Thu. Mar 28th, 2024
nasa

NASA is growing its endeavors to bring 3D printing to space. NASA has just announced in a press release that they are planning on directly 3D-printing large components in low-Earth orbit instead of flying them up into space. The technology was developed as a result of the agency’s partnership with Made in Space which is an in-space manufacturing company based out of California. Following quite a while of development and testing, NASA awarded a $73.7 million contract to California-based Made in Space to demonstrate how a small spacecraft named Archinaut One will manufacture and assemble parts while in low-Earth orbit. The spacecraft is expected to launch on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from New Zealand in 2022 or later.

However, this is just  the beginning of a second period of partnership between the two organizations. If fruitful, it could change how NASA and others approach building and fixing spacecraft.

This could further lead to building spacecraft in orbit, of course, but it could also let space agencies launch small satellites that receive large power collectors once they’re floating above Earth. It could also lead to fewer spacewalks by having robots build items that would otherwise require human involvement. Star Trek-like orbital shipyards are still a long, long way off, but this demo is a step in the right direction.

It would enable large spacecraft to be propelled in smaller groups, a boon for Rocket Lab which has practical experience in propelling micro satellites.

“In-space robotic manufacturing and assembly are unquestionable game-changers,” said Jim Reuter, associate administrator of Nasa’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.

Archinaut One is scheduled to launch no earlier than 2022.

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