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NASA's In-Space Manufacturing Project: Toward a Multimaterial Fabrication Laboratory for the International Space Stationuman space exploration to date has been limited to low Earth orbit and the moon. The International Space Station (ISS) provides a unique opportunity for NASA to partner with private industry for development and demonstration of the technologies needed to support exploration initiatives. One challenge that is critical to sustainable and safer exploration is the ability to manufacture and recycle materials in space. This paper provides an overview of NASA's in-space manufacturing (ISM) project, its past and current activities, and how technologies under development will ultimately culminate in a multimaterial fabrication laboratory ("ISM FabLab") to be deployed on the International Space Station in the early 2020s. ISM is a critical capability for the long endurance missions NASA seeks to undertake in the coming decades. An unanticipated failure that can be adapted for in low earth orbit, through a resupply launch or a return to earth, may instead result in a loss of mission while in transit to Mars. To have a suite of functional ISM capabilities that are compatible with NASA's exploration timeline, ISM must be equipped with the resources necessary to develop these technologies and deploy them for testing prior to the scheduled de-orbit of ISS in 2024. The paper provides a broad overview of ISM projects activities culminating with the Fabrication Laboratory for ISS. The FabLab will move NASA and private industry significantly closer to changing historical paradigms for human spaceflight where all materials used in space are launched from earth. While the current ISM FabLab will be tested on ISS, future systems are eventually intended for use in a deep space habitat or transit vehicle. The work of commercial companies funded under NASA's Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR) is also discussed, as these activities, from development of recyclable packaging for ISS to additive manufacturing capabilities for metals and electronics, could also potentially be infused into FabLab exploration capabilities as well.
Document ID
20180006362
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Prater, Tracie
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Werkheiser, Niki
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Ledbetter, Frank
(Wheelhouse Consulting, LLC Huntsville, AL, United States)
Jehle, Alexander
(Army Space and Missile Defense Command Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
October 17, 2018
Publication Date
September 17, 2018
Subject Category
Composite Materials
Report/Patent Number
M17-6187
Report Number: M17-6187
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA Space Forum
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: September 17, 2018
End Date: September 19, 2018
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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