TABLE OF CONTENTS Microfabrication technologies (MST) allow the realisation of highly sophisticated products integrated with mechanical, optical and electronic functions completely. Such products are already exploiting very big markets in automotive and bio-medical applications. Other sectors including aerospace are still observing the developments and are becoming aware of the potential applications of MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems), MOEMS (Micro-opto-electromechanical Systems) and MST. The products will be accepted if the specifications are met. Companies, universities and research groups are more open to experimentation and many research projects in this field are financed from Space Agencies in the advanced countries (Europe, USA, Japan, Korea, etc.) (Liu 2003).
The field of nanotechnology is now explored worldwide by academia, research centers and industries. Applications and products are appearing on the market progressively. Nanotechnology is often merged with microtechnology to enable particular functionalities. It is applied on macroscopic products to enhance functionality. Many disciplines such as physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, and informatics are now converging into multi-disciplinary department in order to develop micro- and nanotechnology based products. One can note that the application of micro and nanotechnology to the aerospace field requires a very interdisciplinary engineering approach with a very wide field of view. In fact, from the consideration of material property at molecular level which affects the manufacturing at nanoscale (10 nm = 10E-9 m) to the comprehension of space mission requirements related to positioning of the satellite in orbit the engineer in charge of the mission study must have a general knowledge...
