The requirement for space structures that can absorb stress caused by meteorite impacts and mitigate the thermal and inherent vibrations produced as rapidly as feasible motivates this research. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) produce better stiffness and elastic moduli when combined randomly or in a specific distribution in the matrix. As a result, they can be used as a better material than what is now available. Because most space projects have a cylindrical body, this study investigates the vibrational response of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composites (FG-CNTRC) cylindrical panels. Furthermore, earlier research has shown that the problem of vibration control for FGCNTRCpanels has received little attention. In this study, straight and aligned carbon nanotubes of varied distributions are employed, and they are functionally graded in a specific orientation. For the FGCNTRC cylindrical panel, different configurations have been numerically modeled using the finite element technique. The kinematic and constitutive equations are obtained using first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). Furthermore, Hamilton's principle is applied in order to determine the equation of motion. The volume proportion and CNT efficiency parameters used in this study are as follows: for VCNT of 11%, 1 = 0.149, 2 = 3 = 0.934, for VCNT of 14%, 1 = 0.150, 2 = 3 = 0.941, and for VCNT of 17%, 1 = 0.149, 2 = 3 = 1.381. The boundary conditions are imposed along two straight edges of the FG-CNTRC cylindrical panel and are not applied along the curved edges. The free vibration response of the FGCNTRC cylindrical panel is illustrated for three distinct volume proportions, each of which corresponds to one of the configurations under examination, in order to have better insight of the mechanical behavior of the FGCNTRC cylindrical panel. The study lists the influence of varying volume fractions of CNTs on the first five natural frequencies. The influence of varied CNT volume fractions and configurations on the mode shapes is numerically illustrated. The effect of temperature is also included in numerical simulations because space structures are vulnerable to large temperature variations during space day and night. The piezoelectric patches are strategically placed to achieve excellent vibration reduction. For active vibration control, a nonconventional controller is developed and implemented.