%3A_Chem_103_(Christianson)/Phase_3%3A_Atoms_and_Molecules_-_the_Underlying_Reality/9%3A_Chemical_Bonding/9.5%3A_Metallic_Bonding
https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/I_12.html
everyspec.com/ESA/download.php?spec=ECSS-E-ST-33-01C.048198.pdf
laserfocusworld.com/optics/article/16546805/optical-fabrication-optical-contacting-grows-more-robust
web.archive.org/web/20090331235008/http://www.precisionphotonics.com/vitem_axpd.asp?id=16&itemtype=Technicalpapers
nature.com/articles/nnano.2010.4
twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-cold-welding
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-007-0874-7_1
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.1936.0151
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1464-4258/3/1/314
asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/tribology/article-abstract/103/2/169/423515/Friction-The-Present-State-of-Our-Understanding
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780121038021500113
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rspa.1974.0167
britannica.com/technology/welding
Images:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galileo_spacecraft_leaves_the_Orbiter.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galileo_in_1983.jpg
storyblocks.com/video/stock/close-up-slow-motion-welding-of-a-metal-part-in-an-auto-repair-shop-bpdt8rtrokn60ew0l
istockphoto.com/photo/worker-welding-parts-of-stell-construction-gm678821660-124372509
istockphoto.com/photo/old-stainless-steel-spoons-background-gm1168849327-322882976
storyblocks.com/video/stock/machine-workpieces-metallurgical-plant-hiwbmehbinq614w8
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galileo_spacecraft_%26_IUS_deployment_sequence_in_OV-104%27s_payload_bay_on_STS-34_(S34-71-000AK).jpg
istockphoto.com/photo/abstract-background-gm495067894-77795073
istockphoto.com/photo/abstract-sparks-background-gm1251201142-365075401
